PONTEFRACT
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
- John (11)
- Joseph (8)
- Arthur (6)
- James (6)
- Henry (5)
- Harry (4)
- Alfred (4)
- William (4)
- Richard (4)
- George (3)
- Thomas (3)
- Joe (2)
- Samuel (2)
- Jabez (2)
- Sam (2)
- Albert (2)
- Frederick (2)
- Ben (2)
- Sydney (1)
- Rich. (1)
- Richd. (1)
- Yeadon (1)
- Saml.G. (1)
- Wright (1)
- Wilson (1)
- Westby (1)
- Sidney (1)
- Simeon (1)
- Wesley (1)
- Percy (1)
- Parker (1)
- Charley (1)
- E.D. (1)
- Edwin (1)
- Ernest (1)
- Fred (1)
- Harold (1)
- Hugh (1)
- Jeremiah (1)
- Jim (1)
- Charles (1)
- Josiah (1)
- Lewis (1)
- Louis (1)
- Mathew (1)
- Matthew (1)
- Benjamin (1)
Top female names
- Mary (15)
- Elizabeth (9)
- Hannah (6)
- Alice (5)
- Sarah (5)
- Martha (4)
- Annie (4)
- Eliza (3)
- Ellen (3)
- Jane (3)
- Edith (2)
- Amelia (2)
- Louisa (2)
- Emily (2)
- Miriam (2)
- Matilda (1)
- Marth (1)
- Marian (1)
- Margaret (1)
- Maria (1)
- Nellie (1)
- Tamon (1)
- Tamar (1)
- Selina (1)
- Ruth (1)
- Rose (1)
- Rachel (1)
- Priscilla (1)
- Polly (1)
- Octavia (1)
- Lydia (1)
- Lousia (1)
- Esther (1)
- Emma (1)
- Ema (1)
- Ellsie (1)
- Eleanor (1)
- Clare (1)
- Charlotte (1)
- Bethshebe (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Florence (1)
- Lizzie (1)
- Laura (1)
- Katie (1)
- Kate (1)
- Hester (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Gertrude (1)
- Fred (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (57)
- Woollen Weaver (6)
- Grocer (3)
- General Servant (3)
- Felt Hat (2)
- Woollen Stamper (2)
- Woollen Spinner (2)
- Woollen Carder (2)
- Railway Clerk (2)
- Dressmaker (2)
- Weaver (Und) (2)
- Scholer (2)
- Retired Woollen Manufacturer & Organist (1)
- Labourer In Iron Works (1)
- Laborer In Railway Plant (1)
- Labourers Wife (1)
- Lace M F Winder (1)
- Retired Provision Dealers Wife (1)
- Lodging House Keeper (1)
- Pupil Teacher Elementary School (1)
- Mender Woollen Cloth (1)
- Provision Dealer (Retired) (1)
- Printer Employing 3 Boys (1)
- Printer (Compositer) (1)
- Oat Cake Baker (1)
- None (1)
- Milliner (1)
- Millener (1)
- Miliner (1)
- Farm Lab (1)
- Ironmonger Employing 4 Men & 3 Boys (1)
- Housework (1)
- Dressmaker & Milliner (1)
- Cloth Miller (1)
- Dress Maker (1)
- Designer Of Woollens (1)
- Designer (Wool) (1)
- Cotton Winder (1)
- Cloth Finisher (1)
- Clerk (In Worsted Man Office) (1)
- Dyer (1)
- Worsted Weaver (1)
- Housewife (1)
- House Wife (1)
- General Servant (Domestic) (1)
- Gardener (Dom) (1)
- Fitter Iron Foundry (1)
- Farmer 25 acres (1)
- Errand Boy (1)
- Engine Smith (Slotter) (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 128 people with the surname Pontefract 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 Pontefract.
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 Pontefract surname has an index of 6.49 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 6.49 times as likely to find a Pontefract 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.