NameCensus.

UK surname

Casson

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of boxes, chests, or cases.

In the 1881 census there were 1,783 people recorded with the Casson surname, ranking it #2,432 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,142, ranked #3,018, down from #2,432 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, St Bees and Millom, Muncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Lancaster and Rochdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Casson is 2,410 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.1%.

1881 census count

1,783

Ranked #2,432

Modern count

2,142

2016, ranked #3,018

Peak year

1911

2,410 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Casson had 1,783 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,432 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,142 in 2016, ranked #3,018.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,410 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Casson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Casson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Casson 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 1,216 #2,345
1861 historical 1,071 #2,631
1881 historical 1,783 #2,432
1891 historical 1,889 #2,433
1901 historical 2,230 #2,423
1911 historical 2,410 #2,127
1997 modern 2,221 #2,797
1998 modern 2,260 #2,854
1999 modern 2,295 #2,832
2000 modern 2,277 #2,835
2001 modern 2,213 #2,852
2002 modern 2,252 #2,868
2003 modern 2,157 #2,915
2004 modern 2,192 #2,876
2005 modern 2,133 #2,909
2006 modern 2,093 #2,964
2007 modern 2,114 #2,969
2008 modern 2,122 #2,977
2009 modern 2,212 #2,937
2010 modern 2,239 #2,970
2011 modern 2,167 #3,017
2012 modern 2,138 #2,998
2013 modern 2,158 #3,022
2014 modern 2,167 #3,028
2015 modern 2,144 #3,023
2016 modern 2,142 #3,018

Geography

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Where Cassons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, St Bees, Millom, Muncaster, Dalton-in-Furness and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Lancaster and Rochdale. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
4 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Lancaster 016 Lancaster
4 Copeland 004 Copeland
5 Rochdale 022 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Casson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Casson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Casson 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

Casson 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

Casson falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Casson

The surname Casson has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Cas," a diminutive form of the name "Cass," which itself is thought to have been a shortened version of the Latin name "Cassianus."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Casse." This entry refers to a landowner or tenant in Lincolnshire, indicating the presence of the name in that region during the late 11th century.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including "Cason," "Casson," and "Casun." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling during that era.

The name Casson has also been associated with certain place names, particularly in Lancashire. For example, the village of Casson in the Ribble Valley is believed to have derived its name from the surname, suggesting the presence of families bearing this name in the area.

Notable individuals with the surname Casson include:

1. Sir Hugh Casson (1910-1999), a renowned British architect, artist, and writer known for his architectural designs and contributions to urban planning.

2. Elizabeth Casson (1881-1954), a British sculptor and medallist who created several notable public monuments and memorials.

3. Stanley Casson (1889-1944), a British archaeologist and academic who specialized in ancient Greek and Roman studies.

4. William Casson (1643-1703), an English merchant and landowner who served as Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1694.

