UK surname
An English surname derived from the personal name Allen combined with the patronymic suffix -son.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Allenson surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Brancepeth and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allenson is 227 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.6%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
227 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Allenson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Allenson surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 89 | #18,446 |
| 1861 | historical | 227 | #10,749 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 127 | #20,496 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 93 | #23,492 |
| 1997 | modern | 47 | #32,975 |
| 1998 | modern | 45 | #33,374 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 50 | #33,087 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 48 | #33,459 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 40 | #34,387 |
| 2005 | modern | 41 | #34,478 |
| 2006 | modern | 40 | #34,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 42 | #35,148 |
| 2010 | modern | 47 | #35,009 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 47 | #34,992 |
| 2013 | modern | 48 | #35,012 |
| 2014 | modern | 49 | #34,991 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Brancepeth, Preston, St Mary Islington and Bolingbroke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 2 | Brancepeth | Durham |
| 3 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Bolingbroke | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Allenson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Allenson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Allenson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Allenson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Allenson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Allenson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Allenson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Allenson is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Alan combined with the patronymic suffix "-son," meaning "son of Alan." The name Alan itself is believed to have been introduced to Britain by Breton settlers after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Allenson can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. The surname is thought to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who hailed from a place called Allanson or a similar variation.
In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, an early census-like record, there is mention of a William Alanson residing in Oxfordshire. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the surname's usage.
In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a John Alansone was listed as a taxpayer in the village of Wressle.
One notable bearer of the Allenson surname was Robert Allenson, a 16th-century English composer and organist who lived from approximately 1520 to 1575. He served as the organist at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another prominent figure with this surname was John Allenson, born in 1590 in Lancashire. He was a Puritan clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "The Forme of Church-Government" and "The Sinner's Guide to Salvation."
In the 18th century, William Allenson (1735-1805) was a renowned English cartographer and engraver, known for his detailed maps of various counties in England.
Thomas Allenson (1790-1865) was a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera Arcade on Pall Mall.
During the 19th century, the Allenson surname was associated with the manufacturing of knives and cutlery in Sheffield, England. One such individual was George Allenson (1815-1892), a renowned cutler and manufacturer of surgical instruments.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allenson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 17 Allensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 17 | 16.03x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 1.96x |
| Yorkshire | 12 | 1.83x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.89x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.17x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 6.41x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 1.93x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.53x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 2.03x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.74x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.44x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spalding in Lincolnshire leads with 8 Allensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 380.95x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Spalding | 8 | 380.95x |
| Clapham | 7 | 84.44x |
| Clifford Cum Boston | 6 | 1016.95x |
| Raithby In Spilsby | 6 | 15000.00x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 10.46x |
| Islington London | 4 | 6.22x |
| Peterborough | 4 | 88.50x |
| Westminster St James | 4 | 58.65x |
| Mareham Le Fen | 2 | 1176.47x |
| Pickering | 2 | 240.96x |
| Twickenham | 2 | 70.42x |
| Waltham Holy Cross | 2 | 163.93x |
| Benwell | 1 | 92.59x |
| Bishop Thornton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Eckington | 1 | 39.68x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 28.01x |
| Holloway | 1 | 769.23x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 6.33x |
| Hundleby | 1 | 714.29x |
| Keighley | 1 | 14.29x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 8.29x |
| Penwortham | 1 | 270.27x |
| Preston | 1 | 4.75x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 26.32x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.56x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.82x |
| Westgate | 1 | 16.37x |
| York All Sts North | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Allenson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Allenson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Allenson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Allenson surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Allenson a modern rank of #34,889.
An English surname derived from the personal name Allen combined with the patronymic suffix -son.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Allenson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.