NameCensus.

UK surname

Albon

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "white" or "bright."

In the 1881 census there were 390 people recorded with the Albon surname, ranking it #8,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 774, ranked #7,110, up from #8,104 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arlsey, London parishes and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albon is 880 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.5%.

1881 census count

390

Ranked #8,104

Modern count

774

2016, ranked #7,110

Peak year

1999

880 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albon had 390 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,104 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 774 in 2016, ranked #7,110.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 799 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Albon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albon 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 301 #7,626
1861 historical 270 #9,216
1881 historical 390 #8,104
1891 historical 442 #8,179
1901 historical 569 #7,362
1911 historical 799 #5,476
1997 modern 854 #6,217
1998 modern 862 #6,364
1999 modern 880 #6,318
2000 modern 859 #6,401
2001 modern 836 #6,429
2002 modern 871 #6,349
2003 modern 825 #6,483
2004 modern 820 #6,531
2005 modern 775 #6,773
2006 modern 777 #6,792
2007 modern 781 #6,822
2008 modern 782 #6,883
2009 modern 802 #6,875
2010 modern 806 #6,984
2011 modern 806 #6,895
2012 modern 785 #6,957
2013 modern 793 #7,011
2014 modern 804 #6,976
2015 modern 795 #6,969
2016 modern 774 #7,110

Geography

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Where Albons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arlsey, London parishes and Halifax. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, North Hertfordshire and South Cambridgeshire. 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 Arlsey Bedfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 010 Central Bedfordshire
2 North Hertfordshire 007 North Hertfordshire
3 North Hertfordshire 003 North Hertfordshire
4 Central Bedfordshire 005 Central Bedfordshire
5 South Cambridgeshire 016 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albon

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Albon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Albon 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Albon is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Albon is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Albon 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 Albon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Albon

The surname Albon has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old French word "aubelon," which referred to a yellowish or pale color. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive one, likely referring to someone with a fair complexion or light-colored hair.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Albon can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like document compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The rolls list individuals with variations of the name, such as Albun and Albon, residing in various counties across England.

The Albon surname is also mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, which were records of financial transactions and tax collections. These rolls provide evidence of the name's presence in the northern counties of England during that period.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where individuals with the surname Albon are mentioned in connection with legal proceedings and property matters.

One notable figure from history bearing the Albon surname was Sir Thomas Albon (c. 1471 - 1548), a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1535. He was a prominent member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and played a role in the political and economic affairs of the city during the reign of King Henry VIII.

Another individual of note was Robert Albon (c. 1580 - 1636), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Thenford in Northamptonshire. He published several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

In the 17th century, the name Albon appeared in various parish records across England, indicating its continued presence and geographic spread. One notable figure from this period was William Albon (c. 1610 - 1685), a member of the Massachusetts Bay Colony who served as a selectman and representative in the colonial government.

The 18th century saw the surname Albon associated with several notable figures, including John Albon (1737 - 1805), a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a member of Parliament.

Another individual of significance was Mary Albon (1782 - 1854), an English writer and poet who published several works, including "The Daughter of Edmond Plant" and "Sketches of Life and Manners."

Throughout its history, the Albon surname has been connected to various places and regions within England, with some variations in spelling, such as Albun, Albone, and Alban. However, the core origin and meaning of the name remain rooted in its Old French derivation and association with a pale or fair complexion.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albon 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. Bedfordshire leads with 117 Albons recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.40x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 117 59.40x
Suffolk 103 22.23x
Middlesex 48 1.26x
Kent 19 1.46x
Yorkshire 19 0.50x
Hertfordshire 17 6.48x
Essex 15 2.00x
Surrey 12 0.65x
Leicestershire 11 2.61x
Lancashire 9 0.20x
Northamptonshire 4 1.12x
Cambridgeshire 3 1.25x
Derbyshire 3 0.50x
Hampshire 3 0.38x
Berkshire 2 0.70x
Gloucestershire 2 0.27x
Dorset 1 0.40x
Merionethshire 1 1.44x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arlesey in Bedfordshire leads with 78 Albons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3132.53x.

Place Total Index
Arlesey 78 3132.53x
Stotfold 38 1007.96x
Long Melford 20 464.04x
Bradfield Combust 19 9500.00x
Glemsford 13 400.00x
Ipswich St Mathew 12 92.38x
Tottenham 12 19.81x
Skircoat 10 67.25x
Hartest 9 1125.00x
Ashwell 8 388.35x
Barking 8 36.41x
Battersea 8 5.72x
Edmonton 8 26.10x
Hitchin 8 67.57x
Leicester St Margaret 7 6.81x
Chevington 6 833.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 7.82x
Great Waldingfield 6 789.47x
Hendon 6 43.83x
Lawshall 6 576.92x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 6.97x
Folkestone 5 19.86x
Chelsea London 4 3.49x
Darenth 4 200.00x
Islington London 4 1.08x
Northampton All Sts 4 32.95x
Bow London 3 6.19x
Foots Cray 3 120.97x
Greenstead 3 275.23x
Haverhill 3 72.82x
Hawkedon 3 833.33x
Lambeth 3 0.90x
Leicester St Mary 3 8.80x
March 3 37.17x
West Ham 3 1.81x
Acton 2 263.16x
Aldershot 2 7.66x
Derby St Peter 2 10.54x
Enfield 2 8.01x
Erith 2 15.64x
Liverpool 2 0.73x
Margate St John Baptist 2 8.41x
Ratcliffe London 2 9.52x
Shoreditch London 2 1.21x
Southfleet 2 166.67x
Sowerby In Halifax 2 16.22x
St Pancras London 2 0.65x
Sudbury St Peter 2 78.74x
Bermondsey 1 0.88x
Bradbourne 1 555.56x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 11.49x
Castle Donnington 1 28.57x
Cheltenham 1 1.74x
Corwen 1 57.14x
Ealing 1 2.94x
Gillingham 1 3.74x
Hertford St John 1 25.58x
Hucknall Torkard 1 7.69x
Kempston 1 22.37x
Kensington London 1 0.47x
Manchester 1 0.49x
Newton In Makerfield 1 7.24x
Paddington London 1 0.71x
Portland 1 7.45x
Portsmouth 1 5.57x
Reading St Lawrence 1 16.37x
Scarborough 1 2.92x
Shinfield 1 59.52x
Stapleton 1 7.07x
Steeple Bumpstead 1 72.46x
Walsham Le Willows 1 64.52x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Albon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 390 people were recorded with the Albon surname. That placed it at #8,104 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 774 in 2016. That gives Albon a modern rank of #7,110.

What does the Albon surname mean?

A French toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "white" or "bright."

What does the Albon map show?

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