NameCensus.

UK surname

Isham

Derived from a place name meaning "homestead of a man called Isa" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 222 people recorded with the Isham surname, ranking it #12,022 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #12,022 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Hinton-in-the-Hedges and Leamington Hastings. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Solihull and Isle of Wight.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Isham is 321 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.0%.

1881 census count

222

Ranked #12,022

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

1999

321 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Isham had 222 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,022 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 317 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Isham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Isham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Isham 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 82 #19,317
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 222 #12,022
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 277 #12,281
1911 historical 317 #11,011
1997 modern 291 #13,792
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 321 #13,362
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 303 #13,645
2002 modern 297 #14,081
2003 modern 298 #13,886
2004 modern 291 #14,138
2005 modern 270 #14,822
2006 modern 276 #14,700
2007 modern 254 #15,736
2008 modern 255 #15,859
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 268 #15,978
2011 modern 272 #15,653
2012 modern 262 #16,001
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 280 #15,621
2015 modern 276 #15,673
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Ishams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Boston (incl. Boston allotments), Hinton-in-the-Hedges, Leamington Hastings, Brackley St James and St Peter, Whitfield, Syresham and Greatworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Solihull, Isle of Wight and Aylesbury Vale. 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 Boston (incl. Boston allotments) Lincolnshire
2 Hinton-in-the-Hedges Northamptonshire
3 Leamington Hastings Warwickshire
4 Brackley St James and St Peter, Whitfield, Syresham Northamptonshire
5 Greatworth Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 009 South Northamptonshire
2 Solihull 017 Solihull
3 Isle of Wight 001 Isle of Wight
4 Aylesbury Vale 001 Aylesbury Vale
5 South Northamptonshire 010 South Northamptonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Isham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Isham

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Isham 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

Isham 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

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

Meaning and origin of Isham

The surname Isham has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "isern" meaning iron, and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests the name may have referred to an ironsmith's settlement or a place where iron was produced or worked.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Isham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Iseham" in Northamptonshire. This historical record suggests the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various spellings such as Isseham, Iseham, and Ysseham, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations were often associated with specific locations or landholdings.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Isham (1486-1551), who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was also involved in the dissolution of monasteries in the 1530s.

Another prominent figure was Sir Justinian Isham (1610-1675), an English baronet and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the English Civil War. He was a staunch Royalist and supported King Charles I against the Parliamentarians.

In the 17th century, the name was associated with Lamport Hall, a stately home in Northamptonshire that was the seat of the Isham family for several generations. This connection further solidified the family's prominence in the region.

During the 18th century, Sir Charles Edmund Isham (1718-1803) was a notable member of the Isham family. He was a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire and served as a Colonel in the Northamptonshire Militia.

Another remarkable individual was Reverend John Isham (1811-1893), an Anglican priest and antiquarian who served as the Rector of Lamport and wrote extensively on local history and genealogy.

Throughout its history, the surname Isham has maintained a strong connection to Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas, reflecting its origins as a place name and the family's longstanding presence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Isham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Isham 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. Northamptonshire leads with 98 Ishams recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.23x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 98 49.23x
Warwickshire 39 7.31x
Middlesex 20 0.94x
Oxfordshire 8 6.12x
Caernarfonshire 6 7.01x
Hampshire 6 1.38x
Sussex 6 1.68x
Yorkshire 6 0.29x
Buckinghamshire 5 3.91x
Hertfordshire 4 2.74x
Lincolnshire 4 1.18x
Staffordshire 4 0.56x
Surrey 3 0.29x
Berkshire 2 1.26x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.76x
Leicestershire 2 0.85x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brackley St Peter in Northamptonshire leads with 24 Ishams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1751.82x.

Place Total Index
Brackley St Peter 24 1751.82x
Greatworth 24 18461.54x
Marston St Lawrence 17 6071.43x
Aston 11 7.48x
Hinton In Hedges 10 9090.91x
Ufton 10 7142.86x
Chipping Warden 8 2758.62x
Islington London 8 3.90x
Birmingham 7 3.94x
Wardington 7 1555.56x
Brackley St James 6 1304.35x
Hastings St Mary 6 67.57x
Llanllechid 6 99.67x
Southampton St Mary 6 21.99x
Lamport 5 4166.67x
Leamington Hastings 5 1515.15x
Turweston 5 2272.73x
Boston 4 38.95x
Bradford 4 7.88x
Chelsea London 4 6.27x
Northchurch 4 256.41x
Helmdon 3 789.47x
Reigate Foreign 3 26.86x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 32.75x
Willesden 3 15.04x
Barford 2 384.62x
Handsworth 2 11.36x
Leeds 2 1.69x
Wednesfield 2 19.03x
Woodstone 2 303.03x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 6.27x
Edgbaston 1 6.04x
Finedon 1 57.47x
Kensington London 1 0.85x
Leamington Priors 1 7.62x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.75x
Leicester St Mary 1 5.27x
Milford 1 100.00x
Neithrop 1 22.78x
Openshaw 1 8.50x
Rugby 1 13.85x
Sandhurst 1 32.47x
Tottenham 1 2.97x
Wargrave 1 73.53x

FAQ

Isham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Isham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 222 people were recorded with the Isham surname. That placed it at #12,022 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Isham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Isham a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Isham surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "homestead of a man called Isa" in Old English.

What does the Isham map show?

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