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. Thomas (12)
  3. John (11)
  4. Richard (10)
  5. Joseph (7)
  6. George (5)
  7. Henry (5)
  8. Samuel (5)
  9. Alfred (4)
  10. Robert (3)
  11. Charles (3)
  12. Albert (2)
  13. Harry (2)
  14. Frederick (2)
  15. Walter (1)
  16. Vtolemy (1)
  17. Anthony (1)
  18. Sidney (1)
  19. Anthorny (1)
  20. Saml. (1)
  21. Arthur (1)
  22. Richd.Chas. (1)
  23. Benjamin (1)
  24. David (1)
  25. Edwin (1)
  26. James (1)
  27. Jabez (1)
  28. Herbert (1)
  29. Isaac (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (24)
  2. Elizabeth (13)
  3. Sarah (6)
  4. Jane (5)
  5. Ellen (3)
  6. Amelia (3)
  7. Emma (3)
  8. Grace (3)
  9. Harriet (2)
  10. Margaret (2)
  11. Jemima (2)
  12. Susan (2)
  13. Louisa (2)
  14. Emily (2)
  15. Caroline (2)
  16. Clara (2)
  17. Ann (2)
  18. Annie (2)
  19. Edith (2)
  20. Lucy (1)
  21. Lydia (1)
  22. Mabel (1)
  23. Martha (1)
  24. Rosetta (1)
  25. Margarett (1)
  26. Marth (1)
  27. Mildred (1)
  28. Livinia (1)
  29. Lily (1)
  30. Catherine (1)
  31. Claudia (1)
  32. Eliza (1)
  33. Elizh. (1)
  34. Elizth. (1)
  35. Florence (1)
  36. Francis (1)
  37. Adele (1)
  38. Janie (1)
  39. Jessie (1)
  40. Lillian (1)
  41. Lillie (1)
  42. Beatrice (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (40)
  2. Tin Miner (7)
  3. Housekeeper (3)
  4. Tailor (3)
  5. Tailors Apprentice (3)
  6. Laundress (2)
  7. Domestic Servant (2)
  8. Farm Labourer (2)
  9. Farm Servant (Indoor) (2)
  10. Tailoress (2)
  11. Tin Mine Laborer (Dresser) (2)
  12. Farmers Wife (2)
  13. Cook (2)
  14. Ag.Lab. (2)
  15. General Serv (2)
  16. Pupil Teacher (2)
  17. Stone Dresser (2)
  18. At School (2)
  19. Ag Laborer (2)
  20. Gas Fitter (1)
  21. Formerly General Servant (1)
  22. Formerly Farmers Wife (1)
  23. General Serv (Domestic) (1)
  24. Genl Servant (1)
  25. Glover Leather Dresser (1)
  26. Grocers Apprentice (1)
  27. Hop Merchant (1)
  28. Assist Sick Berth Attendt (1)
  29. Housemaid (Domestic) (1)
  30. Laborers Wife (1)
  31. Labourer At Tin Mine (1)
  32. Leather Dresser (Glover) (1)
  33. Carriers Driver (1)
  34. Agricultural Laborer (1)
  35. Coachman (Dom) (1)
  36. Carpenters App (1)
  37. Carpenters (Apprentice) (1)
  38. Workwoman (Domestic) (1)
  39. Domestic Serv (Unemployed) (1)
  40. Carpenter (Master Employing 2 Boys) (1)
  41. Draper & Grocer Assistant (1)
  42. Dressmaker (1)
  43. Engineers Wife (1)
  44. Errand Boy (1)
  45. Carpenter (1)
  46. Farmer 73 Acres (1)
  47. Farmer Of 16 Acres (1)
  48. Farmer Of 19 Acres Employing 1 Boy (1)
  49. Farmer Of 380 Acres Employing 4 Men & 2 Boys (1)
  50. Farmer Of 400 Acres Employing 3 Labourers (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 121 people with the surname Roskilly in the county of Cornwall in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.04% of the people in Cornwall were called Roskilly.

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 Roskilly surname has an index of 53.45 in Cornwall, meaning that you are 53.45 times as likely to find a Roskilly 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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