NameCensus.

UK surname

Irlam

In the 1881 census there were 423 people recorded with the Irlam surname, ranking it #7,657 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 322, ranked #14,033, down from #7,657 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Flixton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Trafford and Wirral.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Irlam is 465 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.9%.

1881 census count

423

Ranked #7,657

Modern count

322

2016, ranked #14,033

Peak year

1901

465 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Irlam had 423 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,657 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016, ranked #14,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 465 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Irlam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Irlam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Irlam 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 176 #13,335
1881 historical 423 #7,657
1891 historical 391 #9,044
1901 historical 465 #8,499
1911 historical 447 #8,552
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 305 #13,753
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 289 #14,272
2001 modern 291 #14,000
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 306 #13,641
2004 modern 301 #13,850
2005 modern 309 #13,552
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 313 #13,746
2009 modern 321 #13,770
2010 modern 329 #13,818
2011 modern 324 #13,839
2012 modern 322 #13,799
2013 modern 328 #13,842
2014 modern 321 #14,150
2015 modern 321 #14,062
2016 modern 322 #14,033

Geography

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Where Irlams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester and Flixton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Trafford and Wirral. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Flixton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 007 Cheshire East
2 Trafford 007 Trafford
3 Trafford 008 Trafford
4 Trafford 019 Trafford
5 Wirral 033 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Irlam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Irlam

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Irlam is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Irlam is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Irlam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Irlam 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 359 Irlams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 359 7.31x
Cheshire 43 4.71x
Yorkshire 12 0.29x
Surrey 6 0.30x
Derbyshire 2 0.31x
Essex 1 0.12x
Middlesex 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Salford in Lancashire leads with 52 Irlams recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.02x.

Place Total Index
Salford 52 36.02x
Barton Upon Irwell 51 138.02x
Stretford 35 129.63x
Hulme 19 18.54x
Urmston 19 597.48x
Worsley 19 62.81x
Manchester 18 8.16x
Pendleton In Salford 17 29.07x
Broughton In Salford 15 33.42x
Great Bolton 15 23.07x
Oldham 14 8.84x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 12.12x
West Derby 12 8.36x
Hoole 8 231.88x
Openshaw 8 34.80x
Sale 8 71.43x
Everton 7 4.48x
Bradford 6 6.05x
Kirkdale 6 7.27x
Lambeth 6 1.66x
Baguley 5 480.77x
Cheetham 5 13.66x
Stockport 5 10.64x
Timperley 5 157.73x
Wardleworth 5 17.83x
Lockwood 4 27.12x
Altrincham 3 18.81x
Ardwick 3 6.78x
Ashton On Mersey 3 63.56x
Blackburn 3 2.30x
Harpurhey 3 44.05x
Northen Etchells 3 280.37x
Toxteth Park 3 1.81x
Bowling 2 4.93x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.57x
Glossop Dale 2 6.59x
Gorton 2 4.33x
Newton 2 5.29x
Warrington 2 3.44x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 2.57x
Cheadle 1 5.73x
Chester St Oswald 1 6.05x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 1 30.77x
Claife 1 128.21x
Crumpsall 1 8.64x
Darcy Lever 1 35.34x
Flixton 1 39.84x
Harrow 1 15.82x
Little Bolton 1 1.58x
Liverpool 1 0.34x
North Meols 1 2.08x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 9.52x
Upminster 1 58.82x

FAQ

Irlam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Irlam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 423 people were recorded with the Irlam surname. That placed it at #7,657 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Irlam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 322 in 2016. That gives Irlam a modern rank of #14,033.

What does the Irlam map show?

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