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. John (23)
  2. William (21)
  3. Edward (10)
  4. James (10)
  5. Thomas (10)
  6. Charles (8)
  7. Joseph (8)
  8. Samuel (6)
  9. George (6)
  10. Arthur (5)
  11. Patrick (5)
  12. Herbert (4)
  13. Walter (3)
  14. Albert (3)
  15. Frederick (3)
  16. Bartholomew (2)
  17. Wm. (2)
  18. Robert (2)
  19. Henry (2)
  20. Harold (2)
  21. Ernest (2)
  22. Richard (1)
  23. Sam. (1)
  24. Benjamin (1)
  25. Fredk.John (1)
  26. Andrew (1)
  27. Ths.Jas. (1)
  28. Algernon (1)
  29. Alfred (1)
  30. Michael (1)
  31. Martin (1)
  32. Frank (1)
  33. Harry (1)
  34. Edwin (1)
  35. Hugh (1)
  36. Augustus (1)
  37. Edgar (1)
  38. Jonathon (1)
  39. Geo.Robert (1)
  40. Laurance (1)
  41. Louis (1)
  42. Simon (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (28)
  2. Sarah (14)
  3. Elizabeth (9)
  4. Emma (7)
  5. Ann (6)
  6. Florence (5)
  7. Eliza (5)
  8. Jane (5)
  9. Hannah (4)
  10. Martha (4)
  11. Caroline (4)
  12. Ellen (4)
  13. Annie (3)
  14. Alice (3)
  15. Isabella (3)
  16. Phoebe (3)
  17. Emily (2)
  18. Harriet (2)
  19. Margaret (2)
  20. Anne (2)
  21. Maud (2)
  22. Catherine (2)
  23. Frances (2)
  24. Louisa (1)
  25. Lucy (1)
  26. Urrum (1)
  27. Sophia (1)
  28. Sabina (1)
  29. Roseanna (1)
  30. Margret (1)
  31. Monica (1)
  32. Mercy (1)
  33. Lizzie (1)
  34. Lily (1)
  35. Amelia (1)
  36. Amy (1)
  37. Augusta (1)
  38. Bessie (1)
  39. Carolin (1)
  40. Catharine (1)
  41. Celia (1)
  42. Celina (1)
  43. Clara (1)
  44. Edith (1)
  45. Adeliza (1)
  46. Grace (1)
  47. Jessie (1)
  48. Julia (1)
  49. Agnes (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (71)
  2. Coal Miner (7)
  3. Dressmaker (4)
  4. Labourer (3)
  5. Basket Maker (3)
  6. Printers Compositor (2)
  7. Furnace Man (2)
  8. Cotton Mule Spiner (2)
  9. Grocer (2)
  10. Wheelwright (2)
  11. Domestic Servant (2)
  12. Painter (2)
  13. Labourer Cellarman In Porter Store (2)
  14. Cotton Rover (2)
  15. House Decorator (2)
  16. Blacksmith (2)
  17. General Labourer (1)
  18. General Laborer (1)
  19. General Lab (1)
  20. Farm Servt (Indoor) (1)
  21. Farmer 48 Acres (1)
  22. Farmer Of 5 Acres (1)
  23. General Dyer (1)
  24. Farmers Daughter (1)
  25. Gen Lab (1)
  26. Foreman Caustic Drum Maker (Alkali Manuf) (1)
  27. Forge Man (Besmer) (1)
  28. Furniture Dealer (1)
  29. Farmer Of 60 Acres Employing 3 Men 2 Boys (1)
  30. Formerly Dressmaker (1)
  31. Framework Knitter (1)
  32. Dress Maker (1)
  33. Chelsea Pensioner Serg Maj 48 Regiment (1)
  34. Carpenters Wife (1)
  35. Cardroom Hand Cotton (1)
  36. Butcher & Draper (1)
  37. Bricklayers Lab (1)
  38. Brass Finisher (1)
  39. Assistant (Furniture) (1)
  40. Assistant (1)
  41. Worstd Weaver (1)
  42. Coal Labourer Miners (1)
  43. Drapers Assistant (1)
  44. Domestic Servt General (1)
  45. Cotton Weaver (1)
  46. Auctioneer & Surveyor (1)
  47. Cook Domestic Servt (1)
  48. Cook (1)
  49. Commercial Traveller Ready Made Clothing Trade (1)
  50. Colliery Labourer (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 50 people with the surname Stinson in the county of Lancashire 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 Lancashire were called Stinson.

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 Stinson surname has an index of 1.34 in Lancashire, meaning that you are 1.34 times as likely to find a Stinson 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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