UK surname
Derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived on or near a patch of arable land.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Aland surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rugby, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aland is 110 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1891
110 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Aland surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Aland surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 76 | #20,127 |
| 1861 | historical | 100 | #21,103 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 110 | #22,557 |
| 1901 | historical | 96 | #23,342 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 87 | #28,749 |
| 1998 | modern | 78 | #30,192 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 88 | #29,284 |
| 2001 | modern | 82 | #29,714 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 83 | #30,088 |
| 2004 | modern | 78 | #30,919 |
| 2005 | modern | 74 | #31,522 |
| 2006 | modern | 86 | #30,425 |
| 2007 | modern | 88 | #30,515 |
| 2008 | modern | 91 | #30,431 |
| 2009 | modern | 88 | #31,352 |
| 2010 | modern | 94 | #31,111 |
| 2011 | modern | 91 | #31,442 |
| 2012 | modern | 83 | #32,611 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rugby, London parishes, St Pancras, St James Clerkenwell and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rugby | Warwickshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Aland surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aland, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Aland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Aland household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Aland is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Aland is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Aland, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Aland originates from the Scandinavian region, particularly Sweden and Finland. It is believed to have its roots in the Swedish island of Åland, located in the Baltic Sea between Sweden and Finland. The name likely arose as a locational surname, indicating that the original bearers hailed from or resided on this island.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Aland can be traced back to the 13th century in Sweden. Historical records from this period, such as medieval charters and tax rolls, contain references to individuals bearing this surname, often spelled as Åland or Ålander. The island of Åland itself is mentioned in various ancient Norse sagas and Viking chronicles, suggesting a long-standing association between the place and the surname.
In the 14th century, the name Aland appears in the Icelandic sagas, particularly in the Sturlunga saga, which chronicles the lives of Icelandic chieftains and their conflicts with the Norwegian crown. This indicates that individuals bearing this surname may have migrated or been involved in Norse expeditions to Iceland during this time.
One notable figure with the surname Aland was Johan Aland, a Swedish naval officer and explorer who lived from 1677 to 1744. He played a significant role in mapping the Arctic regions and establishing Swedish settlements in present-day Russia during the early 18th century.
Another individual of historical significance was Elias Aland, a German theologian and biblical scholar who lived from 1888 to 1983. He is renowned for his extensive work on the Greek New Testament and his contributions to textual criticism.
In the 19th century, the name Aland gained prominence in Finland, where it is often associated with the Åland Islands, an autonomous region of Finland located in the Baltic Sea. Notable figures from this region include Henning Aland, a Finnish politician and diplomat who served as the Governor of the Åland Islands from 1911 to 1918.
Throughout its history, the surname Aland has also been connected to various place names and localities, such as Åland in Sweden, the Åland Islands in Finland, and possibly even the island of Auland in Norway. The name's variations in spelling, including Ålander, Olander, and Ålund, reflect the linguistic and cultural influences of the regions where it has been prevalent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aland surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 20 Alands recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 20 | 3.42x |
| Surrey | 15 | 5.26x |
| Wiltshire | 13 | 25.12x |
| Gloucestershire | 7 | 6.10x |
| Kent | 4 | 2.00x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 5.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clerkenwell London in Middlesex leads with 11 Alands recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.65x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clerkenwell London | 11 | 79.65x |
| Bradford On Avon | 5 | 301.20x |
| Lambeth | 4 | 7.84x |
| Thames Ditton | 4 | 677.97x |
| Westbury On Trym | 4 | 102.83x |
| Bermondsey | 3 | 17.22x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 17.02x |
| Islington London | 3 | 5.29x |
| Battersea | 2 | 9.29x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 5.35x |
| Chippenham | 2 | 183.49x |
| Deal | 2 | 117.65x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 6.15x |
| Kington St Michael | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Leonard Stanley | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Maidstone | 2 | 33.61x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 9.25x |
| Broad Hinton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Devizes St James | 1 | 144.93x |
| Marden | 1 | 2500.00x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.20x |
| St Peter Port | 1 | 31.15x |
| Westwood | 1 | 909.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Aland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Aland surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Aland households.
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Aland surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Aland a modern rank of #32,570.
Derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived on or near a patch of arable land.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Aland bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.