NameCensus.

UK surname

Aylward

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "spring by a holy man's dwelling" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 617 people recorded with the Aylward surname, ranking it #5,702 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,119, ranked #5,265, up from #5,702 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Cheshire West and Chester and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aylward is 1,236 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.4%.

1881 census count

617

Ranked #5,702

Modern count

1,119

2016, ranked #5,265

Peak year

1999

1,236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aylward had 617 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,702 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,119 in 2016, ranked #5,265.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,082 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Aylward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aylward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aylward 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 418 #5,816
1861 historical 420 #6,114
1881 historical 617 #5,702
1891 historical 730 #5,431
1901 historical 918 #5,069
1911 historical 1,082 #4,289
1997 modern 1,153 #4,876
1998 modern 1,234 #4,767
1999 modern 1,236 #4,793
2000 modern 1,213 #4,852
2001 modern 1,207 #4,779
2002 modern 1,236 #4,771
2003 modern 1,193 #4,829
2004 modern 1,168 #4,925
2005 modern 1,152 #4,936
2006 modern 1,130 #5,017
2007 modern 1,144 #5,009
2008 modern 1,140 #5,061
2009 modern 1,176 #5,025
2010 modern 1,180 #5,113
2011 modern 1,186 #5,037
2012 modern 1,112 #5,249
2013 modern 1,132 #5,243
2014 modern 1,136 #5,261
2015 modern 1,124 #5,256
2016 modern 1,119 #5,265

Geography

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Where Aylwards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rotherham, Cheshire West and Chester, Bridgend, Wrexham and Pembrokeshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 010 Rotherham
2 Cheshire West and Chester 011 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Bridgend 002 Bridgend
4 Wrexham 005 Wrexham
5 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aylward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aylward

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

Aylward 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

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

Meaning and origin of Aylward

The surname AYLWARD originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name Ægelward, which is composed of the elements "ægel" meaning "noble" and "weard" meaning "guard" or "watchman."

AYLWARD was initially found in counties such as Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire, where it was closely associated with the village of Aylworth in Gloucestershire. This place name connection suggests that some early bearers of the surname may have taken their name from the location where they lived or held land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname AYLWARD appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a Roger Aylward. The surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, listing a Walter Aylward.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname AYLWARD. However, it does record individuals with the personal name Ægelward, which may have later evolved into the surname.

Notable bearers of the surname AYLWARD throughout history include John Aylward (c. 1521-1594), an English Roman Catholic martyr executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Sir Giles Aylward (c. 1535-1618), a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1589 and known for his involvement in the trial of Mary, Queen of Scots.

In the 17th century, William Aylward (c. 1610-1669) was a British botanist and plant collector who contributed significantly to the study of plant life in the American colonies. Alyward Township in Ontario, Canada, was named after Edward Aylward, an early settler in the region during the 19th century.

In more recent times, the English actor John Aylward (born 1946) has gained recognition for his roles in television shows and films, including appearances in "The Sopranos," "ER," and "Moneyball."

While the AYLWARD surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English personal name Ægelward and its strong historical connections to the English counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aylward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aylward 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. Hampshire leads with 119 Aylwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 119 9.54x
Middlesex 101 1.66x
Kent 88 4.24x
Surrey 83 2.80x
Sussex 69 6.72x
Lancashire 30 0.42x
Suffolk 21 2.83x
Essex 13 1.08x
Wiltshire 11 2.04x
Cheshire 10 0.74x
Yorkshire 10 0.17x
Glamorgan 9 0.85x
Lincolnshire 9 0.92x
Warwickshire 8 0.52x
Bedfordshire 7 2.22x
Berkshire 5 1.09x
Leicestershire 5 0.74x
Norfolk 5 0.53x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.09x
Gloucestershire 4 0.34x
Somerset 4 0.41x
Royal Navy 3 4.14x
Channel Islands 2 1.11x
Banffshire 1 0.79x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liss in Hampshire leads with 26 Aylwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1023.62x.

