NameCensus.

UK surname

Christmas

An English surname derived from the Middle English phrase "Cristesmæsse," referring to someone born on or associated with Christmas Day.

In the 1881 census there were 1,613 people recorded with the Christmas surname, ranking it #2,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,575, ranked #3,940, down from #2,646 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, London parishes and Alton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire, Rotherham and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Christmas is 2,001 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.4%.

1881 census count

1,613

Ranked #2,646

Modern count

1,575

2016, ranked #3,940

Peak year

1911

2,001 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Christmas had 1,613 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,646 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,575 in 2016, ranked #3,940.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,001 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Christmas surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Christmas surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Christmas 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 1,091 #2,575
1861 historical 985 #2,828
1881 historical 1,613 #2,646
1891 historical 1,521 #2,908
1901 historical 1,919 #2,749
1911 historical 2,001 #2,483
1997 modern 1,652 #3,593
1998 modern 1,709 #3,623
1999 modern 1,716 #3,631
2000 modern 1,706 #3,631
2001 modern 1,651 #3,663
2002 modern 1,671 #3,696
2003 modern 1,606 #3,752
2004 modern 1,586 #3,810
2005 modern 1,553 #3,835
2006 modern 1,573 #3,787
2007 modern 1,582 #3,803
2008 modern 1,582 #3,829
2009 modern 1,616 #3,850
2010 modern 1,629 #3,898
2011 modern 1,595 #3,919
2012 modern 1,585 #3,883
2013 modern 1,614 #3,881
2014 modern 1,619 #3,898
2015 modern 1,595 #3,911
2016 modern 1,575 #3,940

Geography

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Where Christmas' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, London parishes, Alton and Doddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire, Rotherham, North Norfolk and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 Alton Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Doddington Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 002 East Hampshire
2 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
3 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk
4 Rotherham 013 Rotherham
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Christmas

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Christmas

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Christmas 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

Christmas is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Christmas falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Christmas

The surname Christmas is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "Cristes maesse," which translates to "Christ's mass" or "the mass of Christ," referring to the Christian celebration of Christmas. The name was likely adopted by families who lived near churches or places of worship dedicated to the birth of Christ.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Christmas can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus Cristemesse residing in the county of Norfolk.

In the 13th century, records show a John de Cristemasse living in the village of Brinton, Somerset. The use of the preposition "de" before the surname suggests that he may have been from a place called Cristemasse or associated with the Christmas celebration in some way.

During the 14th century, the surname Christmas appears in various spellings, such as Crystmasse, Cristemas, and Cristemassi, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Among notable historical figures with the surname Christmas is Sir Thomas Christmas (1539-1617), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire. He served as the Sheriff of Oxfordshire in 1593 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1603.

Another prominent individual was George Christmas (1566-1643), a Protestant clergyman who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1617 until his death. He was known for his scholarly works and sermons during the reign of King James I.

In the 18th century, William Christmas (1719-1779) was a renowned English clockmaker and watchmaker based in London. His timepieces were highly prized for their craftsmanship and accuracy, and he is regarded as one of the finest horologists of his era.

The surname Christmas also found its way to the American colonies, with records showing a Thomas Christmas (1650-1718) as one of the earliest settlers in Virginia. He established a plantation in Middlesex County and served as a member of the House of Burgesses, the legislative assembly of the Virginia Colony.

Another notable figure was Brigadier General Fleming Christmas (1787-1865), a United States Army officer who served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American War. He was commended for his bravery and leadership during various military campaigns and battles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Christmas families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Christmas 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 358 Christmas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 358 2.27x
Surrey 242 3.15x
Cambridgeshire 201 20.14x
Hampshire 141 4.37x
Sussex 112 4.22x
Norfolk 85 3.51x
Essex 69 2.22x
Kent 69 1.28x
Hertfordshire 52 4.79x
Yorkshire 42 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 25 7.99x
Staffordshire 18 0.34x
Durham 17 0.36x
Glamorgan 17 0.62x
Carmarthenshire 16 2.41x
Shropshire 16 1.18x
Lincolnshire 14 0.56x
Gloucestershire 12 0.39x
Pembrokeshire 12 2.40x
Bedfordshire 10 1.23x
Devon 10 0.30x
Cornwall 9 0.50x
Warwickshire 9 0.23x
Berkshire 7 0.59x
Northamptonshire 7 0.47x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.63x
Suffolk 6 0.31x
Cheshire 5 0.14x
Lancashire 4 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.19x
Somerset 4 0.16x
Dorset 3 0.29x
Cardiganshire 2 0.52x
Leicestershire 2 0.11x
Northumberland 2 0.09x
Oxfordshire 2 0.21x
Royal Navy 2 1.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.32x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. March in Cambridgeshire leads with 46 Christmas' recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.68x.

