NameCensus.

UK surname

Ainscough

From the Old English "atten oke," meaning "at the oak tree," likely referring to a person who lived nearby.

In the 1881 census there were 805 people recorded with the Ainscough surname, ranking it #4,631 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,325, ranked #4,530, up from #4,631 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Wigan and Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Chorley and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ainscough is 1,413 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.6%.

1881 census count

805

Ranked #4,631

Modern count

1,325

2016, ranked #4,530

Peak year

2010

1,413 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ainscough had 805 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,631 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,325 in 2016, ranked #4,530.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,397 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Ainscough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ainscough surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ainscough 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 376 #6,343
1861 historical 440 #5,862
1881 historical 805 #4,631
1891 historical 926 #4,461
1901 historical 1,183 #4,142
1911 historical 1,397 #3,458
1997 modern 1,358 #4,236
1998 modern 1,358 #4,387
1999 modern 1,411 #4,273
2000 modern 1,407 #4,271
2001 modern 1,397 #4,228
2002 modern 1,402 #4,287
2003 modern 1,357 #4,325
2004 modern 1,356 #4,337
2005 modern 1,325 #4,367
2006 modern 1,346 #4,324
2007 modern 1,341 #4,379
2008 modern 1,362 #4,346
2009 modern 1,403 #4,325
2010 modern 1,413 #4,370
2011 modern 1,362 #4,459
2012 modern 1,347 #4,429
2013 modern 1,349 #4,499
2014 modern 1,343 #4,538
2015 modern 1,323 #4,564
2016 modern 1,325 #4,530

Geography

Back to top

Where Ainscoughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Wigan, Leigh, Bolton-le-Moors and Chorley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Chorley and Wigan. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Leigh Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Chorley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 005 West Lancashire
2 Chorley 014 Chorley
3 Chorley 011 Chorley
4 Wigan 010 Wigan
5 Wigan 008 Wigan

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ainscough

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ainscough

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Ainscough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ainscough 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ainscough is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ainscough is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ainscough falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ainscough 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 Ainscough, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ainscough

The surname Ainscough has its origins in Lancashire, England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "an" meaning "one" and "sceaga" meaning "shaw" or small wood, referring to a person living near a small wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Lancashire Inquests of 1311, where it appears as "de Aynescogh." This suggests that the name was initially associated with a specific location or estate. Over time, variations such as Ainsco, Aynscough, and Aynscow emerged.

The Ainscoughs were a prominent family in Lancashire, with their ancestral home believed to be the township of Coppull. In the 16th century, the name appears in the Whalley Abbey Coucher Book, an important medieval cartulary containing records of land ownership and transactions.

Notable individuals with the surname Ainscough include John Ainscough (1570-1642), an English clergyman and Puritan minister who served as the vicar of Leyland, Lancashire. Another figure was William Ainscough (1676-1737), a Lancashire landowner and Justice of the Peace.

In the 18th century, the name spread beyond Lancashire, with records showing Ainscoughs residing in neighboring counties such as Yorkshire and Cheshire. James Ainscough (1748-1823) was a notable merchant and industrialist from Liverpool who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade.

During the 19th century, the Ainscough family continued to be prominent in various fields. Joseph Ainscough (1801-1877) was a notable architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Lancashire. Richard Ainscough (1832-1901) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Bolton.

While the Ainscough surname originated in Lancashire, it eventually spread throughout England and to other parts of the world through migration and travel. The name's enduring legacy is a testament to its deep roots in the history and culture of northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ainscough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ainscough 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. Lancashire leads with 745 Ainscoughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 745 7.99x
Yorkshire 42 0.54x
Flintshire 7 3.31x
Cheshire 5 0.29x
Surrey 5 0.13x
Durham 2 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Meols in Lancashire leads with 82 Ainscoughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.79x.

