NameCensus.

UK surname

Bickerstaff

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold candle wicks or candle sticks.

In the 1881 census there were 622 people recorded with the Bickerstaff surname, ranking it #5,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 617, ranked #8,523, down from #5,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Toxteth Park, Preston and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Redcar and Cleveland and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bickerstaff is 697 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.8%.

1881 census count

622

Ranked #5,678

Modern count

617

2016, ranked #8,523

Peak year

1998

697 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bickerstaff had 622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 617 in 2016, ranked #8,523.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 666 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Bickerstaff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bickerstaff surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Bickerstaff 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 360 #6,569
1861 historical 500 #5,234
1881 historical 622 #5,678
1891 historical 666 #5,844
1901 historical 626 #6,839
1911 historical 594 #6,890
1997 modern 668 #7,513
1998 modern 697 #7,498
1999 modern 683 #7,659
2000 modern 670 #7,749
2001 modern 645 #7,844
2002 modern 661 #7,847
2003 modern 645 #7,868
2004 modern 619 #8,152
2005 modern 599 #8,283
2006 modern 617 #8,111
2007 modern 600 #8,358
2008 modern 618 #8,219
2009 modern 632 #8,252
2010 modern 670 #8,061
2011 modern 657 #8,088
2012 modern 638 #8,175
2013 modern 628 #8,435
2014 modern 637 #8,390
2015 modern 621 #8,492
2016 modern 617 #8,523

Geography

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Where Bickerstaffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Toxteth Park, Preston, West Derby, Liverpool and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Redcar and Cleveland, Wyre and Denbighshire. 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 Toxteth Park Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 West Derby Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 008 Lewes
2 Lewes 009 Lewes
3 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
4 Wyre 007 Wyre
5 Denbighshire 008 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Bickerstaff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Bickerstaff

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Bickerstaff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Bickerstaff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Bickerstaff is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Bickerstaff is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bickerstaff falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bickerstaff 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 - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Bickerstaff, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Bickerstaff

The surname Bickerstaff is of English origin, emerging in the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "bicker" meaning a small wooden vessel or bowl, and "staef" meaning staff or stick. This suggests the name may have referred to a maker or seller of wooden bowls and utensils.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a John Bykerstalfe is listed. The surname is also found in various forms such as Bykerstaffe, Bykerstaf, and Bickerstath in medieval records from Lancashire and Yorkshire.

In the 16th century, the Bickerstaff family was well-established in Cheshire, with records showing a Thomas Bickerstaff born around 1560 in Middlewich. His grandson, Isaac Bickerstaff (1634-1708), was a noted English satirist and pamphleteer who used the pseudonym "Isaac Bickerstaff" to mock astrologers and almanac makers of the time.

Another notable bearer of the name was the 18th-century playwright and poet Isaac Bickerstaffe (1733-1812), who is sometimes confused with his namesake, the satirist. Bickerstaffe wrote several successful comedies and operas, including the popular play 'The Recruiting Officer' (1706).

In the 19th century, the Bickerstaff family had connections to the textile industry in Lancashire. A prominent figure was Sir Isaac William Bickerstaffe (1815-1898), a successful cotton manufacturer and philanthropist who served as the Mayor of Blackburn in 1864.

Other historical figures with the surname include Sir Robert Bickerstaffe (1722-1796), a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War, and John Bickerstaffe (1858-1940), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as the Mayor of Winnipeg in the early 20th century.

Overall, the surname Bickerstaff has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the ancient English vocabulary and the trades of woodworking and utensil-making. Despite variations in spelling, the name has endured and been carried by notable individuals in fields ranging from literature and politics to industry and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Bickerstaff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bickerstaff 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. Lancashire leads with 301 Bickerstaffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 301 4.14x
Yorkshire 45 0.74x
Middlesex 38 0.62x
Cheshire 28 2.07x
Surrey 28 0.94x
Warwickshire 28 1.81x
Lanarkshire 23 1.16x
Ayrshire 18 3.93x
Worcestershire 17 2.13x
Hampshire 14 1.12x
Renfrewshire 13 2.74x
Cardiganshire 9 6.02x
Midlothian 9 1.10x
Sussex 9 0.87x
Angus 8 1.41x
Wigtownshire 8 9.84x
Isle of Man 6 5.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 5 5.64x
Staffordshire 4 0.19x
Caernarfonshire 3 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.36x
Bedfordshire 2 0.63x
Cumberland 2 0.38x
Derbyshire 2 0.21x
Hertfordshire 2 0.47x
Kent 2 0.10x
Gloucestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 38 Bickerstaffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.54x.

