NameCensus.

UK surname

Culshaw

A geographical surname derived from a location name containing the Old English elements "cull" (top or summit) and "sceaga" (small wood).

In the 1881 census there were 1,137 people recorded with the Culshaw surname, ranking it #3,519 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,420, ranked #4,296, down from #3,519 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Wigan and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, Wigan and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Culshaw is 1,603 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.9%.

1881 census count

1,137

Ranked #3,519

Modern count

1,420

2016, ranked #4,296

Peak year

1999

1,603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Culshaw had 1,137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,519 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,420 in 2016, ranked #4,296.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,543 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Culshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Culshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Culshaw 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 658 #3,943
1861 historical 670 #4,006
1881 historical 1,137 #3,519
1891 historical 1,235 #3,498
1901 historical 1,361 #3,690
1911 historical 1,543 #3,144
1997 modern 1,525 #3,858
1998 modern 1,558 #3,922
1999 modern 1,603 #3,871
2000 modern 1,602 #3,854
2001 modern 1,552 #3,886
2002 modern 1,577 #3,904
2003 modern 1,518 #3,960
2004 modern 1,510 #3,973
2005 modern 1,502 #3,958
2006 modern 1,464 #4,056
2007 modern 1,496 #4,008
2008 modern 1,501 #4,029
2009 modern 1,517 #4,077
2010 modern 1,542 #4,104
2011 modern 1,492 #4,175
2012 modern 1,420 #4,257
2013 modern 1,439 #4,280
2014 modern 1,449 #4,286
2015 modern 1,430 #4,285
2016 modern 1,420 #4,296

Geography

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Where Culshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Wigan, Preston, Liverpool and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, Wigan and Knowsley. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Preston Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 007 West Lancashire
2 Wigan 009 Wigan
3 West Lancashire 004 West Lancashire
4 West Lancashire 005 West Lancashire
5 Knowsley 012 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Culshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Culshaw

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Culshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Culshaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Culshaw is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Culshaw 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

Culshaw 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 Culshaw 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 Culshaw, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Culshaw

The surname Culshaw has its origins in England, specifically from the county of Lancashire. This surname can be traced back to the medieval period, a time when surnames were becoming increasingly common across Europe. The name is believed to have originated from a location near the village of Croston, which lies within the historic boundaries of this county.

The name Culshaw is derived from the Old English elements "cul," which might be related to "col," meaning coal or dark, and "sceaga," meaning a wood or grove. Therefore, the surname likely described someone who lived near a dark wood or a coal grove. The area of Culcheth, found in Lancashire, bears a similar etymology, suggesting a connection or origin point, although it later evolved to the form known today.

The earliest recorded mentions of the surname Culshaw date back to the 13th century. Records from this period often used different spellings, as standardized spelling was not yet established. Early variations include Culshagh and Colshaw. One of the first documented instances of the name is found in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, where a Robert de Culshagh is mentioned.

In historical records, another notable figure is John Culshaw, who lived during the early 15th century. His name appears in various Lancashire deeds and charters, further establishing the regional prominence of the surname. Similarly, an Alice Culshaw is recorded in the Wills and Inventories of the Chester Consistory Court in 1593, showing the surname's use among both men and women of the period.

Moving into the 17th century, Arthur Culshaw is another individual of note. Baptized in 1625 in Ormskirk, Lancashire, Arthur was part of a family lineage that continued to reside in the region, contributing to local parish records.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the expansion of the surname beyond its Lancashire roots. One prominent individual from this time is William Culshaw, born in 1781, who migrated and became known for his work in Liverpool's burgeoning mercantile community.

Another prominent figure is George Culshaw, a stained glass artist born in 1821, whose work was renowned in various English churches and public buildings throughout the Victorian era. George's contributions to art made the Culshaw name recognized beyond that of common regional occupational listings.

The surname Culshaw, therefore, holds a rich history interwoven with regional and linguistic heritage, featuring prominently in English records from the medieval period to modern history, with notable bearers contributing to local culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Culshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Culshaw 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 1,070 Culshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.16x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,070 8.16x
Yorkshire 29 0.26x
Staffordshire 13 0.35x
Cheshire 11 0.45x
Middlesex 6 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.22x
Durham 1 0.03x
Merionethshire 1 0.49x
Warwickshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scarisbrick in Lancashire leads with 94 Culshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 617.61x.

