NameCensus.

UK surname

Armitstead

A locational name derived from a place called Armitsteed in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 132 people recorded with the Armitstead surname, ranking it #16,744 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 214, ranked #18,740, down from #16,744 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Poulton and Sandbach. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Fylde and Annandale East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armitstead is 260 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.1%.

1881 census count

132

Ranked #16,744

Modern count

214

2016, ranked #18,740

Peak year

1911

260 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armitstead had 132 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,744 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016, ranked #18,740.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 260 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Armitstead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armitstead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Armitstead 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 165 #14,112
1881 historical 132 #16,744
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 199 #15,173
1911 historical 260 #12,561
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 189 #18,737
1999 modern 196 #18,464
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 217 #17,388
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 191 #18,707
2006 modern 186 #19,140
2007 modern 193 #18,923
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 200 #19,457
2011 modern 195 #19,610
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 211 #19,002
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 214 #18,740

Geography

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Where Armitsteads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Poulton, Sandbach, Bradford and Kirkby Lonsdale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Fylde and Annandale East. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Poulton Lancashire
3 Sandbach Cheshire
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Kirkby Lonsdale Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland
2 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
3 Fylde 001 Fylde
4 Annandale East Dumfries and Galloway
5 South Lakeland 010 South Lakeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Armitstead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Armitstead

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Armitstead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Armitstead household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Armitstead 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

Armitstead 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

Armitstead falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Armitstead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Armitstead

The surname Armitstead originated in England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "earm," meaning "arm," and "stede," meaning "place" or "homestead." This combination suggests that the name may have initially referred to a settlement or homestead associated with a specific arm-shaped geographical feature, such as a bend in a river or a curved hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Armitstead can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Ermestede." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across England during the Norman conquest.

The Armitstead family is thought to have originated in the county of Lancashire, particularly in the areas around Clitheroe and Marsden. Over time, various spelling variations emerged, including Armistead, Armitstead, Armestead, and Armetstead, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal conventions of the era.

One notable figure bearing the Armitstead surname was Sir John Armitstead (1581-1644), a member of the English gentry and a prominent landowner in Lancashire. He served as a Member of Parliament and played a role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause before switching allegiances to the Parliamentarians.

Another individual of historical significance was George Armitstead (1847-1912), a British Army officer who served in various campaigns, including the Zulu War and the Second Boer War. He was awarded the Victoria Cross, Britain's highest military honor, for his bravery during the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879.

In the literary realm, Mary Armitstead (1809-1891), an English author and translator, gained recognition for her works, including "The Child's Manual," a bestselling book on religious education for children.

The name Armitstead also has connections to the arts, with John Armitstead (1798-1858), an English portrait and landscape painter, known for his depictions of scenes in the Lake District and North Wales.

Additionally, William Armitstead (1809-1851), a prominent architect and surveyor, left his mark on the city of Leeds, designing several notable buildings, including the Leeds Town Hall and the Corn Exchange.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing the Armitstead surname throughout history, highlighting its enduring presence across various fields and regions within England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Armitstead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armitstead 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 47 Armitsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 47 3.08x
Westmorland 38 134.32x
Yorkshire 22 1.72x
Cheshire 13 4.57x
Durham 7 1.83x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Perthshire 1 1.73x
Shropshire 1 0.90x
Surrey 1 0.16x
Sussex 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Killington in Westmorland leads with 17 Armitsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 15454.55x.

Place Total Index
Killington 17 15454.55x
Myerscough 11 6470.59x
Darlington 7 47.33x
Hetton 7 17500.00x
Kirkham 7 346.53x
Winmarleigh 7 4117.65x
Betchton 6 1666.67x
Eccleshill 6 193.55x
Firbank 6 6666.67x
Lancaster 6 66.01x
New Hutton 6 12000.00x
Sutton 6 117.19x
Sandbach 5 206.61x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 11.56x
Hindley 3 46.08x
Nether Staveley 3 2142.86x
Preston Patrick 3 1250.00x
Bowland Forest High 2 2000.00x
Clifton Cum Salwick 2 1111.11x
Long Sleddale 2 3333.33x
Manchester 2 2.91x
Morton In Keighley 2 200.00x
Bleasdale 1 555.56x
Burtonwood 1 178.57x
Chichester St Pancras 1 153.85x
East Broughton 1 232.56x
Errol 1 93.46x
Farleton 1 3333.33x
Goostrey Cum Barnshaw 1 625.00x
Hatherton 1 714.29x
Linton In Skipton 1 769.23x
Long Preston 1 322.58x
Oswestry Town 1 28.09x
Penge 1 12.17x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 9
Ann 4
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Nancy 3
Eleanor 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
(Mrs.) 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Deborah 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Janetta 1
Lousa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 9
Thomas 6
James 5
Robert 5
Anthony 3
Arthur 3
George 3
Henry 3
Albert 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
Eavan 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Geoffrey 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Josephus 1
Lawrence 1
Michael 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Septimas 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Armitstead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armitstead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 132 people were recorded with the Armitstead surname. That placed it at #16,744 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armitstead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 214 in 2016. That gives Armitstead a modern rank of #18,740.

What does the Armitstead surname mean?

A locational name derived from a place called Armitsteed in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Armitstead map show?

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