NameCensus.

UK surname

Alchin

English occupational surname for a keeper of hunting dogs or an Old English personal name derived from Ælfwine.

In the 1881 census there were 135 people recorded with the Alchin surname, ranking it #16,515 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 112, ranked #28,844, down from #16,515 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Magdalen and Barnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Chelmsford and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alchin is 171 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.0%.

1881 census count

135

Ranked #16,515

Modern count

112

2016, ranked #28,844

Peak year

1851

171 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alchin had 135 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,515 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016, ranked #28,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 171 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Alchin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alchin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alchin 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 171 #11,730
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 135 #16,515
1891 historical 135 #19,692
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 141 #22,702
2000 modern 142 #22,544
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 127 #24,267
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 122 #24,817
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 113 #27,520
2010 modern 107 #29,153
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 115 #28,439
2015 modern 111 #28,986
2016 modern 112 #28,844

Geography

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Where Alchins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Magdalen, Barnes, Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead and All Saints Poplar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Chelmsford, Maidstone and Wiltshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Mary Magdalen Kent
3 Barnes Surrey
4 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent
5 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 009 Shepway
2 Chelmsford 020 Chelmsford
3 Maidstone 007 Maidstone
4 Wiltshire 013 Wiltshire
5 Chelmsford 012 Chelmsford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alchin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alchin

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Alchin, 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 Alchin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Alchin 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

London Fringe

Within London, Alchin 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

Alchin is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Alchin

The surname Alchin is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Oxfordshire, where it was initially derived from the Old English words "alor" and "cynn," meaning "alder tree" and "kin" or "family," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls of 1279, where a person named William Alrechin is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "Alrechin," suggests that the name may have been associated with a family or individual living near an alder tree or grove.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname appeared in various forms, including Alcheyn, Alchyn, and Alchin, reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation of the name over time. In the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1327, a certain Thomas Alcheyn is listed as a taxpayer.

The Alchin name has a strong historical connection to the village of Woodstock in Oxfordshire. In the 16th century, a notable figure named John Alchin (c. 1520-1585) was born in Woodstock and served as the rector of the parish church there for several decades.

Another prominent individual with the Alchin surname was Richard Alchin (1630-1688), a clergyman and author who was born in Warwickshire. He wrote several religious works, including a treatise on the Lord's Prayer and a book on the doctrine of the Trinity.

In the 18th century, the Alchin name gained recognition through the work of Samuel Alchin (1736-1791), a well-known engraver and printmaker from London. His intricate engravings and etchings were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

Moving into the 19th century, John Alchin (1825-1895) was a notable architect based in Birmingham, England. He designed several prominent buildings in the city, including the Birmingham Oratory and the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.

Throughout its history, the Alchin surname has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and the West Midlands region. While the name may have evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the alder tree and the family connections of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alchin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alchin 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. Kent leads with 60 Alchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.26x.

County Total Index
Kent 60 13.26x
Surrey 40 6.19x
Middlesex 10 0.75x
Sussex 10 4.47x
Essex 9 3.44x
Devon 2 0.72x
Channel Islands 1 2.54x
Dorset 1 1.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.38x
Wiltshire 1 0.85x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 16 Alchins recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.59x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 16 44.59x
Halstead 10 4545.45x
Boughton Monchelsea 8 1600.00x
Great Burstead 8 842.11x
Poplar London 8 31.95x
Caterham 7 244.76x
Sutton At Hone 7 744.68x
Barnes 6 219.78x
Woolwich 6 35.89x
Canterbury St Mary 5 164.47x
Lambeth 4 3.46x
Sedlescombe 4 1379.31x
Tonbridge 4 24.51x
Buckland In Dover 3 200.00x
Farnborough 3 454.55x
Hove 3 30.58x
Offham 3 1875.00x
Worplesdon 3 384.62x
East Malling 2 185.19x
Eastbourne 2 19.44x
Hartley 2 1666.67x
Sandwich St Peter 2 416.67x
St Pancras London 2 1.87x
Stoke Damerel 2 10.35x
Wandsworth 2 15.66x
Bermondsey 1 2.53x
Brighton 1 2.22x
Britford 1 129.87x
Canterbury St Alphage 1 208.33x
Dover St James 1 50.51x
Erith 1 22.42x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 21.01x
Hollingbourn 1 192.31x
Parkstone 1 98.04x
Snodland 1 78.13x
South Weald 1 44.64x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.75x
St John 1 133.33x
Thornton In Bradford 1 22.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 9
John 7
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Thomas 5
Charles 3
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
James 2
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Greorge 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Linton 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Robt. 1

FAQ

Alchin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alchin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 135 people were recorded with the Alchin surname. That placed it at #16,515 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alchin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 112 in 2016. That gives Alchin a modern rank of #28,844.

What does the Alchin surname mean?

English occupational surname for a keeper of hunting dogs or an Old English personal name derived from Ælfwine.

What does the Alchin map show?

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