NameCensus.

UK surname

Evenson

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Even, a variant of Iven, meaning "archer's bow" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 100 people recorded with the Evenson surname, ranking it #19,750 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 144, ranked #24,390, down from #19,750 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Biddulph, Wolstanton and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Sandwell and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Evenson is 205 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.0%.

1881 census count

100

Ranked #19,750

Modern count

144

2016, ranked #24,390

Peak year

1911

205 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Evenson had 100 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,750 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016, ranked #24,390.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Evenson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Evenson surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Evenson 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 100 #19,750
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 170 #16,762
1911 historical 205 #14,733
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 134 #23,037
2002 modern 132 #23,680
2003 modern 131 #23,553
2004 modern 132 #23,625
2005 modern 129 #23,963
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 129 #24,503
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 141 #23,907
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 158 #22,473
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 151 #23,745
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 144 #24,390

Geography

Back to top

Where Evensons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Biddulph, Wolstanton, Manchester, Walsall and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Sandwell, South Ribble, Shropshire and Bury. 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 Biddulph Cheshire
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Walsall Staffordshire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 020 Walsall
2 Sandwell 025 Sandwell
3 South Ribble 015 South Ribble
4 Shropshire 027 Shropshire
5 Bury 001 Bury

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Evenson

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Evenson

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Evenson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Evenson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Evenson is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Evenson is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Evenson falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Evenson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Evenson

The surname Evenson originated in Scandinavia, with its roots tracing back to the Old Norse personal name Evindr or Eyvindr. This name was derived from the Old Norse elements "ey" meaning "island" and "vindr" meaning "wind." Thus, the name Evenson could be interpreted as "son of Evindr" or "son of the island wind."

The earliest known records of the Evenson name can be found in Iceland, where it appeared as early as the 13th century. In Norway, the name was commonly spelled as Evensen or Evenson, with the latter spelling being more prevalent in later centuries.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Evenson surname was Þorsteinn Evenson, a Norwegian farmer who lived in the 14th century. His name is mentioned in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian medieval documents.

In the 16th century, the Evenson name made its way to Denmark, where it was sometimes spelled as Evensen or Evenssøn. Notable Danish individuals with this surname include Niels Evenson (1609-1674), a wealthy merchant and ship owner from Copenhagen.

As the Evenson family spread across Scandinavia, some members eventually migrated to other parts of Europe and beyond. In the 19th century, many Evensons from Norway and Sweden emigrated to the United States, settling in states like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

One of the most famous Evensons in American history was Walter Evenson (1890-1964), a prominent lawyer and politician from Wisconsin. He served as the Attorney General of Wisconsin from 1939 to 1949 and played a significant role in the state's government during the mid-20th century.

Another notable Evenson was Lillie Evenson (1885-1977), a Norwegian-American author and educator. She wrote several books on Norwegian culture and folklore, helping to preserve and promote her heritage in the United States.

In the literary world, the name Evenson is associated with Brian Evenson (born 1966), an American author and professor known for his works of literary fiction and horror. His novels and short stories have received critical acclaim and numerous awards.

While the Evenson surname may have originated in Scandinavia, it has since spread across the globe, with bearers of this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Evenson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Evenson 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. Staffordshire leads with 34 Evensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.33x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 34 10.33x
Lancashire 23 1.99x
Middlesex 8 0.82x
Cheshire 6 2.79x
Shetland 5 50.20x
Yorkshire 5 0.52x
Merionethshire 4 22.41x
Derbyshire 3 1.96x
Gloucestershire 3 1.57x
Shropshire 2 2.37x
Worcestershire 2 1.57x
Cornwall 1 0.91x
Essex 1 0.52x
Glamorgan 1 0.59x
Ross-shire 1 3.73x
Surrey 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Biddulph in Staffordshire leads with 10 Evensons recorded in 1881 and an index of 537.63x.

Place Total Index
Biddulph 10 537.63x
Manchester 9 17.29x
Walsall Borough 9 351.56x
Newton 7 78.48x
Walsall Foreign 6 35.27x
Westminster St John 6 50.51x
Erringden 5 806.45x
Gorton 5 45.96x
Monks Coppenhall 5 61.50x
Sandsting Aitsting 5 555.56x
Wolstanton Oldcott 5 420.17x
Dolgelley 4 300.75x
Cheltenham 3 20.33x
Chesterfield 3 52.36x
Heap 2 32.57x
Norton In Moors 2 114.94x
St Pancras London 2 2.55x
Upperswinford 2 185.19x
Wolverhampton 2 7.90x
Cardiff St Mary 1 10.68x
Cromarty 1 138.89x
Feock 1 144.93x
Hopesay 1 476.19x
Tytherington 1 1000.00x
Wem 1 80.00x
West Ham 1 2.35x
Weybridge 1 98.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Annie 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Alice 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Elizth.Anne 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Harriet 1
Henriette 1
Lilley 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Evenson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Evenson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 100 people were recorded with the Evenson surname. That placed it at #19,750 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Evenson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 144 in 2016. That gives Evenson a modern rank of #24,390.

What does the Evenson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Even, a variant of Iven, meaning "archer's bow" in Old English.

What does the Evenson map show?

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