Place Total Index
North Meols 82 89.79x
Blackrod 63 543.57x
Wigan 63 48.32x
Westhoughton 40 160.64x
Chorley 38 72.59x
Pemberton 32 86.02x
Coppull 25 503.02x
Hindley 24 60.33x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 20 74.46x
Preston 19 7.61x
Wrightington 19 466.83x
Abram 16 223.46x
Aspull 16 72.93x
Everton 16 5.38x
Liverpool 16 2.82x
Lostock 16 761.90x
Heath Charnock 14 564.52x
Scarisbrick 14 129.27x
Habergham Eaves 12 14.07x
Manchester 12 2.86x
Parbold 12 827.59x
Pennington In Leigh 12 67.04x
Leyland 11 67.78x
Orrell 11 94.83x
Garston 9 32.69x
Skelmersdale 9 57.88x
West Derby 9 3.30x
Atherton 8 23.56x
Bispham 8 1052.63x
Rawmarsh 8 29.07x
Alston 7 161.29x
Croston 7 145.23x
Golborne 7 57.57x
Halliwell 7 20.62x
Droylsden 6 19.71x
Gildersome 6 64.03x
Great Little Marsden 6 14.04x
Hawarden Saltney 6 202.70x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 11.96x
Hunslet 6 4.94x
Battersea 5 1.73x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.27x
Blackburn 4 1.61x
Dodworth 4 49.44x
Ince In Makerfield 4 9.21x
Macclesfield 4 5.19x
Newton 4 5.56x
Bradford 3 6.87x
Eccleston In Chorley 3 123.97x
Heskin 3 291.26x
Wardleworth 3 5.63x
Widnes 3 4.46x
Withnell 3 52.45x
Clitheroe 2 7.28x
Fishwick 2 34.66x
Kirkdale 2 1.27x
Little Bolton 2 1.67x
Prescot 2 11.86x
Rumworth 2 15.00x
Stansfield 2 6.98x
Upholland 2 16.74x
Whitworth 2 11.68x
Adlington 1 11.44x
Ampleforth Oswaldkirk 1 128.21x
Barnsley 1 1.24x
Birkenhead 1 0.72x
Bury 1 0.94x
Cold Kirby 1 227.27x
Fulwood 1 9.92x
Howick 1 588.24x
Huddersfield 1 0.88x
Lathom 1 8.87x
Litherland 1 5.13x
Mawdesley 1 39.84x
Over Darwen 1 1.34x
Pendlebury 1 5.08x
Salford 1 0.36x
Scarborough 1 1.41x
Tottington Lower End 1 2.26x
Westleigh 1 4.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Ellen 37
Elizabeth 36
Alice 33
Jane 33
Ann 24
Margaret 24
Hannah 10
Martha 10
Sarah 9
Nancy 8
Elizth. 6
Annie 5
Fanny 5
Isabella 5
Catherine 4
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Margt. 4
Agnes 3
Betty 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Jenny 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Elizebth. 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Margeret 2
Margery 2
Rebecca 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Winifred 2
Adeline 1
Alici 1
Emerilda 1
Emy 1
Eva 1
Levinia 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Maggie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
James 54
William 49
Thomas 47
Richard 23
Hugh 20
Robert 18
George 15
Henry 12
Charles 11
Edward 9
Ralph 8
Joseph 7
Peter 6
Alfred 5
Michael 5
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Jno. 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Colin 1
Cornelious 1
Eliz. 1
Emily 1
Giles 1
Hambleton 1
Hubert 1
Jabez 1
Jno.Thos. 1
Jos. 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Nathan 1
Philip 1
Solomon 1
Stephen 1
Washington 1
Wilfred 1
Willie 1
Wm.Ernest 1

FAQ

Ainscough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ainscough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 805 people were recorded with the Ainscough surname. That placed it at #4,631 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ainscough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,325 in 2016. That gives Ainscough a modern rank of #4,530.

What does the Ainscough surname mean?

From the Old English "atten oke," meaning "at the oak tree," likely referring to a person who lived nearby.

What does the Ainscough map show?

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