NameCensus.

UK surname

Eastham

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Eastham in England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,530 people recorded with the Eastham surname, ranking it #2,743 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,561, ranked #3,970, down from #2,743 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wigan and Lytham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Ribble, Preston and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eastham is 2,103 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.0%.

1881 census count

1,530

Ranked #2,743

Modern count

1,561

2016, ranked #3,970

Peak year

1911

2,103 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eastham had 1,530 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,743 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,561 in 2016, ranked #3,970.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,103 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Eastham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eastham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eastham 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 947 #2,931
1861 historical 1,040 #2,694
1881 historical 1,530 #2,743
1891 historical 1,741 #2,616
1901 historical 1,942 #2,724
1911 historical 2,103 #2,381
1997 modern 1,686 #3,536
1998 modern 1,716 #3,605
1999 modern 1,742 #3,582
2000 modern 1,683 #3,671
2001 modern 1,652 #3,660
2002 modern 1,702 #3,646
2003 modern 1,692 #3,594
2004 modern 1,669 #3,637
2005 modern 1,661 #3,611
2006 modern 1,662 #3,615
2007 modern 1,647 #3,678
2008 modern 1,630 #3,738
2009 modern 1,697 #3,675
2010 modern 1,707 #3,747
2011 modern 1,652 #3,815
2012 modern 1,581 #3,894
2013 modern 1,600 #3,916
2014 modern 1,622 #3,893
2015 modern 1,577 #3,948
2016 modern 1,561 #3,970

Geography

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Where Easthams are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to South Ribble, Preston and Ribble Valley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Lytham Lancashire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Ribble 004 South Ribble
2 Preston 013 Preston
3 Preston 001 Preston
4 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
5 Preston 016 Preston

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eastham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eastham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Eastham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Eastham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Eastham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Eastham is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eastham falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eastham

The surname Eastham is of English origin, derived from the place name Eastham, a village located in the Wirral peninsula in Cheshire, England. The name is believed to have originated in the early Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century.

The name Eastham is a locational surname, meaning it was initially given to someone who lived in or came from the village of Eastham. The Old English word "east" means "east," and "ham" refers to a homestead or village, indicating that the name likely referred to a village situated to the east of a particular location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eastham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions "Estre-ham" as a manor in Cheshire. This historical record suggests that the name and the village were well-established by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Estham" and "Esteham," reflecting the evolution of the English language over time. During this period, the Eastham family was known to have held land and properties in the Wirral area.

Notable individuals with the surname Eastham include Sir William Eastham (c. 1520-1594), an English politician and landowner who served as the Sheriff of Cheshire in 1586. Another prominent figure was Robert Eastham (1615-1690), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, John Eastham (1738-1813) was a notable English engraver and artist known for his landscape paintings and etchings. Edward Eastham (1755-1828) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

More recently, James Eastham (1924-2010) was a British actor and playwright who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career. He is best known for his roles in popular series like Doctor Who and Fawlty Towers.

While the surname Eastham is not among the most common in England, it has a long and rich history, deeply rooted in the ancient village from which it originated. The name has been carried by individuals of note across various fields, including politics, religion, art, and entertainment, spanning several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eastham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eastham 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 1,424 Easthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.05x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,424 8.05x
Middlesex 19 0.13x
Yorkshire 19 0.13x
Cheshire 17 0.52x
Surrey 15 0.21x
Derbyshire 11 0.47x
Kent 6 0.12x
Hampshire 5 0.16x
Essex 3 0.10x
Monmouthshire 2 0.19x
Royal Navy 2 1.13x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.05x
Sussex 1 0.04x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x
Westmorland 1 0.31x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 255 Easthams recorded in 1881 and an index of 53.85x.

