NameCensus.

UK surname

Diston

In the 1881 census there were 90 people recorded with the Diston surname, ranking it #20,965 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 329, ranked #13,798, up from #20,965 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Markinch, London parishes and Hendon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Cotswold and Three Rivers.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Diston is 351 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 265.6%.

1881 census count

90

Ranked #20,965

Modern count

329

2016, ranked #13,798

Peak year

2002

351 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Diston had 90 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,965 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016, ranked #13,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Diston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Diston surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Diston 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 90 #20,965
1891 historical 102 #23,719
1901 historical 124 #20,163
1911 historical 122 #20,245
1997 modern 320 #12,966
1998 modern 335 #12,915
1999 modern 326 #13,238
2000 modern 312 #13,561
2001 modern 307 #13,539
2002 modern 351 #12,583
2003 modern 333 #12,875
2004 modern 319 #13,342
2005 modern 312 #13,462
2006 modern 311 #13,577
2007 modern 318 #13,503
2008 modern 317 #13,632
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 320 #13,976
2012 modern 340 #13,245
2013 modern 345 #13,326
2014 modern 346 #13,370
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 329 #13,798

Geography

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Where Distons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Markinch, London parishes, Hendon, Gateshead and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Cotswold, Three Rivers, Sunderland and Swindon. 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 Markinch Fife
2 London parishes London 3
3 Hendon Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Gateshead Durham
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 010 Fenland
2 Cotswold 001 Cotswold
3 Three Rivers 006 Three Rivers
4 Sunderland 024 Sunderland
5 Swindon 019 Swindon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Diston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Diston

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Diston is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Diston is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Diston falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Diston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Diston 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. Gloucestershire leads with 19 Distons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.04x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 19 11.04x
Middlesex 18 2.05x
Fife 12 23.09x
Lancashire 6 0.58x
Durham 5 1.91x
Midlothian 5 4.25x
Worcestershire 5 4.36x
Nottinghamshire 4 3.38x
West Lothian 4 30.26x
Northumberland 3 2.30x
Surrey 3 0.70x
Devon 2 1.09x
Yorkshire 2 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.52x
Kent 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mickleton in Gloucestershire leads with 11 Distons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4782.61x.

Place Total Index
Mickleton 11 4782.61x
St Pancras London 11 15.57x
St Marylebone London 7 14.93x
Markinch 6 340.91x
Blockley 5 769.23x
North Leith 5 91.91x
Scoonie 5 442.48x
Bulwell 4 155.64x
Linlithgow 4 235.29x
Winchcomb 4 470.59x
Ardwick 3 31.91x
Beswick 3 112.78x
Cowpen 3 99.67x
Marston Sicca 3 2727.27x
Bishopwearmouth 2 8.92x
Gateshead 2 10.23x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 14.20x
Bermondsey 1 3.83x
Bollin Fee 1 116.28x
Charlton Kings 1 84.03x
Dawdon 1 31.15x
Ewell 1 111.11x
Old Byland 1 2000.00x
Wemyss 1 45.45x
Westerham 1 144.93x
Wimbledon 1 20.83x
York Holy Trinity 1 133.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Charlotte 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Miney 1
Minnie 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Henry 3
William 3
Boaz 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
David 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
James 1
Louis 1
Richard 1
Solomon 1
Willam 1

FAQ

Diston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Diston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 90 people were recorded with the Diston surname. That placed it at #20,965 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Diston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 329 in 2016. That gives Diston a modern rank of #13,798.

What does the Diston map show?

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