Place Total Index
Liss 26 1023.62x
Portsea 20 8.18x
Bermondsey 16 8.83x
St Pancras London 16 3.27x
Southwark St John 15 80.56x
Camberwell 12 3.09x
Lavant Mid 12 1411.76x
Liverpool 12 2.74x
Bromley London 10 7.47x
Chiddingstone 10 369.00x
Edmonton 10 20.39x
Mile End Old Town London 10 7.72x
St Faith Winchester 10 171.82x
Sundridge 10 289.02x
Woking 9 50.34x
Hornsey 8 10.39x
Kensington London 8 2.36x
Sevenoaks 8 47.51x
South Bersted 8 91.64x
Altrincham 7 29.81x
Aston 7 1.66x
Billingshurst 7 208.33x
Clee With Weelsby 7 32.85x
Faversham 7 35.35x
Gorton 7 10.31x
Luton 7 12.83x
Penshurst 7 200.57x
Salisbury St Martin 7 125.00x
Shalden 7 1627.91x
Westerham 7 146.14x
Brasted 6 223.05x
Brighton 6 2.90x
Bromley 6 18.96x
Hornchurch 6 101.87x
Ipswich St Clement 6 31.83x
Ipswich St Helen 6 68.26x
Llantrisant 6 22.46x
Lockerley 6 480.00x
Newington 6 2.67x
Penge 6 15.43x
Rumbolds Wyke 6 319.15x
St Thomas Winchester 6 68.10x
Teynham 6 160.43x
West Chiltington 6 451.13x
Widley 6 269.06x
Buriton 5 208.33x
Dewsbury 5 8.08x
Fareham 5 33.36x
Godstone 5 94.16x
Itchingfield 5 555.56x
Norwich St Stephen 5 58.21x
Paddington London 5 2.23x
Reading St Giles 5 11.15x
Romsey Infra 5 118.20x
Westminster St John 5 6.74x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.51x
Brenchley 4 53.84x
Bristol St Augustine 4 20.77x
Chalton 4 930.23x
Hackney London 4 1.17x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.43x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 3.27x
Barnoldswick 3 35.63x
Bedminster 3 3.26x
Cogan 3 191.08x
East Dean 3 810.81x
East Tytherley 3 379.75x
Farnborough 3 99.01x
Farringdon 3 245.90x
Hulme 3 1.99x
Hunston 3 697.67x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 14.44x
Islington London 3 0.51x
Lambeth 3 0.57x
Plumstead 3 4.33x
Royal Navy 3 4.84x
St Marylebone London 3 0.92x
East Bedfont 2 66.23x
Southwick 2 36.83x
West Ham 2 0.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Eliza 16
Sarah 16
Ellen 14
Alice 13
Ann 13
Emma 12
Annie 10
Caroline 9
Edith 9
Elizabeth 9
Harriet 9
Fanny 8
Amy 7
Emily 7
Charlotte 6
Jane 6
Julia 6
Kate 6
Ada 5
Esther 5
Harriett 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Frances 4
Jessie 4
Maud 4
Catherine 3
Gertrude 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Clara 2
Delara 2
Isabella 2
Lavinia 2
Lydia 2
Marion 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Amelia 1
Cathe. 1
Elizth. 1
Emline 1
Jeanetta 1
Jesie 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 31
George 25
James 22
Henry 20
Charles 17
Thomas 14
Richard 11
Arthur 10
Walter 9
Frederick 7
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Abraham 4
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Patrick 4
David 3
Robert 3
Sydney 3
Augustus 2
Edgar 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Robt. 2
Stephen 2
Theodore 2
Andrew 1
Benj. 1
Bernard 1
Burcher 1
Clarence 1
Emery 1
Fisher 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.W. 1
Geoge 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Newton 1
Not 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Aylward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aylward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 617 people were recorded with the Aylward surname. That placed it at #5,702 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aylward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,119 in 2016. That gives Aylward a modern rank of #5,265.

What does the Aylward surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "spring by a holy man's dwelling" in Old English.

What does the Aylward map show?

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