NameCensus.

UK surname

Greenway

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a grassy path, road, or thoroughfare.

In the 1881 census there were 2,224 people recorded with the Greenway surname, ranking it #2,001 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,981, ranked #2,261, down from #2,001 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Wakefield and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Greenway is 3,390 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.0%.

1881 census count

2,224

Ranked #2,001

Modern count

2,981

2016, ranked #2,261

Peak year

1911

3,390 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Greenway had 2,224 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,001 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,981 in 2016, ranked #2,261.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,390 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Greenway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Greenway surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Greenway 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 1,375 #2,085
1861 historical 1,660 #1,725
1881 historical 2,224 #2,001
1891 historical 2,625 #1,814
1901 historical 2,922 #1,921
1911 historical 3,390 #1,544
1997 modern 3,050 #2,106
1998 modern 3,225 #2,075
1999 modern 3,201 #2,108
2000 modern 3,217 #2,089
2001 modern 3,103 #2,114
2002 modern 3,174 #2,118
2003 modern 3,057 #2,145
2004 modern 3,033 #2,159
2005 modern 2,986 #2,167
2006 modern 2,990 #2,167
2007 modern 2,963 #2,203
2008 modern 2,998 #2,190
2009 modern 3,093 #2,183
2010 modern 3,145 #2,198
2011 modern 3,096 #2,203
2012 modern 2,991 #2,228
2013 modern 3,030 #2,247
2014 modern 3,042 #2,249
2015 modern 3,005 #2,252
2016 modern 2,981 #2,261

Geography

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Where Greenways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, London parishes and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Wakefield, Caerphilly and Uttlesford. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 003 Stroud
2 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
3 Caerphilly 012 Caerphilly
4 Uttlesford 006 Uttlesford
5 Caerphilly 008 Caerphilly

Forenames

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First names often paired with Greenway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Greenway

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Greenway, 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 Greenway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Greenway 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Greenway 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

Greenway is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Greenway falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Greenway

The surname "GREENWAY" is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "grene" and "weg," meaning "green" and "way" respectively, likely referring to a path or road through a verdant area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where a Roger de Grenewey is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name is found in various forms, such as "Greneweye" and "Grenewaye," in records from counties like Somerset and Gloucestershire. This variation in spelling was common in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The name "GREENWAY" may also have been influenced by the many place names that incorporated the word "green," like Greenway in Hertfordshire or Greenway in Devon. It's possible that the surname originated from these locations, indicating an individual's place of residence or origin.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname was Caleb Greenway (c. 1605-1677), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Archdeacon of Bath. He is remembered for his contributions to the field of education and his writings on religious subjects.

Another prominent individual was Richard Greenway (1798-1854), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Old Paddington Green Courthouse and the Gloucester Terrace in Bayswater.

In the 19th century, John Greenway (1816-1893) was a prominent English landscape painter known for his depictions of the countryside and rural scenes. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries during his lifetime.

Edward Greenway (1737-1819) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He gained recognition for his bravery and leadership in several naval engagements.

The name "GREENWAY" also has a connection to the United States, with Olive Ann Greenway (1833-1904) being an American educator and pioneer in the field of special education for children with disabilities. She founded the Greenway Institute in Philadelphia, which played a significant role in advancing educational opportunities for students with special needs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Greenway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Greenway 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. Warwickshire leads with 496 Greenways recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.05x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 496 9.05x
Staffordshire 238 3.25x
Gloucestershire 194 4.55x
Middlesex 166 0.76x
Worcestershire 166 5.85x
Cheshire 142 2.96x
Lancashire 97 0.38x
Surrey 92 0.87x
Herefordshire 80 8.98x
Sussex 69 1.88x
Devon 64 1.42x
Somerset 50 1.43x
Kent 45 0.61x
Wiltshire 37 1.93x
Yorkshire 36 0.17x
Hampshire 31 0.70x
Monmouthshire 29 1.85x
Radnorshire 28 15.98x
Leicestershire 24 1.00x
Glamorgan 20 0.53x
Cornwall 18 0.73x
Brecknockshire 16 3.68x
Hertfordshire 13 0.87x
Oxfordshire 10 0.75x
Derbyshire 9 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.27x
Dorset 6 0.42x
Lincolnshire 6 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.38x
Essex 5 0.12x
Ayrshire 4 0.25x
Berkshire 4 0.25x
Stirlingshire 4 0.50x
Isle of Man 3 0.74x
Northamptonshire 3 0.15x
Shropshire 3 0.16x
Denbighshire 2 0.24x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Cumberland 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Royal Navy 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 138 Greenways recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.67x.

