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 (20)
  2. William (20)
  3. Thomas (15)
  4. Henry (12)
  5. George (9)
  6. James (8)
  7. Charles (6)
  8. Robert (5)
  9. Tom (4)
  10. Joseph (3)
  11. Alfred (3)
  12. Harry (2)
  13. Christopher (2)
  14. Eli (2)
  15. Richard (2)
  16. Sands (2)
  17. Stanley (2)
  18. Valentine (1)
  19. Lewis (1)
  20. Ralph (1)
  21. Winter (1)
  22. Martin (1)
  23. Moses (1)
  24. Mossop (1)
  25. Walton (1)
  26. Norman (1)
  27. Oliver (1)
  28. Samuel (1)
  29. Walter (1)
  30. Launcelot (1)
  31. Jonathan (1)
  32. Allen (1)
  33. Alum (1)
  34. Andrew (1)
  35. Chas. (1)
  36. Cornelius (1)
  37. Edgar (1)
  38. Edward (1)
  39. Albert (1)
  40. Elisha (1)
  41. Frank (1)
  42. Frederick (1)
  43. Gabriel (1)
  44. Geo. (1)
  45. Harold (1)
  46. Herbert (1)
  47. Hubert (1)
  48. Isaac (1)
  49. Allan (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (21)
  2. Sarah (16)
  3. Ann (11)
  4. Jane (11)
  5. Elizabeth (8)
  6. Alice (5)
  7. Annie (5)
  8. Emily (5)
  9. Caroline (4)
  10. Maria (4)
  11. Ellen (4)
  12. Eleanor (3)
  13. Isabella (3)
  14. Margaret (3)
  15. Ada (3)
  16. Louisa (2)
  17. Kate (2)
  18. Susan (2)
  19. Hannah (2)
  20. Charlotte (2)
  21. Maryann (2)
  22. Minnie (2)
  23. Anna (2)
  24. Catherine (2)
  25. Susannah (2)
  26. Edith (2)
  27. Elizth. (1)
  28. Beatrice (1)
  29. M. (1)
  30. Carlme (1)
  31. Bessy (1)
  32. Thirza (1)
  33. Prudence (1)
  34. Rosa (1)
  35. Ruth (1)
  36. Selina (1)
  37. Clara (1)
  38. Lillian (1)
  39. Ester (1)
  40. Eva (1)
  41. Eliza (1)
  42. Frances (1)
  43. Francis (1)
  44. Georgema (1)
  45. Elisabeth (1)
  46. Fanny (1)
  47. Jemima (1)
  48. Josephine (1)
  49. Dorcas (1)
  50. Lilian (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (66)
  2. Iron Miner (7)
  3. Coal Miner (7)
  4. Iron Ore Miner (5)
  5. Dairyman (4)
  6. School (4)
  7. Dressmaker (3)
  8. Domestic Servant (3)
  9. Carpenter (3)
  10. Daur (3)
  11. Laundress (2)
  12. Errand Boy (2)
  13. Farm Labourer (2)
  14. Coachman (2)
  15. Fruiterer (2)
  16. Sch (2)
  17. General Labourer (2)
  18. Fisherman (2)
  19. Farmer 170 Acres 3 Men (1)
  20. Clerk (1)
  21. Glazier (Unemployed) (1)
  22. Farmer (1)
  23. Woolsorter Wooln Clth Manuf (1)
  24. General Servant Unemployed (1)
  25. Drummer 22 Regiment (1)
  26. Farmer & Inn Keeper (1)
  27. Farmers Daur (1)
  28. General Servant To Miller (1)
  29. Farmer of 85 Acres Employing 1 Man (1)
  30. General Nurse (Sub Med Ser) (1)
  31. General Laborer (1)
  32. Dairymans Wife (1)
  33. Butler (1)
  34. Brick Layer (1)
  35. Boiler Smith (1)
  36. Boiler Inspector (1)
  37. Baker (1)
  38. Apprentice Engine Fitter (1)
  39. Annuitant (1)
  40. Agricultural Labourer Wife (1)
  41. Butler (Servant Domestic) (1)
  42. Butler In Domestic Serv (1)
  43. Dairymans Assistt (1)
  44. Dairy Farmer Out Of Occupation (1)
  45. Cotton Operative (1)
  46. Corn Porters Labourer (1)
  47. Cook (1)
  48. Colliery Joiner Unemp (1)
  49. China & Glass Painter 21.4 (1)
  50. Chemist (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 92 people with the surname Haile in the county of Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire were called Haile.

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 Haile surname has an index of 15.77 in Gloucestershire, meaning that you are 15.77 times as likely to find a Haile 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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