NameCensus.

UK surname

Anstead

An Old English locational surname referring to someone from Ansted, Herefordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 164 people recorded with the Anstead surname, ranking it #14,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, down from #14,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crayford, London parishes and Weybridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Loch Ness, Exeter and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Anstead is 307 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.3%.

1881 census count

164

Ranked #14,624

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

1911

307 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Anstead had 164 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,624 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 307 in 1911.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Map

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Anstead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Anstead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Anstead 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 164 #14,624
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 244 #13,329
1911 historical 307 #11,257
1997 modern 237 #15,809
1998 modern 245 #15,903
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 233 #16,524
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 226 #16,829
2005 modern 219 #17,126
2006 modern 223 #17,036
2007 modern 210 #17,904
2008 modern 213 #17,903
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 222 #17,999
2012 modern 222 #17,921
2013 modern 231 #17,703
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Ansteads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crayford, London parishes, Weybridge and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Loch Ness, Exeter, Wycombe, Teignbridge and Worthing. 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 Crayford Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Weybridge Surrey
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Loch Ness Highland
2 Exeter 010 Exeter
3 Wycombe 023 Wycombe
4 Teignbridge 005 Teignbridge
5 Worthing 010 Worthing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Anstead

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Ellen Sarah Emily Annie Emma Alice Charlotte Eliza

Historical male names

William John Henry Charles Thomas James George Walter Harry Robert

Recent female names

Elizabeth Jane Louise Dorothy Alison Carolyn Dawn Pauline Kathleen Amanda

Recent male names

Nicholas Mark John Richard Paul Steven David Kevin Michael Jeremy

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Anstead

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Anstead is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Anstead 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

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

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Anstead

The surname ANSTEAD is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 12th century. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "an" meaning "one" and "stede" meaning "place" or "homestead," suggesting it was originally a descriptive name for someone who lived at a solitary homestead or isolated dwelling.

Some of the earliest references to the name can be found in medieval records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1285, which mentions a Robert de Anstede. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain an entry for a William de Ansted in Oxfordshire. These early spellings, such as "Anstede" and "Ansted," reflect the name's evolution over time.

The ANSTEAD surname is believed to have originated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, where some of the earliest recorded instances of the name were found. However, it later spread to other parts of England, particularly in the southern counties.

One notable historical figure bearing the ANSTEAD surname was William Anstead (c. 1540-1617), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Mildenhall in Suffolk from 1589 until his death. Another early bearer of the name was John Anstead (c. 1590-1670), a landowner and member of the gentry in Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the ANSTEAD surname appeared in various parish records and historical documents. For example, a Thomas Anstead was recorded in the Hearth Tax returns for Buckinghamshire in 1665, indicating he was a property owner at the time.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several ANSTEAD families were documented in various parts of England. One notable figure was David Thomas Anstead (1818-1880), a British geologist and author who published works on the geology of various regions, including the Malvern Hills and the Isle of Wight.

Another prominent individual with the ANSTEAD surname was Richard Anstead (1843-1904), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas, including the former London School Board offices on the Embankment.

While the ANSTEAD surname is not among the most common in England, it has a long and documented history, with its earliest known origins dating back to the late 12th century. The name's evolution and spread across various regions of England reflect the country's rich tapestry of local histories and migrations over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Anstead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Anstead 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 60 Ansteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 60 3.75x
Surrey 36 4.62x
Kent 31 5.68x
Buckinghamshire 14 14.47x
Essex 9 2.85x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.96x
Devon 3 0.90x
Hampshire 3 0.91x
Huntingdonshire 2 6.30x
Northumberland 2 0.84x
Warwickshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 16 Ansteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.96x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 16 87.96x
Weybridge 13 778.44x
St Marylebone London 11 12.88x
Twickenham 11 160.35x
Wycombe 11 152.57x
East Ham 8 136.52x
Erith 8 148.70x
St Pancras London 8 6.21x
Hammersmith London 7 17.76x
Walton On Thames 7 195.53x
Crayford 6 252.10x
Battersea 5 8.49x
Whitechapel London 5 31.71x
Clerkenwell London 4 10.59x
Paddington London 4 6.80x
Bermondsey 3 6.30x
Christchurch 3 42.19x
Exeter Alphington 3 491.80x
Southwark St Saviour 3 36.50x
St Andrewthe Less 3 25.91x
Hampstead London 2 8.03x
Little Marlow 2 377.36x
Morborn 2 4000.00x
Bromley London 1 2.84x
Bywell St Peter 1 1428.57x
Chertsey 1 19.84x
Colchester St Giles 1 32.05x
Dartford 1 17.92x
Hendon 1 17.36x
Islington London 1 0.64x
Kensington London 1 1.12x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.34x
Leamington Priors 1 10.07x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 8.10x
Penge 1 9.78x
Saunderton 1 434.78x
Shoreditch London 1 1.44x
Southwark St John 1 20.45x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.55x
St Giles In Fields London 1 12.74x
Stoke 1 27.17x
Westminster St John 1 5.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Ellen 6
Emma 4
Eliza 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Charlotte 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Adelaine 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Lina 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
Henry 10
Walter 7
James 6
Thomas 6
John 5
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
George 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Alma 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Leo 1
Lewis 1
Miles 1
Oliver 1
Reginald 1
Rudolph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Anstead households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 27
General Labourer 5
Labourer 4
Laundress 4
Labourer In Garden 3
No Employment 3
Carman 2
Domestic Servant 2
Errand Boy 2
Gardener 2
Letter Carrier 2
Machinist 2
Painter 2
Sempstress 2
Brick Laborer 1
Brickfield Labourer 1
Bricklayer 1
Bricklayers Labourer 1
Cab Driver 1
Card Cutter 1
Chair Maker 1
Civil Servant (Off.) Education Department Inspector of Schools 1
Coachman Domestic Servant 1
Coachman Son 1
Coachman Wife 1
Dressmaker 1
Engine Driver L S W Ry 1
Field Work 1
Gardener (M) 1
Gen Serv Dom 1
General Laborer 1
Hat Box Maker 1
Housemaid Domest Servt 1
Housemaid Domestic 1
Iron Founders Labourer 1
Labourer At Oil Mills 1
Ladies Nurse 1
Ladys Maid Domestic 1
Living With Relatives 1
Millener 1
Needlewoman 1
Needlework 1
Nurse Cottage Hospital (Not Dom) 1
Office Boy 1
Paper Stainer 1
Pd Acting Bombardier 1
Plasterers Laborer 1
Policeman 1
Printers Man 1
Warehouseman Black Lead Factory 1

FAQ

Anstead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Anstead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 164 people were recorded with the Anstead surname. That placed it at #14,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Anstead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Anstead a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Anstead surname mean?

An Old English locational surname referring to someone from Ansted, Herefordshire.

What does the Anstead map show?

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