UK surname
A surname derived from the Greek word for "star".
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Aster surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Weighton, Market, Kirkham and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aster is 157 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 59.7%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
157 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Aster surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Aster surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 22 | #31,562 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 18 | #36,104 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 18 | #36,245 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 15 | #36,707 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 27 | #36,102 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 34 | #35,784 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Weighton, Market, Kirkham, Burton-on-Trent, Midley and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weighton, Market | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | Kirkham | Lancashire |
| 3 | Burton-on-Trent | Staffordshire |
| 4 | Midley | Kent |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Aster surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aster, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Aster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Aster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Aster is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Aster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Aster, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Aster" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "aestore," which means "eastern" or "easterly." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or came from the eastern part of a particular region or settlement.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Aster can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a certain Willelmus Aster is listed. This indicates that the name was already in use by the 14th century in the northern county of Yorkshire.
In the 16th century, the Aster surname appears in various parish records and legal documents across different parts of England. For instance, a John Aster is recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Gloucestershire in 1523, while a Richard Aster is mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1568.
The name may have also been associated with certain place names or locations that contained the word "east" or "eastern." For example, there is a village called Eastry in Kent, which could have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.
One notable bearer of the Aster surname was John Aster, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who was born in 1614 and died in 1686. He wrote several religious works, including a book titled "The Christian's Guide to Heaven."
Another prominent figure with this surname was Sir Thomas Aster (1708-1778), a British politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Heytesbury in Wiltshire.
In the 18th century, the Aster family had a presence in the county of Warwickshire, as evidenced by the births and marriages of several individuals recorded in the parish registers of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
The name Aster also has historical connections to the city of Bristol, where a wealthy merchant family bearing this surname was involved in the local government and trade during the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable member was Robert Aster (1662-1741), who served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1720.
Throughout its history, the surname Aster has undergone various spelling variations, such as Astar, Astere, and Astir, reflecting the linguistic and regional differences in different parts of England over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aster surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 19 Asters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 19 | 2.71x |
| Essex | 11 | 7.93x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.58x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 3.63x |
| Hampshire | 5 | 3.47x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.09x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.46x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 1.27x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.69x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 1.13x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.48x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 6.48x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.09x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Market Weighton Arras in Yorkshire leads with 11 Asters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2444.44x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Market Weighton Arras | 11 | 2444.44x |
| West Ham | 9 | 29.40x |
| Bethnal Green London | 6 | 19.67x |
| Millbrook | 5 | 137.74x |
| Guiting Power | 4 | 2666.67x |
| Bermondsey | 3 | 14.35x |
| Goodnestone In Eastry | 3 | 3000.00x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 5.31x |
| Barking | 2 | 49.26x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 3.39x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.94x |
| Lichfield St Michael | 2 | 270.27x |
| Precinct Of Savoy London | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Clapham | 1 | 11.39x |
| Clifton | 1 | 14.37x |
| Culcheth | 1 | 181.82x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.41x |
| Edmonton | 1 | 17.67x |
| Elvet | 1 | 66.23x |
| Fulham London | 1 | 9.81x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 2.54x |
| Hove | 1 | 19.23x |
| Kendal | 1 | 35.34x |
| Leigh | 1 | 90.09x |
| Lewes St Michael | 1 | 416.67x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.87x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 25.58x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 26.95x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 24.94x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.67x |
| Wolstanton | 1 | 13.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Aster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Aster surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Aster households.
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Aster surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Aster a modern rank of #36,059.
A surname derived from the Greek word for "star".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Aster bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.