NameCensus.

UK surname

Attwater

In the 1881 census there were 252 people recorded with the Attwater surname, ranking it #11,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 396, ranked #11,967, down from #11,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Horsham, Sullington and Lancaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tandridge, Waverley and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Attwater is 464 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

252

Ranked #11,012

Modern count

396

2016, ranked #11,967

Peak year

1997

464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Attwater had 252 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016, ranked #11,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 419 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Attwater surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Attwater surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Attwater 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 157 #14,732
1881 historical 252 #11,012
1891 historical 334 #10,198
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 419 #8,985
1997 modern 464 #9,831
1998 modern 455 #10,315
1999 modern 452 #10,422
2000 modern 437 #10,684
2001 modern 429 #10,634
2002 modern 431 #10,820
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 438 #10,532
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 407 #11,228
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 428 #11,352
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 397 #11,780
2013 modern 416 #11,575
2014 modern 407 #11,848
2015 modern 403 #11,835
2016 modern 396 #11,967

Geography

Back to top

Where Attwaters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Horsham, Sullington, Lancaster and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tandridge, Waverley, Medway, Braintree and Babergh. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Horsham, Sullington Sussex
4 Lancaster Lancashire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tandridge 011 Tandridge
2 Waverley 005 Waverley
3 Medway 006 Medway
4 Braintree 002 Braintree
5 Babergh 008 Babergh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Attwater

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Attwater

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Attwater is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Attwater is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Attwater falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Attwater families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Attwater 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. Sussex leads with 76 Attwaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

County Total Index
Sussex 76 18.49x
Kent 44 5.29x
Devon 30 5.91x
Middlesex 24 0.98x
Hampshire 12 2.40x
Lancashire 12 0.41x
Durham 10 1.38x
Berkshire 7 3.82x
Surrey 7 0.59x
Gloucestershire 6 1.25x
Wiltshire 6 2.78x
Somerset 4 1.02x
Warwickshire 4 0.65x
Dorset 3 1.87x
Essex 2 0.42x
Midlothian 2 0.61x
Cheshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsham in Sussex leads with 27 Attwaters recorded in 1881 and an index of 337.92x.

Place Total Index
Horsham 27 337.92x
Bampton 15 967.74x
Hammersmith London 12 19.98x
Preston 12 15.50x
Faversham 11 138.71x
Itchingfield 10 2777.78x
Hove 8 44.35x
Murston 8 1095.89x
Lower Beeding 7 642.20x
Shipley 7 752.69x
Milton In Milton 6 169.49x
Northfleet 6 81.86x
Plymouth Charles The 6 26.83x
Westminster St John 6 20.20x
Whickham 6 89.82x
Withycombe Rawleigh 6 227.27x
Carisbrooke 5 72.05x
Southampton St Mary 5 15.91x
Aston 4 2.36x
Clewer 4 53.33x
Gateshead 4 7.36x
Lewisham 4 9.02x
Nuthurst 4 588.24x
Whittington 4 2105.26x
Billingshurst 3 222.22x
Croydon 3 4.55x
Fisherton Anger 3 75.19x
Hartfield 3 230.77x
Mortimer 3 340.91x
Oborne 3 2500.00x
Taunton St Mary 3 41.61x
Britford 2 140.85x
Exeter Alphington 2 215.05x
Kensington London 2 1.48x
Minster In Sheppey 2 14.51x
Portsea 2 2.04x
Sittingbourne 2 30.44x
St Pancras London 2 1.02x
Wanstead 2 23.72x
Ardingly 1 76.34x
Aston By Budworth 1 263.16x
Bobbing 1 256.41x
Brighton 1 1.21x
Buckfastleigh 1 42.74x
Charlwood 1 87.72x
Cheltenham 1 2.71x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 12.42x
Fugglestone St Peter 1 117.65x
Hillfarrance 1 285.71x
Islington London 1 0.42x
Lambeth 1 0.47x
Lee 1 8.28x
Mickleham 1 149.25x
North Leith 1 6.61x
Poling 1 666.67x
Queensferry 1 303.03x
Rainham 1 43.67x
Rochester St Margaret 1 11.40x
Rottingdean 1 71.43x
Shipton 1 357.14x
South Bersted 1 28.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.04x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.85x
Storrington 1 88.50x
West Chiltington 1 188.68x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
Henry 12
John 11
Thomas 10
George 7
Arthur 4
Ernest 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
James 3
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Allan 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Gay 1
Hamphrey 1
Harold 1
Harrold 1
Hubert 1
I. 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Morton 1
Oswald 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Attwater surname: questions and answers

How common was the Attwater surname in 1881?

In 1881, 252 people were recorded with the Attwater surname. That placed it at #11,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Attwater surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016. That gives Attwater a modern rank of #11,967.

What does the Attwater map show?

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