NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashfield

An English habitation surname referring to someone from a place with ash trees or a field of ash trees.

In the 1881 census there were 567 people recorded with the Ashfield surname, ranking it #6,120 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,259, ranked #4,748, up from #6,120 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Shipston-on-Stour, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Sandwell and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashfield is 1,260 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 122.0%.

1881 census count

567

Ranked #6,120

Modern count

1,259

2016, ranked #4,748

Peak year

2000

1,260 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashfield had 567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,120 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016, ranked #4,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 902 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Ashfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashfield 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 459 #5,654
1881 historical 567 #6,120
1891 historical 636 #6,088
1901 historical 786 #5,727
1911 historical 902 #4,944
1997 modern 1,201 #4,703
1998 modern 1,233 #4,773
1999 modern 1,212 #4,888
2000 modern 1,260 #4,709
2001 modern 1,199 #4,802
2002 modern 1,206 #4,882
2003 modern 1,193 #4,829
2004 modern 1,176 #4,895
2005 modern 1,160 #4,899
2006 modern 1,157 #4,913
2007 modern 1,184 #4,864
2008 modern 1,169 #4,941
2009 modern 1,211 #4,903
2010 modern 1,236 #4,916
2011 modern 1,232 #4,874
2012 modern 1,207 #4,889
2013 modern 1,233 #4,881
2014 modern 1,258 #4,828
2015 modern 1,256 #4,779
2016 modern 1,259 #4,748

Geography

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Where Ashfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Shipston-on-Stour, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Rowley Regis, Hanney, West and Winfarthing. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Sandwell and Breckland. 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 Shipston-on-Stour Warwickshire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Hanney, West Berkshire
5 Winfarthing Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Sandwell 014 Sandwell
3 Sandwell 007 Sandwell
4 Breckland 011 Breckland
5 Sandwell 001 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashfield

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Ashfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Ashfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ashfield 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

Ashfield is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ashfield

The surname Ashfield has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Ashfield, which refers to a field or clearing where ash trees grew. The earliest recorded spelling of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aesscefelde."

During the Middle Ages, the Ashfield family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, where several villages and hamlets bore the name Ashfield. The name was often spelled in various ways, including Aschfeld, Asshefeld, and Ashfelde, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname was Robert de Ashfield, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1166. Another notable figure was William de Ashfield, a landowner in Nottinghamshire, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for that county in 1254.

In the 14th century, the Ashfield family gained prominence in the region. John Ashfield, born around 1320, was a respected member of the Guild of Merchants in Nottingham. His son, Richard Ashfield (c. 1350-1412), served as the Mayor of Nottingham in 1389 and 1402, indicating the family's influential status in the local community.

During the Tudor period, the Ashfields continued to play a role in the history of Nottinghamshire. Thomas Ashfield (c. 1480-1552) was a prominent landowner and benefactor who endowed several charitable institutions in the county. His grandson, Edward Ashfield (1520-1591), was a member of the Parliament during the reign of Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Ashfield surname spread beyond its traditional heartland in the East Midlands. One notable individual was William Ashfield (1614-1679), a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Wilmslow in Cheshire.

As the centuries passed, the Ashfield name continued to be carried by individuals of note. Sir Edmund Ashfield (1755-1828) was a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. In the field of literature, Mary Ashfield (1827-1904) was a prominent novelist and playwright in Victorian England, known for her works exploring social issues of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashfield 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. Worcestershire leads with 83 Ashfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.49x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 83 11.49x
Berkshire 53 12.77x
Surrey 53 1.97x
Staffordshire 47 2.52x
Warwickshire 43 3.08x
Middlesex 35 0.63x
Oxfordshire 32 9.37x
Norfolk 28 3.29x
Lancashire 20 0.30x
Wiltshire 19 3.88x
Hampshire 18 1.59x
Derbyshire 17 1.96x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Lanarkshire 15 0.84x
Essex 13 1.19x
Kent 11 0.58x
Gloucestershire 9 0.83x
Bedfordshire 7 2.44x
Dorset 7 1.93x
Huntingdonshire 6 5.46x
Suffolk 6 0.89x
Sussex 6 0.64x
Durham 5 0.30x
Glamorgan 5 0.52x
Monmouthshire 3 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.60x
Montgomeryshire 2 1.58x
Angus 1 0.20x
Cheshire 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 0.14x
Northumberland 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bromsgrove in Worcestershire leads with 54 Ashfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 222.13x.

