NameCensus.

UK surname

Astor

A surname derived from the Greek asty meaning "town" or "city".

In the 1881 census there were 15 people recorded with the Astor surname, ranking it #31,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, up from #31,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, Westminster and West Berkshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Astor is 162 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 933.3%.

1881 census count

15

Ranked #31,451

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

2014

162 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Astor had 15 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 37 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Astor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Astor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Astor 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 37 #29,339
1881 historical 15 #31,451
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 16 #32,260
1911 historical 18 #31,542
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 141 #22,648
2001 modern 144 #22,040
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 138 #23,156
2007 modern 141 #23,137
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 158 #22,692
2011 modern 147 #23,627
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 154 #23,210
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 158 #22,913
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Astors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, Westminster, West Berkshire, Vale of White Horse and South Cambridgeshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 003 West Oxfordshire
2 Westminster 019 Westminster
3 West Berkshire 018 West Berkshire
4 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
5 South Cambridgeshire 013 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Astor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Astor

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Astor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Astor 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Astor 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

Astor is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Astor

The surname Astor traces its origins to the German towns of Walldorf and Hunsrück in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. It emerged around the 11th century, derived from the Old German words 'ast' meaning branch and 'or' meaning ridge or hill. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a prominent ridge with trees or branches.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Astor surname appears in the Codex Laureshamensis, a medieval cartulary from the Lorsch Abbey in present-day Hesse, Germany. The document, dated around 1100 AD, mentions an Astor von Walldorf as a landowner in the region.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Astor family migrated to the town of Bedburg in North Rhine-Westphalia, where they established themselves as respected merchants and landowners. The name appears in various medieval records from the region, often spelled as 'Astoir' or 'Astore'.

The most famous historical figure bearing the Astor name was John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), a German-American businessman and investor who became one of the wealthiest people in the United States during his lifetime. Born in Walldorf, he immigrated to America in 1784 and made his fortune in the fur trade and real estate.

Another notable Astor was William Waldorf Astor (1848-1919), the grandson of John Jacob Astor and a prominent figure in British politics and society. He served as the United States Minister to Italy from 1882 to 1885 and was later made a British peer, taking the title Viscount Astor.

In the 16th century, the Astor family expanded their presence to the Netherlands, where the name was sometimes spelled 'Aster' or 'Astoor'. One notable figure from this branch was Isaac Astor (1591-1669), a Dutch merchant and ship owner who established trade routes between Holland and the Baltic region.

The Astor surname also has a long history in Spain, where it is believed to have been introduced by German merchants and traders during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Spain comes from the 14th century, when a certain Pedro Astor was mentioned in a legal document from the city of Seville.

Throughout its history, the Astor surname has been associated with wealth, entrepreneurship, and social prominence, particularly in the United States and Europe. While the name's origins can be traced back to the Rhineland region of Germany, it has since spread to various parts of the world and continues to be a prominent surname in many countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Astor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Astor 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 6 Astors recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.17x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 6 12.17x
Kent 2 4.01x
Sussex 2 8.12x
Lancashire 1 0.58x
Lincolnshire 1 4.28x
Midlothian 1 5.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 5.08x
Warwickshire 1 2.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolstanton in Staffordshire leads with 6 Astors recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.00x.

Place Total Index
Wolstanton 6 400.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 52.08x
Birmingham 1 8.14x
Hove 1 92.59x
Liberton 1 333.33x
Linwood 1 10000.00x
Ninfield 1 3333.33x
Nottingham St Mary 1 19.65x
West Derby 1 19.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Emma 2
Annie 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Elizh.M. 1
Frances 1
Mabel 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1
Peter 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Astor households.

FAQ

Astor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Astor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 15 people were recorded with the Astor surname. That placed it at #31,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Astor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Astor a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Astor surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek asty meaning "town" or "city".

What does the Astor map show?

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