5. John Casson (1637-1719), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, from 1675 to 1719.

The Casson surname has also been recorded in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire, suggesting its widespread presence across different regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Casson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Casson 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 577 Cassons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 577 2.80x
Yorkshire 376 2.19x
Cumberland 287 19.20x
Middlesex 93 0.54x
Westmorland 80 20.96x
Durham 59 1.14x
Cheshire 49 1.28x
Surrey 40 0.47x
Warwickshire 25 0.57x
Staffordshire 24 0.41x
Northumberland 20 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 19 0.81x
Norfolk 14 0.52x
Worcestershire 14 0.62x
Kent 11 0.19x
Lincolnshire 9 0.32x
Wiltshire 8 0.52x
Denbighshire 7 1.07x
Derbyshire 6 0.22x
Devon 6 0.17x
Glamorgan 6 0.20x
Morayshire 6 2.22x
Somerset 6 0.21x
Leicestershire 5 0.26x
Northamptonshire 5 0.31x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.43x
Hampshire 3 0.08x
Lanarkshire 3 0.05x
Merionethshire 3 0.94x
Berkshire 2 0.15x
Essex 2 0.06x
Perthshire 2 0.26x
Renfrewshire 2 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.09x
Channel Islands 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Peeblesshire 1 1.22x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.18x
Stirlingshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 57 Cassons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.34x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 57 20.34x
Kendal 44 62.98x
Preston 34 6.17x
Workington 32 37.38x
Lancaster 31 25.29x
Liverpool 29 2.32x
Millom 28 61.12x
Ulverston 28 46.66x
Lamplugh 27 360.00x
Preston Quarter 26 62.07x
Blatchinworth 23 49.03x
Pennington In Ulverston 22 214.63x
Ecclesfield 21 16.65x
Bradford 20 4.80x
Dunnerdale With 20 1117.32x
Nether Hallam 20 8.59x
Cockermouth 19 60.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 19 5.43x
Manchester 19 2.05x
Oldham 18 2.71x
St Cuthbert W O 18 24.70x
Beetham 17 289.12x
Elland Cum Greetland 17 21.93x
Hackney London 17 1.75x
Islington London 17 1.01x
Lowick 17 742.36x
Tranmere 16 11.36x
Heysham 15 398.94x
Aston 13 1.08x
Gorton 13 6.71x
Kirkby Ireleth 13 126.46x
Mile End Old Town London 13 3.52x
Skircoat 13 19.16x
West Broughton 13 186.78x
Billingley 12 1016.95x
Kimberworth 12 12.57x
Sculcoates 12 4.40x
Tottington Lower End 12 12.26x
Toxteth Park 12 1.72x
Ulpha 12 685.71x
Caldewgate 11 13.43x
Dewsbury 11 6.23x
Lenton 11 19.95x
Salford 11 1.82x
Whitehaven 11 13.81x
Birmingham 10 0.69x
Haworth 10 24.45x
Horton In Bradford 10 3.72x
Stockton On Tees 10 4.02x
Wednesfield 10 11.59x
Burton 9 224.44x
Ennerdale Kinniside 9 514.29x
Escomb 9 37.91x
Everton 9 1.37x
Halifax 9 3.56x
Holy Trinity 9 2.17x
Little Bolton 9 3.40x
Tatham 9 283.91x
Wombwell 9 17.94x
Altrincham 8 11.95x
Burley In Wharfdale 8 52.67x
Colton 8 74.49x
Kensington London 8 0.83x
Leeds 8 0.82x
Moresby 8 140.60x
Moulton 8 59.88x
Sandwith 8 361.99x
Sheffield 8 1.46x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.29x
St Giles In Fields London 8 9.39x
Undermilbeck 8 63.59x
Upper Allithwaite E 8 239.52x
Upton By Birkenhead 8 216.22x
Walton On Thames 8 20.59x
Cleator 7 11.25x
Denbigh 7 26.60x
Huddersfield 7 2.79x
Kirkdale 7 2.02x
Wallsend 7 8.54x
Wuerdle Wardle 7 11.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 153
Elizabeth 71
Sarah 64
Jane 43
Ann 38
Margaret 34
Hannah 31
Annie 28
Alice 27
Ellen 20
Martha 20
Agnes 18
Eliza 16
Isabella 16
Edith 11
Emma 11
Frances 11
Anne 10
Eleanor 10
Emily 10
Catherine 9
Charlotte 8
Maria 8
Rose 8
Ada 6
Esther 6
Fanny 6
Gertrude 6
Louisa 6
Lucy 6
Ruth 6
Betsy 5
Harriet 5
Amelia 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Margret 4
Marian 4
Minnie 4
Christiana 3
Elenor 3
Ethel 3
Francis 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Adelaid 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Lilian 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 151
William 109
Thomas 59
James 51
George 46
Robert 45
Joseph 37
Henry 31
Richard 22
Arthur 17
Charles 14
Edward 13
Alfred 11
Benjamin 9
Harry 9
Samuel 9
Daniel 8
Frank 7
Jonathan 7
Walter 7
Albert 6
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Thos. 6
Herbert 5
Isaac 5
Abraham 4
Ferdinand 4
Nicholas 4
Sam 4
Christopher 3
Fred 3
J. 3
Jno. 3
Robt. 3
Tom 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Harold 2
Jesse 2
Lewis 2
Mark 2
Mathew 2
Michael 2
Myras 2
Oliver 2
Peter 2
Rubin 2

FAQ

Casson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Casson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,783 people were recorded with the Casson surname. That placed it at #2,432 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Casson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,142 in 2016. That gives Casson a modern rank of #3,018.

What does the Casson surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker or seller of boxes, chests, or cases.

What does the Casson map show?

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