NameCensus.

UK surname

Longshaw

A locational surname derived from a long, narrow wood.

In the 1881 census there were 518 people recorded with the Longshaw surname, ranking it #6,583 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 615, ranked #8,539, down from #6,583 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Burslem and Shipton-under-Wychwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Longshaw is 644 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 18.7%.

1881 census count

518

Ranked #6,583

Modern count

615

2016, ranked #8,539

Peak year

1911

644 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Longshaw had 518 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,583 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016, ranked #8,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 644 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Longshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Longshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Longshaw 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 350 #6,733
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 518 #6,583
1891 historical 486 #7,600
1901 historical 571 #7,341
1911 historical 644 #6,486
1997 modern 457 #9,957
1998 modern 609 #8,299
1999 modern 629 #8,168
2000 modern 611 #8,322
2001 modern 604 #8,260
2002 modern 630 #8,163
2003 modern 606 #8,261
2004 modern 595 #8,403
2005 modern 593 #8,342
2006 modern 581 #8,485
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 604 #8,367
2009 modern 615 #8,440
2010 modern 637 #8,371
2011 modern 629 #8,370
2012 modern 616 #8,423
2013 modern 630 #8,421
2014 modern 626 #8,520
2015 modern 620 #8,505
2016 modern 615 #8,539

Geography

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Where Longshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Burslem, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Wigan and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire Moorlands and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Burslem Staffordshire
3 Shipton-under-Wychwood Oxfordshire
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newcastle-under-Lyme 003 Newcastle-under-Lyme
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 004 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 001 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
5 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Longshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Longshaw

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Longshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Longshaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Longshaw 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

Longshaw is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Longshaw

The surname Longshaw originates from England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the place name Longshaw, which is found in various regions across the country, including Derbyshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire.

The name Longshaw is thought to have its roots in the Old English words "lang" and "sceaga," which together mean "long shaw" or "long woodland." This suggests that the name may have been given to individuals who lived near or were associated with a long stretch of woodland or a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Longshaw can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Langsceaga." This entry refers to a location in Derbyshire, which may have been the original place from which the surname emerged.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Longeshawe, who held lands in Nottinghamshire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Longshaw include:

1. Robert Longshaw (c. 1610-1682), an English Baptist minister and author from Nottinghamshire. 2. John Longshaw (1765-1834), a British landscape painter known for his depictions of the Lake District. 3. Elizabeth Longshaw (1829-1898), a British feminist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and suffrage. 4. Thomas Longshaw (1856-1928), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire. 5. William Longshaw (1890-1969), a English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire County Cricket Club in the early 20th century.

The Longshaw surname has also been associated with several place names throughout England, such as Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire's Peak District, Longshaw Head in Yorkshire, and Longshaw Cross in Nottinghamshire. These place names further reinforce the locational origins of the surname and its connection to specific geographical areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Longshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Longshaw 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 201 Longshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.32x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 201 3.32x
Staffordshire 106 6.16x
Cheshire 98 8.70x
Oxfordshire 65 20.63x
Hampshire 17 1.63x
Yorkshire 9 0.18x
Channel Islands 5 3.31x
Middlesex 5 0.10x
Glamorgan 4 0.45x
Devon 3 0.28x
Warwickshire 3 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.20x
Surrey 2 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Durham 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wolstanton in Staffordshire leads with 61 Longshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 116.63x.

Place Total Index
Wolstanton 61 116.63x
Warrington 43 59.92x
Shipton Under Wychwood 40 1970.44x
Wigan 37 43.74x
Burslem 22 44.60x
Salford 21 11.80x
Stoke Upon Trent 21 11.50x
Birkenhead 13 14.48x
Pendleton In Salford 11 15.25x
Worsley 10 26.80x
Ardsley 9 154.37x
Hulme 9 7.12x
Lymm 9 109.89x
Ardwick 8 14.65x
Great Sankey 8 714.29x
Church Lawton 7 486.11x
Langley 7 7777.78x
Silchester 7 853.66x
Thelwall 7 804.60x
Westleigh 7 50.91x
Withington 7 35.90x
Acton In Northwich 6 576.92x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 13.17x
Grappenhall 6 434.78x
Odd Rode 6 107.53x
Nantwich 5 38.20x
Portsea 5 2.44x
St Peter 5 114.68x
Walton Superior 5 1162.79x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 49.90x
Liverpool 4 1.09x
North Meols 4 6.75x
Oystermouth 4 58.22x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 4 22.95x
Appleton 3 117.65x
Ashton On Mersey 3 51.55x
Burford 3 109.89x
Farnworth 3 8.27x
Fulham London 3 4.05x
Heythrop 3 681.82x
High Leigh 3 202.70x
Leftwich 3 60.00x
Plymouth Charles The 3 6.41x
Radcliffe 3 10.28x
Shorthampton 3 789.47x
Weaverham Cum Milton 3 100.67x
Audley 2 11.74x
Bollington In 2 19.96x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.08x
Farlington 2 93.46x
Hollingworth 2 43.10x
Leafield 2 160.00x
Leamington Priors 2 6.32x
Little Bolton 2 2.57x
Macclesfield 2 4.00x
Rainhill 2 51.55x
Southampton All Sts 2 11.15x
Stretford 2 6.00x
Sutton 2 9.85x
Urmston 2 50.89x
Wootton 2 105.82x
Bedford 1 7.90x
Bulkington 1 35.97x
Cheltenham 1 1.30x
Chester St Bridget 1 51.81x
Chipping Norton 1 13.74x
Comberbach 1 185.19x
Great Barrington 1 126.58x
Holdenhurst 1 3.65x
Hyde 1 3.01x
Islington London 1 0.20x
Latchford 1 13.37x
Milton Under Wychwood 1 68.49x
South Shields 1 7.40x
St Marylebone London 1 0.37x
Swalcliffe 1 91.74x
Tranmere 1 2.42x
Walton Inferior 1 114.94x
West Derby 1 0.56x
Woodstock 1 50.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Longshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 22
Alice 14
Ann 12
Ellen 12
Jane 11
Hannah 10
Emma 9
Annie 8
Margaret 8
Martha 6
Anne 4
Eliza 4
Harriet 4
Charlotte 3
Abigial 2
Agnes 2
Betsy 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Dinah 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Phoebe 2
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Edith 1
Emmie 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Janet 1
Joyce 1
Julia 1
June 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
M.S. 1
Matilda 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Longshaw surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 32
Thomas 24
William 23
George 18
James 18
Charles 14
Robert 12
Joseph 11
Edward 8
Walter 7
Albert 6
Arthur 5
Peter 5
Frank 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Chas. 3
Enoch 3
Frederick 3
Samuel 3
Wm. 3
David 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Reginald 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
...vald 1
Alber 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Claude 1
Eden 1
Elija 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
H. 1
Herbt. 1
Hy.Geo. 1
J.W. 1
Jno. 1
Mark 1
Paul 1
Rodger 1
Solomon 1

FAQ

Longshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Longshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 518 people were recorded with the Longshaw surname. That placed it at #6,583 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Longshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 615 in 2016. That gives Longshaw a modern rank of #8,539.

What does the Longshaw surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a long, narrow wood.

What does the Longshaw map show?

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