NameCensus.

UK surname

Albiston

Derived from a place name meaning "Albi's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement founded by someone named Albi.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Albiston surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 364, ranked #12,748, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Over and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Rochdale and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albiston is 395 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.2%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

364

2016, ranked #12,748

Peak year

2009

395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albiston had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016, ranked #12,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Albiston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albiston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albiston 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 172 #13,619
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 267 #12,136
1901 historical 336 #10,762
1911 historical 365 #9,955
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 388 #11,696
2000 modern 387 #11,692
2001 modern 383 #11,580
2002 modern 377 #11,962
2003 modern 361 #12,140
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 363 #12,037
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 384 #11,726
2008 modern 382 #11,901
2009 modern 395 #11,838
2010 modern 394 #12,131
2011 modern 385 #12,195
2012 modern 348 #13,020
2013 modern 361 #12,861
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 359 #12,906
2016 modern 364 #12,748

Geography

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Where Albistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Over, Stockport and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Rochdale, Halton and Rotherham. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Over Cheshire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Manchester Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 012 Powys
2 Rochdale 021 Rochdale
3 Halton 003 Halton
4 Rotherham 026 Rotherham
5 Halton 012 Halton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albiston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albiston

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Albiston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Albiston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Albiston is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Albiston is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Albiston 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 Albiston 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 Albiston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Albiston

The surname Albiston is believed to have originated in England, specifically in Yorkshire, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "ald" meaning "old" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in an old or established town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Albiston can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John de Aldeston is mentioned. This indicates that the name was present in the region during the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as Aldiston, Aldeston, and Aldistone in records from Yorkshire and Lancashire. This variation in spelling was common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The Albiston surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir Ralph Albiston (1610-1677), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon in Yorkshire during the 17th century.

Another individual of note was William Albiston (1736-1815), a Scottish-born merchant and philanthropist who made his fortune in the West Indies. He donated a significant sum of money to establish the Albiston Trust, which provided educational opportunities for children in his hometown of Paisley, Scotland.

In the literary realm, the name Albiston is associated with John Albiston (1833-1898), a British author and journalist who wrote several books on travel and natural history, including "A Naturalist's Ramble about Home" published in 1889.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Albiston in the United States can be traced back to James Albiston, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from England in 1684. This suggests that the name had begun to spread beyond its origins in England by the late 17th century.

It is worth noting that the Albiston surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Albistone in Lancashire and Albiston in Yorkshire, further reinforcing its connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albiston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albiston 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 113 Albistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 113 3.95x
Cheshire 63 11.85x
Yorkshire 18 0.75x
Staffordshire 16 1.97x
Middlesex 10 0.42x
Essex 8 1.68x
Aberdeenshire 6 2.69x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.54x
Worcestershire 5 1.59x
Northumberland 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 3.48x
Surrey 1 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. Stockport in Cheshire leads with 36 Albistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 131.53x.

Place Total Index
Stockport 36 131.53x
Heaton Norris 20 122.93x
Chadderton 17 121.60x
Wolverhampton 16 25.59x
Gorton 14 52.10x
Manchester 10 7.78x
Rotherham 10 74.29x
Beswick 9 123.12x
Widnes 9 43.65x
Runcorn 8 65.25x
Over 7 129.39x
Royton 7 80.00x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 6 14.37x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.73x
Ardwick 5 19.39x
Kimberworth 5 37.74x
Levenshulme 5 170.07x
Leyton 5 61.05x
Nottingham St Nicholas 5 113.12x
Pershore Holy Cross 5 247.52x
Cheadle 4 39.37x
Liverpool 4 2.30x
Oldham 4 4.34x
Shoreditch London 4 3.83x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.80x
Leyton Low 3 31.02x
Wharton 3 103.45x
Bosden 2 122.70x
Bramhall 2 90.91x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 13.01x
Toxteth Park 2 2.07x
Accrington 1 3.85x
Bury 1 3.06x
Doncaster 1 5.73x
East Broughton 1 123.46x
Hulme 1 1.68x
Macclesfield 1 4.23x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 263.16x
Newington 1 1.12x
Royal Navy 1 4.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 8
Annie 6
Ann 5
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Esther 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Alice 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Florrie 1
Frances 1
Hester 1
James 1
Janet 1
Joanne 1
Lillie 1
Lydia 1
Mally 1
Marg. 1
Margaret 1
May 1
Nancy 1
Naomi 1
Nelly 1
Pollie 1
Priscilla 1
Sally 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 16
Joseph 13
James 10
Thomas 10
George 6
Arthur 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Robert 2
Aaron 1
Abraham 1
Albert 1
B.P. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Joe 1
Levi 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Roger 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Albiston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albiston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Albiston surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albiston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 364 in 2016. That gives Albiston a modern rank of #12,748.

What does the Albiston surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Albi's town" in Old English, referring to a settlement founded by someone named Albi.

What does the Albiston map show?

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