NameCensus.

UK surname

Errington

A locational surname derived from a place named Errington in Northumberland, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,671 people recorded with the Errington surname, ranking it #2,568 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,539, ranked #2,604, down from #2,568 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle, County Durham and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Errington is 2,693 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.9%.

1881 census count

1,671

Ranked #2,568

Modern count

2,539

2016, ranked #2,604

Peak year

1998

2,693 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Errington had 1,671 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,568 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,539 in 2016, ranked #2,604.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,537 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Errington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Errington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Errington 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 1,256 #2,273
1861 historical 1,074 #2,623
1881 historical 1,671 #2,568
1891 historical 1,848 #2,487
1901 historical 2,229 #2,424
1911 historical 2,537 #2,013
1997 modern 2,587 #2,453
1998 modern 2,693 #2,457
1999 modern 2,686 #2,474
2000 modern 2,679 #2,473
2001 modern 2,622 #2,472
2002 modern 2,692 #2,461
2003 modern 2,587 #2,491
2004 modern 2,584 #2,499
2005 modern 2,539 #2,512
2006 modern 2,520 #2,534
2007 modern 2,493 #2,574
2008 modern 2,519 #2,573
2009 modern 2,587 #2,566
2010 modern 2,676 #2,542
2011 modern 2,663 #2,526
2012 modern 2,574 #2,557
2013 modern 2,619 #2,562
2014 modern 2,579 #2,603
2015 modern 2,551 #2,606
2016 modern 2,539 #2,604

Geography

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Where Erringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle, County Durham and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 007 Carlisle
2 County Durham 010 County Durham
3 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 030 Sunderland
5 County Durham 040 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Errington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Errington

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Errington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Errington 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

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

Meaning and origin of Errington

The surname Errington is of English origin and dates back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "erra" meaning a dweller and "ing" meaning a meadow or enclosure, along with the suffix "ton" meaning a town or settlement. Essentially, the name denotes someone who lived in a meadow or enclosure near a town.

The name first emerged in the county of Northumberland, located in the northeastern part of England near the Scottish border. It is believed to have originated from the village of Errington, which was first mentioned in records from the 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Errington can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the year 1230, where a certain Robert de Errington is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established as a hereditary surname by that time.

In the 13th century, the Errington family was granted lands in the village of Errington by the Baron of Prudhoe. Over the centuries, the family played a significant role in the local affairs of Northumberland.

One notable figure from the Errington family was Sir Thomas Errington (1558-1594), who was a prominent Catholic recusant during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was involved in the Rising of the North, a rebellion against the Protestant Reformation, and was executed for his actions.

Another important historical figure with the surname Errington was Sir John Errington (1594-1673), a Royalist who served as a colonel during the English Civil War. He fought for King Charles I and was later knighted by Charles II after the restoration of the monarchy.

In the 18th century, Sir Walter Errington (1717-1786) was a notable member of the family. He served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland and was also a Justice of the Peace.

The Errington family continued to play a significant role in the local affairs of Northumberland throughout the 19th century, with several members serving as magistrates and holding positions in the local government.

One of the more recent notable individuals with the surname Errington was Robert Errington (1918-2008), a British actor who appeared in various stage productions and television shows. He was particularly known for his role as Billy Walker in the long-running soap opera Coronation Street.

While the surname Errington has its roots in the county of Northumberland, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with people bearing this name found in various parts of the world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Errington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Errington 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. Durham leads with 710 Erringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.66x.

County Total Index
Durham 710 14.66x
Northumberland 235 9.70x
Middlesex 144 0.88x
Surrey 94 1.18x
Cumberland 89 6.35x
Yorkshire 86 0.53x
Lancashire 51 0.26x
Staffordshire 33 0.60x
Cheshire 30 0.83x
Norfolk 30 1.20x
Kent 29 0.52x
Northamptonshire 23 1.50x
Warwickshire 19 0.46x
Hampshire 14 0.42x
Essex 12 0.37x
Derbyshire 10 0.39x
Somerset 9 0.34x
Berkshire 8 0.65x
Lincolnshire 6 0.23x
Wiltshire 6 0.42x
Devon 5 0.15x
Gloucestershire 5 0.16x
Herefordshire 5 0.75x
Denbighshire 4 0.65x
Leicestershire 2 0.11x
Midlothian 2 0.09x
Stirlingshire 2 0.33x
Sussex 2 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Westmorland 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whickham in Durham leads with 73 Erringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 163.79x.

