NameCensus.

UK surname

Abson

Derived from the name Abba or Abbey, likely referring to someone who lived near an abbey.

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Abson surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 499, ranked #9,997, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wakefield, Sheffield and Snaith. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Barnsley and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abson is 566 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.1%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

499

2016, ranked #9,997

Peak year

1998

566 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abson had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016, ranked #9,997.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 551 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Abson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Abson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Abson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 271 #8,257
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 384 #9,166
1901 historical 459 #8,577
1911 historical 551 #7,274
1997 modern 540 #8,782
1998 modern 566 #8,726
1999 modern 563 #8,812
2000 modern 552 #8,917
2001 modern 547 #8,833
2002 modern 537 #9,150
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 520 #9,244
2005 modern 516 #9,236
2006 modern 500 #9,490
2007 modern 506 #9,482
2008 modern 500 #9,630
2009 modern 504 #9,788
2010 modern 511 #9,882
2011 modern 508 #9,839
2012 modern 509 #9,734
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 518 #9,833
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 499 #9,997

Geography

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Where Absons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wakefield, Sheffield, Snaith, Rotherham and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Barnsley, Amber Valley, Rossendale and County Durham. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Snaith Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 006 Wakefield
2 Barnsley 019 Barnsley
3 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
4 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
5 County Durham 038 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Abson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Abson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Abson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Abson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Abson is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Abson is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Abson falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Abson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Abson

The surname "ABSON" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "abbe" meaning "abbot" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in a town or village associated with an abbey or a place governed by an abbot.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "ABSON" date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Abston, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another early record is of a John de Abston, who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297.

While the surname "ABSON" does not appear in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, it is possible that the name's origins can be traced back to settlements or places mentioned in that historic record. For instance, the village of Abbotstown in Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Abbadestunam" in the Domesday Book, may have been the inspiration for the surname.

Over the centuries, the surname "ABSON" has undergone various spelling variations, including "Abston," "Abbotson," and "Abbutson." These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and the preferences of record-keepers at the time.

Notable individuals who have borne the surname "ABSON" include:

1. William Abson (1543-1612), an English composer and organist during the Renaissance period. 2. John Abson (1674-1747), a British merchant and philanthropist who founded the Abson Charity School in Bristol. 3. Elizabeth Abson (1786-1862), a British author and poet known for her collection of poems titled "Musings of a Village Maid." 4. Henry Abson (1812-1887), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London. 5. George Abson (1898-1976), a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party from 1945 to 1970.

While the surname "ABSON" is not among the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, it has a rich historical background and has been borne by individuals who have made notable contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 274 Absons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.26x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 274 8.26x
Lancashire 34 0.86x
Middlesex 10 0.30x
Durham 6 0.60x
Derbyshire 5 0.95x
Worcestershire 5 1.14x
Cheshire 4 0.54x
Lanarkshire 2 0.18x
Westmorland 2 2.72x
Denbighshire 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 74 Absons recorded in 1881 and an index of 480.52x.

Place Total Index
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 74 480.52x
Wakefield 17 66.80x
Rotherham 15 80.26x
Goole 14 251.80x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 13 107.97x
Kimberworth 12 65.22x
Hunslet 11 21.28x
Whiston 10 625.00x
Brightside Bierlow 9 13.84x
Glass Houghton 9 750.00x
Leeds 8 4.27x
Bolton On Dearne 7 608.70x
Heaton Norris 7 30.97x
Manchester 7 3.92x
Ripon 7 91.03x
Sheffield 7 6.63x
Barnsley 6 17.54x
Dodworth 6 174.42x
Huddersfield 6 12.42x
Penshaw 6 200.67x
Warmfield Cum Heath 6 535.71x
Eckington 5 39.28x
Gorton 5 13.40x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 23.43x
Hook 5 68.59x
Redditch 5 56.43x
St Luke London 5 9.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 4.61x
Dukinfield 4 11.72x
Horbury 4 68.97x
Swillington 4 425.53x
Everton 3 2.37x
Reddish 3 54.84x
Ardsley 2 52.36x
Glasgow 2 1.04x
Heeley 2 19.84x
Holbeck 2 9.10x
Kendal 2 14.86x
North Meols 2 5.15x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 2 74.35x
Rothwell 2 29.85x
St Clement Danes London 2 28.90x
Wentworth 2 97.56x
Bawtry 1 96.15x
Calverley Cum Farsley 1 10.63x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.48x
Hanwell 1 16.86x
Hulme 1 1.21x
Islington London 1 0.31x
Kensington London 1 0.54x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 1 24.75x
Monk Bretton 1 29.76x
Oldham 1 0.78x
Ovenden 1 6.78x
Scotforth 1 38.76x
St George St George 1 277.78x
Tanshelf 1 37.74x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Abson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 14
Ann 12
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Jane 8
Ada 5
Annie 5
Frances 5
Eliza 4
Kate 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Lilly 2
Margaret 2
Miriam 2
Rebecca 2
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Caroll 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Luielle 1
Minnie 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Abson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 24
William 17
Thomas 13
Charles 10
Joseph 8
Arthur 6
George 6
James 6
Edward 5
Ernest 5
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Fred 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Israel 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Bengmin 1
Cecil 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Eustace 1
Gis 1
Headley 1
Henery 1
Jasper 1
Joe 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Richd. 1
Rodger 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Squire 1
Sydney 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Abson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Abson surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 499 in 2016. That gives Abson a modern rank of #9,997.

What does the Abson surname mean?

Derived from the name Abba or Abbey, likely referring to someone who lived near an abbey.

What does the Abson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Abson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.