NameCensus.

UK surname

Alsford

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Alsford surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, down from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley and Upton with Chalvey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southend-on-Sea, Aylesbury Vale and Harlow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alsford is 304 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.6%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

1911

304 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alsford had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 304 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Alsford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alsford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alsford 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 113 #19,151
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 260 #12,367
1901 historical 284 #12,093
1911 historical 304 #11,342
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 245 #15,903
1999 modern 245 #16,012
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 232 #16,314
2002 modern 237 #16,413
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 220 #17,204
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 216 #17,758
2009 modern 224 #17,685
2010 modern 222 #18,148
2011 modern 212 #18,575
2012 modern 207 #18,777
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 216 #18,705
2015 modern 202 #19,433
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

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Where Alsfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Upton with Chalvey, London parishes and Watford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southend-on-Sea, Aylesbury Vale, Harlow and Sedgemoor. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Watford Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southend-on-Sea 011 Southend-on-Sea
2 Southend-on-Sea 005 Southend-on-Sea
3 Aylesbury Vale 005 Aylesbury Vale
4 Harlow 010 Harlow
5 Sedgemoor 002 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alsford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alsford

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Alsford is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alsford is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Alsford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alsford 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. Middlesex leads with 50 Alsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 50 2.58x
Buckinghamshire 45 38.35x
Kent 37 5.59x
Essex 16 4.18x
Hampshire 14 3.52x
Wiltshire 11 6.41x
Oxfordshire 7 5.84x
Dorset 6 4.71x
Surrey 6 0.63x
Hertfordshire 4 2.99x
Royal Navy 2 8.65x
Leicestershire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hillingdon in Middlesex leads with 20 Alsfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 323.10x.

Place Total Index
Hillingdon 20 323.10x
Plumstead 16 72.50x
West Ham 13 15.37x
Woolwich 13 53.13x
Amersham 11 662.65x
Fisherton Anger 8 251.57x
Penn 8 1095.89x
Christchurch 7 81.11x
Hedgerley Dean 7 5000.00x
Shadwell London 7 128.91x
Blandford Forum 6 239.04x
Chalfont St Giles 5 595.24x
Langley Marish 5 347.22x
Oxford St Thomas 5 89.45x
Camberwell 4 3.23x
Folkestone 4 31.13x
Portsea 4 5.13x
Shoreditch London 4 4.75x
St Pancras London 4 2.56x
Watford 4 38.57x
Aylesbury 3 57.69x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.56x
Chalfont St Peter 2 206.19x
Cowley 2 606.06x
Dorney 2 952.38x
East Ham 2 28.13x
Greenwich 2 6.47x
Hackney London 2 1.84x
Oxford St Giles 2 34.97x
Poplar London 2 5.46x
Portsmouth 2 21.83x
Royal Navy 2 10.12x
Salisbury St Martin 2 111.73x
Stoke Poges 2 139.86x
Clerkenwell London 1 2.18x
Farlington 1 123.46x
Hammersmith London 1 2.09x
Lee 1 10.40x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.75x
Lewisham 1 2.83x
Leyton 1 15.15x
Paddington London 1 1.40x
Pinner 1 58.82x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 36.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.56x
St Bride London 1 88.50x
Stanwell 1 69.44x
Sutton 1 14.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
George 13
John 9
Henry 7
James 7
Alfred 5
Arthur 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Thomas 3
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Benjamin 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Hubert 1
Hy. 1
Joseph 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Mennotti 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Ronald 1
Saml. 1
Vernon 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Alsford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alsford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Alsford surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alsford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Alsford a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Alsford map show?

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