NameCensus.

UK surname

Askew

Originating from Middle English, referring to someone who lived at a crooked or slanted place.

In the 1881 census there were 3,381 people recorded with the Askew surname, ranking it #1,347 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,866, ranked #1,390, down from #1,347 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Lancaster and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Askew is 5,164 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

3,381

Ranked #1,347

Modern count

4,866

2016, ranked #1,390

Peak year

1999

5,164 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Askew had 3,381 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,347 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,866 in 2016, ranked #1,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,769 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Askew surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Askew surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Askew 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 1,898 #1,527
1861 historical 1,667 #1,719
1881 historical 3,381 #1,347
1891 historical 3,332 #1,433
1901 historical 4,494 #1,269
1911 historical 4,769 #1,086
1997 modern 4,986 #1,317
1998 modern 5,122 #1,326
1999 modern 5,164 #1,326
2000 modern 5,119 #1,324
2001 modern 4,991 #1,333
2002 modern 5,057 #1,341
2003 modern 4,981 #1,325
2004 modern 4,981 #1,320
2005 modern 4,923 #1,323
2006 modern 4,932 #1,325
2007 modern 4,903 #1,346
2008 modern 4,960 #1,342
2009 modern 5,041 #1,351
2010 modern 5,127 #1,356
2011 modern 5,006 #1,370
2012 modern 4,810 #1,399
2013 modern 4,906 #1,396
2014 modern 4,991 #1,375
2015 modern 4,926 #1,383
2016 modern 4,866 #1,390

Geography

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Where Askews are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Gateshead and Colton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Lancaster and Allerdale. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Colton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Lancaster 001 Lancaster
3 Allerdale 008 Allerdale
4 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
5 Allerdale 006 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Askew

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Askew

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Askew, 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 Askew surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Askew 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

London Fringe

Within London, Askew is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Askew is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Askew

The surname Askew has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ascu" or "asc," meaning ash tree, and the suffix "-hyll," signifying a hill or ridge. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or on an ash-covered hill or ridge.

In its earliest recorded form, the name appeared as "Askewe" in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. This document, compiled during the reign of King Edward I, was an important record of landowners and tenants at the time.

The name Askew can be found in various historical records throughout the centuries. For instance, it appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a certain John Askew was listed as a taxpayer. Additionally, the name is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1379, indicating its presence in different regions of England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Askew was Sir Adam Askew, a nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure in Lancashire and held the manor of Stalmine in the Fylde region.

Another notable bearer of the name was Anne Askew (1521-1546), a Protestant martyr during the English Reformation. She was tried for heresy and famously tortured on the rack for her beliefs before being burned at the stake in London.

In the 16th century, the Askew family established themselves in the village of Redheugh, near Newcastle upon Tyne. One of their descendants, John Askew (1598-1659), was a notable puritan minister who served as the rector of Greystoke in Cumberland.

The name also has connections to place names, such as Askew Hill in the village of Askew Bridge in Yorkshire. This further reinforces the connection between the surname and its geographical origins.

Other individuals of historical significance with the surname Askew include Sir Robert Askew (1690-1772), a British Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire, and Anthony Askew (1722-1774), a distinguished physician and classical scholar who served as the Regius Professor of Physic at Cambridge University.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Askew families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Askew 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 600 Askews recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.53x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 600 1.53x
Yorkshire 349 1.07x
Middlesex 269 0.82x
Lincolnshire 215 4.08x
Durham 211 2.15x
Nottinghamshire 182 4.09x
Warwickshire 164 1.97x
Derbyshire 143 2.77x
Surrey 142 0.88x
Cumberland 140 4.93x
Bedfordshire 98 5.74x
Norfolk 97 1.91x
Essex 96 1.47x
Suffolk 87 2.17x
Westmorland 78 10.76x
Northumberland 74 1.51x
Kent 65 0.58x
Northamptonshire 59 1.90x
Cheshire 51 0.70x
Staffordshire 38 0.34x
Huntingdonshire 36 5.50x
Leicestershire 31 0.85x
Cambridgeshire 30 1.44x
Hampshire 20 0.30x
Gloucestershire 14 0.22x
Sussex 14 0.25x
Oxfordshire 13 0.64x
Lanarkshire 8 0.08x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.35x
Berkshire 6 0.24x
Monmouthshire 6 0.25x
Perthshire 6 0.41x
Devon 5 0.07x
Isle of Man 3 0.49x
Royal Navy 3 0.76x
Rutland 3 1.24x
Wiltshire 3 0.10x
Worcestershire 3 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.27x
Herefordshire 2 0.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.09x
Anglesey 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.05x
Flintshire 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.04x
Shropshire 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Sutherland 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton In Furness in Lancashire leads with 79 Askews recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.28x.

