NameCensus.

UK surname

Charlson

An English occupational surname derived from the Old English words "ceorl" (freeman) and "sunu" (son).

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Charlson surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 170, ranked #21,801, down from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prescot, Dean and Leigh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Lancaster and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Charlson is 275 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.2%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

1861

275 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Charlson had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 275 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Charlson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Charlson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Charlson 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 192 #10,756
1861 historical 275 #9,082
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 173 #19,935
2000 modern 175 #19,764
2001 modern 176 #19,415
2002 modern 171 #20,177
2003 modern 162 #20,624
2004 modern 158 #21,077
2005 modern 160 #20,899
2006 modern 162 #20,886
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 167 #20,901
2009 modern 163 #21,715
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 167 #21,984
2014 modern 171 #21,812
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Charlsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prescot, Dean, Leigh, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Lancaster and St. Helens. 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 Prescot Lancashire
2 Dean Lancashire
3 Leigh Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 023 Wigan
2 Lancaster 016 Lancaster
3 Wigan 017 Wigan
4 Wigan 022 Wigan
5 St. Helens 010 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Charlson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Charlson

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Charlson is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Charlson is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Charlson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Charlson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Charlson

The surname Charlson originates from England, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ceorl" and "sunu," which mean "freeman" and "son," respectively. This combination suggests that the name initially referred to the son of a freeman or a person of free status.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Charlson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Wiltshire in 1273, where it appears as "Charlesone." This document lists individuals who held land and property in the county during that time period.

Another notable reference to the Charlson name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which lists a person named "John Charlesone" as a taxpayer in the area. This suggests that the name had already become established in different parts of England by the 14th century.

The Charlson surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Charlton, which is derived from the Old English words "ceorl" and "tun," meaning "freeman's farmstead." Places like Charlton in Kent, Charlton in Oxfordshire, and Charlton in Somerset may have influenced the development of the Charlson surname in those regions.

One notable figure in history with the Charlson surname was John Charlson (c. 1544-1593), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Wiltshire. He wrote several religious works, including a treatise on Christian faith and practice.

Another prominent individual was Sir Job Charlton (1614-1692), an English judge and politician who served as the Chief Justice of Chester and the Speaker of the House of Commons. Despite the slight spelling variation, his name is believed to be related to the Charlson surname.

In the literary world, James Charlson (1807-1858) was a Scottish poet and author known for his works on Scottish history and culture. He published several collections of poetry and was recognized for his contributions to the preservation of Scottish literature.

The Charlson surname also has connections to the American Revolutionary War, with John Charlson (1744-1827) serving as a colonel in the Continental Army during the conflict. He fought in several battles, including the Battle of Monmouth, and was commended for his bravery and leadership.

Lastly, in the realm of science, Carl Charlson (1885-1968) was a Swedish-American physicist and inventor. He is credited with developing the first practical method for producing synthetic diamonds, which had significant implications for various industries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Charlson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Charlson 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 102 Charlsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 102 7.11x
Durham 10 2.78x
Lanarkshire 5 1.28x
Surrey 2 0.34x
Yorkshire 2 0.17x
Cornwall 1 0.73x
Devon 1 0.40x
Royal Navy 1 6.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Atherton in Lancashire leads with 69 Charlsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1321.84x.

Place Total Index
Atherton 69 1321.84x
Bolam 10 20000.00x
Wigan 7 34.90x
Barony 5 5.05x
Chadderton 5 71.23x
Ashton In Makerfield 4 97.80x
Farnworth 3 34.88x
Salford 3 7.11x
Bury 2 12.20x
Middlesbrough 2 12.81x
Oldham 2 4.32x
Pennington In Leigh 2 72.73x
Samlesbury 2 625.00x
Westleigh 2 61.35x
East Stonehouse 1 20.16x
Falmouth 1 20.62x
Halliwell 1 19.16x
Lambeth 1 0.95x
Richmond 1 12.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 6
Sarah 5
Martha 4
Alice 2
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Margaret 2
Abigail 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz.A. 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Florella 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Jemima 1
Kizia 1
Lydia 1
Marth 1
Melinda 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
James 8
John 8
William 7
Richard 4
Charles 3
Joseph 3
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Ainsworth 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Jas. 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Charlson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Charlson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Charlson surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Charlson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Charlson a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Charlson surname mean?

An English occupational surname derived from the Old English words "ceorl" (freeman) and "sunu" (son).

What does the Charlson map show?

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