NameCensus.

UK surname

Anslow

A locational surname derived from the village of Anslow in Staffordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 769 people recorded with the Anslow surname, ranking it #4,804 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,299, ranked #4,610, up from #4,804 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Cannock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, Stafford and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Anslow is 1,325 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.9%.

1881 census count

769

Ranked #4,804

Modern count

1,299

2016, ranked #4,610

Peak year

2000

1,325 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Anslow had 769 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,804 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016, ranked #4,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Anslow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Anslow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Anslow 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 475 #5,239
1861 historical 509 #5,134
1881 historical 769 #4,804
1891 historical 836 #4,873
1901 historical 1,113 #4,344
1911 historical 1,154 #4,047
1997 modern 1,258 #4,526
1998 modern 1,308 #4,545
1999 modern 1,312 #4,562
2000 modern 1,325 #4,494
2001 modern 1,303 #4,471
2002 modern 1,305 #4,554
2003 modern 1,295 #4,503
2004 modern 1,265 #4,598
2005 modern 1,266 #4,542
2006 modern 1,264 #4,556
2007 modern 1,246 #4,665
2008 modern 1,269 #4,604
2009 modern 1,283 #4,668
2010 modern 1,299 #4,705
2011 modern 1,280 #4,710
2012 modern 1,293 #4,594
2013 modern 1,306 #4,637
2014 modern 1,304 #4,668
2015 modern 1,309 #4,600
2016 modern 1,299 #4,610

Geography

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Where Anslows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Cannock, Walsall and Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, Stafford and Telford and Wrekin. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Cannock Staffordshire
4 Walsall Staffordshire
5 Gnosall, Haughton, Bradley-in-the-Moors (Castle Church, Staffordshire) Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 006 Dudley
2 Stafford 015 Stafford
3 Telford and Wrekin 005 Telford and Wrekin
4 Dudley 001 Dudley
5 Dudley 015 Dudley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Anslow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Anslow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Anslow, 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 Anslow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Anslow 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Anslow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Anslow is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Anslow falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Anslow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Anslow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Anslow

The surname Anslow originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "anse" and "hlaw," which collectively translate to "a ridge covered with a thicket of dwarf trees or shrubs."

Anslow is thought to have originated as a topographic surname, referring to individuals who lived near or on such a ridgeline covered in shrubbery. The earliest known bearer of the name was Randulf de Anslow, mentioned in the Testa de Nevill records from the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the Anslow surname appeared in various forms, such as Anslo, Anslaw, and Anslawe, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William de Anslow, indicating the name's presence in medieval records.

One of the earliest documented place names associated with the surname is Anslow, a small village in Staffordshire, England. It is believed that this locality may have given rise to the surname, with residents adopting the place name as their family name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Anslow surname. One of the earliest recorded was John Anslow, born around 1420 in Staffordshire, who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme in 1472.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Anslow, born in 1538, who served as a member of the Privy Council during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and played a significant role in the governance of England during that period.

In the 17th century, William Anslow, born in 1620, gained recognition as a prominent merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. He was involved in the transatlantic trade and owned several properties in the region.

Later, in the 18th century, Thomas Anslow, born in 1745, became a respected academic and scholar. He served as a fellow of St. John's College, Oxford, and contributed significantly to the fields of philosophy and theology.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the Anslow surname was Sir John Anslow, born in 1855, who had a distinguished career in the British Army. He served in various campaigns, including the Second Boer War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his military service.

While the Anslow surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora communities. However, the earliest recorded instances and the majority of the historical references can be traced back to the English counties of Staffordshire, Derbyshire, and the surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Anslow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Anslow 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. Staffordshire leads with 382 Anslows recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.03x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 382 15.03x
Shropshire 109 16.75x
Kent 61 2.37x
Surrey 47 1.28x
Warwickshire 43 2.26x
Worcestershire 31 3.15x
Lancashire 24 0.27x
Middlesex 20 0.27x
Hampshire 9 0.58x
Derbyshire 8 0.68x
Monmouthshire 7 1.29x
Lanarkshire 6 0.25x
Channel Islands 5 2.24x
Cheshire 5 0.30x
Leicestershire 4 0.48x
Lincolnshire 4 0.33x
Gloucestershire 3 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.15x
Devon 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cannock in Staffordshire leads with 71 Anslows recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.05x.