Place Total Index
Preston 38 19.54x
West Derby 23 10.82x
Clayton Le Moors 21 148.94x
Everton 20 8.63x
Liverpool 20 4.53x
Toxteth Park 17 6.91x
Birmingham 14 2.72x
Abbey 13 17.95x
Hurdsfield 11 132.21x
Aston 10 2.35x
Great Harwood 10 76.10x
Southcoates 10 29.67x
Windle 10 24.45x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 2.73x
Horsham 9 44.87x
Kirkham 9 93.65x
Maryhill 9 23.21x
Maybole 9 64.47x
Mile End Old Town London 9 6.90x
Sutton 9 36.92x
Willesden 9 15.59x
Barony 8 1.60x
Dundee 8 3.78x
Freckleton 8 334.73x
Lambeth 8 1.50x
Lancaster 8 18.50x
Lledrod Lower 8 645.16x
New Luce 8 533.33x
Crompton 7 33.82x
Lytham 7 63.06x
Uxbridge 7 100.00x
Hulme 6 3.95x
Kimberworth 6 17.81x
Leeds 6 1.75x
Malew 6 60.36x
Manchester 6 1.84x
Oswaldtwistle 6 23.36x
Puttenham 6 652.17x
Blackburn 5 2.59x
Cove 5 303.03x
Frodsham Lordship 5 218.34x
Hill Moor 5 704.23x
Kirkcudbright 5 68.12x
Layton With Warbreck 5 18.75x
Medlar With Wesham 5 229.36x
Mexborough 5 41.49x
Openshaw 5 14.69x
Parr 5 19.22x
Skerton 5 83.75x
Southampton St Mary 5 6.33x
Stoulton 5 641.03x
Accrington 4 6.05x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 7.07x
Camberwell 4 1.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.46x
Didsbury 4 41.45x
Frodsham 4 76.34x
Glasgow 4 1.14x
High Low Bishopside 4 74.35x
Holbeck 4 9.95x
Leamington Priors 4 10.52x
Lower Darwen 4 41.93x
Moston 4 54.87x
New Cumnock 4 50.31x
Peper Harow 4 1250.00x
Salford 4 1.87x
Shoreditch London 4 1.51x
Wolverley 4 56.98x
Islington London 3 0.51x
Pinvin 3 491.80x
Saddleworth 3 6.41x
St Marylebone London 3 0.92x
St Quivox 3 19.35x
Stockport 3 4.31x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 3 14.34x
Basingstoke 2 13.85x
Greenhalgh With 2 250.00x
Millom 2 12.38x
West Bromwich 2 1.69x
Winwick With Hulme 2 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Ann 22
Elizabeth 19
Margaret 17
Alice 16
Jane 14
Ellen 11
Eliza 10
Annie 8
Sarah 8
Hannah 5
Agnes 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Emma 3
Grace 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Nancy 3
Rebecca 3
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Jenny 2
Kate 2
Margret 2
Maud 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Alberta 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Carloin 1
Clara 1
Ellenor 1
Esther 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
Thomas 35
John 24
James 23
George 18
Henry 15
Robert 15
Joseph 12
Richard 10
Edward 9
Alfred 8
Charles 7
Peter 5
Harry 4
Arthur 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Duke 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Ben 1
C.B. 1
Caleb 1
Christopher 1
Edwin 1
Fortunatus 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gordon 1
H. 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Luke 1
Marcus 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Patrick 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Bickerstaff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bickerstaff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 622 people were recorded with the Bickerstaff surname. That placed it at #5,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bickerstaff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 617 in 2016. That gives Bickerstaff a modern rank of #8,523.

What does the Bickerstaff surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who made or sold candle wicks or candle sticks.

What does the Bickerstaff map show?

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