NameCensus.

UK surname

Cawthorne

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a thorny hawthorn bush or caw thorn.

In the 1881 census there were 826 people recorded with the Cawthorne surname, ranking it #4,553 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,529, ranked #4,051, up from #4,553 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Pontefract. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, North Devon and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cawthorne is 1,571 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.1%.

1881 census count

826

Ranked #4,553

Modern count

1,529

2016, ranked #4,051

Peak year

2000

1,571 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cawthorne had 826 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,553 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,529 in 2016, ranked #4,051.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,325 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cawthorne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cawthorne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cawthorne 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 349 #6,747
1861 historical 493 #5,294
1881 historical 826 #4,553
1891 historical 1,061 #3,958
1901 historical 1,173 #4,166
1911 historical 1,325 #3,606
1997 modern 1,510 #3,880
1998 modern 1,544 #3,951
1999 modern 1,563 #3,940
2000 modern 1,571 #3,909
2001 modern 1,524 #3,932
2002 modern 1,546 #3,974
2003 modern 1,495 #4,012
2004 modern 1,504 #3,985
2005 modern 1,478 #4,011
2006 modern 1,487 #3,985
2007 modern 1,503 #3,993
2008 modern 1,519 #3,973
2009 modern 1,552 #3,990
2010 modern 1,557 #4,063
2011 modern 1,539 #4,057
2012 modern 1,517 #4,044
2013 modern 1,547 #4,036
2014 modern 1,555 #4,036
2015 modern 1,529 #4,067
2016 modern 1,529 #4,051

Geography

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Where Cawthornes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Pontefract, Wakefield and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, North Devon, North East Derbyshire and Sheffield. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
2 North Devon 005 North Devon
3 North East Derbyshire 001 North East Derbyshire
4 Barnsley 004 Barnsley
5 Sheffield 076 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cawthorne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cawthorne

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

Cawthorne is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cawthorne falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cawthorne

The surname Cawthorne is of English origin, derived from a town in Yorkshire, England. The name is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century, with its earliest known spelling recorded as "Calthorne" in the Domesday Book of 1086.

Cawthorne is a locational surname, derived from the Old English words "calu" meaning "bare" or "bald," and "þorn" meaning "thorn bush." This suggests that the name may have referred to a bare or barren area covered with thorn bushes.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William de Cawthorne, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195. Another early reference can be found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1246, which mentions a Robert de Cawthorne.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a John de Cawthorne is listed. This document provides evidence of the name's continued presence in the region during this period.

During the 16th century, the name Cawthorne was prominent in Yorkshire, with several individuals bearing the surname holding positions of importance. One notable figure was Sir William Cawthorne (1506-1559), a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Mary I.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Cawthorne (1630-1677), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Wigan in Lancashire. He is known for his work "The Choice of Church-Governors," published in 1677.

In the 18th century, John Cawthorne (1743-1807) was a noted English poet and playwright, best known for his satirical works and poems. He was born in Wigan and spent most of his life in the north of England.

The 19th century saw the birth of another notable figure, James Cawthorne (1834-1908), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Leeds Corn Exchange and the Wakefield Cathedral.

