NameCensus.

UK surname

Greensides

A habitational surname referring to someone living near a verdant, grassy area.

In the 1881 census there were 140 people recorded with the Greensides surname, ranking it #16,151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, down from #16,151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hemsby, Hull Holy Trinity and Hollym. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greensides is 199 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

140

Ranked #16,151

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

2000

199 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greensides had 140 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 153 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Greensides surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greensides surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greensides 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 114 #15,716
1861 historical 101 #20,955
1881 historical 140 #16,151
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 153 #17,844
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 189 #18,267
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 199 #18,278
2001 modern 190 #18,520
2002 modern 195 #18,590
2003 modern 187 #18,856
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 171 #20,595
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 175 #21,186
2011 modern 185 #20,288
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 193 #19,997
2014 modern 193 #20,159
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

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Where Greensides' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hemsby, Hull Holy Trinity, Hollym, Beverley St Mary and Ormsby St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire and Kirklees. 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 Hemsby Norfolk
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Hollym Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Beverley St Mary Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Ormsby St Michael Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 016 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 033 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 014 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greensides

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greensides

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Greensides surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Greensides household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Greensides is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Greensides is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greensides falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Greensides

The surname Greensides originated in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, during the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be a descriptive nickname derived from the Old English words "grene," meaning green, and "side," referring to a hillside or slope.

The earliest known record of the name Greensides dates back to the 14th century, appearing in various tax rolls and court records. One notable reference is found in the "Boke of Nurture," a Middle English etiquette book written in the 15th century, where a character named John Greensides is mentioned.

In the 16th century, several variations of the spelling emerged, including Greensyde, Greneside, and Grensyde. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and phonetic spellings common during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Greensides was William Greensides, born around 1520 in Lancashire. He was a landowner and farmer known for his contributions to the local community.

Another notable figure was Robert Greensides, born in 1612 in Yorkshire. He was a successful merchant and trader who established a prosperous business exporting wool and textiles to continental Europe.

In the 18th century, the name gained prominence with the birth of John Greensides (1718-1795), a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the rector of a prestigious college in Cambridge.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Mary Greensides (1832-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools in northern England and played a significant role in promoting equal opportunities for education.

Lastly, a more recent figure was the historian and author, Edward Greensides (1901-1982), whose works focused on the social and cultural history of northern England during the Industrial Revolution.

It is worth noting that the name Greensides has also been associated with certain place names in England, such as Greensides Farm in Yorkshire and Greensides Lane in Lancashire, further reinforcing its connection to the region's geography and landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greensides families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greensides 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. Yorkshire leads with 109 Greensides' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.06x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 109 8.06x
Norfolk 20 9.53x
Lincolnshire 5 2.29x
Durham 3 0.74x
Kent 3 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beverley St Mary in Yorkshire leads with 15 Greensides' recorded in 1881 and an index of 757.58x.

Place Total Index
Beverley St Mary 15 757.58x
Holy Trinity 15 46.08x
Beverley St Nicholas 14 1261.26x
Hollym 14 11666.67x
Aldbrough In Skirlaugh 10 4000.00x
Great Yarmouth 10 57.50x
Ormesby St Michael 9 6923.08x
Howden 7 760.87x
Southcoates 7 93.21x
Eastoft 4 1428.57x
Roos 4 1600.00x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 34.44x
Hedon 3 666.67x
Horton Kirby 3 416.67x
Leeds 3 3.93x
Sproatley Wyton 3 1578.95x
Tunstall 3 148.51x
Sowerby In Thirsk 2 246.91x
Thorngumbald 2 1666.67x
Chapel Allerton 1 49.51x
Cherry Burton 1 476.19x
Doncaster 1 10.11x
Fitling 1 1666.67x
Leconfield Arram 1 666.67x
Lingwood 1 526.32x
Messingham 1 188.68x
Sculcoates 1 4.66x
Waxholme 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 9
John 9
William 9
Thomas 7
Christopher 5
George 5
Robert 5
Henry 4
Charles 3
Harry 2
Peter 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Burgess 1
Carter 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
H.W. 1
Ian 1
Johnson 1
R.H. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Stephenson 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Greensides surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greensides surname in 1881?

In 1881, 140 people were recorded with the Greensides surname. That placed it at #16,151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greensides surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Greensides a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Greensides surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone living near a verdant, grassy area.

What does the Greensides map show?

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