NameCensus.

UK surname

Allister

A Scottish surname derived from the given name Alexander or its pet form Alister.

In the 1881 census there were 139 people recorded with the Allister surname, ranking it #16,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #16,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Surrey Heath and Liverpool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allister is 229 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.3%.

1881 census count

139

Ranked #16,228

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

2003

229 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allister had 139 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Allister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allister 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 41 #25,926
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 139 #16,228
1891 historical 162 #17,390
1901 historical 188 #15,742
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 206 #17,796
1999 modern 206 #17,905
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 227 #16,778
2005 modern 216 #17,283
2006 modern 218 #17,297
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 225 #17,631
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 209 #18,730
2012 modern 202 #19,084
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 198 #19,841
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Allisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Halifax, Toxteth Park and Syerston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Surrey Heath, Liverpool, Stenhouse and Saughton Mains and Dover. 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 St Bees Cumberland
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Syerston Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 002 Bradford
2 Surrey Heath 004 Surrey Heath
3 Liverpool 009 Liverpool
4 Stenhouse and Saughton Mains City of Edinburgh
5 Dover 011 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allister

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Allister is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Allister is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Allister falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Allister 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Allister, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Allister

The surname Allister is of Scottish origin, derived from the name Alexander. It is a variant spelling of the patronymic name Alisandre, which means "defender of men" in Greek. The name first emerged in the 12th century in the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1264, where a person named Alysandre de Yle is mentioned. The "de Yle" part of the name suggests that this individual was from the Isle of Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Alistair, Alester, and Alschunder in local Scottish records and charters. These variations reflect the diverse dialects and spellings used in different regions of Scotland at the time.

The name Allister gained prominence in the 17th century with the rise of the Clan Macalister, a branch of the powerful Clan Donald. The Macalisters were a prominent family in the Scottish Hebrides, particularly on the islands of Arran and Kintyre.

One notable figure with this surname was Sir Archibald Allister (1670-1744), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1737 to 1739. Another prominent individual was General Archibald Allister (1792-1867), a British Army officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.

In the literary world, the name is associated with the Scottish writer William Allister (1924-2008), known for his novels and short stories depicting life in the Highlands and Islands. His works, such as "The Watchmen" and "The Serpent and the Staff," captured the essence of Scottish culture and traditions.

Another notable figure was Sir John Allister (1892-1971), a Scottish architect who designed several iconic buildings in Glasgow, including the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. His work left a lasting impact on the city's architectural landscape.

While the name Allister has Scottish roots, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish emigration and immigration. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the rugged landscapes and rich cultural heritage of Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allister 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. Fife leads with 33 Allisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.85x.

County Total Index
Fife 33 46.85x
Lancashire 26 1.84x
Lanarkshire 14 3.64x
Nottinghamshire 9 5.61x
Yorkshire 9 0.76x
Cumberland 6 5.86x
Selkirkshire 6 55.76x
Durham 5 1.41x
Cambridgeshire 3 3.98x
Derbyshire 3 1.61x
Aberdeenshire 2 1.81x
Cheshire 2 0.76x
Northamptonshire 1 0.89x
Renfrewshire 1 1.08x
Royal Navy 1 7.05x
Surrey 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dunfermline in Fife leads with 33 Allisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.71x.

Place Total Index
Dunfermline 33 304.71x
Langfield 9 436.89x
Liverpool 9 10.50x
Carstairs 8 1000.00x
Toxteth Park 7 14.64x
Preston Quarter 6 209.06x
Syerston 6 8571.43x
Dalserf 5 130.21x
Galashiels 5 125.63x
Iveston 5 306.75x
Todmorden Walsden 5 132.28x
Beauchief 3 7500.00x
Wisbech St Peter 3 79.37x
Eakring 2 1111.11x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 4.85x
Alvanley 1 769.23x
Barrow In Furness 1 5.21x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 9.41x
Birkenhead 1 4.78x
Camberwell 1 1.32x
Hamilton 1 9.32x
Hucknall Torkard 1 24.57x
Melrose 1 36.90x
North Meols 1 7.24x
Northampton Priory St 1 14.88x
Oldham 1 2.19x
Peterhead 1 17.15x
West Derby 1 2.42x
West Greenock 1 6.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Margaret 3
Ann 2
Annie 1
Bridget 1
Catherine 1
Christina 1
Emma 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mar 1
Margt.Ann 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 4
David 3
George 3
Henry 3
John 3
Bradshaw 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Alexander 1
Isaac 1
Robert 1
Saml.J. 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Allister households.

FAQ

Allister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 139 people were recorded with the Allister surname. That placed it at #16,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Allister a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Allister surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the given name Alexander or its pet form Alister.

What does the Allister map show?

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