NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashburn

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stream where ash trees grow" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 235 people recorded with the Ashburn surname, ranking it #11,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 272, ranked #15,832, down from #11,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester and Broomfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Chorley and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashburn is 292 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.7%.

1881 census count

235

Ranked #11,573

Modern count

272

2016, ranked #15,832

Peak year

2011

292 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashburn had 235 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016, ranked #15,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ashburn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashburn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashburn 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 235 #11,573
1891 historical 259 #12,399
1901 historical 268 #12,553
1911 historical 267 #12,360
1997 modern 248 #15,363
1998 modern 274 #14,759
1999 modern 275 #14,789
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 264 #14,958
2002 modern 268 #15,081
2003 modern 266 #14,987
2004 modern 262 #15,233
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 273 #15,113
2009 modern 282 #15,059
2010 modern 291 #15,050
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 272 #15,586
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 270 #15,911
2016 modern 272 #15,832

Geography

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Where Ashburns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Manchester, Broomfield, Blackburn and Alnwick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Chorley, Bolton and Carfin North. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Broomfield Cumberland
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Alnwick Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 032 Northumberland
2 Chorley 014 Chorley
3 Northumberland 030 Northumberland
4 Bolton 024 Bolton
5 Carfin North North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashburn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashburn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ashburn, 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 Ashburn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ashburn 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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ashburn is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Ashburn 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

Ashburn falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ashburn

The surname Ashburn originated in England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "æsc" meaning ash tree and "burna" meaning a stream or brook. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near an ash tree by a stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1198, where it appears as "de Esseburn." This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time, as the pronunciation and written form adapted to regional dialects and scribal conventions.

The Ashburn surname has a strong connection to certain regions of England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire. These areas were known for their abundance of ash trees and numerous small streams, making it a natural environment for the name to originate.

In the Domesday Book, a renowned medieval survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, several place names similar to Ashburn can be found, including "Esseburne" and "Esseburn." While these entries do not directly reference individuals with the Ashburn surname, they provide evidence of the name's geographical roots.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Ashburn surname. One of the earliest was John de Ashburn, a 14th-century English landowner and knight who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was Richard Ashburn (1535-1605), an English clergyman and author who played a significant role in the English Reformation.

Other notable individuals include William Ashburn (1691-1768), a British colonial administrator who served as the 17th Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay, and John Ashburn (1753-1828), an English engraver and painter known for his landscapes and portraits.

In the literary realm, Harriet Ashburn (1844-1923) was an American novelist and short story writer who wrote under the pen name "Frances Courtenay Baylor." Her works often depicted life in the American South during the late 19th century.

While the Ashburn surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its earliest recorded instances and historical significance can be traced back to the English counties where it first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashburn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashburn 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. Cumberland leads with 71 Ashburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.97x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 71 35.97x
Yorkshire 45 1.98x
Lancashire 43 1.58x
Northumberland 19 5.57x
Cheshire 9 1.78x
Middlesex 9 0.39x
Worcestershire 7 2.34x
Durham 5 0.73x
Northamptonshire 5 2.32x
Staffordshire 5 0.65x
Monmouthshire 4 2.41x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.97x
Surrey 3 0.27x
Sussex 2 0.52x
Warwickshire 2 0.35x
Devon 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 11 Ashburns recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.27x.

Place Total Index
Doncaster 11 66.27x
Blackburn 10 13.82x
Hedley Woodside 10 2857.14x
Holy Trinity 9 16.47x
Sculcoates 8 22.21x
Aspatria 7 368.42x
Droylsden 7 78.92x
Great Bolton 7 19.43x
Stretford 7 46.76x
Alnwick 6 102.39x
Oughterside Allerby 6 1538.46x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 23.63x
Bothel Threapland 5 1612.90x
Brampton 5 184.50x
Denaby 5 390.63x
Dukinfield 5 21.39x
Gateshead 5 9.79x
Handsworth 5 26.22x
Rockcliff 5 819.67x
St Mary Within 5 202.43x
Bedwellty 4 13.67x
Dalston Buckabank 4 1000.00x
Dearham 4 153.85x
Dent 4 421.05x
Islington London 4 1.80x
Little Bolton 4 11.44x
Northampton Priory St 4 30.91x
Stourbridge 4 51.95x
West Newton Allonby 4 579.71x
Cleator 3 36.50x
Hornsey 3 10.35x
Penrith 3 41.15x
West Kirby 3 340.91x
Whitehaven 3 28.52x
Allhallows 2 344.83x
Brighton 2 2.56x
Cockermouth 2 48.19x
Gilcrux 2 500.00x
Kings Norton 2 7.45x
Leeds 2 1.56x
Liverpool 2 1.21x
Low Bolton 2 400.00x
Newton Biggin 2 1052.63x
Preston 2 2.75x
Snenton 2 16.47x
South Blyth Newsham 2 298.51x
Toxteth Park 2 2.17x
Wetheral 2 76.63x
Bermondsey 1 1.47x
Birkenhead 1 2.48x
Camberwell 1 0.68x
Carlatton 1 2000.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.31x
Dean 1 153.85x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 1 13.77x
Great Malvern 1 16.00x
Harrington 1 42.02x
Hayton Mealo 1 434.78x
Hensingham 1 62.11x
Idle 1 9.50x
Lidford 1 46.73x
Little Salkeld 1 1000.00x
Moss Side 1 6.99x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.25x
Ponsonby 1 769.23x
Preston Next Faversham 1 54.35x
Shoreditch London 1 1.01x
South Middleton In Morpeth 1 10000.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.17x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.48x
Yardley Hastings 1 107.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Jane 13
Sarah 12
Alice 7
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 5
Ann 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Emma 3
Hannah 3
Adeline 2
Annas 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Barbara 1
Clara 1
Dorothy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizath. 1
Ethel 1
Francis 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Louesa 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Nanny 1
Nansey 1
Nelly 1
Prudena 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1
Theordora 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 14
Thomas 11
George 6
James 5
Joseph 5
Robert 5
Charles 4
Francis 4
Henry 4
Jonathan 4
Wm. 3
Edward 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Chas. 1
Cyrus 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Michael 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Sam 1
Samuel 1
Walker 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Ashburn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashburn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 235 people were recorded with the Ashburn surname. That placed it at #11,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashburn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016. That gives Ashburn a modern rank of #15,832.

What does the Ashburn surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stream where ash trees grow" in Old English.

What does the Ashburn map show?

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