NameCensus.

UK surname

Illston

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Illston surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 156, ranked #23,098, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Werburgh, Manchester and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Chichester and Blaby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Illston is 164 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 92.6%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

156

2016, ranked #23,098

Peak year

2012

164 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Illston had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016, ranked #23,098.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 154 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Illston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Illston surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Illston 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 115 #21,878
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 154 #17,553
1997 modern 158 #20,422
1998 modern 160 #20,832
1999 modern 155 #21,375
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 150 #21,913
2003 modern 152 #21,486
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 142 #22,577
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 138 #23,478
2008 modern 145 #22,929
2009 modern 157 #22,271
2010 modern 151 #23,377
2011 modern 156 #22,690
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 160 #22,824
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 156 #23,098

Geography

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Where Illstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Werburgh, Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Aylestone and Syston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Chichester, Blaby and Craven. 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 Werburgh Derbyshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Aylestone Leicestershire
5 Syston Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 001 Derby
2 Chichester 002 Chichester
3 Blaby 008 Blaby
4 Craven 001 Craven
5 Derby 002 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Illston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Illston

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

Illston 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

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

1881 census detail

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Illston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Illston 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. Leicestershire leads with 59 Illstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.37x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 59 67.37x
Nottinghamshire 8 7.51x
Durham 5 2.13x
Yorkshire 4 0.51x
Lancashire 3 0.32x
Northamptonshire 2 2.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Nicholas in Leicestershire leads with 13 Illstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2600.00x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Nicholas 13 2600.00x
Leicester All Sts 11 639.53x
Barkby 8 4705.88x
Leicester St Margaret 7 32.77x
Leicester St Mary 6 84.75x
Gateshead 5 28.41x
Leicester St Leonard 5 602.41x
Syston 5 609.76x
Gedling 4 2222.22x
Rotherham 4 90.70x
Basford 3 61.10x
Salford 3 10.88x
Belgrave 2 101.01x
Kettering 2 66.45x
Willoughby Waterless 2 2222.22x
Nottingham St Mary 1 3.63x

FAQ

Illston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Illston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Illston surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Illston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 156 in 2016. That gives Illston a modern rank of #23,098.

What does the Illston map show?

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