NameCensus.

UK surname

Askin

An occupational surname derived from the word "ask" meaning basket maker or seller.

In the 1881 census there were 254 people recorded with the Askin surname, ranking it #10,949 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 331, ranked #13,735, down from #10,949 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mexborough, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Wakefield and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Askin is 399 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.3%.

1881 census count

254

Ranked #10,949

Modern count

331

2016, ranked #13,735

Peak year

1891

399 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Askin had 254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,949 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016, ranked #13,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 399 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Askin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Askin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Askin 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 346 #7,377
1881 historical 254 #10,949
1891 historical 399 #8,898
1901 historical 265 #12,652
1911 historical 310 #11,180
1997 modern 313 #13,158
1998 modern 306 #13,720
1999 modern 301 #13,926
2000 modern 292 #14,165
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 312 #13,639
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 308 #13,655
2005 modern 287 #14,216
2006 modern 281 #14,500
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 286 #14,618
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 296 #14,877
2011 modern 302 #14,535
2012 modern 316 #13,994
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 319 #14,118
2016 modern 331 #13,735

Geography

Back to top

Where Askins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mexborough, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Pontefract, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Wakefield and Bassetlaw. 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 Mexborough Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
2 Wakefield 010 Wakefield
3 Wakefield 011 Wakefield
4 Wakefield 026 Wakefield
5 Bassetlaw 001 Bassetlaw

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Askin

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Askin

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Askin 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

Askin 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

Askin falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Askin

The surname Askin has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, derived from the personal name Aschoilinn, which translates to "scholar" or "disciple." It is believed to have first emerged in the western Scottish Highlands and the Hebrides islands during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the ancient Ragman Rolls, a collection of medieval homage rolls from the late 13th century. The rolls contain the name Ascalyn de Ergaithel, a Scottish nobleman who swore fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.

In the 15th century, the surname began to appear in various Scottish records and charters, often associated with the regions of Argyll and Bute. One notable figure from this era was Donald Askin, a prominent landowner and chieftain who lived in the late 1400s and was known for his involvement in clan disputes.

The name also has connections to the Outer Hebrides islands, specifically the Isle of Lewis. Historical records from the 16th century mention an Andro Askin, a seafarer and merchant from Lewis who traded goods between the islands and the Scottish mainland.

As the centuries progressed, variations in spelling emerged, including Asken, Askyn, and Askine, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations common in historical documents. One notable individual was Sir James Askine, a Scottish nobleman born in 1670, who served as a member of the Privy Council under King William III.

In the 18th century, the surname gained recognition through the work of John Askin, a Scottish-born fur trader and merchant who established a prominent trading post in present-day Ontario, Canada. He played a significant role in the development of the fur trade and the British presence in the region.

As the name spread beyond Scotland, it continued to be associated with notable individuals. One such figure was Thomas Askin, an English-born playwright and actor who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, renowned for his comedic plays and performances on the London stage.

Other notable individuals with the surname Askin include the American artist and illustrator John Askin (1886-1948), known for his work in pulp magazines and science fiction illustrations, and the Scottish-born Canadian politician and judge Armon Henry Askin (1884-1968), who served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and later as a judge in Ontario.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Askin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Askin 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. Yorkshire leads with 92 Askins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 92 3.82x
Lancashire 43 1.49x
Shropshire 19 9.05x
Middlesex 15 0.62x
Staffordshire 14 1.71x
Worcestershire 14 4.41x
Derbyshire 10 2.63x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.44x
Cheshire 6 1.12x
Warwickshire 6 0.98x
Durham 3 0.42x
Berkshire 2 1.10x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.30x
Lanarkshire 2 0.25x
Montgomeryshire 2 3.59x
Norfolk 2 0.54x
Oxfordshire 2 1.33x
Renfrewshire 2 1.06x
Anglesey 1 2.32x
Cardiganshire 1 1.69x
Hampshire 1 0.20x
Lincolnshire 1 0.26x
Surrey 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherham in Yorkshire leads with 23 Askins recorded in 1881 and an index of 169.49x.

Place Total Index
Rotherham 23 169.49x
Shrewsbury St Mary 11 132.85x
Everton 10 10.89x
Nether Hallam 9 27.64x
Swinton In Rotherham 9 141.51x
West Bromwich 9 19.17x
Hackney London 8 5.88x
Hunslet 8 21.32x
Mexborough 8 167.36x
Derby All Sts 7 220.13x
Knottingley 7 165.48x
Norwell 7 2058.82x
Pennington In Ulverston 7 489.51x
Sheffield 7 9.13x
Edgbaston 6 31.60x
Kirkdale 6 12.38x
Lye 6 113.64x
Bradford 5 8.58x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 10.21x
Toxteth Park 5 5.12x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 6.35x
Oswestry Town 4 59.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 4.60x
Crook Billy Row 3 32.43x
Hulme 3 4.99x
Kidderminster Borough 3 16.16x
Manchester 3 2.31x
Oswestry Rural 3 93.17x
Wolverley 3 107.91x
Yeardsley Cum Whaley 3 283.02x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 8.92x
Derby St Werburgh 2 9.11x
East Greenock 2 11.25x
Hartlebury 2 105.82x
Hemsworth 2 144.93x
Kimberworth 2 14.97x
Llanfair Caereinion 2 105.26x
Maryhill 2 13.00x
Shoreditch London 2 1.90x
Weasenham St Peter 2 909.09x
West Derby 2 2.37x
Wisbech St Peter 2 25.94x
Arnold 1 20.92x
Askern 1 217.39x
Barnsley 1 4.03x
Bentworth 1 217.39x
Bicester Market End 1 36.36x
Birkenhead 1 2.34x
Bowdon 1 46.95x
Broncastellan 1 833.33x
Burghfield 1 92.59x
Chipping Norton 1 28.82x
Clitheroe 1 11.79x
Clowne 1 66.23x
Crumpsall 1 14.73x
Gainsborough 1 10.92x
Hale 1 54.05x
Holyhead 1 12.45x
Islington London 1 0.42x
Limehouse London 1 3.75x
New Windsor 1 16.31x
Newton In Clitheroe 1 357.14x
North Meols 1 3.54x
Paddington London 1 1.12x
Rawmarsh 1 11.76x
Sculcoates 1 2.62x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 13.59x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.05x
St Anne Soho London 1 7.21x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 35.84x
Wolverhampton 1 1.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Hannah 6
Ada 4
Alice 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Elizth. 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Margaret 3
Amanda 2
Annie 2
Harriett 2
Martha 2
Olive 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Candine 1
Deborah 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Ellener 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
H. 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Keziah 1
Kizia 1
Lilley 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Ros. 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 14
Charles 7
George 7
Henry 7
Thomas 7
James 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arblet 1
Aswell 1
Bernard 1
Chas.Henry 1
Christopher 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Isiac 1
J. 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Walter 1
Willie 1
Willm 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Askin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Askin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 254 people were recorded with the Askin surname. That placed it at #10,949 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Askin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016. That gives Askin a modern rank of #13,735.

What does the Askin surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the word "ask" meaning basket maker or seller.

What does the Askin map show?

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