NameCensus.

UK surname

Cawthorn

A surname of English origin possibly meaning a hawthorn tree enclosure or a residential area near hawthorn trees.

In the 1881 census there were 563 people recorded with the Cawthorn surname, ranking it #6,155 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 486, ranked #10,189, down from #6,155 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wigston, Magna and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cawthorn is 643 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.7%.

1881 census count

563

Ranked #6,155

Modern count

486

2016, ranked #10,189

Peak year

1911

643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cawthorn had 563 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,155 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016, ranked #10,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 643 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cawthorn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cawthorn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cawthorn 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 483 #5,157
1861 historical 458 #5,668
1881 historical 563 #6,155
1891 historical 553 #6,848
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 643 #6,497
1997 modern 495 #9,370
1998 modern 514 #9,383
1999 modern 518 #9,410
2000 modern 510 #9,485
2001 modern 488 #9,645
2002 modern 512 #9,470
2003 modern 502 #9,460
2004 modern 512 #9,352
2005 modern 483 #9,676
2006 modern 482 #9,737
2007 modern 494 #9,654
2008 modern 476 #10,012
2009 modern 501 #9,843
2010 modern 482 #10,319
2011 modern 483 #10,215
2012 modern 485 #10,089
2013 modern 494 #10,104
2014 modern 493 #10,191
2015 modern 486 #10,216
2016 modern 486 #10,189

Geography

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Where Cawthorns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wigston, Magna, Ryton, Nottingham St Mary and Pontefract. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Northumberland, Kingston upon Hull and South Holland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Wigston, Magna Leicestershire
3 Ryton Durham
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Northumberland 039 Northumberland
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Kingston upon Hull 017 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 South Holland 008 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cawthorn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cawthorn

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

Cawthorn is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cawthorn 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 Cawthorn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cawthorn

The surname CAWTHORN has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational surname, derived from one of several places bearing a similar name, such as Cawthorn in Yorkshire or Cawthorne in Lancashire. These place names are thought to have their roots in Old English, with "calu" meaning "bare" or "bald" and "thorn" referring to a thorn bush or thorny place.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name CAWTHORN can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire, dating back to 1273. This historic document, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and customs, mentions a John de Calthorn, suggesting the name's early presence in the region.

By the 14th century, variations in the spelling of the name began to appear, including Calthorn, Cawthorne, and Cawthron. This was a common occurrence in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions and the influence of local dialects.

Among the notable individuals bearing the CAWTHORN surname throughout history is Sir William Cawthorne (c. 1535-1615), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1624. His family's connection to the city can be traced back to the late 15th century, when they were prominent members of the Worshipful Company of Mercers.

Another individual of note is James Cawthorn (1719-1761), an English bibliographer and typographer. He is renowned for his work on the publication of several notable works, including the first edition of Alexander Pope's translation of Homer's Iliad.

In the realm of literature, Joseph Cawthorn (1770-1851) was a distinguished English poet and novelist. His works, which included the novel "The Travels of Automathes" and various collections of poetry, were well-received during his lifetime.

The name CAWTHORN has also been associated with places of historical significance. For example, Cawthorn Camp, a Roman marching camp located near the village of Cawthorne in South Yorkshire, was an important military site during the Roman occupation of Britain.

Throughout the centuries, the CAWTHORN surname has maintained a presence in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it originated. While its significance may have waxed and waned over time, it remains a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames, reflecting the country's diverse linguistic and cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cawthorn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cawthorn 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. Yorkshire leads with 181 Cawthorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 181 3.32x
Durham 99 6.05x
Nottinghamshire 48 6.47x
Cambridgeshire 42 12.05x
Leicestershire 40 6.56x
Norfolk 40 4.73x
Middlesex 19 0.35x
Derbyshire 12 1.39x
Lincolnshire 12 1.36x
Surrey 12 0.45x
Devon 7 0.61x
Dorset 6 1.66x
Monmouthshire 6 1.51x
Staffordshire 6 0.32x
Gloucestershire 5 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.20x
Kent 4 0.21x
Lancashire 4 0.06x
Sussex 4 0.43x
Warwickshire 4 0.29x
Northumberland 3 0.37x
Fife 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 2 0.53x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.68x
Renfrewshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigston Magna in Leicestershire leads with 25 Cawthorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 309.02x.

