NameCensus.

UK surname

Aston

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "east town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 4,957 people recorded with the Aston surname, ranking it #898 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,209, ranked #926, down from #898 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Tipton otherwise Tibington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Dudley and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aston is 7,486 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.4%.

1881 census count

4,957

Ranked #898

Modern count

7,209

2016, ranked #926

Peak year

2011

7,486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aston had 4,957 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #898 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,209 in 2016, ranked #926.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,862 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Aston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aston 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 3,179 #907
1861 historical 3,601 #780
1881 historical 4,957 #898
1891 historical 5,375 #871
1901 historical 6,238 #889
1911 historical 6,862 #752
1997 modern 7,083 #916
1998 modern 7,441 #906
1999 modern 7,451 #916
2000 modern 7,415 #912
2001 modern 7,290 #905
2002 modern 7,410 #907
2003 modern 7,296 #898
2004 modern 7,281 #903
2005 modern 7,165 #901
2006 modern 7,139 #909
2007 modern 7,171 #910
2008 modern 7,231 #911
2009 modern 7,377 #912
2010 modern 7,459 #922
2011 modern 7,486 #909
2012 modern 7,312 #907
2013 modern 7,379 #912
2014 modern 7,384 #915
2015 modern 7,290 #921
2016 modern 7,209 #926

Geography

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Where Astons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley and Oldswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Dudley, Shropshire and Sandwell. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
4 Dudley Staffordshire
5 Oldswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
2 Dudley 006 Dudley
3 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
4 Dudley 021 Dudley
5 Sandwell 022 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aston

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Aston is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Aston is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Aston

The surname Aston has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the early medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "east" and "tun," meaning "east town" or "eastern estate." This suggests that the name was likely given to people who lived in villages or settlements located to the east of a larger town or landmark.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aston can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Estone" or "Estone." This comprehensive survey of land ownership in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror, mentions several places with the name Aston, indicating that the name was already well-established by the late 11th century.

The Aston surname is closely tied to various place names in England, such as Aston in Oxfordshire, Aston in Shropshire, and Aston-on-Trent in Derbyshire. These place names, and their variations like Estone and Estone, likely gave rise to the surname as people adopted the names of their places of origin or residence.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Aston was Sir Roger Aston (c. 1285 - c. 1345), a nobleman and landowner from Staffordshire. He served as a knight in the armies of Edward I and Edward II during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Arthur Aston (c. 1590 - 1649), an English royalist soldier who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was killed during the Battle of Drogheda in Ireland while defending the town against the Parliamentarian forces led by Oliver Cromwell.

In the literary world, the name Aston is associated with Walter Aston (c. 1583 - 1639), an English writer and translator who is best known for his translations of Spanish poetry and plays into English.

Sir Thomas Aston (c. 1600 - 1645) was a prominent English politician and royalist during the English Civil War. He served as the Baron of Forfar in the Scottish peerage and fought for King Charles I, ultimately being captured and executed by the Parliamentarians.

Finally, Walter Hutchinson Aston (1845 - 1901) was a British diplomat and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Japanese language and culture. He served as a British consul in Japan and published several works on Japanese grammar and literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aston 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,362 Astons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.37x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,362 8.37x
Warwickshire 765 6.29x
Worcestershire 547 8.69x
Middlesex 363 0.75x
Gloucestershire 306 3.24x
Lancashire 291 0.51x
Shropshire 232 5.57x
Yorkshire 188 0.39x
Cheshire 161 1.51x
Surrey 119 0.51x
Glamorgan 66 0.79x
Monmouthshire 44 1.26x
Herefordshire 42 2.13x
Essex 40 0.42x
Durham 39 0.27x
Kent 34 0.21x
Flintshire 33 2.55x
Derbyshire 29 0.38x
Northamptonshire 28 0.62x
Devon 23 0.23x
Hampshire 20 0.20x
Lincolnshire 19 0.25x
Lanarkshire 18 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 18 0.28x
Somerset 18 0.23x
Norfolk 16 0.22x
Sussex 16 0.20x
Oxfordshire 13 0.44x
Leicestershire 12 0.22x
Cumberland 10 0.24x
Northumberland 9 0.13x
Suffolk 9 0.15x
Bedfordshire 5 0.20x
Berkshire 5 0.14x
Cornwall 5 0.09x
Renfrewshire 5 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.14x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.21x
Westmorland 4 0.38x
Denbighshire 3 0.16x
Midlothian 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 3 0.52x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.10x
Anglesey 1 0.12x
Brecknockshire 1 0.10x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.08x
Merionethshire 1 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.09x
Rutland 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 340 Astons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.16x.

