NameCensus.

UK surname

Byron

An aristocratic English surname derived from a place name meaning "place of the cow sheds" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,093 people recorded with the Byron surname, ranking it #3,639 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,876, ranked #3,390, up from #3,639 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Knowsley, Thurrock and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Byron is 1,941 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.6%.

1881 census count

1,093

Ranked #3,639

Modern count

1,876

2016, ranked #3,390

Peak year

2010

1,941 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Byron had 1,093 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,639 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,876 in 2016, ranked #3,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,459 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Byron surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Byron surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Byron 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 631 #4,113
1861 historical 665 #4,027
1881 historical 1,093 #3,639
1891 historical 1,013 #4,104
1901 historical 1,307 #3,823
1911 historical 1,459 #3,306
1997 modern 1,700 #3,508
1998 modern 1,793 #3,454
1999 modern 1,793 #3,489
2000 modern 1,799 #3,456
2001 modern 1,743 #3,486
2002 modern 1,819 #3,420
2003 modern 1,777 #3,430
2004 modern 1,771 #3,445
2005 modern 1,750 #3,453
2006 modern 1,759 #3,440
2007 modern 1,807 #3,391
2008 modern 1,819 #3,404
2009 modern 1,877 #3,383
2010 modern 1,941 #3,357
2011 modern 1,898 #3,385
2012 modern 1,896 #3,330
2013 modern 1,904 #3,376
2014 modern 1,920 #3,367
2015 modern 1,895 #3,374
2016 modern 1,876 #3,390

Geography

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Where Byrons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Knowsley, Thurrock, Northumberland, Tameside and Doncaster. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Knowsley 007 Knowsley
2 Thurrock 008 Thurrock
3 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
4 Tameside 011 Tameside
5 Doncaster 009 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Byron

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Byron

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Byron surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Byron household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Byron 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

Byron 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

Byron falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Byron is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Byron

The surname BYRON has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "byre" meaning a cow-shed or barn, and "tun" meaning an enclosure or settlement. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived near a cattle-barn or farmstead.

The earliest known recorded instances of the name come from the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it appears as "William de la Byron". It is also found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379 as "Johannes Byron". These early spellings highlight the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

In the 16th century, the BYRON family held lands in Nottinghamshire, centered around the village of Newstead Abbey. Sir John BYRON (1599-1652) was an English Royalist and served as Lieutenant of the Tower of London during the English Civil War. His great-grandson, William BYRON (1722-1798), inherited the family estate and became the 5th Baron Byron of Rochdale.

Perhaps the most famous individual with the surname is the renowned Romantic poet, Lord George Gordon BYRON (1788-1824). Born into the aristocratic BYRON family, he achieved literary fame for his narrative poems such as "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" and "Don Juan". His flamboyant lifestyle and complicated personal life only added to his legendary status.

Another notable figure was the English explorer and navigator, John BYRON (1723-1786). He circumnavigated the globe on the HMS Dolphin between 1764 and 1766, and his voyage contributed significantly to the mapping of the Pacific Ocean.

In the world of theatre, Ada BYRON (1815-1852), the daughter of Lord Byron, was a pioneering figure in computer programming. She worked with Charles Babbage on his proposed mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine, and is considered a trailblazer in the field of computer science.

The BYRON surname has a rich history, spanning centuries and encompassing individuals from diverse fields, including literature, exploration, and science. While its origins can be traced back to rural England, the name has since become globally recognized, thanks to the enduring legacy of its most famous bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Byron families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Byron 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 361 Byrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 361 2.85x
Yorkshire 147 1.39x
Middlesex 133 1.25x
Cheshire 49 2.08x
Lincolnshire 43 2.52x
Nottinghamshire 39 2.71x
Surrey 37 0.71x
Kent 36 0.99x
Ayrshire 32 4.00x
Durham 30 0.94x
Renfrewshire 22 2.66x
Derbyshire 21 1.26x
Northumberland 18 1.13x
Warwickshire 18 0.67x
Wigtownshire 15 10.58x
Lanarkshire 11 0.32x
Cumberland 10 1.09x
Hertfordshire 8 1.09x
Leicestershire 8 0.68x
Sussex 7 0.39x
Flintshire 6 2.09x
Gloucestershire 6 0.29x
Hampshire 6 0.27x
Essex 5 0.24x
Brecknockshire 4 1.87x
Pembrokeshire 4 1.18x
Shropshire 4 0.43x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Berkshire 2 0.25x
Glamorgan 2 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.29x
Somerset 2 0.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.32x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.79x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prescot in Lancashire leads with 72 Byrons recorded in 1881 and an index of 314.14x.

