NameCensus.

UK surname

Garstang

A locational surname referring to someone from Garstang, a town in Lancashire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 416 people recorded with the Garstang surname, ranking it #7,749 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 384, ranked #12,251, down from #7,749 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Preston, Blackburn and Bolton-le-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Bolton and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garstang is 521 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.7%.

1881 census count

416

Ranked #7,749

Modern count

384

2016, ranked #12,251

Peak year

1911

521 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garstang had 416 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,749 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016, ranked #12,251.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 521 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Garstang surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garstang surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garstang 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 254 #9,741
1881 historical 416 #7,749
1891 historical 421 #8,502
1901 historical 485 #8,235
1911 historical 521 #7,593
1997 modern 400 #11,013
1998 modern 431 #10,754
1999 modern 428 #10,898
2000 modern 430 #10,804
2001 modern 422 #10,773
2002 modern 423 #10,975
2003 modern 411 #11,044
2004 modern 409 #11,095
2005 modern 404 #11,100
2006 modern 396 #11,338
2007 modern 381 #11,798
2008 modern 397 #11,556
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 418 #11,582
2011 modern 415 #11,514
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 403 #11,932
2015 modern 396 #11,994
2016 modern 384 #12,251

Geography

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Where Garstangs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors, Whalley and Chorley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Bolton, North Somerset and Chorley. 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 Preston Lancashire
2 Blackburn Lancashire
3 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
4 Whalley Lancashire
5 Chorley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 014 South Lakeland
2 Bolton 034 Bolton
3 North Somerset 002 North Somerset
4 South Lakeland 002 South Lakeland
5 Chorley 006 Chorley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garstang

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garstang

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Garstang surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Garstang household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Garstang 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

Garstang is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garstang 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 Garstang is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Garstang

The surname Garstang originates from the town of Garstang in Lancashire, England. The name is derived from Old English words "gar" meaning spear and "tang" meaning a tongue or strip of land.

The name Garstang is believed to have been first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land and property ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. It was listed as "Grenehenge" or "Greneshanc", referring to a green point of land.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Garstang was John de Garstang, who was mentioned in the Lancashire Assize Rolls in 1285. Another early record is that of Richard de Garstang, who was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1392.

In the 16th century, a prominent individual with the name was Thomas Garstang, who was born in 1490 and was a Roman Catholic martyr. He was executed in 1537 for denying the supremacy of King Henry VIII over the Church of England.

Another notable figure was Richard Garstang, born in 1670, who was an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the development of calculus and is known for his work on the theory of logarithms.

During the 18th century, John Garstang, born in 1725, was a prominent figure in the American Revolutionary War. He served as a captain in the Continental Army and participated in several battles, including the Battle of Monmouth.

In the 19th century, John Garstang, born in 1876, was a renowned English archaeologist who made significant discoveries in the Middle East. He is best known for his excavations at Jericho and Hazor, which shed light on ancient civilizations in the region.

Throughout history, the surname Garstang has been associated with various locations, including the town of Garstang in Lancashire, as well as places like Garstang Green and Garstang Wood, which were likely named after individuals with the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garstang families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garstang 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. Lancashire leads with 360 Garstangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 360 7.48x
Yorkshire 12 0.30x
Cheshire 10 1.12x
Kent 10 0.72x
Middlesex 9 0.22x
Surrey 8 0.40x
Essex 7 0.87x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 95 Garstangs recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.75x.

Place Total Index
Preston 95 73.75x
Blackburn 45 35.13x
Leyland 31 369.93x
Chorley 16 59.22x
Over Darwen 14 36.40x
Lower Darwen 13 205.70x
Toxteth Park 11 6.75x
Altrincham 10 63.90x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 13.07x
Deptford St Paul 10 9.36x
Great Bolton 10 15.68x
Habergham Eaves 10 22.72x
Cuerdon 9 1125.00x
Radcliffe 8 34.47x
Barrow In Furness 7 10.69x
Farnworth 7 24.26x
Heapey 7 1372.55x
West Ham 7 3.96x
Horton In Bradford 6 9.56x
Little Bolton 6 9.69x
Beswick 5 40.62x
Cheetham 5 13.92x
Lambeth 5 1.41x
Lytham 5 68.03x
Manchester 5 2.31x
Saddleworth 5 16.12x
St Anne Soho London 5 21.58x
Whalley 5 71.23x
Ince In Makerfield 4 17.86x
Walton Le Dale 4 30.91x
Birkdale 3 24.63x
Clayton Le Woods 3 666.67x
Fulwood 3 57.69x
Livesey 3 35.50x
Halliwell 2 11.42x
Kirkdale 2 2.47x
Salford 2 1.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.45x
Westminster St James 2 4.80x
Whittle Le Woods 2 125.00x
Willesden 2 5.23x
Ainsworth 1 53.76x
Breightmet 1 47.17x
Bury 1 1.82x
Crumpsall 1 8.81x
Hipperholme Cum 1 5.66x
Layton With Warbreck 1 5.66x
Rumworth 1 14.53x
Southwark Christchurch 1 5.26x
Treales Roseacre 1 128.21x
Turton 1 12.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 24
Alice 13
Ann 13
Jane 13
Margaret 11
Annie 7
Elizth. 7
Isabella 6
Martha 6
Florence 5
Sarah 5
Betsy 4
Ada 3
Ellen 3
Maria 3
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eliz. 2
Eliza 2
Elizebth. 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Johanna 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Nancy 2
Ruth 2
Agnes 1
Charlotte 1
Clementina 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Elenor 1
Elizb.Ann 1
Ellena 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Henrietta 1
Hepzibale 1
Ida 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Lavinia 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 31
Thomas 30
John 23
William 20
Henry 16
Richard 9
Walter 8
Robert 6
Albert 4
Charles 4
Edward 4
George 4
Joseph 3
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Colin 1
Collins 1
Ed. 1
Elijah 1
Fracis 1
Frederick 1
Georgina 1
Goran 1
Harold 1
Heugh 1
Luke 1
Mary 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Roger 1
Rowland 1
Seth 1
Sidney 1
Thos.H. 1
Thos.Walter 1
Warsick 1

FAQ

Garstang surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garstang surname in 1881?

In 1881, 416 people were recorded with the Garstang surname. That placed it at #7,749 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garstang surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016. That gives Garstang a modern rank of #12,251.

What does the Garstang surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Garstang, a town in Lancashire, England.

What does the Garstang map show?

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