KNIFTON

Origin and etymology In historic texts In the 1881 census Distribution map

In the 1881 Census

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 (13)
  2. John (13)
  3. James (8)
  4. Thomas (7)
  5. George (5)
  6. Charles (3)
  7. Samuel (3)
  8. Edwin (3)
  9. Joseph (2)
  10. Robert (2)
  11. Arthur (2)
  12. Frederick (2)
  13. Wm. (2)
  14. Curtis (2)
  15. Edward (2)
  16. Francis (2)
  17. Benjamin (1)
  18. David (1)
  19. Reuden (1)
  20. Percy (1)
  21. Laurence (1)
  22. Enoch (1)
  23. Ernest (1)
  24. Jesse (1)
  25. Herbert (1)
  26. Harry (1)
  27. Frank (1)
  28. Geo. (1)
  29. Fredrick (1)

Top female names

  1. Sarah (10)
  2. Mary (10)
  3. Ann (8)
  4. Elizabeth (8)
  5. Eliza (7)
  6. Emma (4)
  7. Annie (4)
  8. Maria (4)
  9. Louisa (3)
  10. Alice (3)
  11. Harriet (2)
  12. Harriett (2)
  13. Martha (2)
  14. Jane (2)
  15. Louise (1)
  16. Minnie (1)
  17. Kate (1)
  18. Joyce (1)
  19. Jessie (1)
  20. Patience (1)
  21. Phoebe (1)
  22. Jemima (1)
  23. Francis (1)
  24. Bertha (1)
  25. Betsy (1)
  26. Caroline (1)
  27. Deborah (1)
  28. Ellen (1)
  29. Emily (1)
  30. Enda (1)
  31. Esther (1)
  32. Eva (1)
  33. Florence (1)
  34. Frances (1)
  35. Theresa (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (32)
  2. Coal Miner (5)
  3. Frame Work Knitter (Cotton & Merino) (4)
  4. Railway Plate Layer (3)
  5. Sempstress (3)
  6. Domestic Servt (3)
  7. Wife (3)
  8. Housekeeper (2)
  9. Farmers Wife (2)
  10. Lace Drawer (2)
  11. Farmers Son (2)
  12. Straw Hat Manufr (2)
  13. Winder In Lace Factory (2)
  14. Foreman Millwright (2)
  15. Clerk (Railway) (2)
  16. Railway Porter (2)
  17. Engineers Clerk (1)
  18. Agriculture Labourer (1)
  19. Hosier (1)
  20. Hosery Welter (1)
  21. Groom Domestic (1)
  22. General Servant Domestic (1)
  23. General Serv (Domestic) (1)
  24. Independent (1)
  25. Infant (1)
  26. Joiner (1)
  27. Joiner & Wheelwright (1)
  28. Lab Wife (1)
  29. Labourer At Iron Wks (1)
  30. Lady (1)
  31. Late School Teacher (1)
  32. Potter (1)
  33. Works On Farm (Ag Lab) (1)
  34. Builder Employing 4 Bricklayers & 3 Labourers (1)
  35. Engine Fitter (1)
  36. Circular Hand Hosery (1)
  37. Farmer Of 111 Acres Emp 4 Lab & 2 Boys (1)
  38. Farmer Of 48 Acres (1)
  39. Domestic Servant (1)
  40. Farmer Of 76 Acres Employing 1 Boy (1)
  41. Farmer Of 78 Acres (1)
  42. Farmers Daur (1)
  43. Cow Keeper (1)
  44. Farmers Son Waggoner (Ag Lab) (1)
  45. Coal Lumper (1)
  46. Formerly Governess (1)
  47. Frame Work Knitter (1)
  48. Butcher (1)
  49. Frame Work Knitter (Cotton) (1)
  50. Farmer Of 60 Acres (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 56 people with the surname Knifton in the county of Derbyshire in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.01% of the people in Derbyshire were called Knifton.

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 Knifton surname has an index of 21.07 in Derbyshire, meaning that you are 21.07 times as likely to find a Knifton 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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