NameCensus.

UK surname

Houliston

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Houliston surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 262, ranked #16,256, up from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kelso, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Morton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingholm, Annan East and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Houliston is 282 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 123.9%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

262

2016, ranked #16,256

Peak year

1998

282 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Houliston had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016, ranked #16,256.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Houliston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Houliston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Houliston 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 134 #19,777
1901 historical 184 #15,942
1911 historical 100 #22,717
1997 modern 254 #15,111
1998 modern 282 #14,472
1999 modern 278 #14,705
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 261 #15,066
2002 modern 264 #15,236
2003 modern 272 #14,746
2004 modern 273 #14,804
2005 modern 273 #14,708
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 276 #14,855
2008 modern 275 #15,036
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 274 #15,705
2011 modern 260 #16,188
2012 modern 245 #16,745
2013 modern 259 #16,392
2014 modern 262 #16,380
2015 modern 266 #16,105
2016 modern 262 #16,256

Geography

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Where Houlistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kelso, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Morton, Coldingham and Duns. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kingholm, Annan East, Islington, IZ21 and Bonnyrigg North. 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 Kelso Roxburgh
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Morton Dumfries
4 Coldingham Berwick
5 Duns Berwick

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingholm Dumfries and Galloway
2 Annan East Dumfries and Galloway
3 Islington 005 Islington
4 IZ21 East Lothian
5 Bonnyrigg North Midlothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Houliston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Houliston

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Houliston 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

Houliston 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

Houliston falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Houliston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Houliston 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. Northumberland leads with 21 Houlistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.37x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 21 12.37x
Berwickshire 20 144.72x
Midlothian 18 11.77x
Dumfriesshire 12 47.60x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 60.53x
East Lothian 9 59.56x
Durham 8 2.36x
Selkirkshire 6 58.14x
Roxburghshire 4 19.35x
Middlesex 3 0.26x
Dorset 2 2.67x
Lanarkshire 1 0.27x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.52x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedlington in Northumberland leads with 11 Houlistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.00x.

Place Total Index
Bedlington 11 194.00x
Edinburgh Greenside 8 396.04x
Seghill 8 963.86x
Chirnside 7 1186.44x
Morton 7 833.33x
Benfieldside 6 269.06x
Galashiels 6 157.07x
Troqueer 6 276.50x
Eccles 5 819.67x
Moffat 5 434.78x
Pencaitland 5 1162.79x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 6.50x
Stow 4 506.33x
Coldstream 3 300.00x
Kirkcudbright 3 218.98x
Swinton 3 789.47x
Yetholm 3 731.71x
Byker 2 23.84x
Chester Le Street 2 76.63x
Haddington 2 89.69x
Poole St James 2 71.17x
St Marylebone London 2 3.28x
Aberlady 1 256.41x
Coldingham 1 80.65x
Dunse 1 76.34x
Edinburgh St Andrews 1 79.37x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 33.67x
Govan 1 1.10x
Hove 1 11.85x
Kelso 1 48.54x
Kirkby Malzeard 1 400.00x
Salford 1 2.51x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.98x
Stenton 1 434.78x
Twynholm 1 384.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Margaret 4
Elizabeth 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Alice 1
Annabella 1
Eliza 1
Elspeth 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Georgiana 1
Lydia 1
Prisalla 1
Thomason 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
John 3
William 3
James 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Gilbert 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Houliston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Houliston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Houliston surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Houliston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 262 in 2016. That gives Houliston a modern rank of #16,256.

What does the Houliston map show?

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