NameCensus.

UK surname

Freckleton

A locational surname originating from Freckleton, a village in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Freckleton surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 263, ranked #16,210, up from #16,433 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, St Werburgh and Thornton-in-Lonsdale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Luton, Sunderland and Gloucester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Freckleton is 265 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.4%.

1881 census count

136

Ranked #16,433

Modern count

263

2016, ranked #16,210

Peak year

2015

265 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Freckleton had 136 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,433 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016, ranked #16,210.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 136 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Freckleton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Freckleton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Freckleton 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 37 #26,673
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 136 #16,433
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 134 #19,288
1911 historical 58 #27,001
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 233 #16,459
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 234 #16,205
2002 modern 249 #15,855
2003 modern 241 #16,013
2004 modern 239 #16,193
2005 modern 244 #15,900
2006 modern 248 #15,820
2007 modern 250 #15,901
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 260 #15,972
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 262 #16,098
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 252 #16,689
2014 modern 255 #16,682
2015 modern 265 #16,139
2016 modern 263 #16,210

Geography

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Where Freckletons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, St Werburgh, Thornton-in-Lonsdale, Wakefield and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Luton, Sunderland, Gloucester, Pollok South and West and Muirend and Old Cathcart. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Thornton-in-Lonsdale Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Luton 012 Luton
2 Sunderland 009 Sunderland
3 Gloucester 007 Gloucester
4 Pollok South and West Glasgow City
5 Muirend and Old Cathcart Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Freckleton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Freckleton

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Freckleton 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

Freckleton 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

Freckleton falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Freckleton

The surname Freckleton originates from the village of Freckleton in Lancashire, England, located near the town of Preston. The name dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old English words "frec" meaning "bold" or "brave" and "leah" meaning "meadow" or "clearing."

The earliest recorded mention of the name Freckleton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Frecileton." This entry indicates that the village and its name existed before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the Middle Ages, the Freckleton family was prominent in the Lancashire region, holding lands and positions of importance. One notable figure was Sir Richard Freckleton, who lived in the 14th century and served as a knight under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War against France.

In the 16th century, a branch of the Freckleton family migrated to Ireland and settled in County Westmeath. This Irish branch of the family adopted the Gaelic spelling "Freaghilteún," which is still used by some descendants today.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name in North America was William Freckleton, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. He was among the first English settlers in the colony and is recorded as having been granted land in what is now Henrico County.

Another notable Freckleton was Thomas Freckleton, an English clergyman and writer who lived from 1629 to 1698. He served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk and published several religious works, including "A Discourse on the Lord's Supper" and "A Vindication of the Christian Religion."

In the 18th century, John Freckleton, born in 1710, was a prominent Lancashire businessman and landowner. He played a significant role in the development of the town of Preston and was influential in local politics.

During the Victorian era, Freckleton saw its greatest literary figure in the poet and writer William Freckleton, born in 1841. He gained recognition for his romantic poetry and published several volumes of verse, including "Songs of the Heart" and "Lyrics of Love."

The Freckleton surname has been present in various parts of the world, including Australia, where a small town in Western Australia bears the name, reflecting the influence of early English settlers in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Freckleton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Freckleton 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. Lanarkshire leads with 33 Freckletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.69x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 33 7.69x
Yorkshire 17 1.29x
Warwickshire 13 3.89x
Leicestershire 11 7.48x
Stirlingshire 11 22.48x
Derbyshire 9 4.33x
Midlothian 9 5.06x
Middlesex 6 0.45x
Ayrshire 5 5.04x
Northumberland 5 2.53x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.80x
Cheshire 4 1.37x
Cumberland 3 2.63x
Dunbartonshire 1 2.81x
East Lothian 1 5.69x
Hampshire 1 0.37x
Kent 1 0.22x
Lancashire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 15 Freckletons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.14x.

Place Total Index
Govan 15 14.14x
Aston 13 14.11x
Packington 11 2115.38x
Slamannan 11 410.45x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 12.59x
Derby St Werburgh 8 66.72x
Barony 6 5.53x
Holy Trinity 6 18.98x
Islington London 6 4.67x
Hamilton 5 41.77x
Longbenton 5 59.81x
Maryhill 5 59.52x
Thornton In Lonsdale 5 3333.33x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 4 83.86x
Dalry 4 85.65x
Finningley 4 2352.94x
Stockport 4 26.54x
Whitehaven 3 49.26x
Gorbals 2 78.43x
Wakefield 2 19.82x
Dunbar 1 40.65x
Greenwich 1 4.73x
Hulme 1 3.04x
Luss 1 303.03x
Newark Upon Trent 1 15.55x
Portsmouth 1 15.97x
Sorn 1 51.28x
Stanley 1 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 4
Betsy 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Maria 2
Agnes 1
Amanda 1
Angelina 1
Ann 1
Caroline 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emmiline 1
Jane 1
Lilybeth 1
Lydia 1
Muriel 1
Selina 1
Thurza 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 7
Thomas 5
George 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Geo. 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Ernest 1
Forester 1
Henson 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Freckleton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Freckleton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Freckleton surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Freckleton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 263 in 2016. That gives Freckleton a modern rank of #16,210.

What does the Freckleton surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Freckleton, a village in Lancashire, England.

What does the Freckleton map show?

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