NameCensus.

UK surname

Edwin

From an Old English name meaning "rich friend".

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Edwin surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 286, ranked #15,240, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winslow, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Tower Hamlets and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edwin is 544 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.2%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

286

2016, ranked #15,240

Peak year

1861

544 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edwin had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016, ranked #15,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 544 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Edwin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edwin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edwin 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 279 #8,067
1861 historical 544 #4,830
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 356 #9,697
1901 historical 307 #11,472
1911 historical 359 #10,084
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 222 #16,969
1999 modern 231 #16,646
2000 modern 223 #16,978
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 219 #17,085
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 241 #16,139
2007 modern 241 #16,341
2008 modern 243 #16,397
2009 modern 254 #16,230
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 293 #14,834
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 282 #15,537
2015 modern 284 #15,344
2016 modern 286 #15,240

Geography

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Where Edwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winslow, Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew, London parishes, St Pancras and Hampton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewisham, Tower Hamlets, Dacorum, East Northamptonshire and Kirklees. 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 Winslow Buckinghamshire
2 Pershore Holy Cross, Pershore St Andrew Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Hampton Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewisham 010 Lewisham
2 Tower Hamlets 020 Tower Hamlets
3 Dacorum 009 Dacorum
4 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
5 Kirklees 029 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edwin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edwin

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Edwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Edwin 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Edwin 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

Edwin is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Edwin falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Edwin

The surname Edwin has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon era in the 7th century. It is derived from the Old English words "ead," meaning prosperity or fortune, and "wine," meaning friend, thus signifying a prosperous or fortunate friend. The name was initially spelled as "Eadwine" or "Eadwyne."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Edwinus" and "Edwyne." This suggests that the name was already in use among the Anglo-Saxon population before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the name Edwin was relatively common in various parts of England, particularly in the northern regions. It was often associated with landowners and members of the gentry class. In the late 12th century, a notable individual named Edwin of Woodstock, a royal falconer, was documented in the records of King Henry II.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England. This document mentions individuals such as Edwin de Cauz and Edwin de Coleworth, indicating the name's prevalence among the landed gentry of the time.

One of the most famous historical figures bearing the surname Edwin was Sir Edwin Sandys (1561-1629), a prominent English politician and colonial leader. He played a crucial role in the establishment and governance of the Virginia Colony in North America.

Another notable individual was Edwin Booth (1833-1893), an acclaimed American actor who was particularly renowned for his performances of Shakespearean roles. He was also the brother of John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of President Abraham Lincoln.

In the literary world, Edwin Arlington Robinson (1869-1935) was an American poet who won three Pulitzer Prizes for his works, including the famous poem "Richard Cory."

The name Edwin has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Edwinstown in Nottinghamshire and Edwinshope in Northumberland. These locations likely derived their names from individuals bearing the surname Edwin who once owned or resided in those areas.

While the surname Edwin has maintained its presence throughout history, it has also evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Edwyn, Edwine, and Edwins, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edwin 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 35 Edwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.13x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 35 24.13x
Middlesex 31 1.29x
Warwickshire 31 5.12x
Worcestershire 26 8.30x
Surrey 18 1.54x
Hertfordshire 17 10.28x
Hampshire 14 2.85x
Lanarkshire 13 1.68x
Kent 12 1.47x
Huntingdonshire 11 23.09x
Suffolk 8 2.74x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.95x
Leicestershire 3 1.13x
Bedfordshire 2 1.61x
Gloucestershire 2 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 6.99x
Somerset 2 0.52x
Staffordshire 2 0.25x
Sussex 2 0.49x
Angus 1 0.45x
Devon 1 0.20x
Dorset 1 0.64x
Essex 1 0.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.24x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.27x
Shropshire 1 0.48x
Yorkshire 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. Winslow in Buckinghamshire leads with 22 Edwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1605.84x.

Place Total Index
Winslow 22 1605.84x
Birmingham 12 5.95x
Islington London 12 5.16x
Huntingdon St Mary 10 840.34x
Aston 9 5.40x
Tring 9 203.62x
Alderton 8 1818.18x
Great Little Hampton 8 1538.46x
Northchurch 8 451.98x
Portsea 8 8.30x
Stoke 8 144.93x
Aston Clinton 7 569.11x
Barony 7 3.56x
Pershore St Andrew 7 404.62x
St Pancras London 7 3.62x
Gamlingay 6 379.75x
St Marylebone London 6 4.68x
Stoke Hammond 6 2000.00x
Edgbaston 5 26.65x
Evesham St Lawrence 5 301.20x
Lambeth 5 2.39x
Dover St Mary Virgin 4 50.51x
Idsworth 4 1212.12x
Kingsdown In Dartford 4 1176.47x
Glasgow 3 2.18x
Govan 3 1.56x
Northfield 3 50.42x
Old Stratford 3 87.46x
Beeby 2 2222.22x
Cheltenham 2 5.51x
Hackney London 2 1.49x
Leighton Buzzard 2 37.45x
Minster In Sheppey 2 14.75x
Pershore Holy Cross 2 99.50x
Portishead 2 69.69x
Royal Navy 2 8.18x
Stratford On Avon 2 59.52x
Wednesfield 2 16.78x
Battersea 1 1.13x
Belgrave 1 16.67x
Betchworth 1 69.44x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 49.51x
Buttsbury 1 270.27x
Camberwell 1 0.65x
Chalton 1 588.24x
Chatham 1 4.44x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.77x
Dundee 1 1.21x
Eastbourne 1 5.37x
Enfield 1 6.35x
Exeter St David 1 23.42x
Finchley 1 10.87x
Greenwich 1 2.62x
Haslingden 1 8.48x
Holy Trinity Less London 1 163.93x
Huntingdon St Benedict 1 166.67x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 9.03x
Kingston On Thames 1 3.56x
Lockwood 1 11.70x
Newington 1 1.13x
Nursling 1 126.58x
Trotton 1 303.03x
Upton Snodsbury 1 333.33x
Wimborne Minster 1 39.22x
Ystradyfodwg 1 2.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 15
Sarah 10
Emma 7
Ann 6
Emily 5
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Annie 2
Bertha 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Florence 2
Harriett 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
... 1
Agnes 1
Agnuss 1
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Elizabet 1
Georgenia 1
Gertrude 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Mable 1
Margarite 1
Margt. 1
Marianne 1
May 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 12
James 8
George 7
Thomas 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Edward 4
Francis 4
Joseph 4
Frederick 3
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Afred 1
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edmaond 1
Edmond 1
Ersser 1
Henry 1
Horace 1
Humber 1
Jno. 1
Nicholas 1
Onslow 1
Phillip 1
Robert 1
Wm. 1
Wyatt 1

FAQ

Edwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Edwin surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 286 in 2016. That gives Edwin a modern rank of #15,240.

What does the Edwin surname mean?

From an Old English name meaning "rich friend".

What does the Edwin map show?

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