NameCensus.

UK surname

Downend

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Downend surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Birstall and Darfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Sheffield and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Downend is 167 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.3%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

84

2016, ranked #32,726

Peak year

1901

167 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 1911

Key insights

  • Downend had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016, ranked #32,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 167 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Downend surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Downend surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Downend 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 159 #17,636
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 157 #17,348
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 95 #28,303
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 103 #26,927
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 101 #27,561
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 101 #27,854
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 97 #30,076
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 94 #31,016
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 88 #32,349
2014 modern 87 #32,585
2015 modern 86 #32,604
2016 modern 84 #32,726

Geography

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Where Downends are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Birstall, Darfield, Sheffield and Emley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Sheffield, Harrogate, West Lindsey and Taunton Deane. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Emley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 009 Tameside
2 Sheffield 005 Sheffield
3 Harrogate 005 Harrogate
4 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
5 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane

Forenames

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First names often paired with Downend

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Downend

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

Downend is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Downend families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Downend 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. Yorkshire leads with 101 Downends recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.29x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 101 8.29x
Lancashire 13 0.89x
Staffordshire 7 1.69x
Middlesex 2 0.16x
Surrey 2 0.33x
Hampshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsbrough in Yorkshire leads with 17 Downends recorded in 1881 and an index of 476.19x.

Place Total Index
Worsbrough 17 476.19x
Cleckheaton 14 311.80x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 37.65x
Stainforth In Thorne 10 3225.81x
Betley 7 2000.00x
Emley 7 1296.30x
Wakefield 7 74.87x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 52.86x
Sheffield 6 15.48x
Barnsley 5 39.81x
Brightside Bierlow 5 20.93x
Batley 4 34.57x
Doncaster 4 44.94x
Barmbrough 2 444.44x
Greasbrough 2 124.22x
Islington London 2 1.68x
Nether Hallam 2 12.14x
Newington 2 4.41x
Roystone 2 416.67x
Thornhill 2 56.34x
Bowling 1 8.29x
Bradford 1 3.39x
Mirfield 1 14.95x
Ryde 1 18.48x
South Hiendley 1 666.67x
Stretford 1 12.47x
West Bretton 1 666.67x
Wombwell 1 28.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 7
Ann 5
Emma 4
Jane 3
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Lily 2
Martha 2
Priscilla 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Hetty 1
Lilian 1
Lolian 1
Muriel 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Downend surname: questions and answers

How common was the Downend surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Downend surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Downend surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Downend a modern rank of #32,726.

What does the Downend map show?

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