Place Total Index
Prescot 72 314.14x
Hackney London 22 3.67x
Saddleworth 20 24.49x
Leeds 19 3.18x
Stevenston 18 86.37x
Liverpool 14 1.82x
Oldham 14 3.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 4.69x
Birmingham 13 1.45x
Dukinfield 13 11.93x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 9.45x
Hexham 13 52.85x
Moulton Eaton In 13 659.90x
St Marylebone London 13 2.28x
Fulham London 12 7.75x
Kensington London 12 2.02x
Toxteth Park 12 2.80x
Bermondsey 11 3.46x
Edmonton 11 12.78x
Frindsbury 11 80.12x
Poplar London 11 5.46x
Manchester 10 1.75x
St George Hanover Square 10 5.31x
Bishopwearmouth 9 3.30x
Bradford 9 3.51x
Dalry 9 23.92x
Eccleston In Prescot 9 14.14x
Glossop Dale 9 11.49x
Great Bolton 9 5.36x
Kirkdale 9 4.22x
Newark Upon Trent 9 17.39x
Strood 9 43.29x
Walton On Hill 9 13.11x
Windle 9 12.62x
Abbey 8 6.33x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 8.38x
Beckingham 8 487.80x
Blackburn 8 2.37x
Bold 8 254.78x
Everton 8 1.98x
Heap 8 11.90x
Newton 8 8.19x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.15x
Seven Oaks 8 1230.77x
Skelmersdale 8 37.88x
St Albans 8 53.02x
Alston 7 41.30x
Camberwell 7 1.03x
East Greenock 7 8.95x
Holbeck 7 9.98x
Holy Trinity 7 2.75x
Huyton With Roby 7 47.14x
Ince In Makerfield 7 11.87x
Lambeth 7 0.75x
Mansfield 7 14.05x
Openshaw 7 11.79x
Sheffield 7 2.08x
Widnes 7 7.66x
Coningsby 6 122.45x
Derby St Alkmund 6 11.97x
Glasgow 6 0.98x
Gomersal 6 12.15x
Gorton 6 5.04x
Huddersfield 6 3.89x
Keighley 6 5.32x
Mold Bistree 6 128.48x
Nettleham 6 171.43x
Old Luce 6 67.04x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.97x
Penninghame 6 41.49x
St Pancras London 6 0.70x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 19.81x
Westminster St John 6 4.61x
Wortley In Bramley 6 7.16x
Halifax 5 3.22x
Hougham 5 23.07x
Linthorpe 5 7.92x
Northowram 5 6.74x
Penshaw 5 52.36x
St Andrew Holborn London 5 10.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 78
Elizabeth 35
Sarah 34
Ann 24
Ellen 23
Jane 23
Catherine 17
Alice 16
Margaret 16
Emma 14
Eliza 12
Annie 11
Martha 11
Emily 9
Edith 8
Hannah 8
Lucy 8
Ada 7
Agnes 7
Florence 7
Anne 5
Harriet 5
Margt. 5
Amelia 4
Bertha 4
Bridget 4
Kate 4
Maud 4
Nellie 4
Caroline 3
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Grace 3
Jessie 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Amy 2
Betsey 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Eva 2
Frederica 2
Joanna 2
Katharine 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
M. 2
Maggie 2
Margret 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 77
William 63
Thomas 44
James 34
George 23
Henry 17
Joseph 15
Edward 13
Richard 13
Robert 12
Charles 11
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Frederick 7
Alfred 6
Jno. 6
Michael 6
Walter 6
Alexander 5
Edwin 5
Hugh 5
Andrew 4
Benjamin 4
Patrick 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Joshua 3
Martin 3
Wm. 3
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Owen 2
Thos. 2
Ada 1
Alvin 1
Ben 1
Benj. 1
Benjn. 1
Cresswell 1
David 1
Denis 1
Doctor 1
Dudley 1
E.H. 1
Edmond 1
Humphry 1
J. 1

FAQ

Byron surname: questions and answers

How common was the Byron surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,093 people were recorded with the Byron surname. That placed it at #3,639 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Byron surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,876 in 2016. That gives Byron a modern rank of #3,390.

What does the Byron surname mean?

An aristocratic English surname derived from a place name meaning "place of the cow sheds" in Old English.

What does the Byron map show?

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