NameCensus.

UK surname

Edwardson

A patronymic surname indicating the bearer was the son of a man named Edward.

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Edwardson surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 713, ranked #7,611, up from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, North Meols and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Halton and Ribble Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edwardson is 733 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

713

2016, ranked #7,611

Peak year

2000

733 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edwardson had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016, ranked #7,611.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 440 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Edwardson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edwardson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edwardson 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 280 #8,043
1861 historical 440 #5,862
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 430 #8,344
1901 historical 439 #8,863
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 710 #7,174
1998 modern 716 #7,347
1999 modern 724 #7,336
2000 modern 733 #7,237
2001 modern 715 #7,242
2002 modern 728 #7,277
2003 modern 701 #7,381
2004 modern 691 #7,490
2005 modern 682 #7,502
2006 modern 677 #7,565
2007 modern 687 #7,535
2008 modern 702 #7,463
2009 modern 699 #7,647
2010 modern 722 #7,599
2011 modern 715 #7,570
2012 modern 699 #7,616
2013 modern 727 #7,521
2014 modern 721 #7,598
2015 modern 712 #7,623
2016 modern 713 #7,611

Geography

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Where Edwardsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, North Meols, Edinburgh, Liverpool and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Halton 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 North Meols Lancashire
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Ormskirk Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 016 Wigan
2 Halton 005 Halton
3 Halton 007 Halton
4 Wigan 019 Wigan
5 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edwardson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edwardson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Edwardson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Edwardson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Edwardson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Edwardson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Edwardson

The surname Edwardson is a patronymic name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derived from the given name Edward, which has Old English roots and means "wealthy guard" or "prosperous protector." The suffix "-son" was commonly added to a father's name to indicate a relationship with his son.

Edwardson was primarily found in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and the surrounding areas of northern England. The name can be traced back to the late 12th century, with early recorded variations including Edwardissone and Edwardsonne.

One of the earliest known records of the surname Edwardson appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a man named Robertus Edwardissone is mentioned. Additionally, the Edwardson name is featured in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, listing a Geoffrey Edwardson as a landholder in the county.

Notable individuals with the surname Edwardson throughout history include:

1. William Edwardson (c. 1630 - 1689), an English merchant and one of the founders of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 2. John Edwardson (1772 - 1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral. 3. Mary Edwardson (1853 - 1924), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, known for her work in establishing the Women's Industrial and Educational Union in Boston. 4. David Edwardson (1909 - 1992), a Swedish-American architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 5. Erik Edwardson (born 1965), a Swedish author and journalist, best known for his crime fiction novels featuring detective Erik Winter.

The Edwardson surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Edwardston in Suffolk and Edwardstone in Buckinghamshire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in certain regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edwardson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edwardson 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 244 Edwardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 244 5.73x
Shetland 36 98.20x
Midlothian 23 4.78x
Northumberland 11 2.06x
Staffordshire 9 0.74x
Cheshire 8 1.01x
Denbighshire 7 5.16x
Surrey 7 0.40x
Lanarkshire 5 0.43x
Middlesex 5 0.14x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Durham 3 0.28x
Gloucestershire 2 0.28x
Angus 1 0.30x
Clackmannanshire 1 3.37x
Northamptonshire 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Unst in Shetland leads with 30 Edwardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1119.40x.

Place Total Index
Unst 30 1119.40x
Widnes 24 78.13x
Pendleton In Salford 16 31.53x
North Leith 15 67.42x
Golborne 14 252.25x
Scarisbrick 11 222.67x
West Derby 11 8.83x
Everton 10 7.37x
Prescot 10 129.87x
Toxteth Park 10 6.93x
Tynemouth 10 34.97x
Wigan 10 16.80x
Ashton In Makerfield 9 74.20x
Eccleston In Prescot 9 42.10x
Halsall 9 535.71x
Ditton 8 459.77x
North Meols 8 19.18x
Burntwood Edial 7 90.44x
Liverpool 7 2.71x
Llanrhaiadr In Kinmerch 7 339.81x
Warrington 7 13.86x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 52.72x
Ince In Makerfield 6 30.27x
Lerwick Gulberwick 6 105.82x
Ormskirk 6 73.62x
Blackburn 5 4.41x
Newton In Makerfield 5 38.34x
Paddington London 5 3.79x
Rainhill 5 183.15x
Whiston 5 150.60x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 12.47x
Birkenhead 4 6.33x
Droylsden 4 28.78x
Lambeth 4 1.28x
Windle 4 16.69x
Bootle Cum Linacre 3 8.87x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 4.43x
Kirkdale 3 4.19x
Lower Bebington 3 63.69x
Pennington In Leigh 3 36.72x
Salford 3 2.39x
Sunderland 3 15.91x
Battersea 2 1.51x
Cheltenham 2 3.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.03x
Govan 2 0.70x
Hindley 2 11.01x
Huyton With Roby 2 40.08x
Kirkby 2 116.28x
Maryhill 2 8.80x
Stafford St Mary 2 11.66x
Alloa 1 6.95x
Barnoldswick 1 20.12x
Barony 1 0.34x
Brompton On Swale 1 227.27x
Cronton 1 172.41x
Eastbourne 1 3.59x
Huddersfield 1 1.93x
Hulme 1 1.12x
Jesmond 1 13.30x
Lowton 1 34.48x
Malpas 1 85.47x
Montrose 1 4.96x
Much Woolton 1 17.30x
Northampton St Giles 1 7.78x
Pemberton 1 5.89x
Petersham 1 144.93x
Pilkington 1 6.18x
Sculcoates 1 1.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 18
Ann 11
Margaret 9
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Annie 5
Sarah 5
Eliza 4
Jane 4
Emily 3
Phoebe 3
Ada 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothie 1
Edith 1
Ethel 1
Gertrude 1
Hagar 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Laurina 1
Mahalia 1
Margery 1
Margt. 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
May 1
Naomi 1
Nellie 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 13
George 12
James 12
Thomas 12
Edward 9
Henry 9
Richard 6
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Abel 2
Alfred 2
Cain 2
Charles 2
Frederick 2
Jas. 2
Joseph 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Adam 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Esau 1
Frank 1
Fred.R. 1
Fredk.H. 1
Geffrey 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Hunter 1
Ishmael 1
Job 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Nahum 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Edwardson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edwardson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Edwardson surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edwardson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 713 in 2016. That gives Edwardson a modern rank of #7,611.

What does the Edwardson surname mean?

A patronymic surname indicating the bearer was the son of a man named Edward.

What does the Edwardson map show?

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