Place Total Index
Scarisbrick 94 617.61x
Wigan 93 50.74x
Preston 60 17.10x
Ormskirk 58 231.17x
Liverpool 56 7.03x
North Meols 45 35.05x
Lathom 33 208.33x
Skelmersdale 33 150.96x
Standish With Langtree 31 191.95x
Blackburn 30 8.60x
Toxteth Park 30 6.76x
Farington 28 366.97x
Mawdesley 24 681.82x
Shevington 24 400.00x
Great Bolton 23 13.24x
Leyland 21 92.02x
Euxton 20 459.77x
Aughton 16 123.17x
Walton Le Dale 16 45.40x
Wrightington 15 262.24x
Halsall 14 270.27x
Chorley 13 17.67x
Skipton 13 37.72x
Aspull 12 38.90x
Little Bolton 12 7.12x
Kirkdale 11 4.99x
Little Lever 11 65.59x
Maghull 11 202.21x
West Derby 11 2.87x
Kingswinford 10 7.38x
Rufford 10 291.55x
Accrington 9 7.55x
Castleton 9 6.87x
Hindley 9 16.09x
Parbold 9 441.18x
Lea Ashton Ingol 8 91.85x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 6.72x
Charnock Richard 7 270.27x
Croston 7 103.24x
Dalton In Furness 7 13.83x
Litherland 7 25.53x
Over Darwen 7 6.68x
Aighton Bailey 6 94.94x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 6.08x
Great Crosby 6 16.78x
Rainford 6 42.31x
Upholland 6 35.71x
Oldham 5 1.18x
Altrincham 4 9.38x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 1.40x
Broughton In Salford 4 3.34x
Chester St John Baptist 4 9.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 1.92x
Clayton Le Moors 4 15.72x
Everton 4 0.96x
Ince In Makerfield 4 6.56x
Melling 4 132.01x
Prescot 4 16.86x
St Pancras London 4 0.45x
Stansfield 4 9.93x
Wavertree 4 9.53x
Wilpshire 4 377.36x
Ashton In Makerfield 3 8.03x
Downholland 3 165.75x
Fazakerley 3 147.06x
Huyton With Roby 3 19.52x
Leeds 3 0.49x
Newcastle Under Lyme 3 4.54x
Thornton In Fylde 3 10.46x
Withnell 3 37.27x
Bickerstaffe 2 23.31x
Bowland Forest Low 2 173.91x
Burscough 2 100.00x
Cliviger 2 27.10x
Eccleston In Prescot 2 3.04x
Halifax 2 1.24x
Horton In Bradford 2 1.17x
Layton With Warbreck 2 4.16x
Parr 2 4.26x
Wheelton 2 34.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 110
Elizabeth 63
Margaret 61
Ellen 52
Jane 41
Alice 36
Ann 33
Sarah 25
Annie 12
Hannah 10
Catherine 9
Martha 9
Eliza 8
Emma 6
Esther 6
Agnes 5
Anne 5
Betsy 5
Susannah 5
Ada 4
Clara 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Ruth 4
Catharine 3
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Margery 3
Margret 3
Margt. 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Barbara 2
Betty 2
Bridget 2
Ester 2
Frances 2
Teresa 2
Theresa 2
Winifred 2
Blanche 1
Elizlh. 1
Emmily 1
Jennet 1
Jessy 1
Julia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 95
William 71
Thomas 69
James 58
Henry 34
Joseph 32
Richard 16
Peter 13
Robert 13
Charles 12
Edward 12
George 11
Hugh 5
Thurston 5
Alfred 4
Reuben 4
Adam 3
Arthur 3
Nathan 3
Wm. 3
Abel 2
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Isaac 2
Roger 2
Sylvester 2
Thos. 2
Alez. 1
Augustine 1
Benjamin 1
Denis 1
Ellis 1
Ezekiel 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hezekiah 1
Hillard 1
Lewis 1
Luke 1
Margaret 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Oliver 1
Richd. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Culshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Culshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,137 people were recorded with the Culshaw surname. That placed it at #3,519 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Culshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,420 in 2016. That gives Culshaw a modern rank of #4,296.

What does the Culshaw surname mean?

A geographical surname derived from a location name containing the Old English elements "cull" (top or summit) and "sceaga" (small wood).

What does the Culshaw map show?

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