NameCensus.

UK surname

Glaister

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "glaster", meaning glazier or glassworker.

In the 1881 census there were 509 people recorded with the Glaister surname, ranking it #6,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 975, ranked #5,924, up from #6,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, London parishes and Lanark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Carlisle and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glaister is 1,023 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.6%.

1881 census count

509

Ranked #6,690

Modern count

975

2016, ranked #5,924

Peak year

2002

1,023 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glaister had 509 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016, ranked #5,924.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 690 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Glaister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glaister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glaister 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 346 #6,798
1861 historical 441 #5,853
1881 historical 509 #6,690
1891 historical 574 #6,631
1901 historical 672 #6,483
1911 historical 690 #6,151
1997 modern 942 #5,755
1998 modern 989 #5,718
1999 modern 999 #5,719
2000 modern 1,014 #5,614
2001 modern 996 #5,595
2002 modern 1,023 #5,596
2003 modern 1,009 #5,550
2004 modern 995 #5,627
2005 modern 980 #5,636
2006 modern 959 #5,748
2007 modern 972 #5,737
2008 modern 992 #5,687
2009 modern 1,008 #5,727
2010 modern 1,021 #5,784
2011 modern 991 #5,862
2012 modern 938 #6,048
2013 modern 969 #5,972
2014 modern 978 #5,963
2015 modern 974 #5,933
2016 modern 975 #5,924

Geography

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Where Glaisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, London parishes, Lanark, Holme Cultram and Brigham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Carlisle and Northumberland. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lanark Lanark
4 Holme Cultram Cumberland
5 Brigham Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Carlisle 013 Carlisle
4 Copeland 007 Copeland
5 Northumberland 038 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glaister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glaister

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Glaister, 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 Glaister surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Glaister 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Glaister 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

Glaister 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

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

Meaning and origin of Glaister

The surname Glaister has its roots in the British Isles, specifically in Scotland, and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "glaester," which means "glazier" or a maker of glass. This occupation-based surname likely originated from an ancestor who worked as a glazier, crafting and installing glass windows.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Glaister can be found in the Scottish Exchequer Rolls of 1438, where a certain John Glaister is listed as a resident of Edinburgh. This historical record provides evidence of the surname's existence in Scotland during the 15th century.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records and documents across Scotland. For instance, Robert Glaister was baptized in the parish of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in 1683. Another notable individual was James Glaister, born in 1725 in Falkirk, who became a respected minister and theologian.

The name Glaister has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One prominent figure was Sir John Glaister (1856-1932), a Scottish lawyer, criminologist, and forensic scientist who made significant contributions to the field of forensic medicine. He served as the Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine at the University of Glasgow from 1908 to 1927.

Another notable bearer of the surname was John Glaister (1915-2005), a Scottish architect and town planner who played a crucial role in the post-war reconstruction of Glasgow. His designs and urban planning efforts helped shape the city's modern landscape.

In the realm of literature, William Glaister (1898-1963) was a Scottish author and journalist who wrote several novels and short stories, including "The Glass Hunters" and "The Ayrshire Idylls."

The surname Glaister has also been found in various place names, such as Glaisterlands in Ayrshire, Scotland, which likely derived from an individual or family bearing the surname.

While the Glaister surname is predominantly Scottish in origin, it has spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. Over the centuries, various spellings and variations of the name have emerged, such as Glaster, Glaister, and Glayster, reflecting regional linguistic differences and record-keeping practices.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glaister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glaister 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. Cumberland leads with 260 Glaisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 60.58x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 260 60.58x
Lancashire 82 1.39x
Durham 36 2.43x
Middlesex 30 0.60x
Northumberland 29 3.91x
Lanarkshire 24 1.49x
Yorkshire 11 0.22x
Cheshire 10 0.91x
Staffordshire 8 0.48x
Dumfriesshire 6 5.45x
Surrey 4 0.16x
Berkshire 3 0.80x
Kent 3 0.18x
Cornwall 1 0.18x
Isle of Man 1 1.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 1.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitehaven in Cumberland leads with 26 Glaisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.69x.

Place Total Index
Whitehaven 26 113.69x
Caldewgate 23 97.83x
Parton 22 869.57x
Holme Abbey 20 1250.00x
Lanark 19 146.49x
Mickley 16 683.76x
Low Holme 14 578.51x
Lowside Quarter 14 2592.59x
Cockermouth 13 143.96x
Rickergate 11 121.15x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 7.74x
Brigham 10 492.61x
Dearham 9 159.01x
Keswick 9 163.93x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 78.19x
Wigton 9 139.97x
Birkenhead 8 9.12x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 8.51x
Hamsterley 8 952.38x
Little Bolton 8 10.52x
Newcastle Under Lyme 8 26.87x
St Cuthbert W O 8 38.24x
St Marylebone London 8 3.01x
Hensingham 7 199.43x
Lancaster 7 19.89x
Manningham 7 11.50x
Preston Quarter 7 58.19x
Silksworth 7 1029.41x
Castle Sowerby 6 631.58x
Great Bolton 6 7.66x
Liverpool 6 1.67x
Longbenton 6 19.10x
Ryton 6 115.16x
St Cuthbert Within 6 120.72x
Gosforth 5 239.23x
Hulme 5 4.05x
Islington London 5 1.03x
Kensington London 5 1.80x
St Giles In Fields London 5 20.45x
Tunstall 5 67.75x
Wooler 5 191.57x
Darlington 4 6.99x
Everton 4 2.12x
Glasgow 4 1.40x
Glassonby 4 1428.57x
Hoddam 4 150.94x
Holme East Waver 4 519.48x
Lazonby 4 360.36x
Toxteth Park 4 2.00x
Ulverston 4 23.22x
Workington 4 16.28x
Aspatria 3 72.64x
Clewer 3 19.57x
Crosscanonby 3 21.14x
East Thickley 3 99.67x
Lambeth 3 0.69x
Manchester 3 1.13x
Ousby 3 714.29x
St George In East London 3 6.40x
Bowness 2 120.48x
Dumfries 2 18.42x
Egremont 2 19.55x
Kearsley 2 16.06x
St Mary Within 2 37.31x
Strood 2 20.62x
Thornley 2 37.24x
West Derby 2 1.16x
Alnwick 1 7.84x
Beckermet St John 1 93.46x
Bexley 1 6.65x
Dundraw Kelsick 1 217.39x
Liscard 1 5.04x
Michaelstow 1 263.16x
Mirfield 1 3.69x
Pennington In Leigh 1 8.81x
Penrith 1 6.31x
Royal Navy 1 1.97x
Sandwith 1 158.73x
St George Bloomsbury 1 3.50x
York St Maurice 1 10.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 56
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 18
Jane 17
Margaret 15
Ann 14
Hannah 8
Martha 8
Isabella 6
Harriet 5
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Emma 4
Barbara 3
Catherine 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Lizzie 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
E.Mary 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Essie 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Frances 1
Helen 1
Henricta 1
Josephine 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Margrate 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Therese 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 34
Joseph 23
Thomas 22
George 18
Robert 16
James 11
Henry 8
Richard 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Jacob 4
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Hiram 2
Mungo 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Chambers 1
Charles 1
David 1
E.H. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk.W. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Isaac 1
Jane 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Norman 1
Sanderson 1
Stephen 1
Thompson 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Glaister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glaister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 509 people were recorded with the Glaister surname. That placed it at #6,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glaister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 975 in 2016. That gives Glaister a modern rank of #5,924.

What does the Glaister surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English "glaster", meaning glazier or glassworker.

What does the Glaister map show?

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