NameCensus.

UK surname

Ion

A Greek surname possibly denoting a descendant of a John.

In the 1881 census there were 147 people recorded with the Ion surname, ranking it #15,674 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 710, ranked #7,628, up from #15,674 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Bongate or Appleby St Michael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Manchester and Coventry.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ion is 710 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 383.0%.

1881 census count

147

Ranked #15,674

Modern count

710

2016, ranked #7,628

Peak year

2016

710 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ion had 147 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,674 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 710 in 2016, ranked #7,628.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ion 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 95 #17,707
1881 historical 147 #15,674
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1997 modern 347 #12,251
1998 modern 353 #12,470
1999 modern 346 #12,726
2000 modern 351 #12,534
2001 modern 332 #12,841
2002 modern 340 #12,884
2003 modern 334 #12,847
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 335 #12,795
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 397 #11,433
2008 modern 417 #11,100
2009 modern 439 #10,911
2010 modern 469 #10,533
2011 modern 497 #9,997
2012 modern 565 #8,993
2013 modern 582 #8,931
2014 modern 607 #8,721
2015 modern 653 #8,165
2016 modern 710 #7,628

Geography

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Where Ions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Bongate or Appleby St Michael, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Manchester, Coventry, King's Park and Torbrex and Newham. 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 Brampton (including Midgeholme) and Lanercost Cumberland
2 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
3 Bongate or Appleby St Michael Westmorland
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 008 St. Helens
2 Manchester 027 Manchester
3 Coventry 021 Coventry
4 King's Park and Torbrex Stirling
5 Newham 036 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ion

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Ion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ion household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ion is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ion is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ion falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ion

The surname Ion originated in Italy during the medieval period, likely derived from the Latin word "ionius" meaning "of Ionia" or "from the Ionian Sea". It is believed to have emerged as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from regions bordering the Ionian Sea or had some connection to the area.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Ion can be traced back to the 12th century in various Italian records and manuscripts. One notable example is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Cavensis, a collection of medieval charters from the Campania region, which mentions an individual named Iohannes Ion in a document dated 1184.

During the 13th century, the name Ion appeared in the Florentine Priorista, a record of the city's governing council members. Among these was Guido Ion, who served as a prior in 1278. In the same century, the surname is also documented in Genoa, with a merchant named Oberto Ion mentioned in a trade document from 1265.

As the name spread across Italy, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Ione, Ioni, and Jone. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of local scribes. One notable individual bearing this name was Giovanni Ione, a renowned philosopher and theologian from Naples, who lived from 1406 to 1472.

In the 15th century, the surname Ion gained recognition beyond Italy's borders. In England, records indicate the presence of a merchant named Pietro Ion, who was granted citizenship in the city of Bristol in 1457. Another notable figure was Alvise Ion, a Venetian navigator and explorer who embarked on voyages to the eastern Mediterranean in the late 1400s.

As time progressed, individuals with the surname Ion continued to make their mark in various fields. In the 16th century, Girolamo Ion was a prominent painter from Verona, known for his religious works adorning churches across northern Italy. A century later, Domenico Ion emerged as a respected architect in Rome, responsible for designing several notable buildings, including the Church of Sant'Agnese in Agone.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Ion has been carried by numerous individuals across various professions and regions, contributing to its rich historical tapestry. While the name's roots can be traced back to medieval Italy, its legacy has extended far beyond its origins, becoming a part of the diverse cultural fabric of many nations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ion 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. Westmorland leads with 80 Ions recorded in 1881 and an index of 257.40x.

County Total Index
Westmorland 80 257.40x
Cumberland 15 12.32x
Yorkshire 14 1.00x
Northumberland 11 5.23x
Lancashire 8 0.48x
Durham 4 0.95x
Middlesex 4 0.28x
Cheshire 2 0.64x
Kent 2 0.41x
Suffolk 2 1.16x
Derbyshire 1 0.45x
Devon 1 0.34x
Lincolnshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 20 Ions recorded in 1881 and an index of 351.49x.

Place Total Index
Kendal 20 351.49x
Appleby St Michael 12 1714.29x
High Barton 11 6111.11x
Holy Trinity 10 29.66x
Dufton 8 4000.00x
Bampton 7 2692.31x
Long Marton 6 1714.29x
Simonburn 6 3000.00x
West Linton 6 2857.14x
Seaton Delaval 5 270.27x
Cumwhitton 4 1666.67x
Hesket In Forest 4 421.05x
Kaber 4 4000.00x
St Martin In Fields 4 47.23x
Burnley 3 21.23x
Gateshead 3 9.52x
Great Musgrave 3 3333.33x
Hessle In Sculcoates 3 241.94x
Liverpool 3 2.94x
Morland 3 1666.67x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 43.48x
Maidstone 2 13.92x
Poulton Cum Spital 2 1052.63x
Ambleside 1 104.17x
Appleby St Lawrence 1 140.85x
Ardwick 1 6.61x
Cliburn 1 714.29x
Clifton 1 526.32x
Cullompton 1 77.52x
Edensor 1 714.29x
Great Bolton 1 4.50x
Kirklinton Middle 1 500.00x
Lissington 1 769.23x
Ravenstonedale 1 232.56x
Shildon 1 29.59x
Stainmore 1 416.67x
Whitby 1 21.19x

FAQ

Ion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 147 people were recorded with the Ion surname. That placed it at #15,674 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 710 in 2016. That gives Ion a modern rank of #7,628.

What does the Ion surname mean?

A Greek surname possibly denoting a descendant of a John.

What does the Ion map show?

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