Place Total Index
Preston 255 53.85x
Blackburn 160 33.98x
Hindley 36 47.71x
Chorley 32 32.22x
Salford 31 5.96x
Standish With Langtree 31 142.20x
Wigan 27 10.92x
Bury 26 12.86x
Great Harwood 25 78.15x
North Meols 25 14.43x
Ormskirk 25 73.83x
Farington 24 233.01x
Croston 19 207.88x
Little Bolton 19 8.35x
Liverpool 18 1.67x
Barrow In Furness 17 7.06x
Clitheroe 17 32.64x
Layton With Warbreck 17 26.17x
Sharples 17 88.54x
Walton Le Dale 17 35.74x
West Derby 15 2.90x
Witton 15 67.36x
Everton 14 2.48x
Atherton 13 20.18x
Freckleton 13 223.37x
Leyland 13 42.22x
Manchester 13 1.63x
Penwortham 13 155.13x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 3.10x
Aspull 12 28.83x
Cheetham 12 9.09x
Huyton With Roby 12 57.86x
Ince In Makerfield 12 14.57x
Lytham 12 44.41x
Accrington 11 6.84x
Aighton Bailey 11 128.96x
Openshaw 11 13.27x
Thornton In Fylde 11 28.41x
Warton 11 539.22x
Billington 10 138.50x
Glossop Dale 10 9.14x
Greenhalgh With 10 515.46x
Barnacre With Bonds 9 192.31x
Coppull 9 95.44x
Pendleton In Salford 9 4.27x
Wardleworth 9 8.90x
Blatchinworth 8 19.85x
Great Bolton 8 3.41x
Haigh 8 129.66x
Hardhorn With Newton 8 370.37x
Kirkham 8 34.19x
Acton 7 8.01x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 5.25x
Bretherton 7 193.91x
Dilworth 7 64.58x
Halliwell 7 10.87x
Maghull 7 95.37x
Orrell 7 31.82x
Paddington London 7 1.28x
Ribchester 7 104.63x
Skelmersdale 7 23.74x
Spotland 7 3.56x
Stoke 7 20.41x
Wavertree 7 12.36x
Billinge Higher End 6 83.68x
Broughton In Salford 6 3.71x
Goosnargh 6 104.71x
Habergham Eaves 6 3.71x
Heaton Norris 6 5.96x
Kirkdale 6 2.02x
Over Darwen 6 4.24x
Royton 6 11.08x
Walmersley Cum 6 21.22x
Birkdale 5 11.17x
Hothersall 5 746.27x
Pemberton 5 7.09x
Ribbleton 5 1785.71x
Whiston 5 36.21x
Gorton 4 2.40x
Livesey 4 12.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 134
Elizabeth 86
Alice 61
Jane 59
Margaret 58
Ellen 39
Ann 38
Sarah 35
Annie 14
Isabella 14
Martha 13
Catherine 12
Eliza 10
Nancy 10
Agnes 9
Caroline 8
Emma 8
Emily 7
Esther 7
Hannah 7
Ada 6
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Betsy 4
Betty 4
Clara 4
Eliz. 4
Elizth. 4
Lydia 4
Margret 4
Maria 4
Ruth 4
Bridget 3
Catharine 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Eleanor 2
Elizabet 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2
Marinda 2
Rachel 2
Susannah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 126
Thomas 104
William 77
James 66
George 49
Robert 45
Henry 42
Richard 31
Edward 20
Joseph 20
Ralph 12
Albert 7
Charles 7
Thos. 6
Walter 6
Alfred 5
David 5
Hugh 5
Samuel 5
Edmund 4
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Leonard 4
Peter 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Adam 2
Cuthbert 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Jeffrey 2
Nathan 2
Reuben 2
Richd. 2
Roger 2
Wilfred 2
Andrew 1
Anthony 1
Edgar 1
Evelyn 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Jno.H. 1
Jon. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Eastham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eastham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,530 people were recorded with the Eastham surname. That placed it at #2,743 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eastham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,561 in 2016. That gives Eastham a modern rank of #3,970.

What does the Eastham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from any of the places named Eastham in England.

What does the Eastham map show?

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