Place Total Index
March 46 137.68x
Alton 31 127.36x
Bassingbourn 31 211.46x
Brighton 31 5.78x
Selborne 28 426.18x
Islington London 25 1.64x
Steeple Morden 25 470.81x
Bow London 24 11.97x
Clerkenwell London 24 6.45x
Kensington London 24 2.74x
Great Yarmouth 23 11.46x
Shoreditch London 23 3.37x
Chelsea London 22 4.63x
Lambeth 21 1.53x
Newington 21 3.61x
St Pancras London 21 1.66x
Scottow 20 840.34x
Barrington 19 563.80x
Bethnal Green London 19 2.78x
Edmonton 19 14.97x
Stoke 19 52.46x
Wandsworth 18 11.87x
Wolverhampton 18 4.40x
Worplesdon 17 183.78x
Camberwell 16 1.59x
East Worldham 16 1118.88x
Aberdare 14 7.43x
Great Gransden 13 379.01x
Histon 13 248.57x
Stedham 13 445.21x
Tottenham 13 5.18x
Westminster St John 13 6.78x
Cottenham 12 90.50x
St Marylebone London 12 1.43x
Bilsington 11 533.98x
Ludlow St Lawrence 11 40.62x
Acton 10 10.83x
Barkway 10 234.19x
Battersea 10 1.73x
Bexley 10 21.04x
Impington 10 465.12x
Mile End Old Town London 10 2.98x
Southwark St John 10 20.76x
St Albans St Peter 10 27.29x
St Luke London 10 3.96x
Alverstoke 9 7.70x
Crowland 9 56.96x
Farringdon 9 285.71x
Hackney London 9 1.02x
Hartlepool 9 13.51x
Hoyland Nether 9 23.50x
Lewisham 9 3.14x
St George In East London 9 6.07x
Tillington 9 188.28x
West Ham 9 1.31x
Windlesham 9 62.33x
Croydon 8 1.88x
Send Ripley 8 80.00x
St George Hanover Square 8 2.88x
Stanford Le Hope 8 179.37x
West Mersea 8 134.23x
Woodstone 8 161.94x
Bradford 7 1.85x
Bromley London 7 2.02x
Bushey 7 27.08x
Crostwick 7 795.45x
Farnham 7 11.73x
Frimley 7 32.01x
Hartland 7 68.56x
Hastings All Sts 7 27.97x
Leyton 7 13.07x
Limehouse London 7 4.05x
Newick 7 119.86x
Peldon 7 283.40x
Shalford 7 82.35x
Southampton St Mary 7 3.45x
Southcoates 7 8.08x
St Gluvias 7 70.07x
Watford 7 8.31x
Woking 7 15.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Sarah 60
Elizabeth 58
Eliza 33
Ann 32
Jane 31
Alice 26
Emma 26
Emily 24
Annie 22
Fanny 21
Hannah 19
Martha 18
Ellen 15
Louisa 13
Maria 11
Lucy 10
Charlotte 9
Florence 9
Kate 9
Margaret 9
Ada 8
Anne 8
Clara 8
Edith 8
Harriet 8
Caroline 6
Frances 6
Rose 6
Susan 6
Catherine 5
Francis 5
Harriett 5
Lilian 5
Rosa 5
Agnes 4
Lizzie 4
Matilda 4
Ruth 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Esther 3
Flora 3
Henrietta 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Elizth. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 111
John 86
George 58
Charles 50
James 46
Thomas 43
Walter 30
Alfred 25
Henry 23
Arthur 18
Samuel 17
Frederick 16
Joseph 15
Edward 14
Albert 13
Daniel 13
Robert 11
Benjamin 10
Harry 10
David 9
Edwin 9
Ernest 9
Frank 8
Herbert 7
Richard 7
Wm. 7
Eli 5
Francis 4
Fredrick 4
Percy 4
Sydney 4
Abraham 3
Caleb 3
Owen 3
Ralph 3
Sidney 3
Willm. 3
Fred 2
Hy. 2
Isaac 2
Job 2
Joshua 2
Mark 2
Merrington 2
Peter 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2
Wortley 1

FAQ

Christmas surname: questions and answers

How common was the Christmas surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,613 people were recorded with the Christmas surname. That placed it at #2,646 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Christmas surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,575 in 2016. That gives Christmas a modern rank of #3,940.

What does the Christmas surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English phrase "Cristesmæsse," referring to someone born on or associated with Christmas Day.

What does the Christmas map show?

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