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 (26)
  2. Thomas (18)
  3. James (7)
  4. William (6)
  5. Patrick (6)
  6. Michael (6)
  7. Martin (4)
  8. George (4)
  9. Peter (3)
  10. Richard (3)
  11. Joseph (2)
  12. Jas. (2)
  13. Roger (1)
  14. Samuel (1)
  15. Robert (1)
  16. T. (1)
  17. Thos. (1)
  18. Walter (1)
  19. Alexander (1)
  20. Jno. (1)
  21. Henry (1)
  22. Francis (1)
  23. Edward (1)
  24. Dan (1)
  25. Charles (1)
  26. Barnard (1)
  27. Wm. (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (23)
  2. Margaret (6)
  3. Bridget (5)
  4. Ann (4)
  5. Catherine (4)
  6. Sarah (3)
  7. Alice (3)
  8. Ellen (3)
  9. Maria (3)
  10. Kate (2)
  11. Elizabeth (2)
  12. Margret (2)
  13. Lucy (2)
  14. Annie (2)
  15. Rose (1)
  16. Margarett (1)
  17. Ruth (1)
  18. Ada (1)
  19. Laura (1)
  20. Katy (1)
  21. Anne (1)
  22. Anney (1)
  23. Cathrine (1)
  24. Ce. (1)
  25. E. (1)
  26. Elinor (1)
  27. Emma (1)
  28. Jane (1)
  29. Teresa (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (32)
  2. Coal Miner (6)
  3. Worsted Operative (5)
  4. Housekeeper (3)
  5. Labr At Colliery (3)
  6. Hawker (3)
  7. Worsted Spinner (2)
  8. Cotton Weaver (2)
  9. Press Worker Lamp Burner (2)
  10. Iron Works Labourer (2)
  11. Warehouse (2)
  12. Labourer (2)
  13. Filer (Artz) (1)
  14. Forgeman (Iron) (1)
  15. Foundry Labourer (1)
  16. Worsted Weaver (1)
  17. French Polisher (1)
  18. General Serv (1)
  19. Hairdresser (1)
  20. Lamp Maker (1)
  21. Labourer (General) (1)
  22. Labourer General (1)
  23. Iron Caster (1)
  24. Iron Founders Lab (1)
  25. Labourer B (1)
  26. Labourer (Iron Trade) (1)
  27. Laborer (1)
  28. Brewers Man (1)
  29. Farm Labourer (1)
  30. Farm Laborer (1)
  31. Excavator (1)
  32. Coal Mine Pony Driver (1)
  33. Coal Labourer (1)
  34. Cloth Weaver (Woolen) (1)
  35. C. Warehouse Woman (1)
  36. Butcher (1)
  37. Bricklayers Labourer (1)
  38. Bolt Maker (1)
  39. Blacksmith Striker (1)
  40. Cook Domestic (1)
  41. Cotton Card Tenter (1)
  42. Cotton Framesetter On (1)
  43. Engine Fitter (1)
  44. Eng Smith & Tnr (1)
  45. Drummer Soldier (1)
  46. Drapers Apprentice (1)
  47. Domestic Servant (General) (1)
  48. Dock Laborer (1)
  49. Cowman (Ag Lab (1)
  50. Cotton Reeler (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 66 people with the surname Finan in the county of Yorkshire 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 Yorkshire were called Finan.

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 Finan surname has an index of 3.31 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 3.31 times as likely to find a Finan 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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