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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 (14)
  2. John (9)
  3. Thomas (9)
  4. George (7)
  5. Charles (6)
  6. Arthur (4)
  7. James (4)
  8. Harry (3)
  9. Henry (3)
  10. Herbert (3)
  11. Peter (2)
  12. Frederick (2)
  13. Richard (2)
  14. Fred (2)
  15. Laurence (2)
  16. Walter (2)
  17. David (2)
  18. Samuel (2)
  19. Alfred (2)
  20. Malcolm (1)
  21. Wm. (1)
  22. Leonard (1)
  23. Newton (1)
  24. Percival (1)
  25. Willm. (1)
  26. Tom. (1)
  27. Tom (1)
  28. Philip (1)
  29. Percy (1)
  30. Robert (1)
  31. Kinnard (1)
  32. Archibald (1)
  33. Bienaime (1)
  34. Colin (1)
  35. Cyril (1)
  36. Edward (1)
  37. Edwin (1)
  38. Ernest (1)
  39. Francis (1)
  40. Frederic (1)
  41. Geo. (1)
  42. Guy (1)
  43. Harold (1)
  44. Albert (1)
  45. Jean (1)
  46. Jos. (1)
  47. Joseph (1)
  48. Albt. (1)

Top female names

  1. Elizabeth (11)
  2. Mary (11)
  3. Sarah (7)
  4. Emma (6)
  5. Alice (6)
  6. Eliza (5)
  7. Clara (4)
  8. Emily (4)
  9. Harriet (4)
  10. Edith (4)
  11. Ann (4)
  12. Charlotte (4)
  13. Frances (4)
  14. Jane (3)
  15. Florence (2)
  16. Maria (2)
  17. Fanny (2)
  18. Ethel (2)
  19. Margaret (2)
  20. Hannah (2)
  21. Bertha (2)
  22. Isabella (2)
  23. Caroline (2)
  24. Selina (2)
  25. Mabel (2)
  26. Kathleen (1)
  27. Malvina (1)
  28. Minnie (1)
  29. Muriel (1)
  30. Nora (1)
  31. Polly (1)
  32. Susan (1)
  33. Kate (1)
  34. Julie (1)
  35. Augustine (1)
  36. Christiana (1)
  37. Dorothy (1)
  38. Elizth. (1)
  39. Ellen (1)
  40. Emelia (1)
  41. Francas (1)
  42. Ada (1)
  43. Francis (1)
  44. Georgina (1)
  45. Gertrude (1)
  46. H. (1)
  47. Annie (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (48)
  2. Annuitant (8)
  3. No Occupation (5)
  4. Commercial Clerk (4)
  5. Spring Knife Cutler (4)
  6. Merchant (3)
  7. Dressmaker (3)
  8. Spoon Buffer (22/2) (2)
  9. Charwoman (2)
  10. Table Blade Grinder (2)
  11. Silver Finisher (2)
  12. No Occupn (2)
  13. Housekeeper (1)
  14. Inmate (Scholar) (1)
  15. Gen Lab Colliery (1)
  16. Fruiterer Employing 7 Men & 3 Boys (1)
  17. Formerly Coml Clerk (1)
  18. Fireman (1)
  19. Wood Chopper (1)
  20. Insurance Agent (1)
  21. General Serv (1)
  22. General Serv Dom (1)
  23. Grinders Apprentice (Cutler) (1)
  24. Genl Servant (1)
  25. General Servant Domestic (1)
  26. Housekeeper (Dom) (1)
  27. Housemaid Dom (Servt) (1)
  28. General Serv Domestic (1)
  29. Housemaid Domestic Serv (1)
  30. Housework Dom (1)
  31. Cigar Maker (1)
  32. Engineer Filler Wife (1)
  33. Builder Master Employing 8 Men (1)
  34. Brewer & Wine Merchant (1)
  35. Boot & Shoe Dealer (1)
  36. Book Keeper (Clk) (1)
  37. Boatbuilder (1)
  38. Blacksmiths Labourer (1)
  39. At Home (1)
  40. Apprentice Fitter & Turner (1)
  41. Butchers Boy (1)
  42. Chainmakers Striker (1)
  43. Engineer Filler (1)
  44. Cow Keepers Serv Assist (Milk Seller) (1)
  45. Cotton Doubler (1)
  46. Cook Domestic Serv (1)
  47. Cook (1)
  48. Consulting Engineer (1)
  49. Colonial Broker (1)
  50. Coal Merchant (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 63 people with the surname Nell 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 Nell.

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 Nell surname has an index of 2.8 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 2.8 times as likely to find a Nell 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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