NameCensus.

UK surname

Campion

A surname derived from the Old French word "champion," meaning a warrior, fighter, or victor in battle.

In the 1881 census there were 2,096 people recorded with the Campion surname, ranking it #2,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,718, ranked #2,475, down from #2,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Milton Keynes and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Campion is 2,865 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.7%.

1881 census count

2,096

Ranked #2,108

Modern count

2,718

2016, ranked #2,475

Peak year

1999

2,865 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Campion had 2,096 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,718 in 2016, ranked #2,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,543 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Campion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Campion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Campion 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 1,363 #2,109
1861 historical 1,285 #2,215
1881 historical 2,096 #2,108
1891 historical 1,980 #2,331
1901 historical 2,402 #2,268
1911 historical 2,543 #2,010
1997 modern 2,766 #2,320
1998 modern 2,857 #2,348
1999 modern 2,865 #2,352
2000 modern 2,814 #2,370
2001 modern 2,747 #2,378
2002 modern 2,819 #2,375
2003 modern 2,742 #2,381
2004 modern 2,719 #2,401
2005 modern 2,651 #2,425
2006 modern 2,668 #2,417
2007 modern 2,719 #2,400
2008 modern 2,725 #2,413
2009 modern 2,765 #2,430
2010 modern 2,838 #2,424
2011 modern 2,801 #2,419
2012 modern 2,780 #2,400
2013 modern 2,799 #2,429
2014 modern 2,840 #2,405
2015 modern 2,772 #2,436
2016 modern 2,718 #2,475

Geography

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Where Campions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Milton Keynes, Sunderland and Gedling. 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 Grainthorpe with Ludney and Wrangholm Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
2 East Staffordshire 003 East Staffordshire
3 Milton Keynes 001 Milton Keynes
4 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
5 Gedling 005 Gedling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Campion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Campion

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Campion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Campion household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Campion 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

Campion is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Campion falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Campion 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 Campion, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Campion

The surname Campion is of Anglo-French origin, derived from the Old French word "campion", meaning a type of flowering plant commonly found in fields and meadows. It is believed that the name was initially given as a nickname to someone who lived near an area abundant with these wildflowers.

The earliest recorded use of the surname Campion dates back to the late 12th century in England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a person named Robert Campion is mentioned.

During the medieval period, the name Campion was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Herefordshire in the West Midlands region of England. The name was also found in other parts of the country, such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

In the 13th century, the surname Campion appeared in the Hundredorum Rolls, which were administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I. One notable entry is that of William Campion, who was listed as a landowner in Worcestershire in 1273.

Edmund Campion (1540-1581) was an English Catholic priest and martyr who played a significant role in the English Reformation. He was executed for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Thomas Campion (1567-1620) was an English poet, composer, and physician. He is best known for his contributions to the English lute song tradition and his works, including "A Book of Ayres" and "Observations in the Art of English Poesie".

Abraham Campion (c. 1585-1660) was an English astrologer and physician who published several works on astrology and medicine, including "The Parable of the Husbandman" and "A New and Certain Method of Curing all Sorts of Fevers".

Jacques Campion (1685-1744) was a French artist and engraver who worked primarily in Paris. He is known for his etchings and engravings of landscapes, architectural scenes, and religious subjects.

