NameCensus.

UK surname

Ericson

Son of Eric, an English patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Eric or Old Norse Eiríkr.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Ericson surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 108, ranked #29,578, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, Worthing and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ericson is 118 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 535.3%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

108

2016, ranked #29,578

Peak year

2002

118 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ericson had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016, ranked #29,578.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Ericson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ericson surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ericson 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 36 #31,465
1901 historical 54 #28,178
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 102 #27,314
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 116 #25,452
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 118 #25,358
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 117 #27,557
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 115 #27,717
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 108 #29,578

Geography

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Where Ericsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, Worthing, Cherwell, Kensington and Chelsea and Kingston upon Thames. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 016 Portsmouth
2 Worthing 002 Worthing
3 Cherwell 012 Cherwell
4 Kensington and Chelsea 007 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Kingston upon Thames 019 Kingston upon Thames

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ericson

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ericson

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Ericson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Ericson 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ericson 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

Ericson 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

Ericson falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ericson 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Ericson

The surname Ericson has its origins in Scandinavia, particularly in Sweden and Norway. It is a patronymic surname, meaning it was derived from the given name of the father or ancestor. In this case, Ericson means "son of Eric," with Eric being a common name in these regions.

The name Eric itself has roots in the Old Norse name Eiríkr, which is believed to be derived from the words "ei," meaning "ever," and "ríkr," meaning "ruler" or "powerful." As such, Ericson was originally a surname given to the sons of men named Eric, indicating their lineage and family ties.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Ericson can be found in the Icelandic Sagas, a collection of narratives written in the 13th and 14th centuries. These sagas often mentioned individuals with the surname Ericson, indicating the prevalence of the name in Scandinavian societies during that time period.

In the 16th century, the surname Ericson appeared in various Swedish and Norwegian records, such as parish registers and census documents. Notable individuals with this surname include Leif Ericson, the famous Norse explorer credited with being the first European to reach North America around the year 1000 AD.

Another prominent figure was Nils Ericson, a Swedish industrialist and inventor who lived from 1802 to 1870. He was best known for designing and building the Swedish rail network, as well as contributing to the development of the screw propeller for ships.

In the 19th century, Johan Ericson (1818-1898) was a Swedish-American engineer and entrepreneur who founded the Ericsson Telephone Company, which later became one of the leading telecommunications companies in the world.

Leif Ericson Day, celebrated on October 9th, commemorates the arrival of the famous explorer in North America and acknowledges the contributions of Scandinavian immigrants to the United States.

Over the centuries, the surname Ericson has also been spelled in various ways, such as Eriksson, Erickson, and Ericsson, reflecting regional variations and linguistic adaptations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ericson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ericson 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. Midlothian leads with 4 Ericsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.03x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 4 18.03x
Sussex 4 14.32x
Middlesex 2 1.21x
Durham 1 2.03x
Kent 1 1.77x
Lancashire 1 0.51x
Northumberland 1 4.06x
Somerset 1 3.75x
Surrey 1 1.24x
Yorkshire 1 0.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battle in Sussex leads with 4 Ericsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2105.26x.

Place Total Index
Battle 4 2105.26x
North Leith 3 291.26x
Battersea 1 16.39x
Clerkenwell London 1 25.58x
Everton 1 15.97x
Greenwich 1 37.88x
Monkwearmouth Shore 1 104.17x
North Shields 1 204.08x
Paddington London 1 16.42x
Portishead 1 500.00x
Sculcoates 1 38.46x
South Leith 1 40.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 1
Martha 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Charles 1
Gustave 1
Henry 1
Johan 1
Nils 1
Otto 1
Peter 1
Sarah 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Ericson households.

FAQ

Ericson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ericson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Ericson surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ericson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 108 in 2016. That gives Ericson a modern rank of #29,578.

What does the Ericson surname mean?

Son of Eric, an English patronymic surname derived from the Scandinavian personal name Eric or Old Norse Eiríkr.

What does the Ericson map show?

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