Place Total Index
Aston 340 10.16x
Birmingham 244 6.02x
Wolverhampton 169 13.51x
Dudley 135 17.65x
Willenhall 129 42.34x
Sedgley 127 21.02x
Tipton 117 23.49x
West Bromwich 105 11.28x
Kingswinford 90 15.24x
Bilston 84 26.65x
Wednesbury 78 19.19x
West Dean 60 39.08x
Lye 59 56.34x
Walsall Foreign 54 6.43x
Madeley 53 34.72x
Harborne 52 9.97x
Kensington London 48 1.79x
Oldbury 43 13.89x
Broseley 42 56.77x
Coventry St Michael 39 9.99x
Islington London 39 0.84x
Cheltenham 37 5.07x
Stoke Upon Trent 37 2.15x
Handsworth 35 8.73x
Redditch 35 27.43x
St Pancras London 35 0.90x
Darlaston 32 14.23x
Rowley Regis 32 7.06x
Frodsham Lordship 28 155.56x
Shoreditch London 27 1.29x
West Ham 27 1.29x
Wollescote 26 51.29x
Kings Norton 25 4.43x
Edgbaston 24 6.37x
Bury 23 3.52x
Manchester 23 0.89x
Yardley 22 13.66x
Amblecote 21 45.29x
Croydon 21 1.61x
Bermondsey 20 1.39x
Chipping Campden 20 65.02x
Lambeth 20 0.48x
Newington 20 1.12x
Stourbridge 20 12.35x
Wolstanton 20 4.05x
Aberystruth 18 5.86x
Paddington London 17 0.96x
Sutton Coldfield 17 13.31x
Kidderminster Borough 16 4.34x
Mamble 16 419.95x
Tredington 16 93.02x
Birkenhead 15 1.77x
Chelsea London 15 1.03x
Eglwysilan 15 10.30x
Nottingham St Mary 15 0.89x
Warrington 15 2.21x
Willesden 15 3.30x
Llantrisant 14 6.62x
Margam 14 14.96x
Northfield 14 11.73x
Shrewsbury St Chad 14 9.58x
Shrewsbury St Mary 14 8.52x
St Marylebone London 14 0.54x
Wednesfield 14 5.85x
West Derby 14 0.84x
Barrow In Furness 13 1.67x
Broughton In Salford 13 2.49x
Chadderton 13 4.65x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 13 7.52x
Hawarden Pentrobin 13 62.98x
Pendlebury 13 10.77x
Rugeley 13 11.14x
Sculcoates 13 1.72x
Westbury On Severn East 13 6.08x
Wombourn 13 43.06x
Benthall 12 161.94x
Cirencester 12 9.38x
Frodsham 12 29.12x
Kimberworth 12 4.53x
Tarporley 12 53.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 360
Sarah 191
Elizabeth 182
Ann 93
Eliza 85
Emma 77
Alice 75
Jane 70
Annie 67
Emily 62
Hannah 56
Martha 52
Ellen 48
Harriet 46
Fanny 45
Louisa 41
Margaret 37
Clara 31
Florence 30
Ada 29
Caroline 28
Edith 28
Lucy 28
Maria 28
Kate 22
Catherine 18
Anne 17
Susan 17
Charlotte 16
Harriett 16
Agnes 13
Esther 13
Frances 13
Betsy 11
Gertrude 11
Rose 11
Matilda 10
Minnie 10
Phoebe 10
Susannah 10
Beatrice 9
Isabella 9
Jessie 9
Laura 9
Selina 9
Amelia 8
Bertha 8
Eleanor 8
Julia 8
Rebecca 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 288
John 269
Thomas 179
George 155
James 148
Joseph 125
Henry 111
Samuel 96
Edward 90
Charles 70
Richard 63
Alfred 53
Albert 44
Arthur 40
Frederick 36
Benjamin 35
Robert 31
Edwin 29
Walter 29
Harry 27
David 23
Ernest 18
Frank 17
Francis 16
Herbert 13
Isaac 12
Abraham 11
Elijah 10
Abel 9
Stephen 9
Thos. 9
Wm. 9
Fred 8
Daniel 7
Enoch 7
Tom 6
Chas. 5
Fredk. 5
Jno. 5
Peter 5
Sydney 5
Christopher 4
Fredrick 4
Harold 4
Isiah 4
Jesse 4
Mark 4
Matthew 4
Percy 4
Saml. 4

FAQ

Aston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,957 people were recorded with the Aston surname. That placed it at #898 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,209 in 2016. That gives Aston a modern rank of #926.

What does the Aston surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "east town" in Old English.

What does the Aston map show?

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