NameCensus.

UK surname

Christopherson

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Christopher, meaning "son of Christopher" or "descendant of Christopher."

In the 1881 census there were 210 people recorded with the Christopherson surname, ranking it #12,440 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #12,440 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Selkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Allerdale and Stockbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Christopherson is 335 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.2%.

1881 census count

210

Ranked #12,440

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

2010

335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Christopherson had 210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,440 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Christopherson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Christopherson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Christopherson 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 210 #12,440
1891 historical 210 #14,412
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 306 #13,353
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 308 #13,722
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 298 #13,784
2002 modern 303 #13,909
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 291 #14,138
2005 modern 293 #14,030
2006 modern 293 #14,116
2007 modern 299 #14,077
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 335 #13,645
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 321 #14,073
2014 modern 320 #14,181
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Christophersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Selkirk, Windermere and Colton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Allerdale, Stockbridge, Teignbridge and Liverpool. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Selkirk Selkirk
4 Windermere Westmorland
5 Colton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 001 Copeland
2 Allerdale 007 Allerdale
3 Stockbridge City of Edinburgh
4 Teignbridge 015 Teignbridge
5 Liverpool 036 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Christopherson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Christopherson

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Christopherson is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Christopherson is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Christopherson 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 Christopherson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Christopherson

The surname Christopherson originated in England and Scotland during the late medieval period, typically between the 12th and 16th centuries. It is a patronymic surname derived from the given name Christopher, which means "bearer of Christ" in Greek. The name was likely adopted by the children or descendants of men named Christopher.

The earliest known record of the surname Christopherson dates back to the late 13th century. One notable example is John Christopherson, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273. The name also appeared in various spellings, such as Cristoferson and Christoferesone, in medieval records from different regions of England and Scotland.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Christopherson was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, including Yorkshire and Northumberland. It was also found in Scottish regions like the Borders and Lothian. Some notable bearers of the name from this period include John Christopherson (c. 1500-1558), an English bishop and theologian who served as Bishop of Chichester, and Robert Christopherson (fl. 1584), a Scottish poet and writer.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Christopherson appeared in various forms in parish registers and other records across England and Scotland. One notable figure was John Christopherson (1666-1737), an English clergyman and academic who served as Master of Trinity College, Cambridge.

As the surname spread throughout the British Isles, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. For example, William Christopherson (c. 1790-1860) was a British explorer and surveyor who worked in South Africa and Australia in the early 19th century.

Another notable bearer of the name was William Christopherson (1851-1943), an American businessman and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Idaho from 1919 to 1923. Despite its relatively rare occurrence, the surname Christopherson has left its mark on history across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Christopherson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Christopherson 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 77 Christophersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.02x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 77 3.02x
Cumberland 31 16.78x
Denbighshire 20 24.67x
Suffolk 19 7.27x
Kent 16 2.19x
Cheshire 13 2.74x
Westmorland 12 25.45x
Northumberland 10 3.13x
Selkirkshire 4 20.60x
Sussex 4 1.11x
Shropshire 3 1.62x
Middlesex 2 0.09x
Rutland 2 12.69x
Warwickshire 2 0.37x
Bedfordshire 1 0.90x
Essex 1 0.24x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Midlothian 1 0.35x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanbedr in Denbighshire leads with 20 Christophersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Llanbedr 20 3333.33x
Charlton Next Woolwich 13 170.16x
Ipswich St Margaret 12 135.29x
Tranmere 12 68.93x
Applethwaite 11 780.14x
Blindbothel 10 16666.67x
Egton Cum Newland 10 1351.35x
Toxteth Park 10 11.60x
Colton 8 601.50x
Elswick 8 31.40x
Blackburn 7 10.33x
Barrow In Furness 6 17.33x
Dalton In Furness 6 61.04x
Preston Quarter 6 115.83x
Upper Allithwaite 6 4615.38x
Claife 5 1219.51x
Ipswich St Peter 5 142.05x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 149.81x
Kirkby Ireleth 4 314.96x
Whinfell 4 4444.44x
Witton 4 125.00x
Egremont 3 68.03x
Keswick 3 127.12x
Lewisham 3 7.68x
Selkirk 3 54.84x
Ulverston 3 40.43x
Whitchurch 3 83.33x
Whitehaven 3 30.46x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 2 82.30x
Knowle 2 180.18x
North Shields 2 31.40x
Uppingham 2 106.38x
Bedford St Cuthbert 1 101.01x
Castleton 1 3.93x
Clayton Le Moors 1 20.24x
Felstead 1 68.97x
Galashiels 1 13.93x
Garstang 1 172.41x
Govan 1 0.58x
Hornsey 1 3.68x
Kensington London 1 0.84x
Liverpool 1 0.65x
Marlborough 1 312.50x
Overpool 1 1666.67x
Papcastle 1 196.08x
Preston Patrick 1 250.00x
South Leith 1 3.09x
St Bees 1 117.65x
Torver 1 666.67x
Walton On Hill 1 7.25x
West Broughton 1 116.28x
Yealand Redmayne 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 10
Margaret 7
Alice 4
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Eva 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Rose 2
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Herietta 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Louiza 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Meza 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1
Olive 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
Thomas 8
Joseph 7
William 6
James 5
Brian 4
Myles 4
George 3
Henry 3
Arthur 2
August 2
Charles 2
Clifford 2
Derman 2
Edwd. 2
Harry 2
Robert 2
Arch. 1
Carl 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Cornell 1
Douglas 1
Dudley 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eric 1
G. 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Kenneth 1
Malcolm 1
Miles 1
Nelson 1
Nils 1
Oscar 1
Osmond 1
Percy 1
Roger 1
Rondean 1
Ross 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Wilfrid 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Christopherson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Christopherson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 210 people were recorded with the Christopherson surname. That placed it at #12,440 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Christopherson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Christopherson a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Christopherson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Christopher, meaning "son of Christopher" or "descendant of Christopher."

What does the Christopherson map show?

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