Place Total Index
Wigston Magna 25 309.02x
Knottingley 24 250.52x
Medomsley 19 249.02x
Arnold 16 147.87x
Sheffield 15 8.64x
Soothill 15 76.18x
Chatteris 14 157.48x
Holy Trinity 13 9.91x
Nottingham St Mary 13 6.78x
Collierley 11 150.89x
Coston 10 4000.00x
Holmside 10 248.14x
Marske In Guisbrough 10 103.31x
Pontefract 10 85.18x
Upperthong 10 215.52x
Wisbech St Peter 10 57.24x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 8.12x
Upwell 9 228.43x
Chopwell 8 263.16x
Ford 8 163.27x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 11.29x
Kyo 8 103.90x
Little Eaton 8 449.44x
Snenton 8 27.46x
Sutton 8 128.82x
Terrington St Clement 8 209.42x
Tilney All Sts 8 747.66x
Glass Houghton 7 353.54x
Harpley 7 875.00x
Hendon 7 35.37x
Lambeth 7 1.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 7.93x
Southcoates 7 23.13x
St Andrewthe Less 7 17.58x
Whickham 7 46.48x
Bowling 6 11.11x
East Raynham 6 2222.22x
Harborne 6 10.08x
Poole St James 6 44.22x
Scorton 6 779.22x
West Ardsley 6 91.46x
Batley 5 9.65x
Gateshead 5 4.08x
Hackney London 5 1.62x
Marshfield 5 173.61x
Parson Drove 5 359.71x
Upwell 5 196.08x
Amersham 4 84.75x
Aston 4 1.05x
Basford 4 11.70x
Goole 4 43.76x
Greenwich 4 4.57x
Hasland 4 45.61x
Lamesley 4 45.40x
Melton Mowbray 4 36.46x
Pinchbeck 4 70.92x
St Woollos 4 9.01x
Wakefield 4 9.56x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 17.30x
Featherstone 3 49.02x
Hook 3 25.02x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.80x
Sutton In Ashfield 3 18.65x
Wandsworth 3 5.66x
Brighton 2 1.07x
Clifton 2 40.82x
East Thickley 2 60.24x
Gildersome 2 30.53x
Handsworth 2 13.88x
Haswell 2 17.05x
Hove 2 4.91x
Kinghorn 2 28.94x
Llanwenarth Ultra 2 68.97x
Nether Hallam 2 2.71x
Ruddington 2 40.24x
Spittlegate 2 16.43x
Stevenage 2 34.01x
Stoke Newington London 2 4.67x
Welby 2 273.97x
Yafforth 2 555.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Sarah 27
Ann 23
Elizabeth 21
Hannah 16
Annie 13
Jane 13
Alice 8
Lucy 8
Emma 7
Harriet 7
Ellen 6
Frances 5
Margaret 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Eleanor 4
Eliza 4
Harriett 4
Isabella 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Clara 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Rebecca 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Blanch 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Elloner 1
Emilia 1
Emley 1
Emly 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Hilda 1
Honora 1
Janet 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 33
George 21
Thomas 18
James 16
Charles 13
Joseph 12
Edward 7
Walter 7
Samuel 6
Fred 5
Robert 5
Andrew 4
Henry 4
Mark 4
Tom 4
Benjamin 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
I. 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Percy 2
Alfred 1
Anne 1
Charley 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ezra 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Herbert 1
Maria 1
Michael 1
Micheal 1
Orace 1
Phillip 1
Ralph 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Selby 1
Vencion 1
Whittle 1

FAQ

Cawthorn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cawthorn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 563 people were recorded with the Cawthorn surname. That placed it at #6,155 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cawthorn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 486 in 2016. That gives Cawthorn a modern rank of #10,189.

What does the Cawthorn surname mean?

A surname of English origin possibly meaning a hawthorn tree enclosure or a residential area near hawthorn trees.

What does the Cawthorn map show?

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