NameCensus.

UK surname

Burslem

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Burslem surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, down from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Astbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Broomhill and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Burslem is 255 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 10.1%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

1911

255 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Burslem had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 255 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Burslem surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Burslem surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Burslem 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 107 #20,008
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 238 #13,202
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1911 historical 255 #12,719
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 230 #16,607
1999 modern 233 #16,554
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 214 #17,211
2002 modern 221 #17,206
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 196 #18,895
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 208 #18,956
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

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Where Burslems are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Astbury, Muckleston and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Broomhill, Manchester, Sefton and Stockport. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 Astbury Cheshire
4 Muckleston Shropshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 Broomhill Glasgow City
3 Manchester 050 Manchester
4 Sefton 009 Sefton
5 Stockport 041 Stockport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Burslem

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Burslem

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Burslem, 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 Burslem surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Burslem 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Burslem 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

Burslem is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Burslem families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Burslem 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 77 Burslems recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 77 2.94x
Cheshire 50 10.27x
Staffordshire 45 6.05x
Kent 34 4.52x
Berkshire 5 3.02x
Hampshire 4 0.89x
Shropshire 3 1.58x
Surrey 3 0.28x
Middlesex 2 0.09x
Durham 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.66x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheadle in Cheshire leads with 21 Burslems recorded in 1881 and an index of 226.05x.

Place Total Index
Cheadle 21 226.05x
Hulme 18 32.96x
Manchester 15 12.75x
Tonbridge 12 44.23x
Deptford St Paul 10 17.24x
Oldham 10 11.84x
Stretford 10 69.49x
Brewood 9 418.60x
Congleton 9 107.02x
Betley 8 1290.32x
Shavington Cum Gresty 8 987.65x
Chester St John Baptist 7 80.00x
Dartford 7 91.03x
Moss Side 7 50.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 8.87x
Kirkdale 6 13.64x
Chorlton 5 1724.14x
Lewisham 5 12.47x
Stockport 5 19.97x
Audley 4 54.35x
Madeley 4 216.22x
Harpurhey 3 82.64x
Heaton Norris 3 20.15x
Liverpool 3 1.89x
South Stoneham 3 30.61x
Woore 3 600.00x
Maer 2 666.67x
Mucklestone 2 281.69x
New Windsor 2 35.97x
Newington 2 2.46x
Stone 2 21.01x
Cannock 1 7.70x
Chipping Barnet 1 37.59x
Chiswick 1 8.30x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.41x
Clapham 1 3.63x
Easthampstead 1 112.36x
Holdenhurst 1 8.44x
Kensington London 1 0.82x
Linthorpe 1 7.67x
Lytham 1 25.06x
Reading St Giles 1 6.16x
South Shields 1 17.12x
Tidmarsh 1 714.29x
Trentham 1 15.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 12
John 12
Thomas 8
Henry 7
William 7
James 6
Charles 5
Benjamin 4
Albert 3
Walter 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Rollo 2
Sidney 2
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Godolphin 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Joseph 1
Minnie 1
Randle 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Ward 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Burslem surname: questions and answers

How common was the Burslem surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Burslem surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Burslem surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Burslem a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Burslem map show?

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