NameCensus.

UK surname

Arthur

Originally a Celtic surname meaning "bear," derived from the Old Welsh name "Arth" or "Arthwr," meaning "bear-man."

In the 1881 census there were 6,398 people recorded with the Arthur surname, ranking it #666 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,017, ranked #827, down from #666 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North and East Isles, Merthyr Tydfil and Mearns and Laurencekirk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arthur is 8,238 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.3%.

1881 census count

6,398

Ranked #666

Modern count

8,017

2016, ranked #827

Peak year

2010

8,238 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arthur had 6,398 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #666 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,017 in 2016, ranked #827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,551 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Arthur surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Arthur surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arthur 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 4,593 #608
1861 historical 5,103 #552
1881 historical 6,398 #666
1891 historical 7,187 #626
1901 historical 7,551 #714
1911 historical 5,863 #884
1997 modern 7,390 #870
1998 modern 7,734 #867
1999 modern 7,755 #872
2000 modern 7,803 #864
2001 modern 7,633 #863
2002 modern 7,756 #867
2003 modern 7,554 #871
2004 modern 7,639 #861
2005 modern 7,616 #848
2006 modern 7,686 #835
2007 modern 7,768 #834
2008 modern 7,866 #828
2009 modern 8,055 #828
2010 modern 8,238 #828
2011 modern 8,080 #827
2012 modern 7,898 #827
2013 modern 8,052 #826
2014 modern 8,090 #828
2015 modern 8,021 #828
2016 modern 8,017 #827

Geography

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Where Arthurs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North and East Isles, Merthyr Tydfil, Mearns and Laurencekirk, Pembrokeshire and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North and East Isles Shetland Islands
2 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
3 Mearns and Laurencekirk Aberdeenshire
4 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
5 Cornwall 012 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arthur

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arthur

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Arthur surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Arthur household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Arthur is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arthur 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

Arthur falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arthur 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 Arthur, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Arthur

The surname Arthur has its origins in the ancient Celtic British culture, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries AD. It is believed to have derived from the Roman name "Artorius" or the Celtic words "artos" meaning bear and "rigos" meaning king or warrior. The name was associated with the legendary King Arthur, who was said to have ruled over Britain during the late 5th and early 6th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Arthur can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Arturus," "Arthurus," and "Artur."

In the 12th century, the name gained popularity due to the widespread circulation of the Arthurian legends, which were compiled and romanticized by authors like Geoffrey of Monmouth and Chrétien de Troyes. These stories featured the exploits of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, solidifying the name's association with chivalry and heroism.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Arthur was particularly prevalent in Cornwall and Wales, regions with strong Celtic cultural ties. Notable individuals with the surname include Sir Thomas Arthur (1508-1586), a Welsh politician and landowner, and Sir Daniel Arthur (1609-1676), a Welsh soldier and Member of Parliament.

In the 16th century, the Arthur surname appeared in various place names and locations across England, such as Arthurstown in Northamptonshire and Arthursleigh in Warwickshire, further indicating its widespread adoption.

Other notable historical figures with the surname Arthur include: 1. Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886), the 21st President of the United States. 2. Sir George Arthur (1784-1854), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (present-day Ontario). 3. Julia Arthur (1869-1950), an American stage actress renowned for her performances in Shakespearean plays. 4. Robert Arthur (1909-1969), an American writer and editor best known for his work on the Alfred Hitchcock Presents anthology series. 5. John Arthur (1880-1952), a British actor and film director who worked extensively in the silent film era.

The surname Arthur has endured through the centuries, carrying with it a rich history and associations with legendary figures, literary works, and cultural significance in various regions of the British Isles and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arthur families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arthur 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. Lanarkshire leads with 441 Arthurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 441 2.14x
Middlesex 430 0.68x
Cornwall 374 5.19x
Surrey 327 1.05x
Renfrewshire 262 5.31x
Glamorgan 260 2.35x
Lancashire 248 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 233 3.95x
Northumberland 205 2.16x
Midlothian 199 2.33x
Hampshire 197 1.51x
Kent 195 0.90x
Fife 179 4.75x
Shetland 178 27.38x
Ayrshire 173 3.63x
Durham 171 0.90x
Yorkshire 171 0.27x
Carmarthenshire 149 5.55x
Channel Islands 133 7.05x
Devon 129 0.97x
Northamptonshire 109 1.82x
Monmouthshire 104 2.26x
Angus 102 1.73x
Montgomeryshire 90 6.17x
Sussex 86 0.80x
Derbyshire 84 0.84x
Stirlingshire 84 3.58x
Staffordshire 83 0.39x
Cheshire 81 0.58x
Somerset 80 0.78x
Brecknockshire 75 5.89x
Gloucestershire 75 0.60x
Shropshire 70 1.27x
Warwickshire 65 0.40x
West Lothian 63 6.57x
Dunbartonshire 48 2.81x
Leicestershire 48 0.68x
Perthshire 31 1.08x
Pembrokeshire 30 1.48x
Oxfordshire 26 0.66x
Worcestershire 25 0.30x
Denbighshire 23 0.96x
Radnorshire 23 4.48x
Wiltshire 23 0.41x
Berkshire 22 0.46x
Herefordshire 21 0.80x
Essex 20 0.16x
Kirkcudbrightshire 18 1.95x
Nottinghamshire 18 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 16 0.40x
Flintshire 16 0.94x
Argyllshire 15 0.85x
Clackmannanshire 14 2.66x
Cumberland 14 0.26x
Merionethshire 14 1.20x
Ross-shire 13 0.74x
Cardiganshire 12 0.77x
Dumfriesshire 12 0.85x
Roxburghshire 12 1.04x
Dorset 11 0.26x
Orkney 10 1.43x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.23x
Hertfordshire 8 0.18x
Bedfordshire 7 0.21x
Inverness-shire 7 0.37x
Norfolk 7 0.07x
Isle of Man 6 0.51x
Selkirkshire 6 1.04x
Buteshire 5 1.30x
Suffolk 5 0.06x
Banffshire 4 0.30x
Royal Navy 4 0.53x
Kincardineshire 3 0.39x
Nairnshire 3 1.54x
Wigtownshire 3 0.35x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.08x
Lincolnshire 2 0.02x
Morayshire 2 0.20x
Berwickshire 1 0.13x
East Lothian 1 0.12x
Rutland 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 135 Arthurs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.

