NameCensus.

UK surname

Asplin

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Asplin or Aspelen.

In the 1881 census there were 229 people recorded with the Asplin surname, ranking it #11,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 309, ranked #14,442, down from #11,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Horningsea, Thurleigh and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Huntingdonshire and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asplin is 425 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.9%.

1881 census count

229

Ranked #11,784

Modern count

309

2016, ranked #14,442

Peak year

1911

425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Asplin had 229 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016, ranked #14,442.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Asplin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asplin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Asplin 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 154 #12,668
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 229 #11,784
1891 historical 286 #11,497
1901 historical 365 #10,113
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 375 #11,555
1998 modern 396 #11,435
1999 modern 391 #11,640
2000 modern 401 #11,382
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 382 #11,839
2003 modern 370 #11,919
2004 modern 365 #12,077
2005 modern 336 #12,767
2006 modern 334 #12,912
2007 modern 331 #13,117
2008 modern 324 #13,437
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 320 #13,976
2012 modern 318 #13,926
2013 modern 325 #13,924
2014 modern 326 #14,006
2015 modern 317 #14,183
2016 modern 309 #14,442

Geography

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Where Asplins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Horningsea, Thurleigh, London parishes, Milton or Middleton Malzor and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Huntingdonshire, Fenland, South Cambridgeshire and Stafford. 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 Horningsea Cambridgeshire
2 Thurleigh Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Milton or Middleton Malzor Northamptonshire
5 Doddington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland
2 Huntingdonshire 002 Huntingdonshire
3 Fenland 007 Fenland
4 South Cambridgeshire 007 South Cambridgeshire
5 Stafford 001 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Asplin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Asplin

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Asplin 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

Asplin 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

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

Meaning and origin of Asplin

The surname Asplin is believed to have originated in England, where it first appeared in the early 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "æspe" and "lind," which together mean "aspen tree." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or was associated with a prominent aspen tree.

The earliest known record of the name Asplin dates back to 1273, when a Ralph Aspelyn is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk. This document was a survey of landowners and their holdings, commissioned by King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name was recorded with various spellings, including Aspelon, Aspelond, and Asplion, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in medieval times. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Asplyn, a merchant from Bristol who was granted a license to trade with Portugal in 1388.

The Asplin surname continued to be found in English records throughout the following centuries. In the 16th century, a family of Asplins resided in the village of Wickhambrook, Suffolk. This branch of the family produced several notable individuals, including Richard Asplin (1528-1591), a wealthy landowner, and his son, Thomas Asplin (1564-1638), who served as a member of Parliament.

Another prominent figure bearing the Asplin name was William Asplin (1622-1687), a Puritan minister who emigrated to New England in the 1630s and became one of the founders of the town of Woodbridge, New Jersey.

In the 18th century, the Asplin surname was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where a family of Asplins owned a large estate in the village of Cottingley. One member of this family, John Asplin (1718-1793), was a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several schools and almshouses in the area.

Other notable individuals with the surname Asplin include:

1. Thomas Asplin (1776-1858), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in London. 2. Elizabeth Asplin (1828-1891), a British author and educator who wrote several books on moral and religious education for children. 3. Frederick Asplin (1858-1932), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. 4. Arthur Asplin (1885-1957), a British artist and illustrator known for his works depicting scenes from World War I. 5. Robert Asplin (1932-2008), an American businessman and philanthropist who founded the Asplin Group, a successful real estate development company.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Asplin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Asplin 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 45 Asplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.81x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 45 31.81x
Middlesex 22 0.98x
Essex 21 4.76x
Huntingdonshire 20 45.10x
Bedfordshire 17 14.70x
Lincolnshire 17 4.76x
Warwickshire 14 2.49x
Staffordshire 13 1.72x
Northamptonshire 11 5.24x
Glamorgan 10 2.57x
Kent 9 1.18x
Lancashire 5 0.19x
Norfolk 5 1.46x
Somerset 5 1.39x
Surrey 5 0.46x
Westmorland 4 8.15x
Yorkshire 4 0.18x
Devon 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 13 Asplins recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.26x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 13 16.26x
Thurleigh 12 2608.70x
Horningsea 11 3548.39x
Llandaff 10 77.28x
Romford 9 129.12x
Coventry St Michael 8 44.20x
Lewisham 8 19.69x
Limehouse London 8 32.63x
March 8 168.78x
St Andrewthe Less 8 49.51x
Peterborough 7 46.02x
Spalding 7 98.73x
Stretham 7 693.07x
Aston 6 3.87x
East Tilbury 6 1935.48x
Hackthorn 6 2857.14x
Hilton 6 2222.22x
Glatton Holme 5 2083.33x
Kensington London 5 4.03x
Landbeach 5 1282.05x
Lyncombe Widcombe 5 53.14x
Stow Bardolph 5 490.20x
Bromley London 4 8.14x
Eaton Socon 4 219.78x
Milton 4 714.29x
Rydal Loughrigg 4 1052.63x
Whittlesey St Mary St 4 80.97x
Doncaster 3 18.55x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 3 326.09x
West Ham 3 3.08x
Buckden 2 250.00x
Camberwell 2 1.40x
Godmanchester 2 119.05x
Great Bookham 2 238.10x
Hemingford Grey 2 294.12x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 2 689.66x
Chatteris 1 27.70x
Deeping St Nicholas 1 95.24x
Dovercourt 1 64.52x
Everton 1 1.18x
Fletton 1 70.42x
Fulham London 1 3.09x
Grantchester 1 113.64x
Halton 1 178.57x
Hammersmith London 1 1.82x
Hampstead London 1 2.87x
Kimbolton 1 107.53x
Luton 1 5.00x
Manningham 1 3.67x
Milton In Gravesend 1 8.75x
North Shoebury 1 666.67x
Paddington London 1 1.22x
Sidmouth 1 37.59x
South Bersted 1 31.25x
St Ives 1 43.48x
St Marylebone London 1 0.84x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 19.92x
Stoke 1 19.46x
Thundersley 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 18
George 12
Charles 10
James 7
Henry 6
Isaac 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 3
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Albert 1
Amos 1
Arthur 1
D. 1
Edgar 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
H.D. 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Pamplin 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
T.S.S. 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Willson 1

FAQ

Asplin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Asplin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 229 people were recorded with the Asplin surname. That placed it at #11,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Asplin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016. That gives Asplin a modern rank of #14,442.

What does the Asplin surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Asplin or Aspelen.

What does the Asplin map show?

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