Throughout its history, the surname Cawthorne has maintained a strong presence in the Yorkshire region of England, with many bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including politics, religion, literature, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cawthorne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cawthorne 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 445 Cawthornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.60x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 445 5.60x
Durham 63 2.64x
Nottinghamshire 57 5.27x
Lincolnshire 38 2.96x
Lancashire 37 0.39x
Middlesex 32 0.40x
Norfolk 32 2.60x
Surrey 27 0.69x
Cambridgeshire 13 2.56x
Derbyshire 13 1.04x
Kent 13 0.48x
Essex 9 0.57x
Northumberland 8 0.67x
Leicestershire 7 0.79x
Warwickshire 7 0.35x
Renfrewshire 5 0.80x
Gloucestershire 3 0.19x
Hertfordshire 3 0.54x
Northamptonshire 2 0.27x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Suffolk 2 0.20x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Shropshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 39 Cawthornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.42x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 39 15.42x
Barnsley 33 40.26x
Knottingley 30 214.75x
Nottingham St Mary 30 10.73x
Medomsley 25 224.62x
Handsworth 22 104.71x
Brightside Bierlow 20 12.83x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 18 24.32x
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 11.14x
Barugh 15 223.55x
Hunslet 12 9.69x
Sutton In Ashfield 12 51.17x
Camberwell 11 2.15x
Nether Hallam 10 9.30x
Wakefield 10 16.39x
Brinsworth 9 244.57x
Clitheroe 9 32.14x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 24.32x
Littleport 9 92.78x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 31.71x
Salford 9 3.22x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 27.72x
Cadeby 8 1066.67x
Cornforth 8 113.96x
Croydon 8 3.69x
Goole 8 60.11x
Great Grimsby 8 9.83x
Hampstead London 8 6.41x
Hook 8 45.77x
Kimberworth 8 18.14x
Pudsey 8 18.84x
Rawmarsh 8 28.50x
Snenton 8 18.84x
South Milford 8 275.86x
Tanshelf 8 125.98x
Walthamstow 8 14.04x
West Derby 8 2.87x
Barton 7 496.45x
Epworth 7 117.06x
Holy Trinity 7 3.66x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 7 198.30x
Nuneaton 7 29.88x
Pontefract 7 40.89x
Amcotts 6 550.46x
Castle Acre 6 163.93x
Coxlodge 6 66.15x
Hulme 6 3.02x
Leicester St Margaret 6 2.77x
Normanby In 6 28.25x
Stockton On Tees 6 5.22x
Wath On Dearne 6 37.85x
Batley 5 6.62x
Castleford 5 17.28x
Derby St Werburgh 5 6.90x
Greenwich 5 3.92x
Heeley 5 20.70x
St George Hanover Square 5 3.54x
Stanhope 5 20.30x
Swaffham 5 49.85x
West Greenock 5 4.48x
Beswick 4 588.24x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.15x
Doncaster 4 6.89x
Greasbrough 4 38.13x
Helpringham 4 155.04x
Hoyland Nether 4 20.52x
Messingham 4 128.62x
Morton 4 165.29x
Sculcoates 4 3.18x
Shoreditch London 4 1.15x
Woolwich 4 3.96x
Worsbrough 4 17.18x
Cleckheaton 3 10.25x
Leeds 3 0.67x
Manchester 3 0.70x
Penge 3 5.86x
Southcoates 3 6.80x
Sykehouse 3 267.86x
Tanfield 3 10.57x
Wombwell 3 12.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 39
Sarah 28
Ann 20
Eliza 18
Jane 16
Annie 15
Ellen 15
Emma 11
Martha 11
Hannah 10
Alice 9
Emily 9
Margaret 9
Charlotte 8
Ada 7
Florence 7
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Edith 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Isabella 4
Susan 4
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Bertha 2
Elizebath 2
Elizth. 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lavinia 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Blanche 1
Cecelia 1
Elizath.J. 1
Elizebeth 1
Harrett 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 50
George 29
Joseph 29
Thomas 20
Charles 19
James 18
Walter 13
Albert 10
Henry 10
Robert 10
Samuel 9
Alfred 8
Frederick 8
Arthur 7
David 6
Fred 6
Herbert 5
Nicholas 5
Richard 5
Harry 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Claude 2
Edward 2
Elijah 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Jno. 2
Sam 2
Spencer 2
Whittle 2
Bentley 1
Cornelius 1
E.S. 1
Emil 1
Ernest 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Levi 1
Luther 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Nicolas 1

FAQ

Cawthorne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cawthorne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 826 people were recorded with the Cawthorne surname. That placed it at #4,553 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cawthorne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,529 in 2016. That gives Cawthorne a modern rank of #4,051.

What does the Cawthorne surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a thorny hawthorn bush or caw thorn.

What does the Cawthorne map show?

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