NameCensus.

UK surname

Astin

A surname derived from the Old English word "aesten," meaning "ash tree."

In the 1881 census there were 868 people recorded with the Astin surname, ranking it #4,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 653, ranked #8,152, down from #4,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bradford, Whalley and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Astin is 1,082 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.8%.

1881 census count

868

Ranked #4,364

Modern count

653

2016, ranked #8,152

Peak year

1911

1,082 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Astin had 868 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016, ranked #8,152.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,082 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Astin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Astin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Astin 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 557 #4,549
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 868 #4,364
1891 historical 858 #4,777
1901 historical 1,031 #4,634
1911 historical 1,082 #4,289
1997 modern 706 #7,201
1998 modern 730 #7,253
1999 modern 723 #7,342
2000 modern 723 #7,319
2001 modern 702 #7,351
2002 modern 701 #7,501
2003 modern 664 #7,707
2004 modern 675 #7,621
2005 modern 669 #7,613
2006 modern 688 #7,468
2007 modern 675 #7,659
2008 modern 674 #7,695
2009 modern 708 #7,577
2010 modern 700 #7,778
2011 modern 684 #7,832
2012 modern 674 #7,852
2013 modern 694 #7,782
2014 modern 695 #7,813
2015 modern 661 #8,092
2016 modern 653 #8,152

Geography

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Where Astins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bradford, Whalley, Halifax and Rochdale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Ribble Valley. 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 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Whalley Lancashire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 004 Burnley
2 Pendle 010 Pendle
3 Pendle 008 Pendle
4 Rossendale 002 Rossendale
5 Ribble Valley 002 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Astin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Astin

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Astin is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Astin is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Astin falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Astin

The surname Astin originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "aesten," which means "from the east." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who had come from the eastern part of a town or region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Astin can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, dated 1273. The document mentions a person named Reginald Asten, which is likely an early spelling variation of the surname.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across England, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which listed a William Astyn. The Astin surname was also found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, indicating its presence in different parts of the country.

The name Astin may have also been influenced by place names, particularly those containing the word "aston," which is derived from the Old English words "east" and "tun" (meaning town or settlement). For example, the village of Aston in Warwickshire could have been the origin of some Astin families.

One notable individual with the surname Astin was Sir Robert Astin, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a Member of Parliament for Maidstone, Kent, and served during the reign of King James I.

Another historical figure was William Astin, a clergyman who was born in Yorkshire in 1718. He became the rector of Amcliffe, Yorkshire, and was known for his theological writings.

In the 19th century, John Astin (1810-1894) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Lancashire, England. He made his fortune in the textile industry and donated significant funds to various educational and charitable causes.

The surname Astin also gained recognition through the accomplishments of John Astin (1920-2003), an American actor best known for his role as Gomez Addams in the 1960s TV series "The Addams Family." His son, Sean Astin (born 1971), followed in his footsteps and became a successful actor, appearing in films such as "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

Over the centuries, the Astin surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Asten, Astyn, Astine, and Astun, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal interpretations of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Astin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Astin 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 588 Astins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.85x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 588 5.85x
Yorkshire 197 2.35x
Staffordshire 20 0.70x
Cheshire 15 0.80x
Middlesex 14 0.17x
Merionethshire 8 5.16x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.61x
Shropshire 7 0.96x
Rutland 3 4.82x
Northamptonshire 2 0.25x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.10x
Surrey 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. Habergham Eaves in Lancashire leads with 127 Astins recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.13x.

Place Total Index
Habergham Eaves 127 138.13x
Accrington 104 113.72x
Burnley 76 89.72x
Todmorden Walsden 34 126.16x
Oldham 26 8.01x
Padiham 22 90.54x
Heptonstall 21 178.12x
Stansfield 21 67.94x
Worsthorne Cum 20 625.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 18 11.26x
Halifax 18 14.60x
Hipperholme Cum 17 46.06x
Whalley 17 115.96x
Southowram 16 62.40x
Blackburn 14 5.23x
Spotland 12 10.73x
Bury 11 9.57x
Skipton 11 41.62x
Ightenhill Park 9 1525.42x
Wadsworth 9 65.84x
Atherton 8 21.85x
Bettwsgwerfilgoch 8 1066.67x
Marple 8 62.26x
West Bromwich 8 4.88x
Castleton 7 6.97x
Hapton 7 111.29x
Leeds 7 1.48x
Manningham 7 6.76x
Monks Coppenhall 7 9.91x
Wardleworth 7 12.18x
Warley 7 28.83x
Carlton 6 46.01x
Childs Ercall 6 472.44x
Colne 6 20.02x
Erringden 6 110.50x
Failsworth 6 26.08x
Grindleton 6 331.49x
Haworth 6 30.05x
Horton In Bradford 6 4.57x
Keighley 6 6.70x
Langfield 6 40.82x
Liverpool 6 0.98x
Lower Booths 6 33.30x
Shoreditch London 6 1.63x
Heap 5 9.37x
Hulme 5 2.38x
Manchester 5 1.11x
Midgley 5 55.87x
Bradford 4 1.97x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 16.77x
Church 4 28.17x
Clayton 4 19.46x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 7.90x
Newchurch 4 4.86x
Scarborough 4 5.24x
St Marylebone London 4 0.88x
Ashley 3 128.21x
Blatchinworth 3 13.10x
Burton Upon Trent 3 4.48x
Cheetham 3 4.00x
Great Little Marsden 3 6.51x
Ketton 3 92.59x
Layton With Warbreck 3 8.13x
Moss Side 3 5.67x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 8.17x
Bingley 2 3.74x
Brixworth 2 58.65x
Chadderton 2 4.07x
Huddersfield 2 1.63x
Almondbury 1 2.46x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 0.64x
Cole Orton 1 57.47x
Drayton In Hales 1 6.62x
Gorton 1 1.06x
Holdenhurst 1 2.19x
Kirkdale 1 0.59x
Lambeth 1 0.14x
Newton 1 1.29x
Shenstone 1 13.76x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 3.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Sarah 41
Elizabeth 25
Jane 24
Hannah 18
Ann 17
Martha 16
Margaret 15
Alice 13
Ellen 10
Nancy 10
Susannah 10
Clara 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Amelia 7
Annie 7
Betty 5
Edith 5
Eliza 5
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Amy 4
Charlotte 4
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Grace 3
Beatrice 2
Betsy 2
Eliz. 2
Ellin 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Sally 2
Susan 2
Adeliade 1
Bertha 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabet 1
Ida 1
Isabel 1
Julia 1
Zilpha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
James 54
William 50
Thomas 26
George 21
Alfred 11
Robert 11
Edward 10
Henry 10
Joseph 10
Walter 10
Albert 9
Charles 9
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
Benjamin 6
Richard 6
Harry 4
David 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Hartley 3
Miles 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Greenwood 2
Joe 2
Mitchell 2
Thos. 2
Zachariah 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Ayna 1
C. 1
Cadwaladr 1
Cavour 1
Doctor 1
Eli 1
Ephraim 1
Farrar 1
Frank 1
Fread 1
Hitchon 1
Hutchinson 1
Isaiah 1
Jas 1
Jas.Wm. 1

FAQ

Astin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Astin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 868 people were recorded with the Astin surname. That placed it at #4,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Astin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 653 in 2016. That gives Astin a modern rank of #8,152.

What does the Astin surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "aesten," meaning "ash tree."

What does the Astin map show?

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