NameCensus.

UK surname

Cushway

An English surname denoting a maker or seller of cushions.

In the 1881 census there were 133 people recorded with the Cushway surname, ranking it #16,676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, down from #16,676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Waltham Forest and Epping Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cushway is 198 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.1%.

1881 census count

133

Ranked #16,676

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

1901

198 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cushway had 133 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Cushway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cushway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cushway 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 86 #22,810
1881 historical 133 #16,676
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 198 #15,213
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 175 #19,798
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 182 #19,039
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 174 #20,166
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 158 #22,168
2010 modern 169 #21,652
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 172 #21,649
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Cushways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, St John Hackney and St Luke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Waltham Forest, Epping Forest and Tower Hamlets. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 St Luke London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 001 Aylesbury Vale
2 Waltham Forest 007 Waltham Forest
3 Waltham Forest 004 Waltham Forest
4 Epping Forest 012 Epping Forest
5 Tower Hamlets 002 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cushway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cushway

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Cushway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Cushway 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Cushway is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cushway 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

Cushway falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cushway

The surname CUSHWAY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "cusce," which referred to a small dwelling or cottage. This suggests that the name may have been initially borne by someone who lived in such a modest residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1203, where a certain Robert Cusseway is mentioned. This spelling variation, along with others like Cussheway and Cusheweye, highlights the evolution of the name over time.

During the 13th century, the name seems to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Historical records from this period, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, list individuals bearing the surname, often accompanied by the place of residence, such as William de Cusseweye from Buckinghamshire.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was John Cussheway, a landowner and merchant from Oxfordshire. He was born around 1330 and is mentioned in various local records and transactions from that time.

Moving into the 15th century, the name Cushway appears to have spread to other parts of England, including the county of Norfolk. A Thomas Cussheway, born circa 1420, is recorded as a freeman of the city of Norwich in 1457.

During the Tudor era, a prominent individual was Sir Richard Cushway, a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was born in 1510 and served as an alderman and sheriff of the city.

Another notable bearer of the Cushway surname was Elizabeth Cushway, a philanthropist from Warwickshire who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. She founded a charitable trust in 1621 to support the education of poor children in her hometown.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with the birth of William Cushway, a renowned architect from Bristol. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in the city, including the iconic St. Mary Redcliffe Church, where he is buried.

Throughout history, the Cushway surname has been associated with various occupations and social standings, ranging from landowners and merchants to artisans and professionals. Its evolution from the Old English "cusce" to its modern form reflects the rich tapestry of English history and language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cushway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cushway 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 115 Cushways recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 115 8.86x
Essex 17 6.64x
Warwickshire 1 0.31x

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 79 Cushways recorded in 1881 and an index of 140.17x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 79 140.17x
Walthamstow 9 97.61x
Hackney London 8 11.00x
South Weald 7 319.63x
Mile End Old Town London 6 21.73x
Ratcliffe London 3 41.90x
Shoreditch London 3 5.33x
Spitalfields London 3 30.74x
St Marylebone London 3 4.33x
Bow London 2 12.11x
Hornsey 2 12.19x
Birmingham 1 0.92x
Bromley London 1 3.50x
St Botolph Aldgate London 1 37.45x
St George Bloomsbury 1 13.44x
St George Botolph Lane 1 2500.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.37x
St Martin In Fields 1 12.87x
Wanstead 1 22.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 5
Ann 4
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Alice 3
Emily 3
Annie 2
Jane 2
Letitia 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Mrs. 2
S. 2
A.J. 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Essie 1
Isabelle 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
M. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 14
William 10
George 4
John 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Henry 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Joseph 2
Mr. 2
S.E. 2
A. 1
Alfred 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
G. 1
H.E. 1
Hary 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Sidney 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Cushway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cushway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 133 people were recorded with the Cushway surname. That placed it at #16,676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cushway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Cushway a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Cushway surname mean?

An English surname denoting a maker or seller of cushions.

What does the Cushway map show?

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