NameCensus.

UK surname

Ison

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Isa, a diminutive form of Isaac, meaning "he will laugh."

In the 1881 census there were 888 people recorded with the Ison surname, ranking it #4,282 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,125, ranked #5,239, down from #4,282 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Thriplow, Stow with Quay and Nuneaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hinckley and Bosworth, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ison is 1,444 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

888

Ranked #4,282

Modern count

1,125

2016, ranked #5,239

Peak year

1911

1,444 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ison had 888 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,282 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016, ranked #5,239.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,444 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ison 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 533 #4,713
1861 historical 517 #5,061
1881 historical 888 #4,282
1891 historical 938 #4,415
1901 historical 1,298 #3,839
1911 historical 1,444 #3,346
1997 modern 1,215 #4,663
1998 modern 1,219 #4,826
1999 modern 1,244 #4,767
2000 modern 1,223 #4,820
2001 modern 1,206 #4,782
2002 modern 1,214 #4,859
2003 modern 1,211 #4,771
2004 modern 1,183 #4,868
2005 modern 1,151 #4,940
2006 modern 1,131 #5,012
2007 modern 1,136 #5,043
2008 modern 1,154 #4,995
2009 modern 1,184 #4,989
2010 modern 1,191 #5,080
2011 modern 1,174 #5,080
2012 modern 1,124 #5,193
2013 modern 1,150 #5,186
2014 modern 1,160 #5,164
2015 modern 1,143 #5,187
2016 modern 1,125 #5,239

Geography

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Where Isons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Thriplow, Stow with Quay, Nuneaton, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hinckley and Bosworth, South Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and North West Leicestershire. 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 Thriplow Hertfordshire
2 Stow with Quay Cambridgeshire
3 Nuneaton Warwickshire
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hinckley and Bosworth 004 Hinckley and Bosworth
2 South Cambridgeshire 006 South Cambridgeshire
3 Huntingdonshire 006 Huntingdonshire
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 015 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 North West Leicestershire 013 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ison

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ison is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ison is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ison falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ison

The surname Ison has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "isen," meaning "iron," suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have been blacksmiths or workers in the iron trade.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire from 1219, which mentions a person named William Ison. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also record several individuals with the surname Ison in various counties across England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ison appeared in various spellings, such as Ison, Isoun, and Isun, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and regional dialects. Some sources suggest that the name may have also been associated with place names like Isondon (now Islington) in London or Isenhurst (now Isenhurst) in Kent.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Ison include Sir John Ison (1518-1596), a prominent English merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths in London. Another figure was William Ison (1695-1783), a renowned clockmaker from Lincolnshire, whose works are still highly regarded by collectors.

In the literary realm, Thomas Ison (1770-1848) was an English poet and schoolmaster, known for his collection of poems titled "Poems, Descriptive and Miscellaneous." Additionally, Richard Ison (1797-1871) was a notable English composer and organist who served as the organist of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Moving into the 19th century, we find John Ison (1824-1888), a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Bethnal Green Museum. Another figure from this period was Mary Ison (1860-1938), a British educator and philanthropist who founded several schools for underprivileged children in London.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of individuals bearing the surname Ison, which has its roots firmly planted in the English heritage and traditions of the past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ison 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 287 Isons recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.91x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 287 52.91x
Warwickshire 131 6.06x
Leicestershire 128 13.48x
Derbyshire 66 4.92x
Staffordshire 46 1.59x
Middlesex 33 0.39x
Yorkshire 26 0.31x
Worcestershire 20 1.79x
Hertfordshire 19 3.22x
Lancashire 16 0.16x
Surrey 12 0.29x
Gloucestershire 11 0.65x
Kent 11 0.38x
Sussex 11 0.76x
Devon 10 0.56x
Shropshire 10 1.35x
Durham 9 0.35x
Essex 7 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.52x
Northumberland 5 0.39x
Cheshire 4 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.58x
Lincolnshire 3 0.22x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrewthe Less in Cambridgeshire leads with 44 Isons recorded in 1881 and an index of 70.99x.

Place Total Index
St Andrewthe Less 44 70.99x
Bottisham 36 779.22x
Ashby De La Zouch 35 159.02x
Fulbourn 29 558.77x
Quy 26 2524.27x
Thriplow 26 1925.93x
Foulmire 19 1180.12x
Hartshill 19 1180.12x
Oakington 18 1125.00x
Bedworth 17 107.87x
Chesterton 15 89.66x
Leicester St Margaret 15 6.48x
Nuneaton 15 59.95x
Belgrave 14 65.33x
Ibstock 14 202.90x
Castle Gresley 12 521.74x
Coventry St Michael 12 17.30x
Hackney London 12 2.50x
Nailstone 12 555.56x
Bristol St Paul In 11 24.58x
Falmer 11 650.89x
Islington London 11 1.33x
Killamarsh 11 131.89x
Litchurch 11 20.39x
Measham 11 223.12x
Harston 10 434.78x
Horsforth 10 53.73x
Stoke 10 235.29x
Atherstone 9 81.60x
East Teignmouth 9 123.46x
Tamworth 9 58.21x
Colwich 8 116.45x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 12.41x
Foxton 8 645.16x
Great Abington 8 975.61x
Nether Whitacre 8 465.12x
Rugeley 8 38.57x
Salford 8 2.68x
Wellington 8 19.24x
Barlestone 7 336.54x
Castleford 7 22.65x
Cheshunt 7 33.91x
Market Bosworth 7 204.08x
Stretham 7 180.41x
Withybrook 7 813.95x
Aston 6 1.01x
Great Dunmow 6 68.10x
Kings Norton 6 5.98x
Seals 6 179.10x
Swaffham Bulbeck 6 275.23x
Aylestone 5 66.76x
Birmingham 5 0.69x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.29x
Chilvers Coton 5 56.31x
Longbenton 5 9.26x
Moss Side 5 9.35x
St Albans 5 41.32x
St Pancras London 5 0.73x
Upperswinford 5 52.85x
Whitwood 5 41.46x
Woolwich 5 4.63x
Chester St Oswald 4 11.69x
Derby St Peter 4 9.37x
Derby St Werburgh 4 5.17x
Lower Mitton 4 40.57x
Melbourne 4 43.67x
Newbottle 4 28.76x
Radford 4 6.82x
Staveley 4 16.81x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 1.30x
Swaffham Prior 4 168.07x
Whittlesford 4 160.64x
Wood Ditton 4 88.11x
Hitchin 3 11.26x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 3 50.93x
Hugglescote 3 21.47x
Lambeth 3 0.40x
Leicester St Martin 3 47.02x
Stapenhill 3 15.03x
Toxteth Park 3 0.87x

FAQ

Ison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 888 people were recorded with the Ison surname. That placed it at #4,282 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,125 in 2016. That gives Ison a modern rank of #5,239.

What does the Ison surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the given name Isa, a diminutive form of Isaac, meaning "he will laugh."

What does the Ison map show?

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