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. William (9)
  2. Edwin (7)
  3. George (6)
  4. James (5)
  5. John (4)
  6. Henry (3)
  7. Frederick (3)
  8. Ernest (3)
  9. Edward (3)
  10. Josiah (3)
  11. Arthur (3)
  12. Albert (3)
  13. Robert (2)
  14. Herbert (2)
  15. Wm. (2)
  16. Charles (2)
  17. Harry (1)
  18. Alfred (1)
  19. Thos. (1)
  20. Thomas (1)
  21. Sydney (1)
  22. Nathaniel (1)
  23. Chas. (1)
  24. Joseph (1)
  25. David (1)
  26. Jno. (1)
  27. Francis (1)
  28. Hy.Walter (1)
  29. Abel (1)

Top female names

  1. Emma (7)
  2. Mary (6)
  3. Elizabeth (5)
  4. Sarah (5)
  5. Maud (4)
  6. Alice (4)
  7. Fanny (4)
  8. Louisa (3)
  9. Eliza (3)
  10. Jane (3)
  11. Rebecca (3)
  12. Ada (3)
  13. Jessie (2)
  14. Ellen (2)
  15. Florence (2)
  16. Elizth. (2)
  17. Jenny (2)
  18. Sophia (2)
  19. Amy (2)
  20. Ann (2)
  21. Lucy (2)
  22. Annie (2)
  23. Juliette (1)
  24. Mabel (1)
  25. Maria (1)
  26. Marian (1)
  27. Rosena (1)
  28. Martha (1)
  29. Nancy (1)
  30. My.A. (1)
  31. Beatrice (1)
  32. Janetta (1)
  33. Bertha (1)
  34. Blanche (1)
  35. Caroline (1)
  36. Catherine (1)
  37. Clara (1)
  38. Edith (1)
  39. Emily (1)
  40. Eyra (1)
  41. Francis (1)
  42. Georgianna (1)
  43. Gertrude (1)
  44. Grace (1)
  45. Hannah (1)
  46. Harriet (1)
  47. Harriott (1)
  48. Alicia (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (52)
  2. Portmanteau Maker (4)
  3. Domestic Servant (3)
  4. Match Box Maker (3)
  5. Match Maker (3)
  6. Brass Moulder (2)
  7. Messenger (2)
  8. Charwoman (2)
  9. Agri Labourer (2)
  10. Stay Maker (2)
  11. Furniture Dealer (2)
  12. Metal Worker (1)
  13. Dressmaker (1)
  14. Messenger Wife (1)
  15. Monthly Nurse (1)
  16. Ostrich Feather Curler (1)
  17. Licensed Victualler (1)
  18. Photograph Dau (1)
  19. Sewing Feather Work (1)
  20. Servant Out Of Employ (1)
  21. Sereman Plate? (1)
  22. Seed Crusher (...) (1)
  23. Railway Porter (1)
  24. Printer Compositor (1)
  25. Portmanteau Stitcher (1)
  26. Photographers Wife (1)
  27. Photographers Assist (1)
  28. Photographer (1)
  29. Iron & Metal Dealer (1)
  30. Hskpr To Hd Of Family (1)
  31. Cheesemongers Assistant (1)
  32. Boiler Maker (1)
  33. Box Maker (1)
  34. Boiler Maker Wife (1)
  35. Boiler Maker H M D Yd (1)
  36. Boiler Maker Apprentice (1)
  37. Bicycle Engineer (1)
  38. Barmaid (Inn Serv) (1)
  39. York O Bus Company (Coach Nd) (1)
  40. Civil Service Pensioner (1)
  41. Clerk Mercantile (1)
  42. House Painter (1)
  43. House Decorator (1)
  44. General Dealer (1)
  45. Fine Art Rstrr (Dlr Wks Of Art) (1)
  46. Farm Labourer (1)
  47. Dressmkr (1)
  48. Dressmaking Apprentice (1)
  49. Drawing And Print Mounter ... ... ... (1)
  50. Coppersmiths Apprentice (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 108 people with the surname Fage in the county of London in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0% of the people in London were called Fage.

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 Fage surname has an index of 6.51 in London, meaning that you are 6.51 times as likely to find a Fage 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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