NameCensus.

UK surname

Alston

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "old town" or "Æthelstan's town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,969 people recorded with the Alston surname, ranking it #2,228 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,773, ranked #3,545, down from #2,228 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Lunan and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alston is 2,241 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.0%.

1881 census count

1,969

Ranked #2,228

Modern count

1,773

2016, ranked #3,545

Peak year

1901

2,241 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alston had 1,969 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,228 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,773 in 2016, ranked #3,545.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,241 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Alston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alston 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 1,289 #2,224
1861 historical 1,477 #1,916
1881 historical 1,969 #2,228
1891 historical 2,017 #2,287
1901 historical 2,241 #2,416
1911 historical 1,780 #2,748
1997 modern 1,821 #3,298
1998 modern 1,883 #3,324
1999 modern 1,914 #3,301
2000 modern 1,869 #3,344
2001 modern 1,832 #3,340
2002 modern 1,852 #3,374
2003 modern 1,808 #3,383
2004 modern 1,796 #3,401
2005 modern 1,762 #3,436
2006 modern 1,745 #3,472
2007 modern 1,746 #3,504
2008 modern 1,768 #3,491
2009 modern 1,780 #3,543
2010 modern 1,831 #3,514
2011 modern 1,801 #3,530
2012 modern 1,783 #3,512
2013 modern 1,804 #3,527
2014 modern 1,806 #3,542
2015 modern 1,793 #3,532
2016 modern 1,773 #3,545

Geography

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Where Alstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Lunan, Burnley 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew Suffolk
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 017 Preston
2 Lunan Angus
3 Preston 013 Preston
4 Burnley 010 Burnley
5 Allerdale 012 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alston

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Alston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Alston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Alston 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

Alston 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

Alston falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Alston

The surname Alston has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ald" meaning old and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement, referring to an old settlement or town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alston can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alreston" or "Alreston super Montem," referring to the town of Alston in Cumbria, located in the North Pennines area of England.

The name Alston is closely associated with this town, which was known for its rich lead mining industry during the medieval period. Several historical documents mention individuals with the surname Alston who were involved in the mining and smelting of lead in the area.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Alston (c. 1285-1349), a prominent landowner and knight who served as the Sheriff of Northumberland during the reign of King Edward III. He was also involved in the military campaigns against Scotland during the Scottish Wars of Independence.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the "Calendars of Inquisitions Post Mortem" from the 14th century, which recorded the transfer of lands and properties after the death of individuals. Several entries mention individuals with the surname Alston holding lands in various parts of England.

In the 15th century, the name appears in the records of the University of Cambridge, with John Alston (c. 1420-1490) being a notable scholar and theologian who served as the Master of Christ's College.

The surname Alston also has a connection to the church, with several individuals bearing the name serving as clergymen. One notable example is Edward Alston (1598-1669), an English clergyman and theologian who was a prominent figure in the Church of England during the 17th century.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Alston continued to be well-represented in various professions and fields, including law, politics, and literature. Notable individuals from this period include Sir Thomas Alston (1670-1743), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament, and William Alston (1737-1805), a Scottish philosopher and writer.

Throughout its history, the surname Alston has been associated with various notable individuals across different fields, reflecting its enduring presence and significance in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alston 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. Lancashire leads with 734 Alstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.25x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 734 3.25x
Lanarkshire 292 4.74x
Essex 181 4.82x
Middlesex 148 0.78x
Surrey 111 1.20x
Suffolk 89 3.84x
Ayrshire 48 3.37x
Yorkshire 46 0.24x
Dumfriesshire 38 9.04x
Midlothian 30 1.18x
Kent 23 0.35x
Cheshire 19 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 16 3.13x
Renfrewshire 15 1.02x
Leicestershire 14 0.66x
Fife 13 1.15x
Peeblesshire 10 11.17x
Cumberland 9 0.55x
Gloucestershire 9 0.24x
Kirkcudbrightshire 9 3.27x
Angus 8 0.45x
Durham 8 0.14x
Roxburghshire 8 2.32x
Hampshire 7 0.18x
Derbyshire 6 0.20x
Northumberland 6 0.21x
Glamorgan 5 0.15x
Sussex 5 0.16x
Warwickshire 5 0.10x
Bedfordshire 4 0.41x
Perthshire 3 0.35x
Stirlingshire 3 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.17x
Devon 2 0.05x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Norfolk 2 0.07x
Oxfordshire 2 0.17x
Royal Navy 2 0.88x
Somerset 2 0.07x
Wiltshire 2 0.12x
Argyllshire 1 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.08x
Herefordshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.17x
Selkirkshire 1 0.58x
Shropshire 1 0.06x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x
West Lothian 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 123 Alstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.36x.

