NameCensus.

UK surname

Adaway

Derived from a place name meaning "the path leading to the river" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 88 people recorded with the Adaway surname, ranking it #21,211 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #21,211 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitcham, Burnham, Dorney and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Spelthorne, South Bucks and Hillingdon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adaway is 219 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.2%.

1881 census count

88

Ranked #21,211

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

1999

219 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adaway had 88 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,211 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Adaway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adaway surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adaway 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 20 #31,364
1881 historical 88 #21,211
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 119 #20,624
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 215 #16,844
1998 modern 213 #17,431
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 210 #17,644
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 200 #18,640
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 200 #19,713
2015 modern 194 #19,994
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Adaways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitcham, Burnham, Dorney, London parishes, Farnham Royal and Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Spelthorne, South Bucks, Hillingdon, Slough and Merton. 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 Mitcham Surrey
2 Burnham, Dorney Buckinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Farnham Royal Buckinghamshire
5 Bray, Maidenhead, Cookham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Spelthorne 008 Spelthorne
2 South Bucks 007 South Bucks
3 Hillingdon 022 Hillingdon
4 Slough 006 Slough
5 Merton 016 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adaway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Adaway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Adaway, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Adaway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Adaway household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Adaway is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Adaway is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Adaway falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Adaway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Adaway

The surname Adaway has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon culture of medieval England. It is believed to have originated in the county of Oxfordshire, possibly as a variant spelling of the place name "Adderbury." This village name is derived from the Old English words "ædre" meaning watercourse or stream, and "bury" meaning a fortified town or manor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Adaway can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Addrebi." This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Adaway was Sir John Adaway, a knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Sir John was recorded as participating in the siege of Calais in 1347.

The Adaway name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1428, further indicating its presence in the area during the 15th century. In these records, the spelling variations include "Addewy" and "Adaway."

During the Tudor period, a prominent individual with the surname Adaway was Thomas Adaway, a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was born around 1520 and served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in 1578.

In the 17th century, the Adaway family had established a presence in the county of Warwickshire. Records from this time mention a William Adaway, who was born in 1621 and served as the rector of the parish church in the village of Wellesbourne Hastings.

Another noteworthy figure with the Adaway surname was Sir Henry Adaway, a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for the borough of Coventry in the late 17th century. He was born in 1645 and played an active role in local politics and affairs.

As the centuries progressed, the Adaway name continued to be found in various regions of England, with individuals from this family making contributions in various fields, including agriculture, trade, and public service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Adaway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adaway 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 42 Adaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.94x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 42 80.94x
Surrey 19 4.54x
Berkshire 12 18.62x
Shropshire 9 12.14x
Warwickshire 4 1.85x
Kent 2 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnham in Buckinghamshire leads with 33 Adaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 5000.00x.

Place Total Index
Burnham 33 5000.00x
Clewer 11 416.67x
Mitcham 10 378.79x
Farnham Royal 9 2903.23x
Wrockwardine 9 552.15x
Wimbledon 5 106.38x
Aston 4 6.71x
Merton 4 547.95x
Lewisham 1 6.40x
Maidstone 1 11.47x
Reading St Mary 1 19.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Martha 2
Agness 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Minnie 1
Selina 1
Theresa 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
William 6
Henry 5
George 4
James 3
Thomas 3
Chas. 2
Admer 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Isaiah 1
Jairus 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Adaway households.

FAQ

Adaway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adaway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 88 people were recorded with the Adaway surname. That placed it at #21,211 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adaway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Adaway a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Adaway surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "the path leading to the river" in Old English.

What does the Adaway map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Adaway 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.