NameCensus.

UK surname

Astle

An English surname derived from the habitation name Astle or Asthill, referring to someone who lived at a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 975 people recorded with the Astle surname, ranking it #3,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,307, ranked #4,583, down from #3,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wilne, St Peter and Prestbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire, Rotherham and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Astle is 1,429 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.1%.

1881 census count

975

Ranked #3,992

Modern count

1,307

2016, ranked #4,583

Peak year

2000

1,429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Astle had 975 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016, ranked #4,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,303 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Astle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Astle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Astle 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 683 #3,804
1861 historical 642 #4,178
1881 historical 975 #3,992
1891 historical 1,010 #4,115
1901 historical 1,159 #4,211
1911 historical 1,303 #3,656
1997 modern 1,370 #4,206
1998 modern 1,389 #4,309
1999 modern 1,393 #4,325
2000 modern 1,429 #4,222
2001 modern 1,376 #4,270
2002 modern 1,398 #4,300
2003 modern 1,366 #4,303
2004 modern 1,374 #4,292
2005 modern 1,341 #4,325
2006 modern 1,321 #4,390
2007 modern 1,320 #4,429
2008 modern 1,313 #4,474
2009 modern 1,353 #4,448
2010 modern 1,384 #4,445
2011 modern 1,333 #4,537
2012 modern 1,305 #4,557
2013 modern 1,324 #4,573
2014 modern 1,338 #4,555
2015 modern 1,327 #4,554
2016 modern 1,307 #4,583

Geography

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Where Astles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wilne, St Peter, Prestbury, Burton-on-Trent and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire, Rotherham, Derby 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 Wilne Derbyshire
2 St Peter Derbyshire
3 Prestbury Cheshire
4 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
2 Rotherham 012 Rotherham
3 Derby 012 Derby
4 Derby 025 Derby
5 Stafford 008 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Astle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Astle

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Astle, 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 Astle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Astle 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Astle is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Astle is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Astle

The surname Astle is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Astle, which is a hamlet near the town of Chelford in Cheshire. The name Astle is thought to come from the Old English words 'aesc' meaning ash tree, and 'feld' meaning open field or clearing, referring to a location where ash trees grew.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Astle can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Aestleia'. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of Astle.

In the 13th century, records show an individual named Walter de Astleia, who was likely from the hamlet of Astle. This indicates that the surname was being used as a hereditary name by this time. Additionally, the Astle family is mentioned in the Cheshire County Records of the 14th century.

One notable bearer of the name was Thomas Astle (1735-1803), an English antiquarian and paleographer. He served as the Keeper of Records at the Tower of London and was an expert in ancient manuscripts and paleography. His work on deciphering and preserving historical records was highly influential.

Another famous Astle was James Robert Astle (1825-1909), a British philosopher and logician. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and made significant contributions to the field of logic and symbolic reasoning.

In the arts, Emily Astle (1821-1900) was a notable British painter and illustrator known for her depictions of domestic scenes and children. Her works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and are held in collections around the world.

Sir David Astle (1887-1965) was a British military officer who served in both World Wars. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery during the Battle of the Somme in World War I.

Lastly, Edward Astle (1943-2020) was a renowned British architect known for his work in sustainable and eco-friendly design. He was a pioneer in promoting the use of environmentally conscious building practices and materials.

While the name Astle is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and has been borne by notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Astle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Astle 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. Derbyshire leads with 271 Astles recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.22x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 271 18.22x
Cheshire 175 8.34x
Staffordshire 163 5.08x
Lancashire 96 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 60 4.69x
Warwickshire 45 1.88x
Leicestershire 30 2.85x
Yorkshire 24 0.25x
Surrey 20 0.43x
Worcestershire 19 1.53x
Denbighshire 18 5.02x
Middlesex 15 0.16x
Kent 12 0.37x
Dorset 5 0.80x
Glamorgan 5 0.30x
Northumberland 5 0.35x
Suffolk 4 0.35x
Durham 2 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.17x
Gloucestershire 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsley in Lancashire leads with 32 Astles recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.04x.