Place Total Index
Bromsgrove 54 222.13x
Tipton 22 38.48x
Marcham 16 1073.83x
Shipston On Stour 15 455.93x
Winfarthing 15 1315.79x
Lambeth 14 2.90x
Battersea 13 6.39x
Derby St Werburgh 13 26.00x
Rowley Regis 12 23.06x
Birmingham 11 2.37x
Oxford St Thomas 10 62.74x
Ealing 9 18.21x
East Garston 9 1034.48x
Aston 8 2.08x
Bermondsey 8 4.86x
Devizes St Mary 8 161.94x
East Molesey 8 128.00x
Neithrop 8 69.69x
Clayton 7 52.20x
East Ham 7 34.55x
Felmersham 7 752.69x
Letcombe Bassett 7 1666.67x
Motcombe 7 262.17x
Newnham 7 250.90x
Old Stratford 7 88.61x
St Maurice Winchester 7 148.62x
Swindon 7 18.45x
Ditchling 6 236.22x
Hamilton 6 12.03x
Hartford 6 833.33x
St James Dukes Place 6 508.47x
Batley 5 9.60x
Bradford 5 16.28x
Buckland 5 364.96x
Cardiff St John 5 15.89x
Edgbaston 5 11.56x
Halesowen 5 78.86x
Maryhill 5 14.28x
Norton Canes 5 73.53x
South Stoneham 5 20.33x
Stratford On Avon 5 64.60x
Thetford St Cuthbert 5 162.87x
Wolverhampton 5 3.48x
Barony 4 0.88x
Denton 4 27.51x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.75x
Devizes St John 4 108.99x
East West Hanney 4 245.40x
Foots Cray 4 110.80x
Reigate Foreign 4 13.71x
Sculcoates 4 4.60x
Stockton On Tees 4 5.04x
Warrington 4 5.14x
West Ham 4 1.66x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 16.68x
Eatington 3 227.27x
Euston 3 681.82x
Great Faringdon 3 50.25x
Nash 3 666.67x
Oxford St Giles 3 18.40x
Pedmore 3 315.79x
Richmond 3 7.94x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 12.53x
Wandsworth 3 5.63x
Whistones 3 57.36x
Folkestone 2 5.46x
Great Bolton 2 2.30x
Hackney London 2 0.65x
Hornsey 2 2.86x
Hutton 2 270.27x
Islington London 2 0.37x
Kensington London 2 0.65x
Liverpool 2 0.50x
Paddington London 2 0.98x
Portsea 2 0.90x
Stanford In Vale 2 121.21x
Sudbury 2 202.02x
Tibenham 2 166.67x
Witney 2 35.03x
Wootton 2 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 26
Sarah 17
Emma 15
Ann 12
Jane 11
Eliza 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Harriet 8
Ellen 7
Clara 6
Edith 6
Maria 6
Martha 5
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Rose 4
Ada 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Rhoda 3
Sophia 3
Esther 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
May 2
Mira 2
Naomi 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Charlott 1
Constance 1
Corilie 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Elsie 1
Estha 1
Ethel 1
Eunice 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Henrietta 1
Hephizibar 1
Hephzibah 1
Jeannette 1
Julin 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
George 25
John 23
Joseph 17
Thomas 14
Charles 9
James 9
Robert 9
Henry 8
Arthur 7
Alfred 6
Harry 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Richard 5
Wm. 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Albert 2
Daniel 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Peter 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Chas.H. 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredr. 1
Frerick 1
G.W. 1
Gathorne 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Lot 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Zacharia 1

FAQ

Ashfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 567 people were recorded with the Ashfield surname. That placed it at #6,120 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,259 in 2016. That gives Ashfield a modern rank of #4,748.

What does the Ashfield surname mean?

An English habitation surname referring to someone from a place with ash trees or a field of ash trees.

What does the Ashfield map show?

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