Place Total Index
Whickham 73 163.79x
Bishopwearmouth 59 14.19x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 48 22.88x
Gateshead 41 11.31x
Elswick 30 15.52x
Hetton Le Hole 27 43.99x
Heworth 26 27.24x
Stanwix 24 211.45x
Islington London 23 1.46x
Shotton 23 191.99x
Tanfield 23 39.93x
Houghton Le Spring 22 65.71x
Ryton 22 129.26x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 21 14.51x
Rotherhithe 20 9.94x
Westoe 20 7.28x
Chopwell 18 200.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 18 23.95x
Kyo 18 78.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 4.88x
Camberwell 15 1.44x
Pennington In Ulverston 15 156.09x
Sherburn 15 101.76x
Tynemouth 15 11.56x
Usworth 15 58.32x
Lambeth 14 0.99x
Sedgley 14 6.86x
Allendale 13 57.88x
Penrith 13 25.11x
Battersea 12 2.00x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.70x
Chester St Olave 12 371.52x
Ford 12 82.70x
Great Yarmouth 12 5.79x
Hammersmith London 12 2.99x
Newcastle On Tyne St 12 9.56x
Pelton 12 52.08x
Collierley 11 50.97x
Poplar London 11 3.58x
Newington 10 1.66x
St George Hanover Square 10 3.49x
Accrington 9 5.12x
Bishop Auckland 9 13.85x
Framwellgate 9 31.36x
Kensington London 9 0.99x
Kenton 9 259.37x
Seaham 9 50.96x
Tudhoe 9 21.24x
Wingate 9 27.11x
Byker 8 6.68x
Ferryhill 8 47.25x
Greenwich 8 3.09x
Horton In Bradford 8 3.18x
Isleworth 8 11.05x
Longbenton 8 7.80x
Pytchley 8 254.78x
Ryhope 8 23.79x
Salford 8 1.41x
South Shields 8 18.54x
Westgate 8 5.33x
Acomb 7 118.85x
Barnard Castle 7 29.24x
Benfieldside 7 21.97x
Bromley London 7 1.95x
Chirton 7 12.77x
Dallington 7 77.78x
Esh 7 19.86x
Hylton 7 81.97x
Lichfield St Chad 7 56.63x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 7 21.98x
Newton Cap 7 93.09x
Scruton 7 350.00x
St Giles 7 23.16x
Sunderland 7 8.18x
Wakefield 7 5.65x
West Ham 7 0.99x
West Rainton 7 46.70x
Westminster St Margaret 7 8.91x
Wetheral 7 37.72x
Wintersett 7 760.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 145
Elizabeth 83
Jane 61
Sarah 48
Isabella 41
Ann 36
Margaret 35
Hannah 20
Ellen 18
Annie 17
Catherine 17
Alice 15
Eliza 13
Frances 13
Charlotte 12
Dorothy 12
Emily 8
Martha 8
Eleanor 7
Emma 7
Ada 6
Margt. 6
Maria 6
Rachel 6
Barbara 5
Elizth. 5
Florence 5
Isabel 5
Louisa 5
Susannah 5
Agnes 4
Caroline 4
Esther 4
Lydia 4
Anne 3
Dinah 3
Eliz. 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Lily 3
Louise 3
Matilda 3
Betsy 2
Clara 2
Grace 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Lottie 2
Lucinda 2
Marie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 139
William 111
Thomas 67
George 65
Robert 55
James 44
Joseph 36
Edward 31
Charles 22
Henry 19
Richard 17
Frederick 14
Wm. 11
Arthur 10
Ralph 10
Matthew 7
Thos. 7
Geo. 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Chas. 5
Harry 5
Isaac 5
Roger 5
Willm. 5
Alfred 4
Anthony 4
Cuthbert 4
Mark 4
Robt. 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Jos. 3
Lewis 3
Peter 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Andrew 2
Arnold 2
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
David 2
J. 2
Jane 2
Lanclot 2
Martin 2
Micheal 2
Nathan 2
Ridley 2

FAQ

Errington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Errington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,671 people were recorded with the Errington surname. That placed it at #2,568 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Errington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,539 in 2016. That gives Errington a modern rank of #2,604.

What does the Errington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Errington in Northumberland, England.

What does the Errington map show?

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