NameCensus.

UK surname

Edwins

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Edwin, itself from Old English meaning "wealthy friend".

In the 1881 census there were 65 people recorded with the Edwins surname, ranking it #24,420 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 111, ranked #29,049, down from #24,420 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tilsworth, St Leonard Shoreditch and Swanscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Surrey Heath and Sefton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edwins is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.8%.

1881 census count

65

Ranked #24,420

Modern count

111

2016, ranked #29,049

Peak year

1861

146 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edwins had 65 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,420 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016, ranked #29,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Edwins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edwins surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edwins 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 65 #24,420
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 92 #28,079
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 91 #28,937
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 95 #28,101
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 97 #28,217
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 100 #29,597
2010 modern 103 #29,780
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 102 #29,902
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 108 #29,658
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 111 #29,049

Geography

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Where Edwins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tilsworth, St Leonard Shoreditch, Swanscombe, London parishes and Tardebigg. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Surrey Heath and Sefton. 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 Tilsworth Bedfordshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Swanscombe Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Tardebigg Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 019 Central Bedfordshire
2 Surrey Heath 008 Surrey Heath
3 Central Bedfordshire 016 Central Bedfordshire
4 Sefton 021 Sefton
5 Central Bedfordshire 021 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edwins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edwins

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Edwins is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Edwins is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Edwins falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Edwins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Edwins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Edwins

The surname EDWINS has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from any of the various places named Edwin's or Edwins, which were named after an Anglo-Saxon personal name composed of the elements "ead" meaning prosperous or wealthy, and "wine" meaning friend.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname EDWINS can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Eduuinus". This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in various parts of England.

One notable early bearer of the EDWINS surname was Sir John Edwins, a 14th-century knight from Shropshire who fought in the Hundred Years' War against France. He was recorded as "Johannes de Edwyns" in the Pipe Rolls of 1327.

In the 16th century, the EDWINS name appeared in various spellings such as "Edwyns", "Edwynns", and "Edwinnes". During this period, a prominent individual with the surname was William Edwins, a merchant and alderman of the City of London, who was born in 1523 and died in 1592.

The EDWINS surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Edwinsford in Shropshire, Edwinshope in Northumberland, and Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire, the latter being the birthplace of the legendary figure Robin Hood.

Another notable bearer of the EDWINS surname was Sir Thomas Edwins, a 17th-century judge and Member of Parliament who served as the Recorder of Salisbury in the 1660s. He was born in 1610 and died in 1677.

In the 18th century, the EDWINS surname was also carried by the English artist John Edwins, who was born in 1768 and is known for his landscape paintings and etchings of rural scenes in the Romantic tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edwins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edwins 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Edwins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 2.05x
Buckinghamshire 12 31.31x
Bedfordshire 8 24.37x
Kent 7 3.24x
Worcestershire 6 7.25x
Northamptonshire 5 8.39x
Lancashire 4 0.53x
Northumberland 4 4.24x
Gloucestershire 3 2.41x
Angus 1 1.70x
Denbighshire 1 4.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 9 Edwins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.32x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 9 25.32x
Swanscombe 7 721.65x
Leighton Buzzard 6 425.53x
Redditch 6 357.14x
Soulbury 6 6000.00x
Brigstock 5 2173.91x
Birkdale 4 210.53x
Edlesborough 4 1142.86x
Islington London 4 6.51x
Newcastle On Tyne St 4 81.80x
Cheltenham 3 31.28x
Luton 2 35.21x
Winslow 2 555.56x
Briton Ferry 1 75.76x
Liff Benvie 1 11.21x
Wrexham Regis 1 56.18x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Edwins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edwins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 65 people were recorded with the Edwins surname. That placed it at #24,420 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edwins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 111 in 2016. That gives Edwins a modern rank of #29,049.

What does the Edwins surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Edwin, itself from Old English meaning "wealthy friend".

What does the Edwins map show?

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