Place Total Index
Cannock 71 160.05x
Walsall Foreign 38 28.94x
Wolverhampton 34 17.39x
Willenhall 33 69.31x
Bilston 32 64.96x
Gnosall 30 488.60x
Dudley 23 19.24x
Birmingham 20 3.16x
Folkestone 19 38.12x
Shifnal 17 96.26x
Stafford St Mary 17 47.25x
Wednesfield 16 42.77x
Canterbury St Paul 15 325.38x
Lambeth 15 2.28x
Canterbury St Mary 14 81.21x
Aston 13 2.49x
Camberwell 13 2.70x
Sedgley 12 12.71x
Upper Penn 11 172.68x
Blymhill 9 692.31x
Castle Church 9 58.90x
Claverley 9 205.01x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.04x
Madeley 8 33.54x
Withington 8 27.79x
Sheriff Hales 7 269.23x
Stoke St Milborough 7 514.71x
Trevethin 7 13.62x
Chelsea London 6 2.64x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 10.58x
Darlaston 6 17.08x
Glasgow 6 1.39x
Heston 6 23.99x
N Lydbury 6 237.15x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 13.34x
Newington 6 2.16x
Shareshill Hilton 6 594.06x
Wellington 6 16.41x
Church Stretton 5 114.68x
Clungunford 5 331.13x
Edgton 5 877.19x
Farlow 5 561.80x
St Helier 5 6.88x
Worfield 5 110.62x
Beswick 4 17.51x
Codsall 4 110.80x
Coppenhall Dunston 4 425.53x
Hammerwich 4 110.80x
Hatherton 4 363.64x
Hawn 4 217.39x
Leicester St Margaret 4 1.96x
Much Wenlock 4 66.67x
Portsmouth 4 11.25x
Scunthorpe 4 73.80x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.64x
Southwark St Saviour 4 10.34x
Toxteth Park 4 1.32x
Wednesbury 4 6.30x
Wellesbourne Hastings 4 222.22x
Wombourn 4 84.75x
Battersea 3 1.08x
Cheddleton 3 56.39x
Derby All Sts 3 30.46x
Derby St Peter 3 7.99x
Enville 3 150.00x
Lichfield St Mary 3 40.93x
Radcliffe 3 6.96x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 3 41.72x
St Lawrence 3 16.98x
Bow London 2 2.09x
Bromley London 2 1.21x
Derby St Alkmund 2 5.66x
Droylsden 2 6.86x
Kingston On Thames 2 2.27x
Lapley 2 104.17x
Norton Canes 2 21.60x
Portsea 2 0.66x
Stockport 2 2.34x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 0.74x
Wistanstow 2 95.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 29
Ann 27
Martha 21
Emma 17
Jane 16
Alice 11
Ellen 9
Harriet 9
Eliza 8
Fanny 8
Catherine 7
Clara 7
Caroline 6
Florence 6
Hannah 6
Amelia 5
Annie 5
Emily 4
Frances 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Beatrice 3
Bertha 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Edith 2
Elizebeth 2
Elizh. 2
Jemima 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Minnie 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Basend 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza. 1
Elizath. 1
Hepzibah 1
Isabella 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 44
Thomas 40
George 30
James 23
Edward 21
Henry 18
Joseph 18
Charles 10
Alfred 9
Albert 8
Benjamin 8
Arthur 7
Samuel 7
Robert 6
Frederick 5
Abraham 4
Ernest 4
Francis 3
Peter 3
Alexander 2
Benjamain 2
Benjn. 2
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Elijah 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Oscar 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Benj. 1
Charlie 1
David 1
Eliger 1
Ellis 1
Ephram 1
Ephriam 1
Fredk. 1
Griffith 1
Hugh 1
Jonathan 1
Josh 1
Leuthen 1
Martin 1
Paul 1
Ricard 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Anslow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Anslow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 769 people were recorded with the Anslow surname. That placed it at #4,804 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Anslow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016. That gives Anslow a modern rank of #4,610.

What does the Anslow surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the village of Anslow in Staffordshire, England.

What does the Anslow map show?

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