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. William (19)
  2. John (11)
  3. Thomas (9)
  4. Walter (7)
  5. Richard (6)
  6. Nicholas (3)
  7. Henry (3)
  8. James (3)
  9. Joseph (2)
  10. Samuel (2)
  11. Francis (2)
  12. Sampson (1)
  13. Stanley (1)
  14. Oliver (1)
  15. Alfred (1)
  16. Michael (1)
  17. Martin (1)
  18. Jas. (1)
  19. Horace (1)
  20. Harry (1)
  21. Frank (1)
  22. David (1)
  23. Davey (1)
  24. Willie (1)

Top female names

  1. Mary (18)
  2. Elizabeth (16)
  3. Annie (5)
  4. Emma (5)
  5. Ellen (4)
  6. Anna (3)
  7. Eliza (3)
  8. Emily (3)
  9. Edith (2)
  10. Laura (2)
  11. Jane (2)
  12. Ann (2)
  13. Lena (1)
  14. Katie (1)
  15. Joey (1)
  16. Jessie (1)
  17. Tryphena (1)
  18. Margaret (1)
  19. Susannah (1)
  20. Selina (1)
  21. Polly (1)
  22. Nanny (1)
  23. Lewias (1)
  24. Martha (1)
  25. Marion (1)
  26. Marianne (1)
  27. Harriet (1)
  28. Grace (1)
  29. Bertha (1)
  30. Bessie (1)
  31. Carrie (1)
  32. Cathe. (1)
  33. Cathe.M. (1)
  34. Catherine (1)
  35. Clara (1)
  36. Edna (1)
  37. Eliz. (1)
  38. Ellan (1)
  39. Emmeline (1)
  40. Emna (1)
  41. Ethel (1)
  42. Fanny (1)
  43. Florance (1)
  44. Florence (1)
  45. Amelia (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (41)
  2. Copper Miner (3)
  3. Farmers Wife (3)
  4. Domestic Servant (2)
  5. General Servant (2)
  6. Dressmaker (2)
  7. Work at Mine Stamps (Tin Miner) (2)
  8. Carpenter (2)
  9. Farmer's Son (2)
  10. Serv. General (2)
  11. Blacksmith (2)
  12. Gardener (M) (1)
  13. Farming 12 Acres Of Land (1)
  14. Farmer Of 55 Acres Employing 1 Labourer & 2 Boys (1)
  15. Farmer Wife (1)
  16. Farmers Daur (1)
  17. Farmer's Daur (1)
  18. Farmers Daughter (1)
  19. General Laborer (1)
  20. Mine Spaler (Tin) (Worker) (1)
  21. Letter Carrier (1)
  22. Lead Miner (1)
  23. Laundry Maid (DM) (1)
  24. Labourer At Tin Works (Miner) (1)
  25. Housekeeper (1)
  26. Genl Domestic Serv (1)
  27. General Serv Domestic (1)
  28. General Serv (1)
  29. Farmer Of 41 Acres Employing 1 Man 2 Boys (1)
  30. Farmer Of 100 Acres Employing 2 Men (1)
  31. Farmer Daur (1)
  32. Copper Miner Wife (1)
  33. Congregational Minister (1)
  34. Coachman D (1)
  35. Clerk (1)
  36. Clay Works Boy (1)
  37. Builder Employing 25 Men (1)
  38. Brewery Driver (Drayman) (1)
  39. Blockmaker (1)
  40. Work In The Fields (M) (1)
  41. Drapers Assist (1)
  42. Engineman (Driver) (Mine) Out Of Employ (1)
  43. Farmer About 15 Acres (1)
  44. Farmer 8 Acres (1)
  45. Farmer 10 Acres (1)
  46. Farmer (Of 50 Acres Emp 1 Lab) (1)
  47. Farmer (Employing 1 Laborer) (1)
  48. Farmer & Carrier (1)
  49. Farmer (1)
  50. Farm 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 155 people with the surname Verran in the county of Cornwall in 1881.

The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.05% of the people in Cornwall were called Verran.

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 Verran surname has an index of 78.86 in Cornwall, meaning that you are 78.86 times as likely to find a Verran 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.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.