SPROAT
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
- William (27)
- John (27)
- James (18)
- Robert (18)
- Thomas (16)
- Joseph (11)
- Isaac (9)
- Edward (5)
- Matthew (4)
- Samuel (4)
- Henry (4)
- Alexander (3)
- George (3)
- Richard (2)
- Andrew (2)
- Frederic (1)
- Barbara (1)
- Robt. (1)
- Archbald (1)
- Thos. (1)
- Thos.H. (1)
- Tom (1)
- Walter (1)
- Alick (1)
- Wills (1)
- Relton (1)
- Quenton (1)
- H. (1)
- Harry (1)
- Frank (1)
- Hugh (1)
- Edgar (1)
- David (1)
- D.R.W. (1)
- Christopher (1)
- Josepth (1)
- Charles (1)
- Moffit (1)
- Wm. (1)
Top female names
- Mary (35)
- Margaret (21)
- Elizabeth (15)
- Jane (15)
- Isabella (11)
- Sarah (11)
- Ann (9)
- Agnes (5)
- Hannah (4)
- Grace (3)
- Jessie (3)
- Janet (2)
- Ethel (2)
- Emma (2)
- Frances (2)
- Ellen (2)
- Elizebeth (2)
- Eliza (2)
- Barbara (2)
- Dinah (2)
- Catherine (2)
- Annie (2)
- Anna (2)
- Dorothy (2)
- Susan (2)
- Alice (2)
- Eleanor (2)
- Elisabeth (1)
- Ida (1)
- J.Ann (1)
- Janat (1)
- Helen (1)
- Jeanie (1)
- Jenette (1)
- Lizzie (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Hannan (1)
- Betty (1)
- Edith (1)
- E.M. (1)
- Ellenor (1)
- Elsie (1)
- Dora (1)
- Christina (1)
- Etty (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Florence (1)
- Emily (1)
- H. (1)
- Hady (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (72)
- Dressmaker (9)
- Draper (5)
- At School (Student) (3)
- Boiler Smith (3)
- Coal Miner (3)
- Timber Merchant (3)
- Labourer (3)
- General Labourer (3)
- Woodman (2)
- Dress Maker (2)
- Cotton Weaver (2)
- Housekeeper (2)
- Jute Weaver (2)
- Gen Lab (2)
- Groom (2)
- Cotton Reeler (2)
- Agric Labourer (2)
- Grocer (2)
- Grocers Assistant (2)
- Labourer Gen (2)
- Dressmaker And Servant (1)
- Engine Fitter At Works (1)
- Engine Driver (1)
- Farm Serv (1)
- Factory Mechanic Fitter (E & M) (1)
- Enginer Iron Founder Employs 50 Men & 13 Boys (M C R) (1)
- Domestic Servant (1)
- Engine Fitter In Cotton Factory (1)
- Drssmaker (1)
- Engine Smith (E & M) (1)
- Engine Driver In Factory (1)
- Civil Engineer Unemployed (1)
- Agricultural Laborer (1)
- Annuitant (1)
- Assistant Bakers (1)
- Baker (1)
- Bakers Assistant (1)
- Bobbin Reeler (Cotton) (1)
- Chemical Brokers Clerk (1)
- Civil Service Clerk In Charge Of Post Office (1)
- Clerk (1)
- Clerk At Bottle Works (1)
- Clerk In Mantle Warehouse (1)
- Clogger (1)
- Clothier (1)
- Coke Weighman (1)
- Commercial Traveller (1)
- Cook (1)
- Cook Out Of Employment (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 107 people with the surname Sproat in the county of Cumberland 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 Cumberland were called Sproat.
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 Sproat surname has an index of 21.67 in Cumberland, meaning that you are 21.67 times as likely to find a Sproat 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.