UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old English "Austyn", meaning Austin or Augustine's town.
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Auston surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Auston is 1,021 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.5%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
84
2016, ranked #32,726
Peak year
1861
1,021 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Auston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Auston surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 302 | #7,606 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,021 | #2,745 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 564 | #6,733 |
| 1901 | historical | 163 | #17,205 |
| 1911 | historical | 167 | #16,692 |
| 1997 | modern | 85 | #28,988 |
| 1998 | modern | 91 | #28,806 |
| 1999 | modern | 96 | #28,326 |
| 2000 | modern | 89 | #29,173 |
| 2001 | modern | 85 | #29,396 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 88 | #29,506 |
| 2004 | modern | 88 | #29,758 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 87 | #30,292 |
| 2007 | modern | 93 | #29,777 |
| 2008 | modern | 89 | #30,713 |
| 2009 | modern | 97 | #30,076 |
| 2010 | modern | 92 | #31,366 |
| 2011 | modern | 96 | #30,721 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 89 | #32,248 |
| 2014 | modern | 89 | #32,409 |
| 2015 | modern | 86 | #32,604 |
| 2016 | modern | 84 | #32,726 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Auston surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Auston, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Auston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Auston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Auston is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Auston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Auston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Auston is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Austan," which itself is derived from the Germanic name "Austinus." The name is believed to have originated in the region of Worcestershire, England, during the Anglo-Saxon period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Auston can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Austun." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.
The name Auston is closely associated with several place names in England, such as Auston in Derbyshire, and Auston Dene in Staffordshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname Auston, who either owned or resided in those areas.
In the 13th century, records show an individual named Richard de Auston, who lived in Worcestershire. This is one of the earliest documented examples of the surname being used in its modern spelling.
One notable bearer of the surname Auston was Sir Robert Auston (c. 1480 – 1552), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Henry VIII.
Another prominent figure was John Auston (c. 1590 – 1668), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Provost of King's College, Cambridge, and authored several theological works.
In the 17th century, Edward Auston (1615 – 1668) was an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the English Civil War.
The surname Auston also has a notable connection to the United States. John Auston (1768 – 1842) was an American farmer and politician who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in the early 19th century.
Lastly, William Auston (1836 – 1912) was a British-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly and played a significant role in the development of the sugar industry in Queensland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Auston surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 14 Austons recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.80x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.80x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 0.95x |
| Durham | 13 | 2.95x |
| Suffolk | 11 | 6.09x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.67x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.25x |
| Essex | 7 | 2.39x |
| Inverness-shire | 7 | 15.81x |
| Leicestershire | 7 | 4.26x |
| Kent | 6 | 1.19x |
| Sussex | 6 | 2.40x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 5.32x |
| Dorset | 5 | 5.14x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 3.90x |
| Somerset | 5 | 2.10x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.22x |
| Hertfordshire | 4 | 3.91x |
| Worcestershire | 4 | 2.07x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 1.50x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.42x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.88x |
| Westmorland | 2 | 6.14x |
| Aberdeenshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Nairnshire | 1 | 22.08x |
| Perthshire | 1 | 1.50x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.20x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.27x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.76x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thornton In Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 8 Austons recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.60x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Auston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 7 |
| Elizabeth | 6 |
| Emily | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Martha | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Ellen | 3 |
| Beatrice | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Bessie | 1 |
| Betsey | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Daisey | 1 |
| Elizth.J. | 1 |
| Elzabeth | 1 |
| Emmeline | 1 |
| Ester | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Keziah | 1 |
| Leonara | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Marria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Pleasant | 1 |
| Susanna | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Auston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Auston households.
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Auston surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Auston a modern rank of #32,726.
An English surname derived from the Old English "Austyn", meaning Austin or Augustine's town.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Auston bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.