Place Total Index
Sedgley 138 50.67x
Birmingham 81 4.44x
Coventry Holy Trinity 67 40.96x
Aston 46 3.05x
Coventry St Michael 45 25.57x
Arlingham 33 708.15x
Kingswinford 29 10.89x
Old Stratford 29 93.49x
Bedminster 27 8.22x
Dudley 27 7.83x
Warwick St Nicholas 27 67.20x
Hackney London 25 2.05x
Kensington London 24 1.99x
Lambeth 24 1.27x
Brighton 22 2.98x
Edgbaston 20 11.77x
Saul 20 450.45x
Wolverhampton 20 3.55x
Alvanley 19 778.69x
Exeter St Sidwell 19 18.35x
Combrook 18 1118.01x
Moreton Morrell 17 880.83x
Utkinton 17 439.28x
Worcester St Peter 17 31.66x
Tysoe 16 215.63x
Alverstoke 15 9.31x
Brasted 15 156.09x
Chelsea London 14 2.14x
Goodrich 14 251.35x
Manchester 14 1.21x
St Marylebone London 14 1.21x
Suckley 13 279.57x
Ashton 12 415.22x
Brailes 12 142.69x
Camberwell 12 0.86x
Chippenham 12 29.78x
Claines 12 15.41x
Foleshill 12 20.82x
Fulham London 12 3.81x
West Dean 12 17.34x
Mangotsfield 11 25.90x
Salford 11 1.45x
Bermondsey 10 1.55x
Bristol St George 10 5.07x
Macclesfield 10 4.69x
Odd Rode 10 42.11x
Yardley 10 13.78x
Battersea 9 1.13x
Burbage 9 71.60x
Burton By Tarvin 9 1730.77x
Cannock 9 7.03x
Cheshunt 9 17.20x
Fretherne 9 505.62x
Gaydon 9 461.54x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 9 11.54x
West Bromwich 9 2.14x
Abergavenny 8 13.60x
Bristol St Augustine 8 11.63x
Bromsgrove 8 8.38x
Chester St John Baptist 8 9.28x
Frodsham Lordship 8 98.64x
Hammersmith London 8 1.49x
Hill Moor 8 318.73x
Newchurch 8 1052.63x
Pilkington 8 8.17x
Preston On Stour 8 394.09x
Radway 8 421.05x
Severn Stoke 8 155.04x
Warwick St Mary 8 16.82x
Allington 7 642.20x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 1.75x
Budbrooke 7 125.45x
Clifford 7 118.64x
Falmouth 7 8.04x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 7 44.05x
Hulme 7 1.30x
Little Cowarne 7 555.56x
Oakmere 7 230.26x
Stapleton 7 8.66x
Warrington 7 2.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 169
Elizabeth 89
Sarah 74
Ann 50
Emma 48
Eliza 38
Jane 38
Alice 37
Annie 34
Ellen 28
Emily 28
Hannah 27
Florence 23
Charlotte 18
Kate 16
Harriet 15
Agnes 12
Fanny 12
Margaret 12
Martha 12
Louisa 10
Ada 9
Catherine 9
Eleanor 9
Harriett 9
Maria 9
Caroline 8
Lucy 8
Amelia 7
Anne 7
Edith 7
Gertrude 7
Clara 5
Esther 5
Julia 5
Laura 5
Matilda 5
Minnie 5
Rebecca 5
Rose 5
Selina 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Eva 4
Frances 4
Leah 4
Lydia 4
Marion 4
Miriam 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 146
John 114
George 80
Thomas 60
James 56
Henry 55
Charles 44
Joseph 39
Alfred 27
Edward 27
Arthur 26
Samuel 21
Walter 20
Frederick 18
Richard 18
Albert 16
Ernest 14
Daniel 13
Edwin 13
Francis 12
Herbert 12
David 11
Frank 9
Fred 8
Fredrick 8
Harry 8
Ralph 6
Alexander 5
Benjamin 5
Jabez 5
Oliver 5
Robert 5
Thos. 4
Wm. 4
Amos 3
Edgar 3
Jesse 3
Job 3
Christopher 2
Clark 2
Eli 2
Enoch 2
Horace 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Orlando 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2

FAQ

Greenway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Greenway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,224 people were recorded with the Greenway surname. That placed it at #2,001 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Greenway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,981 in 2016. That gives Greenway a modern rank of #2,261.

What does the Greenway surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a grassy path, road, or thoroughfare.

What does the Greenway map show?

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