NameCensus.

UK surname

Cushion

A surname referring to a maker or seller of cushions or pillows.

In the 1881 census there were 393 people recorded with the Cushion surname, ranking it #8,068 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 698, ranked #7,719, up from #8,068 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, South Norfolk and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cushion is 786 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.6%.

1881 census count

393

Ranked #8,068

Modern count

698

2016, ranked #7,719

Peak year

1999

786 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cushion had 393 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,068 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016, ranked #7,719.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 582 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cushion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cushion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cushion 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 242 #9,001
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 393 #8,068
1891 historical 447 #8,115
1901 historical 564 #7,397
1911 historical 582 #6,995
1997 modern 755 #6,853
1998 modern 777 #6,920
1999 modern 786 #6,901
2000 modern 758 #7,055
2001 modern 735 #7,086
2002 modern 761 #7,035
2003 modern 745 #7,058
2004 modern 728 #7,174
2005 modern 704 #7,310
2006 modern 720 #7,201
2007 modern 718 #7,283
2008 modern 735 #7,219
2009 modern 745 #7,289
2010 modern 745 #7,415
2011 modern 720 #7,530
2012 modern 709 #7,534
2013 modern 712 #7,632
2014 modern 718 #7,630
2015 modern 713 #7,614
2016 modern 698 #7,719

Geography

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Where Cushions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, South Norfolk, Broadland and Breckland. 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 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Saxlingham Thorpe, Saxlingham Nethergate Norfolk
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
2 South Norfolk 009 South Norfolk
3 Broadland 003 Broadland
4 Breckland 006 Breckland
5 North Norfolk 012 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cushion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cushion

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Cushion is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cushion 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cushion

The surname "CUSHION" is believed to have originated in England, likely during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Old English word "cussian," meaning "to cushion" or "to pad." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who worked as a cushion maker or upholsterer.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated around 1273, which mentions a person named "William le Cusshener." This spelling variation provides insight into the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Cusshon family was documented in the county of Warwickshire. A notable member of this family was John Cusshon, who served as the Sheriff of Warwickshire in 1390.

The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dated 1524, which lists a "Robert Cushyon" among the residents of the county.

During the 16th century, the surname was sometimes associated with certain place names, such as Cushion Green in Hertfordshire and Cushion Farm in Oxfordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in those areas.

A notable figure bearing the name "CUSHION" was Sir Robert Cushion (1580-1658), a member of Parliament for the borough of Gatton in Surrey during the reign of King Charles I.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Cushion (1670-1741), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Lewes in East Sussex from 1728 until his death.

In the 18th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Oxford University Matriculation Rolls, which listed a "John Cushion" from Oxfordshire in 1726.

The name also gained recognition through the works of authors such as William Cushion (1721-1788), a poet and playwright from Kent, and George Cushion (1765-1842), a writer and historian from Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the surname "CUSHION" has maintained a presence in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Sussex, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire, where it is believed to have originated and flourished.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cushion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cushion 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 120 Cushions recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 120 3.13x
Norfolk 117 19.85x
Surrey 77 4.12x
Kent 18 1.38x
Lancashire 17 0.37x
Glamorgan 10 1.50x
Suffolk 9 1.93x
Northumberland 8 1.40x
Yorkshire 7 0.18x
Lincolnshire 4 0.65x
Hertfordshire 2 0.76x
Derbyshire 1 0.17x
Essex 1 0.13x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 32 Cushions recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.22x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 32 19.22x
Bermondsey 27 23.66x
Hackney London 12 5.58x
Heigham 11 34.77x
St Marylebone London 10 4.89x
Tonbridge 10 21.20x
Shoreditch London 9 5.42x
Southrepps 9 789.47x
St George Martyr London 9 115.98x
Streatham 9 31.65x
Gelligaer 8 52.49x
Newington 8 5.65x
St George Bloomsbury 8 36.38x
Tasburgh 8 1355.93x
Camberwell 7 2.86x
Chiswick 7 33.41x
East Ruston 7 795.45x
Kensington London 7 3.28x
Longbenton 7 28.97x
Marsham 7 958.90x
Norwich St Saviour 7 338.16x
Shottesham St Mary 7 1707.32x
Wandsworth 7 18.97x
Great Yarmouth 6 12.29x
Loddon 6 394.74x
Mile End Old Town London 6 7.35x
Norwich St Stephen 6 110.91x
St Luke London 6 9.76x
Stradbroke 6 379.75x
Westminster St John 6 12.85x
Bacton 5 819.67x
Castleton 5 11.01x
North Pickenham 5 1515.15x
Norwich St Lawrence 5 617.28x
Croydon 4 3.86x
Lenham 4 153.26x
Manchester 4 1.96x
Northolme 4 1538.46x
Southwark St Saviour 4 20.30x
Ardwick 3 7.31x
Ecclesfield 3 10.77x
Liverpool 3 1.09x
Shottesham All Sts 3 600.00x
Southwark Christchurch 3 16.70x
Spitalfields London 3 10.41x
Acle 2 166.67x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.98x
Eye 2 66.23x
Honing 2 476.19x
Honingham 2 444.44x
Lambeth 2 0.60x
Lewisham 2 2.87x
Martham 2 138.89x
North Walsham 2 47.06x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 2 52.22x
Rotherhithe 2 4.22x
Scoulton 2 465.12x
Southwark St John 2 17.06x
Watford 2 9.76x
Ystradyfodwg 2 3.42x
Acton 1 4.45x
Barking 1 4.52x
Battersea 1 0.71x
Caterham 1 12.11x
Chadderton 1 4.50x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.11x
Diss 1 19.80x
East Raynham 1 526.32x
Eston 1 12.09x
Exning 1 42.37x
Gimingham 1 277.78x
Glossop Dale 1 3.56x
Hampstead London 1 1.68x
Hempnall 1 86.21x
Holy Trinity 1 1.09x
Horsham St Faith 1 102.04x
Leeds 1 0.47x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.38x
Openshaw 1 4.69x
Stalham 1 88.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 25
Robert 13
Thomas 12
Edward 11
George 11
Henry 8
James 8
Walter 7
Charles 6
Patrick 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Joseph 4
Michael 4
Samuel 4
Benjaman 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Daniel 1
Denis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jeffrey 1
Jno. 1
Malvern 1
Martin 1
Nathanial 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sherwood 1
Sophia 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cushion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cushion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 393 people were recorded with the Cushion surname. That placed it at #8,068 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cushion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 698 in 2016. That gives Cushion a modern rank of #7,719.

What does the Cushion surname mean?

A surname referring to a maker or seller of cushions or pillows.

What does the Cushion map show?

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