NameCensus.

UK surname

Alliston

A locational surname derived from the town of Alliston in Ontario, Canada.

In the 1881 census there were 269 people recorded with the Alliston surname, ranking it #10,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, down from #10,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hedingham, Sible, Edmonton and St Saviour Southwark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, County Durham and Braintree.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alliston is 413 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.1%.

1881 census count

269

Ranked #10,506

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

1901

413 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alliston had 269 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 413 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Alliston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alliston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alliston 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 211 #9,997
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 269 #10,506
1891 historical 374 #9,343
1901 historical 413 #9,266
1911 historical 385 #9,551
1997 modern 380 #11,418
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 377 #11,954
2000 modern 374 #11,976
2001 modern 369 #11,928
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 381 #11,700
2005 modern 376 #11,730
2006 modern 378 #11,714
2007 modern 372 #12,032
2008 modern 364 #12,328
2009 modern 368 #12,476
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 376 #12,416
2012 modern 378 #12,216
2013 modern 370 #12,626
2014 modern 371 #12,689
2015 modern 372 #12,544
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Allistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hedingham, Sible, Edmonton, St Saviour Southwark, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, County Durham, Braintree and Babergh. 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 Hedingham, Sible Essex
2 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 St Saviour Southwark London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 020 Wealden
2 County Durham 058 County Durham
3 Braintree 004 Braintree
4 Babergh 007 Babergh
5 County Durham 033 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alliston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alliston

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

Alliston 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

Alliston falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alliston

The surname Alliston has its origins in England, tracing back to the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Alliston, situated in the North Riding of Yorkshire. This place-name itself is a combination of the Old English words "alor" meaning alder tree and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, where it appears as "Alreston." Variations in spelling were common during this time, and the name was also documented as "Alriston" and "Allerston" in various records throughout the centuries.

In the 16th century, the Alliston family had a notable presence in the area around Pickering, North Yorkshire. Historical records from this period mention individuals such as John Alliston, who was born in 1532, and his son, William Alliston, born in 1567. These early bearers of the name likely played a role in the local community and contributed to the surname's spread.

As people migrated and settled in different parts of England, the name took on various spellings, including Alliston, Aliston, and Aliston. One notable figure from the 17th century was Richard Aliston, a renowned English clergyman born in 1612 in Berkshire. He served as the Archdeacon of Essex and was known for his scholarly works on theology.

Moving into the 18th century, the Alliston surname gained further prominence with individuals like William Alliston (1705-1785), a celebrated English painter and engraver. His works were exhibited at the Society of Artists and the Royal Academy, cementing his place in the art world of that era.

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was Sir Richard Alliston (1756-1823), a distinguished British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and was knighted for his contributions to the British fleet.

Throughout the centuries, the Alliston surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military figures. While its origins can be traced back to a small village in Yorkshire, the name has since spread across England and beyond, contributing to the rich tapestry of British surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alliston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alliston 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. Essex leads with 83 Allistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.02x.

County Total Index
Essex 83 16.02x
Middlesex 50 1.91x
Surrey 36 2.82x
Kent 20 2.23x
Hampshire 14 2.60x
Durham 12 1.54x
Lancashire 10 0.32x
Yorkshire 10 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.61x
Suffolk 6 1.88x
Northamptonshire 5 2.03x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.65x
Warwickshire 4 0.60x
Dorset 2 1.16x
Hertfordshire 2 1.11x
Sussex 2 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.63x
Gloucestershire 1 0.19x
Norfolk 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sible Hedingham in Essex leads with 21 Allistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1213.87x.

Place Total Index
Sible Hedingham 21 1213.87x
Camberwell 12 7.16x
Southwark St Saviour 12 88.95x
Stranton 11 41.86x
Bocking 10 321.54x
Colchester St Leonard 10 598.80x
Deptford St Paul 10 14.48x
Basingstoke 8 129.24x
Beckenham 8 68.38x
Hampstead London 8 19.57x
Islington London 8 3.15x
Mistley 7 503.60x
St Pancras London 7 3.31x
Church 6 136.36x
Liversedge 6 51.81x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 6 161.73x
St Botolph Cambridge 6 1395.35x
Upminster 6 555.56x
Bethnal Green London 5 4.39x
Great Yeldham 5 925.93x
Mortlake 5 87.72x
St George Hanover Square 5 10.82x
Terling 5 649.35x
Edgbaston 4 19.49x
Gosfield 4 727.27x
Great Waltham 4 189.57x
Lambeth 4 1.75x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 31.85x
Peterhead 4 31.13x
Stanton 4 526.32x
Heckmondwike 3 35.89x
Manningtree 3 357.14x
Northwood 3 39.16x
St Luke London 3 7.13x
Beaumont 2 526.32x
Blandford Forum 2 58.82x
Carisbrooke 2 26.77x
Chipping Barnet 2 63.29x
Frant 2 63.90x
Inworth 2 350.88x
Little Coggeshall 2 606.06x
Paddington London 2 2.07x
Shoreditch London 2 1.76x
Tonge 2 30.63x
Battersea 1 1.04x
Bury 1 2.81x
Canterbury St Mary 1 16.64x
Chiswick 1 6.97x
Ditchingham 1 103.09x
Edmonton 1 4.73x
Ewell 1 37.04x
Farnham Royal 1 106.38x
Fawley 1 58.48x
Hackney London 1 0.68x
Halstead 1 16.56x
Kensington London 1 0.69x
Kingstanley 1 52.63x
Little Thurlow 1 322.58x
Manchester 1 0.71x
Newton Cap 1 82.64x
Northampton Priory St 1 6.75x
Plumstead 1 3.35x
Reigate Foreign 1 7.23x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 39.06x
West Ham 1 0.87x
Wykeham 1 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 13
Ellen 9
Emily 7
Alice 6
Eliza 5
Ada 4
Charlotte 4
Florence 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Ann 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lillian 2
Minnie 2
Rachael 2
Susan 2
A.K. 1
Adelade 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eunice 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
Last 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Marion 1
Maryanne 1
Maud 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 11
William 10
James 8
Arthur 6
George 6
Harry 6
John 6
Frederick 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Charles 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Thomas 3
Herbert 2
Algernon 1
Archibald 1
Bartley 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Claud 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geoffrey 1
H. 1
Hector 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Maurice 1
Montegue 1
Norman 1
Oscar 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Roland 1
Smith 1
T. 1
Willie 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Alliston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alliston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 269 people were recorded with the Alliston surname. That placed it at #10,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alliston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Alliston a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Alliston surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Alliston in Ontario, Canada.

What does the Alliston map show?

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