NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashburner

A surname originating from a location having an ashen or ash-tree filled area.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Ashburner surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 380, ranked #12,346, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness and Pennington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Arun and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashburner is 468 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.7%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

380

2016, ranked #12,346

Peak year

1911

468 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashburner had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 380 in 2016, ranked #12,346.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ashburner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashburner surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ashburner 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 343 #6,861
1861 historical 309 #8,207
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 425 #8,429
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 468 #8,247
1997 modern 442 #10,209
1998 modern 457 #10,279
1999 modern 462 #10,249
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 451 #10,212
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 458 #10,158
2005 modern 444 #10,315
2006 modern 420 #10,816
2007 modern 414 #11,072
2008 modern 407 #11,310
2009 modern 421 #11,246
2010 modern 417 #11,606
2011 modern 393 #12,017
2012 modern 387 #12,015
2013 modern 383 #12,314
2014 modern 384 #12,362
2015 modern 380 #12,364
2016 modern 380 #12,346

Geography

Back to top

Where Ashburners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness, Pennington, Dalston and Ulverstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Arun, South Lakeland and Sefton. 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 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
2 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
3 Pennington Lancashire
4 Dalston Cumberland
5 Ulverstone Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Copeland 005 Copeland
3 Arun 003 Arun
4 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
5 Sefton 009 Sefton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ashburner

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ashburner

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Ashburner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ashburner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ashburner is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Ashburner 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ashburner

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

The name appears to have first emerged in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire. The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in records from these regions, such as the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which list a Robert Assheburnere.

Throughout the centuries, the name has been spelled in various ways, including Ashburner, Ashburner, Ashburnere, and Ashbrenner, reflecting the regional accents and dialects of different areas of England.

One notable historical reference to the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire, dated 1486, which mentions a John Assheburnere. This legal document provides evidence of the surname's continued use and presence in the region during the late medieval period.

In the 16th century, the name appears in records from the nearby county of Lancashire. The Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond, dated 1548, include a reference to a George Assheburnere from the town of Clitheroe.

Over the centuries, several individuals bearing the surname Ashburner have achieved notable accomplishments or held prominent positions. One example is Sir John Ashburner (1572-1635), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1630. Another is William Ashburner (1758-1831), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was commended for his bravery in action.

In the 19th century, the name appears in the records of several notable academics and scholars. Edward Ashburner (1816-1895) was a renowned English clergyman and author, while Walter Ashburner (1841-1904) was a respected British geologist and member of the Royal Society.

Another individual of note is Sir Cromer Ashburner (1871-1957), a British civil servant who served as the Governor of British Honduras (now Belize) from 1925 to 1932.

These examples illustrate the rich history and widespread presence of the surname Ashburner across various regions of England and in various fields of endeavor throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ashburner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashburner 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 258 Ashburners recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 258 5.28x
Cumberland 63 17.78x
Middlesex 21 0.51x
Kent 14 1.00x
Yorkshire 14 0.34x
Herefordshire 12 7.11x
Westmorland 10 11.05x
Sussex 7 1.01x
Isle of Man 6 7.85x
Surrey 6 0.30x
Cheshire 4 0.44x
Anglesey 2 2.74x
Monmouthshire 2 0.67x
Essex 1 0.12x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 46 Ashburners recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.25x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 46 69.25x
Dalton In Furness 32 169.67x
Ulverston 32 224.88x
Pennington In Ulverston 19 781.89x
Urswick 15 828.73x
Kirkby Ireleth 11 450.82x
Broughton In Salford 10 22.39x
Everton 10 6.42x
Skipton 10 77.88x
St Bees 10 609.76x
Egremont 9 106.51x
Greenwich 9 13.73x
West Derby 9 6.30x
Accrington 8 18.01x
Blawith 8 3636.36x
Great Bolton 8 12.36x
Hereford St Nicholas 8 347.83x
Osmotherley 8 1194.03x
Dalston Buckabank 7 972.22x
Millom 7 64.46x
Muncaster 7 933.33x
Burnage 6 500.00x
Colton 6 235.29x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 6 275.23x
Onchan 6 27.25x
St Cuthbert W O 6 34.72x
Aldingham 5 306.75x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.80x
Horsham 5 37.09x
Kensington London 5 2.18x
Battersea 4 2.64x
Chorley 4 14.59x
Dent 4 233.92x
Eskdale Wasdale 4 533.33x
Preston 4 3.06x
Workington 4 19.71x
Gosforth 3 173.41x
Hereford St Peter 3 66.52x
Islington London 3 0.75x
Kendal 3 18.12x
Little Bolton 3 4.78x
Liverpool 3 1.01x
Paddington London 3 1.98x
Snodland 3 75.38x
Spitalfields London 3 9.69x
Staveley 3 526.32x
Tranmere 3 8.98x
Dalston 2 72.99x
Egton Cum Newland 2 140.85x
Panteg 2 42.64x
Trefdraeth 2 158.73x
Bootle 1 86.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.58x
Brighton 1 0.71x
Cheltenham 1 1.61x
Claughton With Grange 1 24.15x
Croydon 1 0.90x
Dover Castle 1 98.04x
Eardisland 1 90.91x
Felstead 1 35.97x
Flimby 1 33.44x
Gorton 1 2.18x
Irton With Santon 1 113.64x
Lancing 1 52.36x
Lower Upper Holker 1 149.25x
Lowick 1 185.19x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.14x
Old Hutton Holmescales 1 185.19x
Portsea 1 0.60x
St Giles In Fields London 1 4.95x
Streatham 1 3.27x
Tonbridge 1 1.97x
Walton Le Dale 1 7.62x
Warton With Lindeth 1 48.78x
Whicham 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 27
Margaret 18
Jane 17
Sarah 11
Agnes 7
Annie 7
Ann 6
Hannah 6
Eleanor 5
Alice 4
Edith 4
Isabella 4
Lucy 4
Margt. 4
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Isabel 2
Lizzie 2
Ruth 2
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
E.Harriet 1
Elen 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Lillie 1
Mable 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Marian 1
Marianne 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 30
Thomas 20
George 16
James 9
Robert 9
Richard 7
Wm. 6
Joseph 5
Matthew 4
Christopher 3
Edward 3
Samuel 3
Thos. 3
Aaron 2
Geo. 2
Henry 2
Levi 2
Martin 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Albert 1
Alfread 1
Aron 1
Arthur 1
Banks 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Frd. 1
Frederick 1
G. 1
Hadwins 1
Hubert 1
I. 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jonathon 1
Jos. 1
Lancelot 1
Lawrence 1
Miles 1
Myles 1
Ralph 1
Revd. 1
Samul. 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Townson 1
Wm.Edwd. 1

FAQ

Ashburner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashburner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Ashburner surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashburner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 380 in 2016. That gives Ashburner a modern rank of #12,346.

What does the Ashburner surname mean?

A surname originating from a location having an ashen or ash-tree filled area.

What does the Ashburner map show?

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