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. James (10)
  2. William (9)
  3. Thomas (8)
  4. Ebenezer (4)
  5. John (3)
  6. George (3)
  7. Charles (3)
  8. Frederick (2)
  9. Richard (2)
  10. Arthur (1)
  11. Archibald (1)
  12. Ebenezar (1)
  13. Stuart (1)
  14. Alexandra (1)
  15. Warther (1)
  16. Horace (1)
  17. Herbert (1)
  18. Harry (1)
  19. Hamilton (1)
  20. Ernest (1)
  21. Elias (1)
  22. Edward (1)
  23. Chas. (1)
  24. Albert (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (8)
  2. Sarah (4)
  3. Anna (4)
  4. Margaret (4)
  5. Jessie (3)
  6. Jane (3)
  7. Maria (2)
  8. Alice (2)
  9. Elizabeth (2)
  10. Annie (2)
  11. Caroline (2)
  12. Ann (2)
  13. Mable (1)
  14. Maggie (1)
  15. Marg. (1)
  16. Effie (1)
  17. Annette (1)
  18. Maud (1)
  19. R. (1)
  20. Rachel (1)
  21. Lydia (1)
  22. Kate (1)
  23. Joanna (1)
  24. Edith (1)
  25. Ellen (1)
  26. Emily (1)
  27. Ernestine (1)
  28. Frances (1)
  29. Georgina (1)
  30. Clara (1)
  31. Hephzibar (1)
  32. Catherine (1)
  33. Harriet (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (21)
  2. Agricultural Labourer (2)
  3. Farm Servant (Indoors) (2)
  4. Farmer Dau (2)
  5. M.A. Oxford J.P. For Cornwall Without Case (Oth Local) (1)
  6. Infant (1)
  7. Housemaid Domestic Srv (1)
  8. Gentlewoman (1)
  9. General Serv (1)
  10. Farmer Wife (1)
  11. Farmer Son (1)
  12. Farmer Of 66 Acres (1)
  13. Maltster & Farmer Of 11 Acres Land Employing 2 Men & 1 Boy (1)
  14. N K (1)
  15. None (1)
  16. Vicar Of Morval (1)
  17. Surgeon General Practitioner (1)
  18. Stick Maker (1)
  19. Stationer (1)
  20. Skinner Tanner (1)
  21. Silk And Woolen Dyer (1)
  22. Schoolmistress (1)
  23. Retired Solicitor (1)
  24. Rectors Wife (1)
  25. Rector Of Helland (1)
  26. Estate Clerk (1)
  27. Engineer (Superintending) (E&M) (1)
  28. Banking Clerk (Serv) (1)
  29. B.A. Oxford (None) (1)
  30. Auctioneers Porter (1)
  31. Assistant in Spirit Shop (1)
  32. Annuitant (1)
  33. ((Clergymanns Daur)) (1)
  34. Ag Lab Wife (1)
  35. Ag Lab (1)
  36. Accountant (1)
  37. ((Clergymans Wife)) (1)
  38. Barman (1)
  39. Bill Poster (1)
  40. Book Sticker (Binder) (1)
  41. Drapers Assistant (1)
  42. Domestic Serv Ladys Maid (1)
  43. Domestic Serv (General) (1)
  44. Coal Miner (1)
  45. Coach Painter (1)
  46. Coach Builders Wife (1)
  47. Coach Builder Employing One Man (1)
  48. Clerk G P O (1)
  49. Clerk (Shipping) (1)
  50. Carpenter (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 77 people with the surname Glencross in the county of Dumfriesshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.12% of the people in Dumfriesshire were called Glencross.

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 Glencross surname has an index of 137.97 in Dumfriesshire, meaning that you are 137.97 times as likely to find a Glencross 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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