NameCensus.

UK surname

Greenhow

An English surname derived from a location name referring to a green hill or valley.

In the 1881 census there were 589 people recorded with the Greenhow surname, ranking it #5,928 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 638, ranked #8,294, down from #5,928 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bampton, Cross Cannonby and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Sefton and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greenhow is 712 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.3%.

1881 census count

589

Ranked #5,928

Modern count

638

2016, ranked #8,294

Peak year

1999

712 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greenhow had 589 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,928 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016, ranked #8,294.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 693 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Greenhow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greenhow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greenhow 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 357 #6,620
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 589 #5,928
1891 historical 581 #6,569
1901 historical 693 #6,339
1911 historical 693 #6,131
1997 modern 667 #7,524
1998 modern 708 #7,408
1999 modern 712 #7,422
2000 modern 700 #7,492
2001 modern 694 #7,425
2002 modern 698 #7,530
2003 modern 677 #7,596
2004 modern 660 #7,748
2005 modern 636 #7,906
2006 modern 633 #7,967
2007 modern 643 #7,926
2008 modern 647 #7,942
2009 modern 689 #7,737
2010 modern 693 #7,842
2011 modern 681 #7,852
2012 modern 651 #8,066
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 658 #8,175
2015 modern 652 #8,177
2016 modern 638 #8,294

Geography

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Where Greenhows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bampton, Cross Cannonby, Gateshead, Greystoke and Almondbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Sefton, Sunderland, Eden and Allerdale. 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 Bampton Westmorland
2 Cross Cannonby Cumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Greystoke Cumberland
5 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
2 Sefton 024 Sefton
3 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
4 Eden 006 Eden
5 Allerdale 003 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greenhow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greenhow

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Greenhow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Greenhow 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Greenhow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Greenhow is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Greenhow

The surname Greenhow has its origins in the Yorkshire region of England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from a combination of the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "hoh," meaning a spur of land or hill, suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a green hill or ridge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Grenehou." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides a invaluable record of landowners and their properties throughout England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in various Yorkshire charters and records, often with variations such as "Grenehowe" and "Grenhowe." These early spellings reflect the local dialects and pronunciation variations that were common in medieval times.

Notable individuals bearing the Greenhow surname include:

1. William Greenhow (c. 1680-1742), an English merchant and landowner in Virginia, USA. 2. Robert Greenhow (1800-1854), an American historian and diplomat, known for his work "History of Oregon and California." 3. Henry Greenhow (1826-1910), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London. 4. Sarah Greenhow (1835-1902), an American socialite and Confederate spy during the American Civil War. 5. Edward Headlam Greenhow (1864-1950), a British barrister and author of legal texts.

The surname Greenhow is also associated with several place names in Yorkshire, such as Greenhow Hill, a prominent landmark in the Yorkshire Dales, and the village of Greenhow, near Pateley Bridge. These locations likely played a role in the early development and spread of the surname in the region.

While the name has since spread beyond its Yorkshire roots, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greenhow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greenhow 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 173 Greenhows recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.97x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 173 34.97x
Yorkshire 95 1.67x
Lancashire 93 1.36x
Westmorland 73 57.81x
Durham 38 2.22x
Middlesex 18 0.31x
Angus 14 2.63x
Staffordshire 13 0.67x
Northumberland 12 1.40x
Surrey 8 0.29x
Suffolk 7 1.00x
Aberdeenshire 6 1.13x
Cheshire 6 0.47x
Essex 6 0.53x
Midlothian 6 0.78x
Derbyshire 4 0.44x
Perthshire 4 1.55x
Glamorgan 3 0.30x
Hampshire 3 0.25x
Merionethshire 3 2.85x
Lincolnshire 2 0.22x
Kent 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crosscanonby in Cumberland leads with 25 Greenhows recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.81x.

Place Total Index
Crosscanonby 25 152.81x
Keswick 25 395.57x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 20 840.34x
Bampton 15 1401.87x
Flimby 15 358.85x
Almondbury 14 50.85x
Hetton Le Hole 13 60.02x
St Vigeans 13 45.25x
Shap 12 431.65x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 11 320.70x
Barningham 10 1960.78x
Huddersfield 10 12.06x
Leeds 10 3.11x
Penrith 10 54.73x
Southwick 10 61.77x
Ellerton Abbey 9 10000.00x
Graystoke 9 1022.73x
Gamblesby 8 1509.43x
Low Holme 8 286.74x
Ulverston 8 40.28x
Withington 8 36.43x
Dacre 7 366.49x
Holme 7 457.52x
Watermillock 7 769.23x
Wolstanton 7 11.88x
Birkenhead 6 5.93x
Burslem 6 10.80x
Edinburgh Greenside 6 59.00x
Greencroft Langley 6 789.47x
Hornby 6 857.14x
Manchester 6 1.96x
Patterdale 6 428.57x
Threlkeld 6 731.71x
Acomb 5 167.79x
Appleby St Lawrence 5 173.61x
Garstang 5 324.68x
Hampstead London 5 5.59x
Houghton Le Spring 5 42.30x
Kirkoswald 5 431.03x
Liverpool 5 1.21x
Longbenton 5 13.81x
Over Staveley 5 347.22x
Polstead 5 306.75x
Stanwix 5 125.00x
Belhelvie 4 109.89x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.73x
Broughton In Salford 4 6.42x
Chelmsford 4 20.56x
Cockermouth 4 38.42x
Grasmere 4 275.86x
Hesket In Forest 4 103.63x
Hipperholme Cum 4 15.99x
Keighley 4 6.59x
Newton Upon Ouse 4 344.83x
North Wingfield 4 99.50x
Port Of Monteith 4 172.41x
Radcliffe 4 12.17x
Sculcoates 4 4.43x
Walton On Thames 4 31.13x
Workington 4 14.12x
Barrow In Furness 3 3.24x
Blackburn 3 1.65x
Bramley In Bramley 3 13.77x
Egremont 3 25.45x
Hexham 3 22.68x
Kendal 3 12.98x
Kirkdale 3 2.62x
Langdale 3 208.33x
Shoreditch London 3 1.20x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 3 234.38x
St Marylebone London 3 0.98x
Swansea Town 3 3.66x
Thorner 3 163.04x
Thursby 3 285.71x
Towyn 3 45.39x
Brigham 2 85.47x
Croydon 2 1.29x
Ellon 2 27.32x
Urswick 2 79.05x
Woolsthorpe 2 169.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 40
Joseph 26
Thomas 18
Edward 17
George 16
Robert 14
James 8
Henry 7
Frederick 6
Charles 5
Richard 5
Albert 3
David 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Geo. 2
Isaac 2
Marshall 2
Michael 2
Ralph 2
Tom 2
Wilfred 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Conrad 1
Ed. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Jno.E. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rd. 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Western 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Greenhow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greenhow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 589 people were recorded with the Greenhow surname. That placed it at #5,928 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greenhow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 638 in 2016. That gives Greenhow a modern rank of #8,294.

What does the Greenhow surname mean?

An English surname derived from a location name referring to a green hill or valley.

What does the Greenhow map show?

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