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. John (8)
  3. Charles (5)
  4. Robert (4)
  5. Henry (4)
  6. Daniel (3)
  7. George (3)
  8. Thomas (3)
  9. Thompson (2)
  10. Walter (2)
  11. Herbert (2)
  12. Harry (2)
  13. Sydney (1)
  14. Malancthon (1)
  15. Lawrence (1)
  16. Joseph (1)
  17. Jas. (1)
  18. James (1)
  19. Horace (1)
  20. Heaugh (1)
  21. Gershon (1)
  22. Frederick (1)
  23. Ernest (1)
  24. Edward (1)
  25. Albert (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (7)
  2. Ann (4)
  3. Elizabeth (4)
  4. Annie (3)
  5. Kate (3)
  6. Hana (2)
  7. Ellen (2)
  8. Hannah (2)
  9. Sarah (2)
  10. Lucy (1)
  11. Letitia (1)
  12. Robert (1)
  13. Sophia (1)
  14. Julia (1)
  15. Jane (1)
  16. Isabela (1)
  17. Lilian (1)
  18. Harriet (1)
  19. Alice (1)
  20. Anne (1)
  21. Augusta (1)
  22. Caroline (1)
  23. Clara (1)
  24. Edith (1)
  25. Eleanor (1)
  26. Eliza (1)
  27. Elizebeth (1)
  28. Emma (1)
  29. Florence (1)
  30. Susannah (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (21)
  2. Farm Labourer (6)
  3. Carman (4)
  4. Cattle Dealer (3)
  5. Butcher (2)
  6. Agricultural Labourer (2)
  7. General Labourer (2)
  8. Soldier (2)
  9. Joiner (1)
  10. Iron Plater (Manuf) (1)
  11. Housekeeper (1)
  12. Groom And Gardener (Dom) (1)
  13. Wife Congregational Minister (1)
  14. Groom (D) (1)
  15. Goldsmith Swival Maker (1)
  16. General Labourers Wife (1)
  17. Labourer (1)
  18. Labourer Wife (1)
  19. Waterman (1)
  20. Railway Porter (1)
  21. Publican (1)
  22. Parish Relief (1)
  23. Of Independent Means (1)
  24. Needlewoman (1)
  25. Minister Congregational Chapel (1)
  26. Laundress (1)
  27. Labourer's Wife (1)
  28. Servant (1)
  29. Gas Works Labourer (1)
  30. Bricklayers Labourer (1)
  31. Bricklayer (1)
  32. Bookbinder (1)
  33. Assistant In Shop (Keeper) (1)
  34. Annuitant (1)
  35. Agricultural Labourer Wife (1)
  36. Ag. Lab. (1)
  37. Ag Labourer (1)
  38. Ag Lab (1)
  39. ((Farm Labourer)) (1)
  40. Butchers Wife (1)
  41. Carter (1)
  42. Gardener (1)
  43. Farmer (1)
  44. Farm Labourer Wife (1)
  45. Errand Boy (1)
  46. Drapers Shopman (1)
  47. Drapers Apprentice (1)
  48. Domestic Servant (1)
  49. Dk Labourer (1)
  50. Congregational Minister (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 42 people with the surname Gooby in the county of Cambridgeshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.02% of the people in Cambridgeshire were called Gooby.

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 Gooby surname has an index of 61.8 in Cambridgeshire, meaning that you are 61.8 times as likely to find a Gooby 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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