NameCensus.

UK surname

Eddleston

A locational surname derived from the town of Eddleston in the Scottish Borders region.

In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Eddleston surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, down from #6,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mottram-in-Longdendale, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eddleston is 797 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.9%.

1881 census count

575

Ranked #6,056

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

1911

797 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eddleston had 575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 797 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Eddleston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eddleston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eddleston 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 170 #11,780
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 575 #6,056
1891 historical 649 #5,976
1901 historical 729 #6,071
1911 historical 797 #5,486
1997 modern 725 #7,045
1998 modern 747 #7,124
1999 modern 751 #7,140
2000 modern 749 #7,107
2001 modern 725 #7,162
2002 modern 744 #7,153
2003 modern 711 #7,288
2004 modern 714 #7,273
2005 modern 686 #7,472
2006 modern 683 #7,519
2007 modern 694 #7,478
2008 modern 698 #7,498
2009 modern 719 #7,484
2010 modern 745 #7,415
2011 modern 725 #7,499
2012 modern 708 #7,543
2013 modern 696 #7,755
2014 modern 679 #7,969
2015 modern 672 #7,973
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Eddlestons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mottram-in-Longdendale, Preston, Blackburn, Whalley and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen 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 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Whalley Lancashire
5 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn
2 Blackburn with Darwen 001 Blackburn with Darwen
3 Hyndburn 001 Hyndburn
4 Ribble Valley 008 Ribble Valley
5 Blackburn with Darwen 008 Blackburn with Darwen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eddleston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eddleston

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Eddleston, 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 Eddleston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Eddleston 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Eddleston is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eddleston is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Eddleston

The surname EDDLESTON finds its origins in the northern regions of England, specifically Yorkshire. It is believed to have emerged around the 13th century as a locational surname, derived from the place name "Eddleston" or "Edelston," a small village located near the town of Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire.

The name is believed to have its roots in the Old English words "edisc," meaning "park" or "pasture," and "tun," meaning "enclosure" or "settlement." This suggests that EDDLESTON may have initially referred to someone who resided near or owned a pasture or enclosed settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname EDDLESTON can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a certain Robert de Edelston is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Register of the University of Oxford, where a John Eddleston is listed as a student in 1574. During this period, the spelling variations included "Edelston," "Edleston," and "Eddleston."

A notable figure bearing the EDDLESTON surname was Sir John Eddleston (1599-1668), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire in the 17th century. Another prominent individual was Thomas Eddleston (1763-1838), a renowned botanist and naturalist from North Yorkshire, known for his extensive collection of plants and fossils.

In the 18th century, the EDDLESTON surname can be found in various parish records across Yorkshire, such as the baptism of William Eddleston in Ripon in 1727 and the marriage of John Eddleston and Mary Pickering in Knaresborough in 1782.

Other notable individuals include Robert Eddleston (1812-1888), a British industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Eddleston Pottery Works in Staffordshire, and Mary Eddleston (1823-1908), a pioneering English nurse and hospital matron who made significant contributions to nursing education and training.

Throughout its history, the surname EDDLESTON has maintained strong ties to its Yorkshire roots, with many families continuing to reside in the region and carrying on the name's legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eddleston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eddleston 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 530 Eddlestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 530 7.96x
Cheshire 32 2.58x
Durham 4 0.24x
Yorkshire 4 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.27x
Hertfordshire 1 0.26x
Kent 1 0.05x
Surrey 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 162 Eddlestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 91.48x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 162 91.48x
Great Harwood 47 390.69x
Livesey 36 308.22x
Rishton 19 243.28x
Parr 15 63.00x
Church 13 138.30x
Eccleston In Prescot 13 38.91x
Lower Darwen 13 148.74x
Mellor 13 616.11x
Accrington 12 19.83x
Billinge Chapel End 12 321.72x
Latchford 11 133.66x
Newton In Ashton Under 11 90.02x
Oswaldtwistle 11 46.77x
Samlesbury 11 753.42x
Balderstone 10 1063.83x
Higher Booths 10 83.33x
Westleigh 10 66.18x
Abram 9 176.13x
Ardwick 9 14.99x
Alston 8 258.06x
Hindley 8 28.19x
Preston 8 4.49x
Pendleton In Salford 7 8.83x
Dukinfield 6 10.49x
Longworth 6 3000.00x
Salford 6 3.07x
Winstanley 6 571.43x
Atherton 5 20.64x
Clayton Le Moors 5 38.73x
Great Little Marsden 5 16.40x
Chorley 4 10.71x
Haslingden 4 14.51x
Nether Hallam 4 5.32x
Newton Cap 4 154.44x
Openshaw 4 12.83x
Upholland 4 46.89x
Windle 4 10.68x
Witton 4 47.79x
Altrincham 3 13.87x
Manchester 3 1.00x
Newton 3 5.85x
Golborne 2 23.07x
Habergham Eaves 2 3.29x
Oldbury 2 5.55x
Bedford 1 7.18x
Billington 1 36.76x
Coppull 1 28.17x
Dilworth 1 24.51x
Little Bolton 1 1.17x
Monks Coppenhall 1 2.14x
Newington 1 0.48x
Speldhurst 1 10.27x
Stevenage 1 16.69x
Whalley 1 10.31x
Wilpshire 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Elizabeth 24
Margaret 24
Jane 22
Ellen 21
Alice 19
Ann 16
Sarah 13
Hannah 10
Margret 5
Martha 5
Betsy 4
Eliza 4
Isabella 4
Agnes 3
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Bertha 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Nancy 2
Rachael 2
E. 1
Easter 1
Edith 1
Elizbeth 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Evalinda 1
Florence 1
Gabella 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Lena 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Margt.Ann 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Mgt. 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Plant 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 42
John 37
Thomas 33
William 33
Richard 13
Robert 13
Joseph 8
George 6
Henry 6
Edward 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
David 4
Nathaniel 4
Nicholas 4
Ralph 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Milton 3
Peter 3
Simon 3
Thos. 3
Aaron 2
Adam 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Levi 2
Lucas 2
Nathan 2
Reuben 2
Willm. 2
Abraham 1
Ahab 1
Arthur 1
Dennis 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Haworth 1
Jarvis 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Nichols 1
Pollard 1
Rodger 1
Roger 1
Ruben 1
Samuel 1

FAQ

Eddleston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eddleston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Eddleston surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eddleston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Eddleston a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Eddleston surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Eddleston in the Scottish Borders region.

What does the Eddleston map show?

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