NameCensus.

UK surname

Aslett

A surname derived from a medieval nickname for a Hazelwood or Hazelgrove.

In the 1881 census there were 433 people recorded with the Aslett surname, ranking it #7,531 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 581, ranked #8,925, down from #7,531 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bentley, London parishes and Isleworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire, Thurrock and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aslett is 739 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.2%.

1881 census count

433

Ranked #7,531

Modern count

581

2016, ranked #8,925

Peak year

1911

739 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aslett had 433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,531 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016, ranked #8,925.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 739 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Aslett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aslett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aslett 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 272 #8,240
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 433 #7,531
1891 historical 541 #6,976
1901 historical 642 #6,705
1911 historical 739 #5,802
1997 modern 676 #7,448
1998 modern 684 #7,613
1999 modern 710 #7,437
2000 modern 697 #7,520
2001 modern 664 #7,668
2002 modern 682 #7,667
2003 modern 663 #7,718
2004 modern 640 #7,923
2005 modern 615 #8,113
2006 modern 613 #8,151
2007 modern 603 #8,319
2008 modern 606 #8,343
2009 modern 614 #8,451
2010 modern 613 #8,647
2011 modern 617 #8,500
2012 modern 602 #8,584
2013 modern 600 #8,752
2014 modern 610 #8,692
2015 modern 592 #8,815
2016 modern 581 #8,925

Geography

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Where Asletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bentley, London parishes, Isleworth and West Meon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire, Thurrock, Maidstone, Croydon and West Devon. 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 Bentley Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 West Meon Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 023 North East Lincolnshire
2 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
3 Maidstone 003 Maidstone
4 Croydon 035 Croydon
5 West Devon 002 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aslett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aslett

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Aslett 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

Aslett is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aslett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Aslett

The surname Aslett is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Hertfordshire and Middlesex, during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "æsc" meaning ash tree and "hyll" meaning hill, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a hill where ash trees grew.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Hertfordshire Assize Rolls of 1275, where a William Asshehull is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Hertfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1319, with an entry for a John Asschull. This record provides further evidence of the name's presence in the region during the Middle Ages.

The Aslett surname is also found in the Middlesex County Records of the 16th century, where a Thomas Aslett is mentioned in 1566. This record suggests that the name had spread beyond Hertfordshire by this time.

One notable historical figure bearing the Aslett name was John Aslett, a Puritan minister who lived from 1598 to 1680. He served as the vicar of Wrotham in Kent and was known for his religious writings and sermons.

Another individual of note was Sir Richard Aslett, a 17th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the 1640s. He was involved in the English Civil War and supported the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, the Aslett surname appears in the records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a marriage between John Aslett and Mary Smith is recorded in 1725.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Whiteman Aslett, a renowned English architect who was born in 1800. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Peter in Nottingham and the Colchester Town Hall.

Another significant figure was Sir Ralph Aslett, an English military officer who lived from 1858 to 1938. He served in the British Army during the Second Boer War and World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aslett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aslett 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. Hampshire leads with 173 Asletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.40x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 173 19.40x
Middlesex 102 2.34x
Surrey 61 2.88x
Sussex 31 4.23x
Kent 17 1.15x
Essex 12 1.40x
Channel Islands 11 8.53x
Durham 7 0.54x
Hertfordshire 7 2.33x
Berkshire 4 1.22x
Carmarthenshire 4 2.18x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.68x
Devon 2 0.22x
Gloucestershire 2 0.23x
Leicestershire 2 0.41x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Suffolk 2 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Royal Navy 1 1.93x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 32 Asletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.31x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 32 18.31x
Farnham 25 151.70x
Isleworth 22 113.75x
Westminster St John 22 41.53x
Bentley 21 2000.00x
West Meon 19 1596.64x
Mile End Old Town London 12 12.96x
St Michaelinthe Vale 11 239.13x
West Ham 11 5.80x
Aldershot 10 33.48x
Deptford St Paul 10 8.73x
Islington London 10 2.37x
Balcombe 9 687.02x
Longparish 9 891.09x
Idsworth 8 1355.93x
Odiham 8 204.60x
Southampton St Mary 8 14.27x
Hatfield 7 115.13x
Southwick 7 57.10x
Basingstoke 6 58.48x
Botley 6 372.67x
Earnley 6 3000.00x
Lambeth 6 1.58x
New Shoreham 6 136.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 6.85x
Staines 6 87.08x
Ashford 5 34.58x
Fareham 5 46.64x
Kingston By Sea 5 427.35x
Maplederwell 5 1562.50x
Newington 5 3.11x
Southwark Christchurch 5 24.52x
Whitchurch 5 176.68x
Binsted 4 117.65x
Boarhunt 4 930.23x
Buriton 4 232.56x
Ealing 4 10.29x
Frensham 4 128.62x
Fulham London 4 6.34x
Llandefeilog 4 232.56x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.64x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 21.23x
Titchfield 4 59.52x
Froxfield 3 291.26x
Godalming 3 22.49x
Kensington London 3 1.24x
Leominster 3 127.12x
Shalbourn 3 245.90x
Weston Patrick Weston 3 1200.00x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.80x
Camberwell 2 0.72x
Hanwell 2 25.94x
Hartley Wintney 2 74.63x
Herriard 2 333.33x
Leicester St Mary 2 5.13x
Shoreditch London 2 1.06x
St Maryle Wigford 2 37.04x
St Marylebone London 2 0.86x
Stoughton 2 215.05x
Whitechapel London 2 4.66x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.53x
Charlton 1 10.14x
Chelsea London 1 0.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.14x
Edmonton 1 2.85x
Ewell 1 22.32x
Exning 1 37.45x
Guildford St Mary 1 38.31x
Holy Rood 1 55.56x
Overton 1 46.95x
Petersfield 1 40.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.43x
Rotherhithe 1 1.86x
Royal Navy 1 2.26x
St George Bloomsbury 1 4.01x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.30x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.58x
Tonbridge 1 1.87x
Walthamstow 1 3.24x
Wimbledon 1 4.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 18
Elizabeth 15
Eliza 13
Alice 7
Ann 6
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Martha 5
Sophia 5
Emily 4
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Frances 2
Janet 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Betty 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eirlina 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
F.J. 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Jemima 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Levenia 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
M.A. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 30
William 30
Charles 22
Henry 22
John 22
James 14
Thomas 9
Edward 8
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Joseph 5
Thos. 5
Harry 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
Francis 2
Jesse 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Byron 1
Chas.F. 1
E. 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Hezikiah 1
Horace 1
Hy. 1
Peter 1
Raymond 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Timothy 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wm.Easton 1
Wm.Jones 1

FAQ

Aslett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aslett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 433 people were recorded with the Aslett surname. That placed it at #7,531 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aslett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016. That gives Aslett a modern rank of #8,925.

What does the Aslett surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval nickname for a Hazelwood or Hazelgrove.

What does the Aslett map show?

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