NameCensus.

UK surname

Allison

Derived from the given name Alison, which means "noble" or "exalted," originally from the Germanic name Adelasind.

In the 1881 census there were 8,522 people recorded with the Allison surname, ranking it #497 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13,089, ranked #492, up from #497 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stranraer West, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allison is 13,377 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.6%.

1881 census count

8,522

Ranked #497

Modern count

13,089

2016, ranked #492

Peak year

1999

13,377 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allison had 8,522 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #497 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 13,089 in 2016, ranked #492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,910 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Allison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allison 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 5,000 #553
1861 historical 5,684 #482
1881 historical 8,522 #497
1891 historical 9,434 #465
1901 historical 10,910 #477
1911 historical 8,749 #560
1997 modern 12,964 #468
1998 modern 13,308 #473
1999 modern 13,377 #475
2000 modern 13,196 #478
2001 modern 12,857 #480
2002 modern 13,129 #481
2003 modern 12,769 #483
2004 modern 12,664 #485
2005 modern 12,606 #483
2006 modern 12,608 #483
2007 modern 12,725 #487
2008 modern 12,828 #485
2009 modern 13,077 #490
2010 modern 13,283 #491
2011 modern 13,062 #491
2012 modern 12,814 #493
2013 modern 13,075 #493
2014 modern 13,217 #492
2015 modern 13,137 #492
2016 modern 13,089 #492

Geography

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Where Allisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Govan Combination, London parishes, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stranraer West, Stockton-on-Tees, Northumberland and Allerdale. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway
2 Stockton-on-Tees 014 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Northumberland 020 Northumberland
4 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Allerdale 001 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allison

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Allison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Allison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Allison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Allison is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Allison falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Allison

The surname Allison originated in Scotland and has its roots in the ancient Gaelic name Alasdair, a Scottish form of the name Alexander. The name Alasdair is derived from the Greek words "alexo" meaning to defend and "andros" meaning man, essentially translating to "defender of men".

In the 12th century, the name Allison emerged as an anglicized form of the Gaelic Alasdair. It was commonly found in the Scottish Highlands and Islands, particularly in the regions of Argyll, the Hebrides, and the Northern Isles.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Allison can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, a series of financial records dating back to the late 13th century. In these rolls, the name is spelled "Alysaundre" and "Alisaundre".

During the 16th century, the name Allison began to appear in various Scottish historical records and documents. One notable example is Sir Archibald Allison, a Scottish nobleman and military commander who lived from 1537 to 1594. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was a trusted advisor to Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the 17th century, the name Allison gained prominence in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Allison, a Scottish minister and theologian who lived from 1635 to 1705. He was known for his staunch support of the Presbyterian Church and his opposition to the policies of King Charles II.

Another notable individual with the surname Allison was Thomas Allison, a Scottish poet and playwright who lived from 1658 to 1721. He was best known for his satirical works and his criticism of the political and religious establishment of his time.

In the 18th century, the Allison surname began to spread beyond Scotland, with many bearers of the name migrating to North America and other parts of the British Empire. One prominent figure from this period was Francis Allison, a Scottish-born Presbyterian minister who lived from 1705 to 1777. He was instrumental in the establishment of several educational institutions in colonial America, including the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania).

As the Allison surname continued to spread, it gained recognition in various fields, including literature, science, and politics. One notable figure from the 19th century was Thomas Allison, a Scottish-American engineer and inventor who lived from 1804 to 1880. He is credited with inventing the first practical machine for manufacturing tin cans.

Overall, the surname Allison has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the cultural and linguistic heritage of Scotland. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Gaelic name Alasdair, and it has been carried by numerous notable individuals throughout the ages, from military commanders and poets to ministers and inventors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allison 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,612 Allisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,612 1.96x
Durham 1,062 4.30x
Lanarkshire 889 3.31x
Lancashire 532 0.54x
Renfrewshire 504 7.83x
Middlesex 470 0.57x
Lincolnshire 355 2.67x
Northumberland 259 2.10x
Ayrshire 250 4.02x
Cumberland 239 3.34x
Norfolk 218 1.71x
Surrey 211 0.52x
Midlothian 157 1.41x
Kent 129 0.46x
Wigtownshire 125 11.34x
Essex 109 0.67x
Stirlingshire 109 3.56x
Nottinghamshire 106 0.95x
Dunbartonshire 95 4.26x
Derbyshire 91 0.70x
Westmorland 71 3.89x
Cheshire 65 0.35x
Angus 55 0.72x
Fife 55 1.12x
Hampshire 43 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 42 0.84x
Kincardineshire 37 3.66x
Glamorgan 36 0.25x
Perthshire 34 0.91x
Argyllshire 33 1.43x
Kirkcudbrightshire 33 2.75x
Hertfordshire 32 0.56x
Inverness-shire 30 1.21x
Dumfriesshire 29 1.58x
Aberdeenshire 28 0.36x
Gloucestershire 26 0.16x
Suffolk 25 0.25x
Shropshire 22 0.31x
Staffordshire 21 0.07x
Sussex 21 0.15x
Berwickshire 20 1.99x
West Lothian 20 1.60x
Bedfordshire 19 0.44x
Warwickshire 19 0.09x
Wiltshire 18 0.25x
Huntingdonshire 14 0.85x
Northamptonshire 12 0.15x
Ross-shire 12 0.53x
Roxburghshire 12 0.80x
East Lothian 11 1.00x
Leicestershire 10 0.11x
Selkirkshire 9 1.20x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.15x
Devon 8 0.05x
Oxfordshire 8 0.16x
Monmouthshire 7 0.12x
Sutherland 7 1.10x
Royal Navy 6 0.61x
Buteshire 5 0.99x
Isle of Man 4 0.26x
Kinross-shire 4 1.91x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.09x
Cornwall 3 0.03x
Somerset 3 0.02x
Berkshire 2 0.03x
Shetland 2 0.24x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.03x
Worcestershire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 217 Allisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.19x.

