NameCensus.

UK surname

Ingham

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Ingham, derived from the Old English "ing" and "ham".

In the 1881 census there were 7,443 people recorded with the Ingham surname, ranking it #571 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,721, ranked #1,005, down from #571 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ingham is 9,184 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.7%.

1881 census count

7,443

Ranked #571

Modern count

6,721

2016, ranked #1,005

Peak year

1911

9,184 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ingham had 7,443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #571 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,721 in 2016, ranked #1,005.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 9,184 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Ingham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ingham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ingham 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 4,821 #575
1861 historical 4,917 #574
1881 historical 7,443 #571
1891 historical 7,899 #562
1901 historical 8,589 #619
1911 historical 9,184 #534
1997 modern 7,036 #925
1998 modern 7,229 #939
1999 modern 7,209 #948
2000 modern 7,192 #945
2001 modern 6,945 #952
2002 modern 7,004 #968
2003 modern 6,847 #962
2004 modern 6,939 #950
2005 modern 6,736 #967
2006 modern 6,680 #980
2007 modern 6,722 #981
2008 modern 6,783 #978
2009 modern 6,876 #989
2010 modern 6,935 #1,000
2011 modern 6,895 #991
2012 modern 6,641 #1,006
2013 modern 6,769 #1,010
2014 modern 6,837 #1,004
2015 modern 6,739 #1,007
2016 modern 6,721 #1,005

Geography

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Where Inghams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, Halifax, Bradford and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Ribble Valley and Hyndburn. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 004 Burnley
2 Burnley 006 Burnley
3 Ribble Valley 001 Ribble Valley
4 Burnley 014 Burnley
5 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ingham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ingham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ingham, 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 Ingham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ingham 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, Ingham 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

Ingham is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ingham

The surname Ingham has its origins in England, specifically in the northern counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire. It is derived from the Old English words "ing," meaning meadow or pasture, and "ham," meaning homestead or village. Therefore, Ingham can be interpreted as "homestead on the meadow."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ingham is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Ingheham." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, served as a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population in England after the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the name was also spelled in various ways, such as Ingham, Ingam, and Yngham. These variations reflect the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time. One notable early bearer of the name was John de Ingham, who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1323 to 1324 under King Edward II.

The surname Ingham is closely associated with several place names in England, particularly the villages of Ingham in Norfolk and Ingham in Lincolnshire. These place names likely influenced the development and spread of the surname in those regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Ingham:

1. Benjamin Ingham (1712-1772), an English evangelist and follower of John Wesley, who established Methodist societies in North America. 2. Mary Butcher Ingham (1633-1717), an English Quaker writer and preacher who wrote several religious works. 3. Samuel Ingham (1793-1860), an English inventor and engineer who contributed to the development of the screw propeller for ships. 4. William Ingham (1854-1920), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England. 5. George Ingham (1886-1952), an English football player who played as a forward for several clubs, including West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa.

The surname Ingham has endured throughout the centuries, reflecting its English origins and the historical significance of place names and homesteads in meadows or pastures. While it has spread globally, its roots can be traced back to the northern counties of England and the linguistic heritage of Old English.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ingham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ingham 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. Lancashire leads with 3,428 Inghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.98x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 3,428 3.98x
Yorkshire 2,859 3.97x
Cheshire 245 1.53x
Lincolnshire 143 1.23x
Middlesex 134 0.18x
Durham 83 0.38x
Surrey 77 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 59 0.60x
Derbyshire 50 0.44x
Kent 44 0.18x
Hampshire 38 0.26x
Northumberland 34 0.31x
Devon 25 0.17x
Northamptonshire 24 0.35x
Worcestershire 20 0.21x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.39x
Warwickshire 18 0.10x
Hertfordshire 15 0.30x
Suffolk 14 0.16x
Cumberland 13 0.21x
Somerset 13 0.11x
Staffordshire 11 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 10 0.34x
Essex 10 0.07x
Leicestershire 10 0.12x
Sussex 10 0.08x
Gloucestershire 9 0.06x
Oxfordshire 5 0.11x
Denbighshire 4 0.15x
Isle of Man 4 0.30x
Midlothian 3 0.03x
Renfrewshire 3 0.05x
Shropshire 3 0.05x
Westmorland 3 0.19x
Dorset 2 0.04x
Lanarkshire 2 0.01x
Norfolk 2 0.02x
Berkshire 1 0.02x
Flintshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Habergham Eaves in Lancashire leads with 220 Inghams recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.92x.

Place Total Index
Habergham Eaves 220 27.92x
Accrington 203 25.90x
Bury 160 16.25x
Newchurch 152 21.55x
Halifax 147 13.91x
Leeds 140 3.44x
Padiham 132 63.37x
Thornton In Bradford 127 52.99x
Oldham 119 4.28x
Dewsbury 116 15.71x
Manchester 115 2.97x
Ovenden 115 35.89x
Ashton Under Lyne 113 6.00x
Blackburn 105 4.58x
Lower Booths 105 67.97x
Bradford 96 5.51x
Heap 96 20.99x
Spotland 93 9.70x
Batley 83 12.13x
Preston 77 3.34x
Hunslet 68 6.06x
Burnley 64 8.82x
Clayton 62 35.19x
Hulme 61 3.39x
Pudsey 61 15.85x
Allerton 59 64.29x
Bowling 59 8.27x
Middleton In Oldham 59 22.82x
Midgley 55 71.69x
Great Little Marsden 54 13.67x
Northowram 54 10.70x
Wadsworth 51 43.52x
Liversedge 49 15.29x
Warley 49 23.55x
Farnley In Bramley 47 52.29x
Castleton 45 5.23x
Manningham 45 5.07x
Horton In Bradford 43 3.82x
Liverpool 42 0.80x
Stansfield 42 15.85x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 40 43.42x
Elland Cum Greetland 40 12.33x
Haslingden 40 11.21x
Whalley 40 31.84x
Skipton 39 17.21x
Colne 38 14.80x
Southowram 38 17.29x
Walton Le Dale 35 15.11x
Blackley 33 21.84x
Crompton 33 13.44x
Morley 33 8.82x
Old Laund Booth 33 399.52x
Wardleworth 33 6.70x
Great Bolton 32 2.80x
North Bierley 32 8.23x
Openshaw 32 7.93x
Stayley 32 17.46x
Wilsden 32 43.28x
Dukinfield 31 4.18x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 31 53.06x
Chorlton On Medlock 30 2.19x
Pendleton In Salford 30 2.92x
Sheffield 30 1.31x
Salford 29 1.14x
Wortley In Bramley 28 4.91x
Ardwick 27 3.47x
Goldshaw Booth 27 305.78x
Idle 27 8.09x
Sowerby In Halifax 27 11.47x
Elton 26 8.73x
Haughton 26 20.67x
Heptonstall 26 25.74x
Higher Booths 26 16.73x
Hopwood 26 23.07x
Islington London 26 0.37x
Basford 25 5.54x
Hipperholme Cum 25 7.90x
Tottington Lower End 25 6.10x
West Derby 25 0.99x
Thornhill 24 11.42x

FAQ

Ingham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ingham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,443 people were recorded with the Ingham surname. That placed it at #571 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ingham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,721 in 2016. That gives Ingham a modern rank of #1,005.

What does the Ingham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Ingham, derived from the Old English "ing" and "ham".

What does the Ingham map show?

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