NameCensus.

UK surname

Alison

A Scottish surname originating from the Norman French "alis", meaning noble or exalted.

In the 1881 census there were 543 people recorded with the Alison surname, ranking it #6,354 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, down from #6,354 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kettle, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tayport, Summerville and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alison is 825 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.6%.

1881 census count

543

Ranked #6,354

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

1861

825 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alison had 543 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,354 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 825 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Alison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alison 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 822 #3,281
1861 historical 825 #3,343
1881 historical 543 #6,354
1891 historical 593 #6,444
1901 historical 504 #8,006
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 444 #10,172
1998 modern 466 #10,140
1999 modern 475 #10,042
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 432 #10,584
2002 modern 438 #10,675
2003 modern 438 #10,507
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 457 #10,100
2006 modern 458 #10,109
2007 modern 458 #10,190
2008 modern 473 #10,056
2009 modern 488 #10,048
2010 modern 507 #9,947
2011 modern 497 #9,997
2012 modern 507 #9,761
2013 modern 513 #9,839
2014 modern 549 #9,410
2015 modern 545 #9,387
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Alisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kettle, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Dalkeith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tayport, Summerville, Sefton, Cornwall and Great Yarmouth. 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 Kettle Fife
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Dalkeith Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tayport Fife
2 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway
3 Sefton 028 Sefton
4 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
5 Great Yarmouth 005 Great Yarmouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alison

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Alison is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Alison is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alison falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alison

The surname Alison originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Alis" or "Alice," which in turn comes from the Old German name "Adalhaidis." This name means "noble" or "nobility."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alison can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alisun." This suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name Alison became particularly prevalent in the county of Northumberland, located in the northeast of England near the Scottish border. It is believed that the name may have been introduced to the region by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The surname Alison has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Alison's Bank in Cumbria and Alison's Wood in Northamptonshire. These place names likely originated from individuals named Alison who lived or owned land in those areas.

One notable historical figure with the surname Alison was Sir Archibald Alison (1792-1867), a Scottish historian and author best known for his work "History of Europe during the French Revolution." Another was Sir Walter Alison (1565-1638), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.

Other notable individuals with the surname Alison include: - William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859), a Scottish physician and medical writer. - Richard Alison (1612-1679), an English clergyman and author. - Archibald Alison (1757-1839), a Scottish Episcopal clergyman and author. - Samuel Scott Alison (1816-1896), a Scottish-American physician and author.

The surname Alison has been present throughout various regions of England and Scotland for centuries, reflecting its deep historical roots and diverse origins. While its exact derivation is uncertain, it is clear that the name has been a part of the cultural and historical fabric of these nations for many generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alison 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. Midlothian leads with 91 Alisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.85x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 91 12.85x
Fife 76 24.28x
Middlesex 42 0.79x
Lanarkshire 32 1.87x
Yorkshire 32 0.61x
Ross-shire 28 19.29x
Lancashire 25 0.40x
Perthshire 25 10.54x
Wigtownshire 23 32.76x
Surrey 22 0.85x
Angus 19 3.88x
Roxburghshire 15 15.66x
Lincolnshire 10 1.18x
Durham 7 0.45x
Gloucestershire 7 0.68x
Devon 6 0.55x
Dorset 6 1.73x
Northumberland 6 0.76x
Argyllshire 5 3.40x
East Lothian 5 7.14x
Inverness-shire 5 3.17x
Renfrewshire 5 1.22x
Staffordshire 5 0.28x
Ayrshire 4 1.01x
Kent 4 0.22x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 5.23x
Berkshire 3 0.76x
Royal Navy 3 4.76x
Stirlingshire 3 1.54x
Berwickshire 2 3.12x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Essex 2 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.30x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Cumberland 1 0.22x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.70x
Glamorgan 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Herefordshire 1 0.46x
Isle of Man 1 1.02x
Kinross-shire 1 7.48x
Morayshire 1 1.22x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Peeblesshire 1 4.02x
Shropshire 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.11x
West Lothian 1 1.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dysart in Fife leads with 35 Alisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 166.03x.

Place Total Index
Dysart 35 166.03x
Dalkeith 28 200.43x
Govan 18 4.26x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 16 5.61x
Avoch 15 488.60x
Dundee 14 7.66x
Kensington London 14 4.76x
Leslie 14 176.54x
Colinton 12 151.90x
Lambeth 9 1.95x
Liberton 9 82.34x
Stranraer 9 140.19x
Brightside Bierlow 8 7.79x
Clee With Weelsby 8 43.22x
Knockbain 8 235.29x
Muthill 8 258.06x
Glasserton 7 321.10x
Inchture 7 593.22x
Skutterskelfe 7 5833.33x
Camberwell 6 1.78x
Crook Billy Row 6 29.79x
Dunbarney 6 437.96x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 33.28x
Fordington 6 80.32x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 31.63x
Huddersfield 6 7.86x
Kettle 6 159.57x
Manchester 6 2.13x
South Leith 6 7.53x
Streatham 6 15.29x
Wilton 6 57.09x
Barony 5 1.16x
Hawick 5 23.33x
Inch 5 73.10x
Kirkcaldy 5 32.22x
St Pancras London 5 1.17x
Stafford St Mary 5 19.79x
Tarbat 5 145.77x
Burntisland 4 45.71x
Cockpen 4 48.31x
Cults 4 312.50x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 28.69x
Islington London 4 0.78x
Liverpool 4 1.05x
Monimail 4 261.44x
Torsay 4 2000.00x
Athelstaneford 3 217.39x
Avondale 3 30.00x
Birkdale 3 18.90x
Falkirk 3 6.57x
Kilmorack 3 62.63x
Kirkpatrick Durham 3 126.05x
Melrose 3 36.23x
Paddington London 3 1.54x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.89x
Tormoham 3 6.44x
Bratoft 2 512.82x
Bunkle Preston 2 151.52x
Charnock Richard 2 161.29x
Cookham 2 16.17x
Crieff 2 22.68x
Edinburgh St Marys 2 14.52x
Gladsmuir 2 64.10x
Glasgow 2 0.66x
Great Crosby 2 11.70x
Hampstead London 2 2.43x
Hartford 2 75.76x
Hulme 2 1.53x
Inverness 2 5.04x
Maidstone 2 3.72x
Mile End Old Town London 2 1.78x
New Monkland 2 3.96x
Preston In Tynemouth 2 64.72x
Sorbie 2 65.15x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.15x
St George Martyr London 2 18.67x
St Marylebone London 2 0.71x
West Greenock 2 2.72x
Onchan 1 3.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 12
George 8
Thomas 8
Joseph 7
William 5
James 4
Archibald 3
Henry 3
Walter 3
Alexr. 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alister 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.F. 1
D. 1
Daniel 1
Francis 1
Fredk 1
Geo. 1
Meyrick 1
Milton 1
Onslow 1
Randul 1
Rich.J. 1
Robt. 1
Robt.E. 1

FAQ

Alison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 543 people were recorded with the Alison surname. That placed it at #6,354 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Alison a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Alison surname mean?

A Scottish surname originating from the Norman French "alis", meaning noble or exalted.

What does the Alison map show?

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