Place Total Index
Barony 217 3.19x
Govan 203 3.06x
Glasgow 138 2.89x
Bishopwearmouth 103 4.86x
Abbey 95 9.68x
Stockton On Tees 87 7.31x
Paisley High Church 78 15.23x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 77 1.72x
Leeds 72 1.55x
Old Monkland 65 6.10x
Sculcoates 64 4.91x
Lambeth 62 0.86x
Holy Trinity 58 2.93x
Crook Billy Row 53 16.76x
West Greenock 52 4.50x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 42 3.93x
Leswalt 41 54.30x
Renfrew 39 18.36x
Kilmarnock 38 5.14x
Avondale 37 23.57x
Islington London 37 0.46x
Sheffield 37 1.41x
Stranton 37 4.45x
Brightside Bierlow 36 2.23x
Cottingham 36 20.30x
Gateshead 36 1.95x
St Pancras London 35 0.52x
Bradford 34 1.71x
Dundee 33 1.15x
Falkirk 33 4.60x
Paisley Low Church 33 16.20x
Hammersmith London 32 1.56x
Minster In Sheppey 32 6.82x
Kilwinning 31 15.45x
Maryhill 31 5.90x
Scarborough 30 4.01x
Worksop 30 9.04x
Paisley Middle Church 29 7.74x
St Marylebone London 29 0.65x
Louth 28 9.20x
Monkwearmouth Shore 28 5.81x
Irvine 27 15.64x
Muiravonside 27 34.71x
Winlaton 27 11.39x
Dundonald 26 11.35x
East Greenock 26 4.28x
Lochwinnoch 26 27.11x
Newbottle 26 19.28x
St Cyrus 26 61.52x
West Ham 26 0.72x
Bermondsey 25 1.01x
Brandon Byshottles 25 8.08x
Hackney London 25 0.54x
Wolsingham 25 11.11x
Hindringham 24 143.37x
New Monkland 24 3.02x
Shoreditch London 24 0.67x
St Giles 24 15.57x
Whitburn 24 41.68x
Cathcart 23 6.61x
Elland Cum Greetland 23 6.21x
Middlesbrough 23 2.15x
Oldham 23 0.72x
Portsea 23 0.69x
Thornaby 23 7.48x
Battersea 22 0.72x
Cambusnethan 22 3.69x
Inverness 22 3.53x
Manningham 22 2.17x
Preston 22 0.83x
Stevenston 22 13.58x
Erskine 21 44.92x
Longbenton 21 4.01x
Scruton 21 205.88x
Stanhope 21 8.23x
Tynemouth 21 3.17x
Coxhoe 20 28.54x
Mile End Old Town London 20 1.13x
Selby 20 11.63x
Toxteth Park 20 0.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 446
Elizabeth 226
Sarah 202
Jane 161
Ann 140
Margaret 116
Annie 91
Hannah 80
Emma 65
Emily 57
Alice 55
Eliza 55
Ellen 52
Martha 51
Isabella 50
Edith 41
Maria 37
Catherine 36
Fanny 35
Ada 32
Harriet 32
Florence 28
Frances 28
Louisa 24
Agnes 23
Clara 22
Anne 21
Charlotte 20
Lucy 20
Rebecca 19
Caroline 18
Rose 17
Eleanor 15
Kate 15
Gertrude 14
Amelia 13
Betsy 13
Esther 13
Grace 13
Susan 12
Susannah 12
Harriett 11
Lydia 11
Matilda 11
Minnie 11
Christiana 10
Elizth. 9
Ethel 9
Margret 9
Maud 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 455
William 381
Thomas 238
George 219
James 183
Robert 145
Joseph 131
Charles 115
Henry 102
Richard 53
Arthur 49
Edward 49
Frederick 45
Alfred 43
Walter 39
Albert 27
David 24
Ernest 24
Harry 24
Matthew 22
Herbert 21
Fred 20
Samuel 19
Wm. 19
Isaac 18
Francis 17
Tom 17
Frank 16
Benjamin 13
Ralph 13
Thos. 12
Christopher 11
Edwin 11
Mark 10
Andrew 8
Geo. 8
Peter 8
Robt. 8
Daniel 7
Jonathan 7
Mathew 7
Adam 6
Alexander 6
Jacob 6
Archibald 5
Fredrick 5
Harrison 5
Hugh 5
Jesse 5
Jno. 5

FAQ

Allison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8,522 people were recorded with the Allison surname. That placed it at #497 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 13,089 in 2016. That gives Allison a modern rank of #492.

What does the Allison surname mean?

Derived from the given name Alison, which means "noble" or "exalted," originally from the Germanic name Adelasind.

What does the Allison map show?

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