Place Total Index
Preston 123 20.36x
Barony 51 3.27x
Blackburn 47 7.82x
Govan 40 2.63x
Sudbury St Gregory 40 215.29x
Halstead 39 89.00x
Over Darwen 32 17.74x
Ribchester 32 375.15x
Chorley 30 23.67x
Newington 26 3.70x
Glasgow 25 2.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 23 2.24x
Dalziel 20 30.20x
Heap 20 16.70x
Loudoun 20 58.39x
Cadder 19 41.80x
St George Hanover Square 19 5.67x
Hamilton 18 10.49x
Applegarth 17 266.46x
Camberwell 16 1.32x
Lambeth 16 0.96x
Maryhill 16 13.28x
New Monkland 15 8.24x
Shettleston 15 27.22x
Clitheroe 14 21.06x
Dilworth 14 101.16x
Hackney London 14 1.31x
Pattiswick 14 633.48x
West Derby 14 2.12x
Clayton Le Moors 13 29.67x
Glemsford 13 79.85x
Kirkintilloch 13 18.71x
Lancaster 13 9.67x
Over Kellet 13 403.73x
Bulk 12 1578.95x
Middlesbrough 12 4.89x
Annan 11 30.46x
Bow London 11 4.54x
Habergham Eaves 11 5.33x
Rutherglen 11 12.18x
Salcott 11 705.13x
Sudbury St Peter 11 86.61x
Tooting Graveney 11 42.64x
Avondale 10 27.79x
Barrow In Furness 10 3.26x
Cheadle 10 12.46x
Fulwood 10 40.98x
Garstang 10 196.08x
Great Coggeshall 10 51.18x
Islington London 10 0.54x
Lanark 10 20.19x
Limehouse London 10 4.79x
Mile End Old Town London 10 2.47x
Rishton 10 37.75x
West Greenock 10 3.78x
Aighton Bailey 9 82.72x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.09x
Blantyre 9 14.04x
Ellel 9 77.25x
Great Harwood 9 22.05x
Irvine 9 22.75x
Manningtree 9 147.30x
Newchurch 9 4.87x
St Pancras London 9 0.59x
Troqueer 9 24.90x
Accrington 8 3.90x
Barnes 8 20.40x
Bermondsey 8 1.41x
Bromley 8 8.08x
Corringham 8 282.69x
Dundee 8 1.22x
Dunfermline 8 4.62x
Goosnargh 8 109.44x
Kensington London 8 0.76x
Padiham 8 14.66x
Pendlebury 8 16.78x
Radcliffe 8 7.35x
Shoreditch London 8 0.97x
Spotland 8 3.19x
Tottington Lower End 8 7.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Elizabeth 61
Alice 40
Jane 38
Ellen 36
Margaret 33
Sarah 32
Ann 27
Eliza 20
Emma 19
Emily 15
Edith 12
Isabella 12
Annie 10
Maria 10
Hannah 9
Catherine 8
Martha 8
Ada 7
Agnes 7
Grace 6
Kate 6
Rachel 6
Susan 6
Betsy 5
Caroline 5
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Frances 5
Gertrude 5
Jessie 5
Louisa 5
Margret 5
Amy 4
Esther 4
Janet 4
Lydia 4
Anna 3
Anne 3
E. 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Helen 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Nancy 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3

Top male names

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

FAQ

Alston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,969 people were recorded with the Alston surname. That placed it at #2,228 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,773 in 2016. That gives Alston a modern rank of #3,545.

What does the Alston surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "old town" or "Æthelstan's town" in Old English.

What does the Alston map show?

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