SUMMONS
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 (12)
- William (10)
- James (6)
- George (4)
- Henry (3)
- Samuel (2)
- Charles (2)
- Stephen (2)
- Everett (2)
- Daniel (2)
- Thomas (1)
- Walter (1)
- Philip (1)
- Peter (1)
- Menice (1)
- Josiah (1)
- Joseph (1)
- Arthur (1)
- Benjamin (1)
- Frederick (1)
- Edward (1)
- Edgar (1)
- Alfred (1)
Top female names
- Mary (8)
- Elizabeth (5)
- Sarah (5)
- Ellen (4)
- Ann (3)
- Margaret (2)
- Emma (2)
- Jane (2)
- Eliza (2)
- Phoebe (2)
- Patsy (1)
- Karahappuck (1)
- Lavinia (1)
- Selina (1)
- Martha (1)
- Phillis (1)
- Pamela (1)
- Phebe (1)
- Alice (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Anne (1)
- Augusta (1)
- Betsy (1)
- Catherine (1)
- Charlote (1)
- Charlotte (1)
- Emily (1)
- Eva (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Florence (1)
- Hannah (1)
- Happy (1)
- Susan (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (18)
- Ag Lab (4)
- Farmers Son (2)
- Farm Laborer (2)
- Domestic Servant (2)
- Ag Labr (2)
- Agl Labour (2)
- Tailor (1)
- Nurse Maid Domestic (1)
- No Occupation Nurse Unemployed (1)
- Master (1)
- Machinist (1)
- Laundry Proprietor (1)
- Laundress (1)
- Labourer General (1)
- Parlormaid Domestic (1)
- Printers Pressman (1)
- Superanuated H M Customs (1)
- Shipwright In H M D (1)
- Shipwright H.M.Dockyard (1)
- Seamstress (1)
- Seaman (Fishing) (1)
- Scholar Pauper (1)
- Watch Examiner (1)
- Wheelwright (1)
- Laborer Agricultural (1)
- Income From House Property (1)
- Cotton Doubler (1)
- Contractors Time Keeper Assistant Engineer On ... Works (1)
- Builder & Contractor Master Employing 16 Men (1)
- Bricklayer Labr (1)
- Barge Builder Unemployed (1)
- Barge Builder (1)
- Agricultural Labourer (1)
- Ag Labs Widow No Occupation (1)
- Farm Servant (Indoor) (1)
- Farmer Of 38 Acres (1)
- Housekeeper (1)
- House Carpenter Apprentice (1)
- Grocer (1)
- Genl Labr (1)
- General Laborer (1)
- Gen Serv (Domestic) (1)
- Farmers Wife (1)
- Farmers Daur (1)
- Ag Labr Wife (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 31 people with the surname Summons in the county of Suffolk 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 Suffolk were called Summons.
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 Summons surname has an index of 22.49 in Suffolk, meaning that you are 22.49 times as likely to find a Summons 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.