NameCensus.

UK surname

Albin

Derived from the Latin name Albinus, meaning "white" or "bright," likely referring to someone with very pale hair or complexion.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Albin surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Poole St James and Thorpe St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Canterbury and Preston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albin is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albin had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 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 151 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Albin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albin 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 74 #20,443
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 103 #23,558
1901 historical 151 #17,988
1911 historical 114 #21,064
1997 modern 150 #21,119
1998 modern 170 #20,030
1999 modern 167 #20,374
2000 modern 167 #20,332
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 155 #21,352
2005 modern 153 #21,490
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 152 #22,022
2008 modern 158 #21,690
2009 modern 166 #21,469
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 180 #20,606
2013 modern 181 #20,879
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Albins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Poole St James, Thorpe St Andrew, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Canterbury, Preston and Poole. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 Thorpe St Andrew Norfolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
2 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
3 Preston 009 Preston
4 Preston 017 Preston
5 Poole 016 Poole

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albin

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Albin is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Albin 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

Albin falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Albin

The surname Albin is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It derives from the Old English personal name Albyn, which itself comes from the Old English word "aelf" meaning "elf" or "supernatural being." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone with an otherworldly or mysterious appearance or demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Albin can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Entries such as "Albinus" and "Albyn" appear in various counties, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this surname or a variant thereof.

In the 13th century, the Albin surname appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, an ancient census-like record of landholders and their holdings. This provides evidence of the name's continued use and establishment in England during the Middle Ages.

The surname Albin has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Alben in Hertfordshire is believed to be derived from the Old English words "alor" (alder tree) and "bury" (fortified place), suggesting a connection between the surname and geographical locations.

Notable individuals bearing the Albin surname include:

1. Henry Albin (c. 1624-1696), an English writer and illustrator known for his work on natural history. 2. Eleazar Albin (c. 1690-1742), an English naturalist and artist, known for his illustrations of insects and birds. 3. John Albin (c. 1585-1663), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Bishop of Killaloe and Kilfenora in Ireland. 4. Richard Albin (c. 1670-1736), an English lawyer and author who wrote on various legal topics. 5. Thomas Albin (c. 1595-1658), an English theologian and writer who served as the Rector of Woodchurch in Kent.

As the name spread and evolved over time, variations in spelling emerged, such as Albyn, Albeyn, and Albion, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes. However, the core elements of the name and its association with the Old English word "aelf" have remained consistent throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albin 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. Lanarkshire leads with 16 Albins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 16 5.28x
Surrey 16 3.51x
Middlesex 14 1.50x
Dorset 12 19.53x
Lancashire 11 0.99x
Essex 7 3.79x
Durham 5 1.79x
Sussex 4 2.53x
Yorkshire 4 0.43x
Kent 2 0.63x
Midlothian 2 1.59x
Norfolk 2 1.39x
Berkshire 1 1.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 16 Albins recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.88x.

Place Total Index
Barony 16 20.88x
Kinson 9 750.00x
Lambeth 9 11.02x
Bermondsey 7 25.12x
Islington London 6 6.61x
Walthamstow 6 90.23x
Hartlepool 5 126.26x
Preston 5 16.82x
Blackburn 4 13.53x
Fordington 3 227.27x
Rye 3 200.00x
St Marylebone London 3 6.00x
Chislehurst 2 116.96x
Clerkenwell London 2 9.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 3.96x
Leeds 2 3.82x
St Martin In Fields 2 35.65x
Chelmsford 1 31.55x
Clewer 1 34.72x
Heigham 1 12.94x
Hove 1 14.43x
Huddersfield 1 7.40x
Kensington London 1 1.92x
Kirkdale 1 5.35x
Northowram 1 15.36x
Thorpe Next Norwich 1 65.36x
Whittingham 1 204.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 4
Ellen 3
Mary 3
Agnes 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Alma 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Antoinette 1
Besse 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Franzritea 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Kaitea 1
Kate 1
Martha 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
S.C. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Robert 4
Charles 3
James 3
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Edward 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
William 2
Albert 1
Antoine 1
Christin 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Roger 1
Roland 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Sylvanus 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 Albin households.

FAQ

Albin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Albin surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albin surname today?

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

What does the Albin surname mean?

Derived from the Latin name Albinus, meaning "white" or "bright," likely referring to someone with very pale hair or complexion.

What does the Albin map show?

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