NameCensus.

UK surname

Catherwood

From the English place name, a woodland clearing filled with catkins.

In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Catherwood surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #25,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Chesterfield and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catherwood is 132 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.6%.

1881 census count

56

Ranked #25,733

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1999

132 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catherwood had 56 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Catherwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catherwood surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catherwood 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 56 #25,733
1891 historical 70 #28,073
1901 historical 93 #23,689
1911 historical 83 #24,531
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 132 #23,602
2000 modern 127 #24,121
2001 modern 123 #24,242
2002 modern 120 #25,110
2003 modern 119 #25,026
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 122 #26,220
2010 modern 119 #27,250
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 121 #26,829
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Catherwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Chesterfield, Craven and Hounslow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 016 Gwynedd
2 Chesterfield 013 Chesterfield
3 Chesterfield 003 Chesterfield
4 Craven 003 Craven
5 Hounslow 003 Hounslow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catherwood

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catherwood

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Catherwood 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

Catherwood 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

Catherwood falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Catherwood

The surname Catherwood has its origins in England, tracing back to the early medieval period, around the 11th or 12th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Catherwood or Catterwood, likely referring to a wooded area frequented by wildcats or other felines.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated 1273, which mentions a William de Catherwood. This suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions of England by the 13th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Catterwood, Catherwode, and Catherwood appearing in various records. This was a common occurrence with surnames during that period, as spelling conventions were not yet standardized.

In the late 16th century, a notable figure named John Catherwood (1545-1610) served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. He was a landowner and played a significant role in local affairs during the Elizabethan era.

Another prominent individual bearing this surname was Sir Thomas Catherwood (1628-1699), who was a successful merchant and politician in London. He served as an alderman and was elected as the Lord Mayor of London in 1689.

During the 18th century, a family of Catherwoods held significant landholdings in the county of Yorkshire. One member, Robert Catherwood (1710-1778), was a wealthy landowner and industrialist who helped establish several mills and factories in the region.

In the 19th century, the name gained international recognition through the work of Frederick Catherwood (1799-1854), a British artist and explorer. He is best known for his detailed illustrations and documentation of ancient Mayan ruins in Central America, which he explored alongside John Lloyd Stephens.

Another notable figure from this period was Sir George Catherwood (1832-1908), a British military officer and colonial administrator. He served as the Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1886 to 1892 and played a crucial role in the development of the islands' infrastructure and governance.

Throughout its history, the Catherwood surname has been present in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Bedfordshire, Warwickshire, Yorkshire, and London. While the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval period, it has continued to be carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catherwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catherwood 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 25 Catherwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 4.42x
Lanarkshire 12 6.56x
Surrey 5 1.81x
Staffordshire 4 2.10x
Sussex 3 3.15x
Yorkshire 3 0.54x
Lancashire 2 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 1 2.79x
Channel Islands 1 5.97x
Royal Navy 1 14.84x
Warwickshire 1 0.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 7 Catherwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.47x.

Place Total Index
Govan 7 15.47x
Hornsey 7 97.90x
Kensington London 5 15.90x
Dalziel 4 203.05x
Hackney London 4 12.61x
Lichfield St Michael 4 666.67x
St Luke London 4 44.10x
Lambeth 3 6.08x
Rotherham 3 94.94x
Hampstead London 2 22.70x
Hastings St Mary 2 84.39x
Liverpool 2 4.91x
Newington 2 9.57x
Aston 1 2.55x
Barony 1 2.16x
Bethnal Green London 1 4.07x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 142.86x
Islington London 1 1.82x
Royal Navy 1 17.36x
Shoreditch London 1 4.08x
St Helier 1 18.32x
St Marythe Less 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 3
William 3
George 2
Joseph 2
Andrew 1
Banner 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
James 1
N.W. 1
Robert 1
Thos.Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1
Wm.J. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Catherwood households.

FAQ

Catherwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catherwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Catherwood surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catherwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Catherwood a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Catherwood surname mean?

From the English place name, a woodland clearing filled with catkins.

What does the Catherwood map show?

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