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 (10)
  2. William (10)
  3. Thomas (8)
  4. Henry (6)
  5. Charles (5)
  6. George (5)
  7. Joseph (5)
  8. Samuel (4)
  9. Edward (4)
  10. James (4)
  11. Alfred (3)
  12. Robert (2)
  13. David (2)
  14. Richard (1)
  15. Roger (1)
  16. Oscar (1)
  17. Mark (1)
  18. Alexander (1)
  19. Harry (1)
  20. Frederick (1)
  21. Ernest (1)
  22. Edwd. (1)
  23. August (1)
  24. Witney (1)

Top female names

  1. Elizabeth (7)
  2. Mary (5)
  3. Ann (5)
  4. Louisa (4)
  5. Sarah (3)
  6. Caroline (3)
  7. Jane (2)
  8. Anne (2)
  9. Catherine (2)
  10. Millicent (1)
  11. Meria (1)
  12. Maud (1)
  13. Ada (1)
  14. Millie (1)
  15. Minnie (1)
  16. Persichia (1)
  17. Rebecca (1)
  18. Rose (1)
  19. Roseanna (1)
  20. Rowena (1)
  21. Sophie (1)
  22. Susanna (1)
  23. Martha (1)
  24. Margaret (1)
  25. Alexandra (1)
  26. Alice (1)
  27. Anna (1)
  28. Eleanor (1)
  29. Eliza (1)
  30. Elizth. (1)
  31. Ellena (1)
  32. Elza (1)
  33. Emily (1)
  34. Emma (1)
  35. Fanny (1)
  36. Jenett (1)
  37. Lavina (1)
  38. Lucy (1)
  39. Tilly (1)

Top occupations

  1. Scholar (27)
  2. Labourer (3)
  3. Wife (2)
  4. Labourer General (1)
  5. Laborer (1)
  6. Hawker (1)
  7. Halftime Cotton Doffer (1)
  8. Halftime Cotton Creeler (1)
  9. Grazier Of 42 Acres Employing 1 Labourer (1)
  10. Glass Blower (1)
  11. General Servant (1)
  12. General Lab (1)
  13. Labourer General Wife (1)
  14. Labourer In (Iron) Foundry (1)
  15. Labourer In Ironworks (1)
  16. Puddlers Labourer (1)
  17. Puddler In Ironworks (1)
  18. Private 2 Stafford Mil (1)
  19. Printer (1)
  20. Potters Assistant (1)
  21. Porter Genl (1)
  22. Plasterer (1)
  23. Nurse Child (1)
  24. Nurse (1)
  25. Meat Salesman (1)
  26. Gen Servant (1)
  27. Forge Man (I) (1)
  28. Fisherman (1)
  29. Coalminer (1)
  30. Chelsea Pensioner (1)
  31. Chainmaker (1)
  32. Card Room Hand (1)
  33. Bricklayer (1)
  34. Boot Maker (1)
  35. Boot And Shoe Maker (1)
  36. Boat Man (1)
  37. Artist Landscape (1)
  38. Worsted Weaver (1)
  39. Cook (D) (1)
  40. Corn Dealer (1)
  41. Farm Servant (Indoor) (1)
  42. Farm Servant (Ag Lab) (1)
  43. Farm Servant (1)
  44. Dressmaker (1)
  45. Dress Maker (1)
  46. Domestic Servant (1)
  47. Cotton Weaver (1)
  48. Cotton Rover (1)
  49. Cotton Minder (1)
  50. Cotton (Mis) (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 26 people with the surname Wittle 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 Wittle.

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 Wittle surname has an index of 1.58 in Lancashire, meaning that you are 1.58 times as likely to find a Wittle 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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