THIRSK
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 (17)
- Thomas (13)
- William (11)
- George (11)
- James (9)
- Joseph (7)
- Henry (5)
- Harry (4)
- Robert (4)
- Jas. (3)
- Charles (3)
- Herbert (2)
- Fred (2)
- Alfred (2)
- Richard (2)
- Jesse (2)
- Arthur (2)
- Jabey (2)
- Leonard (2)
- Wilfred (1)
- Stephen (1)
- Walter (1)
- Thos. (1)
- Sydney (1)
- Albert (1)
- Jacob (1)
- Atkinson (1)
- Bernard (1)
- Chas.Wilson (1)
- Eleazor (1)
- Emanuel (1)
- Emmanuel (1)
- Frank (1)
- Frederick (1)
- Geo.Willm. (1)
- Isaac (1)
- Jabas (1)
- Jabez (1)
- Wilson (1)
Top female names
- Mary (16)
- Elizabeth (12)
- Sarah (8)
- Ann (8)
- Annie (6)
- Jane (5)
- Emily (5)
- Eliza (5)
- Esther (4)
- Margaret (4)
- Kate (3)
- Alice (3)
- Harriet (2)
- Ellen (2)
- Florence (2)
- Hannah (2)
- Ada (2)
- Anne (2)
- Catherine (2)
- Elisa (1)
- Lucy (1)
- Lydia (1)
- Amy (1)
- Martha (1)
- Agness (1)
- Maude (1)
- Robert (1)
- Rose (1)
- Sara (1)
- Selina (1)
- Shailota (1)
- Susan (1)
- Lillian (1)
- Anie (1)
- Julia (1)
- Eleanor (1)
- Edith (1)
- Christa. (1)
- Emma (1)
- Charlotte (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Betsey (1)
- Hanh. (1)
- Bertha (1)
- Hariet (1)
- Isabella (1)
- Grace (1)
- Jessie (1)
- Sussamah (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (57)
- Bricklayer (6)
- Joiner (4)
- Ag Lab (3)
- Farm Labourer (2)
- Dom Serv (2)
- Formerly Domestic Servant (1)
- Grocer (1)
- Good Station Clerk Wife (1)
- Ginger Beer Manufact (1)
- General Serv (1)
- Forman Of Wood Yards Widow (1)
- General Domestic Servant (1)
- Frm Tenter Cotton Spinning Intermediat (1)
- General Labourer (1)
- Grocers Assist (1)
- Miller And Farmer Of 24 Acres (C) (1)
- Licensed Victualler (1)
- Laundress (1)
- Labourer Wife (1)
- Labourer Unemployed (No Oc) (1)
- Lab Engineer (1)
- Grocer And Provision Dealer (1)
- Infant (1)
- Housemaid (1)
- Housekeeper (1)
- Groom & General Helper (N D) (1)
- Foreman In Oil Mill (1)
- Farmers Son (1)
- Chocolate Maker (1)
- Chapel Keeper (1)
- Case Makers Daughter (1)
- Carter Master Rullyman Employing 8 Men (1)
- Blacksmiths Striker (1)
- At Home (1)
- Agrl Labr (1)
- Ag Labs Wife (1)
- Wheelwright & Joiner (W...e) (1)
- Clerk In Railway Goods Office (1)
- Clerk To India R Mcht (1)
- Dairymaid (1)
- Farm Servant Indoor (1)
- Farm Servant (Ind) (1)
- Farm Servant (1)
- Farm Serv (Ind) (1)
- Errand Boy At Grocers (1)
- Engine Smith Colliery (E & M) (1)
- Dressmaker (1)
- Dock Labr Service (1)
- Dock 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 208 people with the surname Thirsk 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 Thirsk.
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 Thirsk surname has an index of 8.54 in Yorkshire, meaning that you are 8.54 times as likely to find a Thirsk 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.