NameCensus.

UK surname

Goldstein

A Jewish surname derived from the German words "gold" and "stein," meaning "gold stone" or referring to a goldsmith.

In the 1881 census there were 612 people recorded with the Goldstein surname, ranking it #5,741 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 888, ranked #6,363, down from #5,741 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Hackney and Redbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Goldstein is 2,862 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.1%.

1881 census count

612

Ranked #5,741

Modern count

888

2016, ranked #6,363

Peak year

1911

2,862 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Goldstein had 612 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,741 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 888 in 2016, ranked #6,363.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,862 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Goldstein surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Goldstein surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Goldstein 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 612 #5,741
1891 historical 1,253 #3,446
1901 historical 2,513 #2,183
1911 historical 2,862 #1,820
1997 modern 915 #5,900
1998 modern 972 #5,809
1999 modern 966 #5,869
2000 modern 946 #5,942
2001 modern 908 #6,045
2002 modern 916 #6,123
2003 modern 932 #5,926
2004 modern 945 #5,863
2005 modern 922 #5,913
2006 modern 893 #6,081
2007 modern 887 #6,154
2008 modern 872 #6,282
2009 modern 880 #6,381
2010 modern 929 #6,224
2011 modern 928 #6,180
2012 modern 913 #6,184
2013 modern 925 #6,221
2014 modern 928 #6,240
2015 modern 895 #6,351
2016 modern 888 #6,363

Geography

Back to top

Where Goldsteins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Hackney and Redbridge. 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 George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 033 Barnet
2 Barnet 035 Barnet
3 Hackney 001 Hackney
4 Barnet 014 Barnet
5 Redbridge 006 Redbridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Goldstein

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Goldstein

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Goldstein surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Goldstein 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Goldstein is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Goldstein 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

Goldstein 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 Goldstein 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Goldstein

The surname Goldstein originates from Germany, where it first appeared in the 16th century. It is a Jewish name, derived from the German words "gold" meaning gold and "stein" meaning stone. The name likely referred to someone who worked with gold or precious metals, or perhaps lived near a golden-colored stone or rock formation.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Goldstein can be found in the town records of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, dating back to the late 1500s. The name was also present in other German cities such as Berlin and Hamburg during this time period.

In the 17th century, the Goldstein name began to appear in various Jewish community records and documents across Europe. For instance, there are references to individuals with the surname Goldstein in the records of the Jewish community in Amsterdam, Netherlands from the mid-1600s.

A notable early bearer of the name was Rabbi Judah Loeb Goldstein, a respected Jewish scholar and religious leader who lived in Prague, Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic) in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

Another individual of historical significance was Moses Goldstein, a Jewish merchant and financier who lived in Berlin, Germany in the late 17th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's Jewish community and played a significant role in the economic and cultural life of Berlin during that time.

In the 18th century, the Goldstein name can be found in various regions of Europe, including Poland, where it was often spelled as "Goldsztejn" or "Goldsztain" due to the influence of the Polish language.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Goldstein was Max Goldstein, a German-born American businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1870 to 1941. He founded the successful Goldstein's Department Store chain and was known for his charitable contributions to various causes.

Another notable Goldstein was Vida Goldstein, an Australian feminist and social reformer who campaigned for women's suffrage and equal rights. She lived from 1869 to 1949 and was a prominent figure in the women's rights movement in Australia.

In the 20th century, the Goldstein name became more widespread, with individuals bearing the surname making contributions in various fields such as science, literature, and politics. One example is Gérard Goldstein, a French physicist and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of quantum mechanics. He lived from 1924 to 2004.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Goldstein families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Goldstein 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. Middlesex leads with 480 Goldsteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 480 8.04x
Yorkshire 37 0.63x
Lancashire 26 0.37x
Monmouthshire 15 3.48x
Gloucestershire 9 0.77x
Surrey 9 0.31x
Warwickshire 9 0.60x
Hampshire 8 0.65x
Lanarkshire 8 0.41x
Lincolnshire 3 0.31x
Midlothian 3 0.38x
Sussex 2 0.20x
Kent 1 0.05x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 121 Goldsteins recorded in 1881 and an index of 205.64x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 121 205.64x
Spitalfields London 99 220.49x
Mile End Old Town London 80 62.96x
Mile End New Town London 64 542.37x
St Botolph Aldgate London 25 203.42x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 17 201.18x
Islington London 16 2.77x
Leeds 16 4.79x
St George In East London 16 28.50x
Newport 15 72.85x
Holy Trinity 13 9.14x
Cheetham 12 22.71x
Stroud 9 39.49x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.08x
Holdenhurst 8 24.92x
St Giles In Fields London 8 27.31x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 6.22x
Glasgow 7 2.04x
Shoreditch London 7 2.70x
Birmingham 6 1.20x
Kensington London 6 1.81x
Lambeth 5 0.96x
Liverpool 4 0.93x
Rotherhithe 4 5.42x
Sculcoates 4 4.26x
St Mary 4 101.27x
Aston 3 0.72x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 0.93x
Hampstead London 3 3.23x
Old Artillery Ground 3 58.37x
St Marylebone London 3 0.94x
St Swithin Lincoln 3 19.99x
Brighton 2 0.98x
St Martin In Fields 2 5.60x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.04x
Canterbury St Alphage 1 45.87x
Govan 1 0.21x
North Lopham 1 69.93x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.48x
Paddington London 1 0.46x
St Stephen Coleman Street 1 47.85x
West Derby 1 0.48x
Whittingham 1 32.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 28
Leah 20
Rachel 18
Rebecca 14
Annie 13
Jane 12
Esther 10
Betsy 8
Fanny 8
Rachael 8
Bertha 6
Kate 6
Miriam 6
Rose 6
Deborah 5
Dora 5
Amelia 4
Celia 4
Julia 4
Mary 4
Anna 3
Elizabeth 3
Ester 3
Eva 3
Golda 3
Hannah 3
Rosa 3
Sophia 3
Clara 2
Debra 2
Emma 2
Katie 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Milly 2
Minnie 2
Ann 1
Blooma 1
Bluma 1
Dinah 1
Dorah 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Emelia 1
Emilie 1
Hyman 1
Ida 1
Ira 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 19
Abraham 18
Harris 17
Morris 17
Isaac 15
Samuel 14
David 13
Henry 10
Joseph 10
Lewis 7
Louis 7
Solomon 7
Israel 6
Lazarus 6
Mark 6
Davis 5
Moses 5
Simon 5
Hyman 4
Michael 4
Nathan 4
Philip 4
Woolf 4
Asher 3
Benjamin 3
Hyam 3
Aaron 2
Alexander 2
Alfred 2
Barnett 2
Bernard 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Davy 2
Eliza 2
George 2
John 2
Marcus 2
Maurice 2
Max 2
Myer 2
Saml. 2
Soloman 2
Thomas 2
Wolff 2
Alex 1
Barnet 1
Falic 1
Frederick 1
Garthon 1

FAQ

Goldstein surname: questions and answers

How common was the Goldstein surname in 1881?

In 1881, 612 people were recorded with the Goldstein surname. That placed it at #5,741 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Goldstein surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 888 in 2016. That gives Goldstein a modern rank of #6,363.

What does the Goldstein surname mean?

A Jewish surname derived from the German words "gold" and "stein," meaning "gold stone" or referring to a goldsmith.

What does the Goldstein map show?

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