NameCensus.

UK surname

Allaway

An English occupational surname derived from "hallway" meaning a gatekeeper or sentry.

In the 1881 census there were 537 people recorded with the Allaway surname, ranking it #6,413 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 956, ranked #6,006, up from #6,413 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Mid Devon and Broxtowe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allaway is 1,060 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.0%.

1881 census count

537

Ranked #6,413

Modern count

956

2016, ranked #6,006

Peak year

1999

1,060 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allaway had 537 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,413 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016, ranked #6,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 852 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Allaway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allaway surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allaway 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 408 #5,946
1861 historical 322 #7,911
1881 historical 537 #6,413
1891 historical 628 #6,158
1901 historical 746 #5,965
1911 historical 852 #5,208
1997 modern 1,017 #5,415
1998 modern 1,043 #5,474
1999 modern 1,060 #5,437
2000 modern 1,049 #5,474
2001 modern 1,022 #5,487
2002 modern 1,051 #5,466
2003 modern 1,030 #5,468
2004 modern 1,013 #5,537
2005 modern 992 #5,594
2006 modern 970 #5,690
2007 modern 982 #5,690
2008 modern 965 #5,808
2009 modern 988 #5,824
2010 modern 1,001 #5,880
2011 modern 1,021 #5,721
2012 modern 947 #5,994
2013 modern 969 #5,972
2014 modern 982 #5,944
2015 modern 964 #5,996
2016 modern 956 #6,006

Geography

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Where Allaways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Mid Devon, Broxtowe, South Oxfordshire and Reading. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 006 Herefordshire, County of
2 Mid Devon 008 Mid Devon
3 Broxtowe 010 Broxtowe
4 South Oxfordshire 018 South Oxfordshire
5 Reading 009 Reading

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allaway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allaway

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Allaway 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

Allaway is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Allaway

The surname Allaway is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "alor" meaning alder tree, and "weg" meaning way or path, suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived near an alder tree-lined path or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alurewaye" in the county of Derbyshire. This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions of England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "Alorwey" and "Alurwaye" in counties like Staffordshire and Warwickshire. These early spellings reflect the regional dialects and variations in pronunciation that were common during that time.

Notable individuals bearing the Allaway surname include Sir John Allaway (c.1480-1542), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry class in Gloucestershire. Another notable figure was Thomas Allaway (1704-1789), an English clergyman and antiquarian who published several works on the history and antiquities of his native Wiltshire.

In the 17th century, the Allaway name appears in parish records from the village of Braunston in Northamptonshire, suggesting a strong presence in that area during that time. One such individual was William Allaway (1621-1677), a farmer and landowner whose descendants continued to live in the region for several generations.

Moving into the 18th century, the name crops up in various parts of England, including the coastal county of Norfolk, where records show a family of Allaways living in the village of Hingham. One notable member of this family was Robert Allaway (1765-1842), a successful merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the local economy.

As the centuries passed, the Allaway name spread across different regions of England, with pockets of families settled in counties like Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. While the name may have evolved in its spelling and pronunciation over time, its locational roots and connection to the alder tree-lined paths of medieval England remain a significant part of its history and origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allaway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allaway 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. Berkshire leads with 99 Allaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.23x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 99 25.23x
Middlesex 81 1.55x
Gloucestershire 73 7.12x
Oxfordshire 50 15.49x
Surrey 35 1.37x
Hertfordshire 33 9.16x
Warwickshire 20 1.52x
Herefordshire 19 8.86x
Kent 18 1.01x
Somerset 15 1.78x
Wiltshire 14 3.03x
Monmouthshire 13 3.44x
Staffordshire 10 0.57x
Durham 8 0.51x
Northumberland 7 0.90x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.90x
Yorkshire 6 0.12x
Essex 5 0.48x
Lancashire 5 0.08x
Hampshire 4 0.37x
Midlothian 4 0.57x
Sussex 4 0.45x
Cheshire 2 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.29x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Mary in Berkshire leads with 28 Allaways recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.09x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Mary 28 89.09x
Reading St Giles 23 59.74x
Birmingham 20 4.55x
Kensington London 16 5.50x
Ruardean 16 689.66x
Abbots Langley 13 242.99x
Ganarew 12 3870.97x
Monmouth 12 119.76x
Gloucester St John Baptist 11 166.16x
Harborne 10 17.68x
Rotherfield Peppard 10 1123.60x
Watford 10 35.79x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 9 47.97x
Greenwich 9 10.81x
Ipsden 9 708.66x
Rotherfield Greys 9 263.16x
Barnes 8 74.28x
Camberwell 8 2.40x
Hackney London 8 2.73x
Islington London 8 1.58x
Nuffield 8 2105.26x
Paddington London 8 4.16x
Arborfield 7 1458.33x
Cheltenham 7 8.85x
Chirton 7 39.75x
Cirencester 7 50.43x
Earley 7 107.03x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 7 183.25x
St Luke London 7 8.35x
Beckington 6 361.45x
Bedale 6 317.46x
Caversham 6 92.88x
Gloucester Barton St 6 99.83x
St Albans St Michael 6 148.88x
Swindon 6 16.73x
Westoe 6 6.80x
Ensham 5 299.40x
Hadlow 5 113.12x
Lambeth 5 1.10x
St Marylebone London 5 1.79x
Wargrave 5 148.37x
West Derby 5 2.75x
Acton 4 13.05x
Bath St James 4 45.56x
Beech Hill 4 800.00x
Clerkenwell London 4 3.24x
Croydon 4 2.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.42x
Hammersmith London 4 3.11x
Hilperton 4 272.11x
Midsomer Norton 4 50.44x
Ross 4 46.89x
Westwood 4 416.67x
Winkfield 4 61.44x
Aylburton 3 256.41x
Bisham 3 238.10x
Brighton 3 1.69x
Chiswick 3 10.50x
East Molesey 3 50.76x
Enfield 3 8.75x
Eversley 3 243.90x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 63.16x
Leyton 3 16.87x
Sarratt 3 240.00x
St Clement Danes London 3 27.73x
Wexham 3 937.50x
Battersea 2 1.04x
Bourton 2 392.16x
Bristol St Paul In 2 7.32x
Chester St Olave 2 192.31x
Cookham 2 16.35x
Crook Billy Row 2 10.04x
Henley On Thames 2 30.26x
Kingston On Thames 2 3.27x
Newbury 2 15.91x
Sulham 2 769.23x
Twickenham 2 8.92x
Walford 2 93.90x
West Ham 2 0.88x
Wycombe 2 8.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 25
George 22
Charles 16
James 13
Thomas 11
Henry 10
Alfred 9
Frederick 8
Joseph 8
Edward 7
Ernest 7
Albert 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Samuel 4
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Francis 3
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Richard 2
Tom 2
Arran 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Chas.A. 1
E.J. 1
Edwin 1
Elias 1
Felix 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
H.J. 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jesee 1
Lancelot 1
Langley 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Rhys 1
W.J. 1

FAQ

Allaway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allaway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 537 people were recorded with the Allaway surname. That placed it at #6,413 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allaway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016. That gives Allaway a modern rank of #6,006.

What does the Allaway surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from "hallway" meaning a gatekeeper or sentry.

What does the Allaway map show?

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