Place Total Index
Dalton In Furness 79 52.28x
Colton 53 259.68x
Lambeth 46 1.60x
Preston 44 4.20x
Peterborough 40 17.80x
Aston 33 1.44x
Kensington London 33 1.80x
Toxteth Park 32 2.41x
Great Bolton 30 5.79x
Sheffield 30 2.88x
Yaxley 30 195.82x
Hackney London 29 1.57x
Sedburgh 29 212.92x
Camberwell 28 1.33x
Ulverston 28 24.55x
Barrow In Furness 27 5.07x
Nottingham St Mary 26 2.26x
Shoreditch London 25 1.75x
Mile End Old Town London 24 3.42x
Gainsborough 23 18.49x
Lamesley 23 43.54x
St George In East London 22 7.09x
Willingham 22 123.25x
Bradfield 20 15.87x
Crosscanonby 19 20.23x
Grantham 19 27.64x
Rawmarsh 19 16.45x
Worksop 19 14.41x
Odell 18 376.57x
Tolleshunt Major 18 393.01x
Egton Cum Newland 17 149.52x
Greasley 17 16.94x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 17 124.63x
Blackburn 16 1.54x
Everton 16 1.28x
Sculcoates 16 3.09x
South Normanton 16 44.10x
Sutton St Mary 16 32.08x
Workington 16 9.84x
Birmingham 15 0.54x
Blackwell 15 59.08x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 2.26x
Lancaster 15 6.44x
Litcham 15 164.84x
Matlock 15 21.63x
Ryton On Dunsmore 15 291.83x
Weasenham All Sts 15 364.96x
Alfreton 14 8.92x
Monkwearmouth 14 14.90x
St Pancras London 14 0.53x
Bourton On Dunsmore 13 391.57x
Brotton 13 30.47x
Eastwood 13 32.70x
Harrold 13 112.46x
Somerby In Grantham 13 96.80x
West Derby 13 1.14x
Heanor 12 15.54x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 2.82x
Islington London 12 0.38x
Radford 12 5.31x
Southam 12 59.38x
Stainton 12 272.73x
Steppingley 12 339.94x
Stutton 12 197.37x
Whaplode 12 66.74x
Wigton 12 28.18x
Battersea 11 0.91x
Ipswich St Helen 11 23.09x
Loughton 11 34.16x
Muncaster 11 182.12x
Northfleet 11 11.09x
Whitley 11 69.36x
Wolsingham 11 12.30x
Birkenhead 10 1.72x
Claylane 10 13.93x
Clerkenwell London 10 1.28x
Cockermouth 10 16.72x
Kendal 10 7.53x
Warden 10 99.70x
Warwick St Nicholas 10 16.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 223
Elizabeth 149
Sarah 136
Jane 80
Ann 64
Margaret 62
Annie 55
Emma 55
Eliza 46
Ellen 40
Alice 39
Hannah 37
Agnes 34
Isabella 28
Emily 27
Martha 27
Maria 22
Charlotte 21
Harriet 20
Fanny 19
Ada 17
Catherine 17
Kate 17
Lucy 17
Edith 16
Eleanor 16
Florence 15
Frances 15
Lydia 13
Clara 12
Louisa 12
Anne 11
Caroline 11
Susan 11
Esther 9
Amelia 8
Elizth. 8
Harriett 8
Julia 8
Ruth 8
Gertrude 6
Helen 6
Rachel 6
Sophia 6
Grace 5
Lilly 5
Maud 5
Rebecca 5
Blanche 4
Mabel 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 240
William 227
Thomas 146
George 129
James 92
Joseph 76
Charles 65
Robert 59
Henry 53
Edward 43
Arthur 37
Alfred 31
Frederick 26
Walter 26
Samuel 24
Richard 20
Harry 18
David 17
Albert 16
Herbert 15
Wm. 12
Benjamin 11
Christopher 10
Francis 10
Ernest 9
Thos. 9
Edwin 7
Edmund 6
Fredrick 6
Matthew 6
Anthony 5
Chas. 5
Daniel 5
Frank 5
Fredk. 5
Michael 5
Robt. 5
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Leonard 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Abraham 3
Hugh 3
Hy. 3
Jonathan 3
Sydney 3
Willm. 3

FAQ

Askew surname: questions and answers

How common was the Askew surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,381 people were recorded with the Askew surname. That placed it at #1,347 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Askew surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,866 in 2016. That gives Askew a modern rank of #1,390.

What does the Askew surname mean?

Originating from Middle English, referring to someone who lived at a crooked or slanted place.

What does the Askew map show?

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