Place Total Index
Barony 135 2.59x
Govan 123 2.42x
Glasgow 78 2.13x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 75 130.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 70 2.04x
Dundee 61 2.77x
St Stephen In Brannel 55 83.66x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 54 4.90x
Deptford St Paul 54 3.22x
Portsea 49 1.92x
Llanelly 48 7.94x
West Greenock 48 5.42x
Westoe 48 4.47x
Ystradyfodwg 43 4.42x
Lambeth 42 0.76x
Paddington London 42 1.79x
Merthyr Tydfil 39 3.66x
St Mary 39 179.48x
Dunfermline 36 6.21x
Aberdeen Old Machar 35 2.84x
Old Monkland 35 4.28x
St Marylebone London 35 1.03x
Abbey 34 4.52x
Carmarthen St Peter 34 14.83x
Gwinear 33 96.52x
West Horsley 33 252.87x
St Pancras London 32 0.62x
Byker 31 6.62x
Kensington London 30 0.85x
St Helier 30 4.89x
Wolverhampton 30 1.82x
Falkirk 29 5.28x
Islington London 29 0.47x
Longside 29 41.19x
Mitcham 29 14.79x
Pitsford 29 238.10x
Stirling 29 9.80x
Dorking 28 13.44x
Whiteness Weisdale 28 142.64x
Aberdare 27 3.55x
Bathgate 27 12.97x
Paisley High Church 27 6.87x
Port Glasgow 27 11.32x
Ecclesfield 26 5.62x
Old Cumnock 26 24.51x
Ayr 25 11.12x
Penicuik 25 21.57x
Abergwilly 24 54.47x
Bedwellty 24 2.95x
Camberwell 24 0.59x
Croydon 24 1.39x
East Greenock 24 5.15x
Leicester St Margaret 24 1.39x
Limehouse London 24 3.43x
Liverpool 24 0.52x
Brighton 23 1.06x
Chelsea London 23 1.20x
Camborne 21 7.07x
Southampton St Mary 21 2.56x
Yelvertoft 21 190.91x
Bishopwearmouth 20 1.23x
Northmavine 20 40.40x
St George Hanover Square 20 1.78x
Strathmiglo 20 44.41x
Toxteth Park 20 0.78x
Birkenhead 19 1.70x
Dysart 19 7.49x
New Monkland 19 3.12x
Westgate 19 3.24x
East Tytherley 18 218.45x
Eastwood 18 5.92x
Hackney London 18 0.50x
Bermondsey 17 0.90x
Ellon 17 20.96x
Hampstead London 17 1.71x
Lockerley 17 130.27x
Paisley Middle Church 17 5.92x
Worksop 17 6.68x
Birmingham 16 0.30x
Greenwich 16 1.58x
Guilsfield 16 30.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 346
Elizabeth 193
Jane 125
Sarah 123
Ann 89
Eliza 64
Margaret 62
Emily 58
Ellen 54
Emma 52
Annie 48
Hannah 43
Alice 36
Catherine 36
Louisa 30
Caroline 29
Florence 29
Isabella 29
Kate 29
Martha 29
Maria 28
Fanny 25
Edith 23
Anne 21
Agnes 20
Charlotte 20
Susan 20
Ada 19
Harriet 16
Amelia 15
Clara 15
Frances 15
Eleanor 13
Rose 13
Susannah 13
Grace 11
Julia 11
Lucy 10
Rachel 10
Sophia 10
Esther 9
Gertrude 9
Lydia 9
Matilda 9
Rebecca 9
Amy 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Jessie 8
Margt. 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 279
William 275
Thomas 145
James 130
George 116
David 70
Edward 66
Henry 66
Joseph 59
Robert 47
Charles 46
Richard 46
Frederick 38
Alfred 37
Samuel 36
Walter 32
Evan 26
Francis 26
Albert 24
Benjamin 16
Arthur 15
Edwin 14
Ernest 14
Herbert 13
Matthew 13
Philip 13
Harry 12
Isaac 10
Sidney 9
Thos. 9
Alexander 8
Wm. 8
Frank 7
Fred 7
Llewellyn 7
Reginald 7
Christopher 6
Owen 6
Percy 6
Andrew 5
Daniel 5
Geo. 5
Hugh 5
Joshua 5
Leonard 5
Nicholas 5
Aaron 4
Maurice 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4

FAQ

Arthur surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arthur surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,398 people were recorded with the Arthur surname. That placed it at #666 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arthur surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,017 in 2016. That gives Arthur a modern rank of #827.

What does the Arthur surname mean?

Originally a Celtic surname meaning "bear," derived from the Old Welsh name "Arth" or "Arthwr," meaning "bear-man."

What does the Arthur map show?

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