Thomas Campion (1814-1858) was an English artist and illustrator known for his landscapes and genre paintings. He exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Campion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Campion 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. Middlesex leads with 270 Campions recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.32x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 270 1.32x
Lancashire 202 0.83x
Yorkshire 186 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 151 5.47x
Northamptonshire 141 7.32x
Lincolnshire 136 4.16x
Staffordshire 113 1.64x
Surrey 102 1.02x
Derbyshire 88 2.75x
Essex 84 2.08x
Devon 81 1.90x
Kent 80 1.15x
Warwickshire 67 1.30x
Bedfordshire 39 3.68x
Leicestershire 39 1.72x
Sussex 28 0.81x
Shropshire 25 1.41x
Oxfordshire 23 1.82x
Durham 22 0.36x
Worcestershire 21 0.79x
Brecknockshire 20 4.89x
Cheshire 19 0.42x
Suffolk 19 0.76x
Hampshire 17 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 13 1.00x
Gloucestershire 13 0.32x
Huntingdonshire 13 3.20x
Buckinghamshire 12 0.97x
Berkshire 10 0.65x
Glamorgan 10 0.28x
Midlothian 9 0.33x
Northumberland 9 0.30x
Dorset 7 0.52x
Channel Islands 5 0.82x
Cumberland 5 0.28x
Denbighshire 4 0.52x
Lanarkshire 4 0.06x
Cornwall 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 0.82x
Rutland 2 1.33x
Argyllshire 1 0.18x
Monmouthshire 1 0.07x
Somerset 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.22x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 87 Campions recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.19x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 87 12.19x
Everton 34 4.39x
Lambeth 33 1.85x
Islington London 32 1.61x
St Pancras London 32 1.94x
Wolverhampton 27 5.08x
Birmingham 25 1.45x
Liverpool 24 1.63x
Arnold 22 54.63x
Snenton 22 20.30x
Bethnal Green London 21 2.36x
Grainthorpe 21 427.70x
Hammersmith London 19 3.77x
Kensington London 19 1.67x
Wellingborough 19 19.63x
Burton Upon Trent 18 11.14x
Gorton 18 7.88x
Linton 18 213.52x
Ashburton 17 83.50x
Chelsea London 17 2.76x
Holy Trinity 16 3.28x
Scarborough 16 8.68x
Sheffield 16 2.48x
Dean 15 436.05x
Deptford St Paul 15 2.79x
Newton Abbot St Mary 15 41.97x
Shrewsbury St Mary 15 21.50x
Guisbrough 14 31.59x
Little Baddow 14 366.49x
Rushden 14 54.37x
Sculcoates 14 4.35x
Bermondsey 13 2.13x
Camberwell 13 0.99x
Danby 13 158.54x
Toxteth Park 13 1.58x
Uttoxeter 13 36.76x
Woodham Walter 13 354.22x
Dalton In Furness 12 12.80x
North Somercotes 12 140.02x
Ramsey 12 36.89x
Brimington 11 45.21x
Hulme 11 2.17x
Kingston 11 561.22x
Plumstead 11 4.73x
Portsea 11 1.34x
Ruswarp 11 48.76x
Brecknock St John 10 28.98x
Derby St Werburgh 10 5.41x
Horncastle 10 29.61x
Ilsington 10 134.23x
Reigate Foreign 10 9.26x
Rosliston 10 310.56x
St Marylebone London 10 0.92x
Toddington 10 65.83x
Wardington 10 230.41x
Bickington 9 538.92x
Blackburn 9 1.39x
Blisworth 9 121.13x
Bromley London 9 2.00x
Cold Ashby 9 379.75x
Ditton 9 90.63x
Great Grimsby 9 4.33x
Newington 9 1.19x
Shrewsbury St Julian 9 20.58x
Alvechurch 8 70.36x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 8 0.73x
Great Neston 8 53.66x
Harlow 8 45.95x
Hurstpierpoint 8 41.67x
Limehouse London 8 3.56x
Llangammarch 8 108.11x
Nether Seal 8 200.50x
Preston 8 1.23x
Preston 8 13.28x
St George Bloomsbury 8 6.81x
Woodham Mortimer 8 341.88x
Billingham 7 66.79x
Kirby Grindalyth 7 380.43x
Tonbridge 7 2.78x
Twickenham 7 7.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Elizabeth 86
Sarah 62
Ann 44
Annie 40
Eliza 40
Emma 37
Ellen 36
Jane 31
Alice 29
Louisa 23
Margaret 21
Emily 20
Hannah 18
Harriet 18
Edith 17
Martha 17
Charlotte 15
Caroline 14
Clara 12
Florence 11
Ada 10
Frances 10
Kate 10
Susan 10
Amelia 9
Fanny 8
Harriett 8
Maria 8
Rebecca 8
Rose 8
Anne 7
Eleanor 6
Esther 6
Isabella 6
Julia 6
Lizzie 6
Lucy 6
Agnes 5
Catherine 5
Elizth. 5
Gertrude 5
Jessie 5
Laura 5
Matilda 5
Maud 5
Sophia 5
Betsy 4
Grace 4
Minnie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 136
William 125
Thomas 75
George 70
Charles 54
Joseph 43
James 39
Robert 28
Henry 27
Edward 24
Alfred 22
Frederick 22
Samuel 22
Arthur 17
Walter 15
Albert 11
Richard 10
Edwin 9
Frank 9
Francis 8
Isaac 8
Wm. 8
Harry 7
Peter 7
Herbert 6
Josiah 6
Stephen 6
Thos. 6
Ernest 5
Patrick 5
Tom 5
Fred 4
Fredrick 4
Robt. 4
Christopher 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Harold 3
J. 3
Michael 3
Saml. 3
Willm. 3
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Geo. 2
Mark 2
Pearson 2
Percy 2
Zachariah 2

FAQ

Campion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Campion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,096 people were recorded with the Campion surname. That placed it at #2,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Campion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,718 in 2016. That gives Campion a modern rank of #2,475.

What does the Campion surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "champion," meaning a warrior, fighter, or victor in battle.

What does the Campion map show?

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