Place Total Index
Worsley 32 46.04x
Derby St Peter 29 61.21x
Birmingham 26 3.26x
Burton Extra 26 141.38x
Macclesfield 26 27.89x
Chester St Oswald 24 63.19x
Burton Upon Trent 23 30.65x
Litchurch 19 31.74x
Aldford 18 1084.34x
Little Hulton 18 96.41x
Radford 18 27.67x
Wilne 18 527.86x
Birkenhead 17 10.17x
Marston Upon Dove 17 355.65x
Yoxall 17 401.89x
Aston 16 2.43x
Aston 15 694.44x
Hartshorn 15 266.90x
Melbourne 14 137.66x
Oldbury 14 22.93x
Basford 13 22.02x
Christleton Littleton 12 397.35x
Long Eaton 11 56.04x
Nottingham St Mary 11 3.32x
Tutbury 11 140.67x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 11 33.90x
Chellaston 10 617.28x
Church Gresley 10 42.25x
Derby St Alkmund 10 22.43x
Ince In Makerfield 10 19.06x
Tatenhill 10 460.83x
Walsall Foreign 10 6.04x
Warrington 10 7.48x
Ashton 9 714.29x
Castle Donnington 9 102.97x
Chirk 9 127.30x
Heanor 9 40.45x
Lambeth 9 1.09x
Stapenhill 9 40.65x
Walton On Trent 9 625.00x
Ashby De La Zouch 8 32.76x
Barton Under Needwood 8 137.46x
Chester Holy Trinity 8 81.38x
Repton 8 142.35x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 2.35x
Chatham 7 7.85x
Little Chester 7 374.33x
Saighton 7 593.22x
Stretton En Le Field 7 648.15x
Ticknall 7 229.51x
Wolverhampton 7 2.84x
Cheadle 6 14.98x
Chester St John Baptist 6 15.92x
Church Coppenhall 6 63.97x
Hackney London 6 1.13x
Hunslet 6 4.09x
Lenton 6 19.89x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 6 215.83x
Bollin Fee 5 53.76x
Cardiff St John 5 9.25x
Chickerell 5 187.97x
Church Broughton 5 261.78x
Corbridge 5 96.53x
Harborne 5 4.86x
Kegworth 5 71.43x
Kings Norton 5 4.49x
Longdon 5 112.61x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 8.81x
Newington 5 1.42x
Rugeley 5 21.73x
Southwark St Saviour 5 10.24x
Stockport 5 4.63x
Whitwick 5 37.34x
Boylestone 4 547.95x
Lowestoft 4 7.32x
Rushall 4 21.20x
Snenton 4 7.95x
South Collingham 4 158.73x
Stansty 4 101.01x
Wigan 4 2.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 68
Elizabeth 43
Sarah 39
Annie 28
Alice 20
Ann 19
Emma 16
Harriet 16
Margaret 14
Jane 13
Ellen 11
Fanny 11
Hannah 11
Ada 9
Eliza 9
Martha 9
Edith 8
Florence 8
Frances 8
Lucy 7
Maria 6
Catherine 5
Emily 5
Julia 5
Agnes 4
Anne 4
Harriett 4
Caroline 3
Kate 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Betsy 2
Celina 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Gertrude 2
Margt. 2
Mercy 2
Minnie 2
Priscilla 2
Rebecca 2
Belema 1
Betsey 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Ellinor 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 71
John 56
Thomas 50
Joseph 34
George 33
James 28
Samuel 18
Henry 14
Arthur 13
Charles 13
Edward 13
Alfred 11
Robert 11
Edwin 8
Frederick 8
Harry 6
Richard 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Job 5
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Titus 3
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Hiram 2
Isaiah 2
Jacob 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Alan 1
Alexander 1
Alf.John. 1
Barnabas 1
C.H. 1
Charlie 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwd 1
Elizabeth 1
Fairman 1
Humphrey 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jasper 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Astle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Astle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 975 people were recorded with the Astle surname. That placed it at #3,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Astle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,307 in 2016. That gives Astle a modern rank of #4,583.

What does the Astle surname mean?

An English surname derived from the habitation name Astle or Asthill, referring to someone who lived at a hill.

What does the Astle map show?

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