NameCensus.

UK surname

Alvin

An Old English surname meaning "friend" or "companion."

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Alvin surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Leonard Shoreditch and Sunk Island. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Lewisham and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alvin is 128 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.9%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

1911

128 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alvin had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Alvin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alvin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alvin 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 96 #28,299
2001 modern 94 #28,246
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 96 #28,605
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 91 #29,725
2007 modern 88 #30,515
2008 modern 82 #31,597
2009 modern 86 #31,612
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 97 #30,552
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 101 #30,816
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Alvins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St Leonard Shoreditch, Sunk Island, London parishes and Skidby, Cottingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Lewisham, Cambridge and Huntingdonshire. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Sunk Island Yorkshire, East Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Skidby, Cottingham Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
2 Lewisham 021 Lewisham
3 Cotswold 002 Cotswold
4 Cambridge 001 Cambridge
5 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alvin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alvin

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Alvin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Alvin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Alvin 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

Alvin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Alvin

The surname Alvin is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Ælfwine, which means "elf friend" or "magical friend." This name was common during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, particularly between the 7th and 11th centuries.

The earliest recorded example of the surname Alvin can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Aluuin." This ancient record was commissioned by William the Conqueror to survey the land and property holdings in England.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Aluyn, Alvyn, and Alwyn, in various regions of England, including Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. These variations in spelling were common during that time due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

Over the centuries, the name Alvin has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir John Alvin, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 14th century.

Another historical figure was Thomas Alvin (1499-1558), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Thetford during the reign of Queen Mary I. He was known for his staunch support of the Catholic faith and his opposition to the Protestant Reformation.

During the 17th century, the name Alvin was also found in the records of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the United States. One of the earliest settlers bearing this surname was Samuel Alvin, who arrived in Boston in 1635.

In the 18th century, the name gained further prominence with the birth of Richard Alvin (1756-1823), a renowned English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Mint and parts of the Old Admiralty Buildings.

Another notable figure was Thomas Alvin (1784-1858), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics and served as a vicar in various parishes throughout his career.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alvin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alvin 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. Yorkshire leads with 41 Alvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.24x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 41 6.24x
Middlesex 8 1.21x
Essex 7 5.35x
Surrey 7 2.17x
Kent 4 1.77x
Lancashire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sculcoates in Yorkshire leads with 10 Alvins recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.97x.

Place Total Index
Sculcoates 10 95.97x
Rise 8 16000.00x
Sunk Island 7 7000.00x
Walthamstow 7 148.62x
Camberwell 6 14.16x
Etton 5 4545.45x
Mile End Old Town London 5 35.44x
Bromley 4 115.94x
Cottingham 4 281.69x
Drypool 3 297.03x
Patrington 2 645.16x
Anlaby 1 714.29x
Bromley London 1 6.85x
Shoreditch London 1 3.48x
Southwark St John 1 49.26x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 72.99x
Tadcaster West 1 192.31x
Withington 1 39.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Emma 2
Francies 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Christiana 1
Deborah 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Jessie 1
Marian 1
Mathilde 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 6
John 4
George 3
William 3
Edward 2
Herbert 2
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jonathon 1
Lewis 1
Quarton 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Ward 1

FAQ

Alvin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alvin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Alvin surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alvin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Alvin a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Alvin surname mean?

An Old English surname meaning "friend" or "companion."

What does the Alvin map show?

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