SORBY
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 (20)
- William (13)
- George (11)
- Thomas (10)
- Charles (8)
- Walter (4)
- James (4)
- Joseph (4)
- Frank (4)
- Henry (3)
- Richard (3)
- Robert (3)
- Albert (3)
- Reuben (2)
- Samuel (2)
- Arthur (2)
- Benjamin (2)
- Thos. (2)
- Fred (2)
- Alfred (2)
- P.Carr (1)
- Morris (1)
- Amos (1)
- Sydney (1)
- Wallace (1)
- Wilfred (1)
- Leonard (1)
- Bede (1)
- Edgar (1)
- Cyril (1)
- Fredrick (1)
- Geo. (1)
- Clement (1)
- Gertrude (1)
- Chas. (1)
- Horatia (1)
- Bruce (1)
- Jesse (1)
- Jn.Wm. (1)
- Frederick (1)
- Edwin (1)
Top female names
- Mary (16)
- Sarah (8)
- Alice (8)
- Clara (8)
- Ada (5)
- Ellen (5)
- Elizabeth (5)
- Eliza (5)
- Charlotte (5)
- Martha (5)
- Louisa (4)
- Lucy (4)
- Edith (4)
- Emma (4)
- Hannah (3)
- Ann (3)
- Grace (2)
- Maria (2)
- Ethel (2)
- Florence (2)
- Gertrude (2)
- Emily (2)
- Betsy (2)
- Amelia (2)
- Aminda (2)
- Anne (2)
- Kezia (1)
- Lily (1)
- Lois (1)
- Winnie (1)
- Marey (1)
- Emilly (1)
- Margaret (1)
- Angelica (1)
- Matilda (1)
- Maud (1)
- Kate (1)
- Jane (1)
- Elisabeth (1)
- Edna (1)
- Cissy (1)
- Frances (1)
- Fredica (1)
- Catherine (1)
- H. (1)
- Elizabth. (1)
- Harriett (1)
- Harrt. (1)
- Helen (1)
- Hilda (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (67)
- Coal Miner (5)
- Iron Moulder (4)
- Tailor (4)
- Worsted Spinner (3)
- Commercial Clerk (2)
- Farmers Wife (2)
- Gentlewoman (2)
- Unemployed (2)
- Servant (Dom) (2)
- Woollen & Worsted Weaver (2)
- File Cutter (2)
- Income From Dividends (2)
- Jeweller Ear Rings &c (2)
- Forewoman In Show Room (Button) (1)
- Coal Mine Trammer (1)
- General Serv (1)
- General Merchant & Manufact Employing 108 Men 14 Women 18 Boys (1)
- General Laborer (1)
- Farmer (1)
- Farmer 10 Acres (1)
- Farmer Of 280 Emp 6 Lab (1)
- Furniture Dealer (1)
- Farmer Of 90 Acres Emp 1 Man (1)
- Farmer Of 94 Acres Employing 3 Laborers (1)
- Furnaceman (Steel Melters) (1)
- Formerly Domestic Serv (1)
- Farmer Wife (1)
- Forgeman (Bsmith) (1)
- Cutlery Manufacturers Clerk (1)
- Cotton Cop Winder (1)
- Brass Burner Surgical Instrument (1)
- Bone Haft and Scale Cutter (Cutler) (1)
- Bone Haft & Scale Cutter (...) (1)
- Blacksmiths Striker (1)
- Assistant (Dress) (1)
- Artist (Designer) (1)
- Architect (1)
- Annuitant (1)
- Certificated Teacher (1)
- Clerk Iron Founder (1)
- Coach Smith (1)
- Cook Dom Serv (1)
- Commision Agent (Steel Trade) (1)
- Comb Buffer Horn (1)
- Colliery Labourer (1)
- Colliery Hanger On (1)
- Collier Out Of Employ (1)
- Coalminer (1)
- Coal & Land Proprietor (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 198 people with the surname Sorby 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, 0.01% of the people in Yorkshire were called Sorby.
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 Sorby surname has an index of 6.87 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 6.87 times as likely to find a Sorby 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.