NameCensus.

UK surname

Altham

In the 1881 census there were 372 people recorded with the Altham surname, ranking it #8,399 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 346, ranked #13,291, down from #8,399 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Mitton and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lancaster, Rutland and Wealden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Altham is 461 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.0%.

1881 census count

372

Ranked #8,399

Modern count

346

2016, ranked #13,291

Peak year

1911

461 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Altham had 372 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,399 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016, ranked #13,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 461 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Altham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Altham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Altham 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 165 #12,053
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 372 #8,399
1891 historical 411 #8,675
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 461 #8,344
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 369 #12,077
1999 modern 359 #12,397
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 354 #12,490
2003 modern 345 #12,549
2004 modern 339 #12,744
2005 modern 337 #12,738
2006 modern 345 #12,571
2007 modern 345 #12,714
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 356 #12,800
2010 modern 354 #13,135
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 350 #12,965
2013 modern 348 #13,239
2014 modern 347 #13,350
2015 modern 346 #13,284
2016 modern 346 #13,291

Geography

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Where Althams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Mitton, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lancaster, Rutland, Wealden, Ribble Valley and Rochdale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Mitton Lancashire
3 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
4 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lancaster 011 Lancaster
2 Rutland 004 Rutland
3 Wealden 004 Wealden
4 Ribble Valley 003 Ribble Valley
5 Rochdale 012 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Altham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Altham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Altham 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

Altham 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

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

1881 census detail

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Altham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Altham 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 249 Althams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 249 5.77x
Yorkshire 82 2.27x
Cheshire 13 1.62x
Middlesex 7 0.19x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Cumberland 5 1.60x
Somerset 4 0.68x
Staffordshire 3 0.24x
Hertfordshire 2 0.80x
Denbighshire 1 0.73x
Isle of Man 1 1.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tottington Lower End in Lancashire leads with 30 Althams recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.20x.

Place Total Index
Tottington Lower End 30 146.20x
Spotland 26 54.17x
Clitheroe 25 196.70x
Great Little Marsden 25 126.39x
Grindleton 25 3205.13x
Habergham Eaves 22 55.75x
Poulton Barre 18 366.60x
Great Mitton 17 8095.24x
Preston 15 12.98x
Blackburn 13 11.32x
Elton 10 67.02x
Settle 10 362.32x
Birkenhead 9 14.06x
Burnley 9 24.75x
Lower Booths 9 116.28x
Haslingden 8 44.74x
Cuerdon 7 985.92x
Reedley Hallows 6 722.89x
St Marylebone London 6 3.09x
Lambeth 5 1.58x
Lancaster 5 19.46x
Penrith 5 43.22x
Slaidburn 5 806.45x
Elslack 4 4000.00x
Lytham 4 60.70x
Marton 4 139.37x
Stayley 4 43.57x
Airton 3 1200.00x
Bashall Eaves 3 909.09x
Farnworth 3 11.60x
Handsworth 3 9.91x
Spaxton 3 263.16x
Waddington 3 535.71x
West Bradford 3 769.23x
Briercliffe Cum 2 139.86x
Gisburn Forrest 2 606.06x
Hitchin 2 17.67x
Long Preston 2 227.27x
Oswaldtwistle 2 13.11x
Royton 2 15.14x
Skipton 2 17.62x
Walmersley Cum 2 28.99x
Bradford 1 1.15x
Broughton 1 18.52x
Chatburn 1 104.17x
Clapham Cum Newby 1 119.05x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 31.95x
Hellifield 1 188.68x
Onchan 1 5.14x
Shoreditch London 1 0.63x
Taunton St Mary 1 9.30x
Urmston 1 35.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 19
Margaret 15
Ellen 11
Jane 9
Ann 8
Alice 7
Agnes 6
Annie 5
Betsy 4
Hannah 4
Martha 4
Ada 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Elenor 2
Emma 2
Isabella 2
Maud 2
Nancy 2
Arabella 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Betty 1
Dora 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hanna 1
James 1
Judith 1
Lettice 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margt. 1
Mariagane 1
Meada 1
Mercy 1
Minnie 1
Ruth 1
Sabina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
Thomas 24
William 24
James 19
George 15
Joseph 8
Richard 6
Christopher 5
Edward 5
Robert 5
Charles 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
Moses 2
Wm. 2
Aaron 1
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Altham 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Fredrick 1
Gardum 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Jonas 1
Nepthali 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Thurston 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Altham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Altham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 372 people were recorded with the Altham surname. That placed it at #8,399 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Altham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 346 in 2016. That gives Altham a modern rank of #13,291.

What does the Altham map show?

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