Top Locations

See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.

Counties

Census Districts

Demographics

Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.

Top male names

  1. John (21)
  2. William (17)
  3. James (12)
  4. Joseph (9)
  5. Samuel (8)
  6. Thomas (7)
  7. George (5)
  8. Charles (3)
  9. Henry (3)
  10. Cornelius (3)
  11. Walter (3)
  12. Richard (2)
  13. Benjamin (2)
  14. Frederick (2)
  15. Leonard (2)
  16. Arthur (2)
  17. Edward (2)
  18. Jonas (1)
  19. L. (1)
  20. Levi (1)
  21. Ralph (1)
  22. Robert (1)
  23. Albert (1)
  24. Johnathan (1)
  25. Hewitt (1)
  26. Alfred (1)
  27. Benj.R. (1)
  28. Bertram (1)
  29. Charlie (1)
  30. Chas. (1)
  31. Daniel (1)
  32. David (1)
  33. Frank (1)
  34. Fredk.C. (1)
  35. Geo. (1)
  36. Harry (1)
  37. Wm. (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (14)
  2. Sarah (10)
  3. Elizabeth (8)
  4. Ann (7)
  5. Martha (5)
  6. Alice (4)
  7. Jane (4)
  8. Emily (4)
  9. Emma (4)
  10. Hannah (3)
  11. Harriet (3)
  12. Harriett (3)
  13. Eliza (3)
  14. Anne (3)
  15. Lucy (3)
  16. Charlotte (3)
  17. Maria (2)
  18. Ada (2)
  19. Susan (2)
  20. Clara (2)
  21. Louiza (1)
  22. Lydia (1)
  23. Louisa (1)
  24. Mabel (1)
  25. Lois (1)
  26. Edith (1)
  27. Mar. (1)
  28. Margaret (1)
  29. Bertha (1)
  30. Matilda (1)
  31. Minnie (1)
  32. Pheoby (1)
  33. Phoebe (1)
  34. Lillie (1)
  35. Laura (1)
  36. Elisth. (1)
  37. Dorcas (1)
  38. Ellen (1)
  39. Catharine (1)
  40. Eva (1)
  41. Florence (1)
  42. Georgina (1)
  43. Grace (1)
  44. Caroline (1)
  45. Harriott (1)
  46. Helena (1)
  47. Annie (1)
  48. Johannah (1)
  49. Julia (1)
  50. Kate (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (67)
  2. Coal Miner (6)
  3. Ag Lab (5)
  4. Lacemaker (5)
  5. Lab (Ag) (4)
  6. Lace Maker (4)
  7. Farm Labourer (3)
  8. Meat Salesman (3)
  9. Augl Laborer (2)
  10. Shoemaker (2)
  11. Bricklayers Labr (2)
  12. Housekeeper (2)
  13. Plough Boy (2)
  14. Gardener (2)
  15. Coalminer (2)
  16. Formerly Silk Winder (1)
  17. Farmers Boy (1)
  18. Farm Laborer (1)
  19. Examiner (1)
  20. Wife Of Master Butcher (1)
  21. General Servant (1)
  22. Frame Work Knitter (1)
  23. Garden Labourer (1)
  24. General Servant Domestic (1)
  25. Gardener Domestic Servant (1)
  26. Gardener Domestic Sevt (1)
  27. Gardeners Wife (1)
  28. Gas Fitter (1)
  29. General Domestic Servant (1)
  30. General Laborer Haulier (1)
  31. Coal Miner Wife (1)
  32. Domestic Servant Nurse (1)
  33. Cabinet Maker (1)
  34. Butcher (Journeyman) (1)
  35. Apprentice Engineer E+M (1)
  36. Book Keeper (Clerk) (1)
  37. Barman (1)
  38. Bakers Wife (1)
  39. Apprentice (1)
  40. Ag. Labourer (1)
  41. Chair Caner (1)
  42. Coke Burner (1)
  43. Domestic Servant (1)
  44. Domestic Cook (1)
  45. Deputy Wife (1)
  46. Deputy In Coal Mine (1)
  47. Daur Of Master Butcher (1)
  48. Crape Dresser (1)
  49. Cord Wainer (1)
  50. Cook Domestic (1)

Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables

The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 74 people with the surname Darrington in the county of Bedfordshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.05% of the people in Bedfordshire were called Darrington.

The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Darrington surname has an index of 57.91 in Bedfordshire, meaning that you are 57.91 times as likely to find a Darrington here than you would in the population as a whole.

The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.

A note on occupational titles

Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.

'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.

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