NameCensus.

UK surname

Bytheway

A medieval locational surname derived from a dwelling by a road or path.

In the 1881 census there were 274 people recorded with the Bytheway surname, ranking it #10,362 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 681, ranked #7,872, up from #10,362 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kingswinford, Dudley and Stottesden, Kinlet. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Shropshire and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Bytheway is 721 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 148.5%.

1881 census count

274

Ranked #10,362

Modern count

681

2016, ranked #7,872

Peak year

1999

721 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Bytheway had 274 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,362 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016, ranked #7,872.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 469 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Bytheway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Bytheway surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Bytheway 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 274 #10,362
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 377 #9,876
1911 historical 469 #8,232
1997 modern 662 #7,571
1998 modern 703 #7,455
1999 modern 721 #7,354
2000 modern 712 #7,401
2001 modern 691 #7,443
2002 modern 676 #7,722
2003 modern 657 #7,778
2004 modern 662 #7,731
2005 modern 654 #7,734
2006 modern 659 #7,728
2007 modern 669 #7,703
2008 modern 695 #7,529
2009 modern 693 #7,697
2010 modern 672 #8,041
2011 modern 667 #7,995
2012 modern 667 #7,907
2013 modern 687 #7,855
2014 modern 701 #7,761
2015 modern 690 #7,811
2016 modern 681 #7,872

Geography

Back to top

Where Bytheways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kingswinford, Dudley, Stottesden, Kinlet, Wednesbury and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Shropshire and Dudley. 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 Kingswinford Worcestershire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Stottesden, Kinlet Shropshire
4 Wednesbury Staffordshire
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Bolsover 004 Bolsover
3 Bolsover 005 Bolsover
4 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
5 Dudley 005 Dudley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Bytheway

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Bytheway

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Bytheway is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Bytheway is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Bytheway falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Bytheway is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Bytheway

The surname BYTHEWAY is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English phrase "by the way," referring to someone who lived near a road or pathway.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 13th century, where a certain William Bytheway is mentioned as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name was already in use by this time in the northern regions of England.

In the 14th century, the BYTHEWAY surname appears in various manorial records and court rolls across different counties in England, indicating its gradual spread and establishment as a hereditary family name.

The name is also believed to have been influenced by the Old French phrase "par le chemin," which has a similar meaning to the Old English phrase. This suggests that the surname may have been adopted or adapted by some Anglo-Norman families as well.

One notable individual bearing this surname was Sir John Bytheway, a member of the English gentry from Warwickshire, who lived during the 15th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents related to land transactions and legal proceedings of that time.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Bytheway, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He played an influential role in the city's trade and governance.

In the 17th century, the BYTHEWAY surname is recorded in various parish registers and tax records across England, indicating its continued use and presence in different regions.

One noteworthy individual from this period was Richard Bytheway, a renowned clockmaker from London who lived from 1616 to 1679. His intricate and innovative timepieces were highly sought after by the wealthy and aristocratic classes of the time.

During the 18th century, the surname Bytheway appears in various military records, particularly in the muster rolls of regiments that served in the British Army. This suggests that individuals with this surname were involved in military service and campaigns of that era.

One such individual was Captain William Bytheway, who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War and is mentioned in dispatches and official correspondence from that conflict.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Bytheway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Bytheway 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. Shropshire leads with 100 Bytheways recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.15x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 100 43.15x
Staffordshire 77 8.50x
Worcestershire 62 17.70x
Warwickshire 11 1.63x
Middlesex 7 0.26x
Herefordshire 6 5.46x
Cheshire 5 0.84x
Derbyshire 4 0.95x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.52x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 32 Bytheways recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.14x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 32 75.14x
Walsall Foreign 17 36.35x
West Bromwich 16 30.86x
Bilston 13 74.07x
Kidderminster Borough 13 63.41x
Ludlow St Lawrence 13 282.00x
Aston 11 5.91x
Cainham 9 841.12x
Coreley 8 1403.51x
Farlow 8 2500.00x
Wednesbury 8 35.35x
Harborne 7 24.12x
Stoke St Milborough 7 1458.33x
Bromley London 6 10.17x
Croft 6 15000.00x
Highley 6 1818.18x
Loughton 6 7500.00x
Nash 6 1111.11x
Sedgley 6 17.84x
Wheathill 6 6000.00x
Bitterley 5 543.48x
Kidderminster Foreign 5 101.01x
Kinlet 5 1250.00x
Mamble 5 2380.95x
Sale 5 68.87x
Wellington 5 38.40x
Oldbury 4 23.22x
Ryton 4 2105.26x
Staveley 4 53.69x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 3.12x
Sutton Maddock 3 833.33x
Kingswinford 2 6.08x
Madeley 2 23.53x
Morville Aston Eyre 2 2500.00x
Stafford St Mary 2 15.60x
Stottesdon 2 190.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.98x
Church Stretton 1 64.52x
Claines 1 10.41x
Crofton 1 151.52x
Fitz 1 370.37x
Fulham London 1 2.57x
Kinver 1 38.31x
Pattingham 1 263.16x
Rockfield 1 476.19x
Rowley Regis 1 3.96x
Stanton Lacy 1 50.00x
Tenbury 1 52.08x
Worcester St Michael 1 250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 16
Ellen 12
Alice 7
Emma 7
Harriet 7
Sarah 7
Lucy 6
Eliza 4
Martha 4
Annie 3
Clara 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Lizzie 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Abighail 1
Amy 1
Charlotte 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Emmily 1
Gertrud 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Isibella 1
Jennie 1
Jessie 1
Lillian 1
Lizzy 1
Lois 1
Lydia 1
Miriam 1
Myra 1
Nellie 1
Pamela 1
Rebeca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 17
William 12
John 11
Edward 10
Samuel 9
James 8
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Joseph 5
George 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Philip 3
Albert 2
Benjn. 2
Edmund 2
Ephraim 2
Abraham 1
David 1
Edwen 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hemet 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Allen 1
Josh. 1
Joshua 1
Levi 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Bytheway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Bytheway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 274 people were recorded with the Bytheway surname. That placed it at #10,362 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Bytheway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 681 in 2016. That gives Bytheway a modern rank of #7,872.

What does the Bytheway surname mean?

A medieval locational surname derived from a dwelling by a road or path.

What does the Bytheway map show?

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