NameCensus.

UK surname

Manchester

Referring to someone from the English city of Manchester or an ancestor who hailed from that city.

In the 1881 census there were 600 people recorded with the Manchester surname, ranking it #5,832 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 734, ranked #7,427, down from #5,832 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bridgford, East, Greenwich and Radcliffe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, Erewash and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Manchester is 771 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

600

Ranked #5,832

Modern count

734

2016, ranked #7,427

Peak year

1999

771 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Manchester had 600 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,832 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 734 in 2016, ranked #7,427.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 736 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Manchester surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Manchester surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Manchester 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 491 #5,322
1881 historical 600 #5,832
1891 historical 689 #5,686
1901 historical 736 #6,018
1911 historical 735 #5,846
1997 modern 729 #7,021
1998 modern 759 #7,030
1999 modern 771 #6,992
2000 modern 758 #7,055
2001 modern 741 #7,040
2002 modern 754 #7,084
2003 modern 755 #6,982
2004 modern 746 #7,050
2005 modern 711 #7,237
2006 modern 726 #7,164
2007 modern 736 #7,168
2008 modern 733 #7,238
2009 modern 742 #7,312
2010 modern 753 #7,360
2011 modern 736 #7,424
2012 modern 752 #7,209
2013 modern 761 #7,257
2014 modern 756 #7,326
2015 modern 749 #7,310
2016 modern 734 #7,427

Geography

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Where Manchesters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bridgford, East, Greenwich, Radcliffe, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, Erewash, St. Helens and North Lincolnshire. 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 Bridgford, East Nottinghamshire
2 Greenwich London (South Districts)
3 Radcliffe Lancashire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
2 Erewash 001 Erewash
3 St. Helens 001 St. Helens
4 St. Helens 007 St. Helens
5 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Manchester

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Manchester

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Manchester surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Manchester 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Manchester 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

Manchester 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

Manchester falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Manchester is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Manchester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Manchester

The surname MANCHESTER originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. The name derives from the city of Manchester, which was originally known as "Mamucium" during the Roman occupation. This name evolved over time, with variations such as "Mameceaster" and "Manchenister" appearing in historical records.

The name MANCHESTER is closely tied to the city's history and development. Manchester played a significant role in the Industrial Revolution, becoming a hub for textile manufacturing and innovation. As the city grew in importance, the surname became more widespread, with families adopting it as a way to identify their connection to the area.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname MANCHESTER was John de Mancestre, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1259. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Grelle, Lord of Manchester, who lived in the 14th century and held significant influence in the region.

The MANCHESTER name gained further prominence during the Tudor period, with Sir Edward Manchester (c. 1496-1567) serving as a Member of Parliament and holding the position of Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer under Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester (1602-1671), played a crucial role in the English Civil War, leading Parliamentary forces against King Charles I. His military exploits and political influence solidified the MANCHESTER name's association with power and prestige.

Another notable figure was Robert Montagu, 3rd Earl of Manchester (1634-1683), who served as Lord Chamberlain of the Household under King Charles II and was a prominent member of the English aristocracy.

During the 18th century, the MANCHESTER surname continued to be associated with influential individuals, including William Draper, Lord Viscount of MANCHESTER (1716-1789), a military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Antigua.

As the Industrial Revolution transformed Manchester into a global manufacturing center, the surname became more widely disseminated, with families from various backgrounds adopting it to reflect their connection to the city's economic and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Manchester families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Manchester 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 176 Manchesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.53x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 176 2.53x
Yorkshire 110 1.89x
Nottinghamshire 52 6.58x
Middlesex 48 0.82x
Leicestershire 47 7.23x
Kent 34 1.70x
Surrey 31 1.09x
Derbyshire 27 2.94x
Hampshire 25 2.08x
Northumberland 9 1.03x
Cheshire 8 0.62x
Bedfordshire 7 2.31x
Berkshire 7 1.59x
Caernarfonshire 4 1.69x
Devon 3 0.25x
Somerset 3 0.32x
Warwickshire 3 0.20x
Essex 2 0.17x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.27x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.40x
Norfolk 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.43x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Greenwich in Kent leads with 29 Manchesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.07x.

Place Total Index
Greenwich 29 31.07x
Meltham 28 310.08x
Manchester 24 7.67x
East Bridgford 21 1166.67x
Parr 20 80.35x
Radcliffe 20 59.65x
Islington London 18 3.17x
Melton Mowbray 17 145.42x
Sculcoates 17 18.46x
Eccleston In Prescot 14 40.09x
Hulme 14 9.64x
Bickerstaffe 13 285.71x
Bradford 13 9.24x
Harby 10 840.34x
Kingsclere 10 182.15x
Portsea 10 4.25x
Calverley Cum Farsley 9 54.55x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 66.47x
Hammersmith London 8 5.54x
Headingley Cum Burley 8 21.39x
Mirfield 8 25.08x
Rainford 8 106.38x
Blunham 7 339.81x
Nuthall 7 236.49x
Openshaw 7 21.49x
Scalford 7 507.25x
Battersea 6 2.78x
Habblesthorpe 6 2608.70x
Heanor 6 43.70x
Kirkdale 6 5.13x
Saddleworth 6 13.39x
Tranmere 6 12.62x
Westgate 6 11.11x
Blackwell 5 110.86x
Carshalton 5 45.75x
Clapham 5 6.82x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.61x
Haydock 5 41.70x
Honley 5 49.16x
Ilkeston 5 19.43x
Lambourn 5 114.68x
Marsden In Almondbury 5 94.52x
Newington 5 2.31x
Nottingham St Mary 5 2.45x
Oldham 5 2.23x
Pilkington 5 18.92x
St George Martyr 5 50.61x
Wymondham 5 378.79x
Chelsea London 4 2.26x
Elston 4 434.78x
Liverpool 4 0.95x
Llannor 4 210.53x
Richmond 4 9.99x
Skircoat 4 17.46x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.97x
Droylsden 3 13.22x
Faccombe 3 681.82x
Glossop Dale 3 6.98x
Gorton 3 4.59x
Haughton 3 29.56x
Holsworthy 3 87.21x
Kensington London 3 0.92x
Maghull 3 103.81x
Newark Upon Trent 3 10.56x
Walcot 3 5.97x
Asfordby 2 185.19x
Basford 2 5.49x
Birmingham 2 0.41x
Burghclere 2 130.72x
Chiswick 2 6.24x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.30x
Eaton 2 285.71x
Heaton 2 32.05x
Lambeth 2 0.39x
Pendlebury 2 13.61x
Quarndon 2 180.18x
Shirland 2 29.11x
Thatcham 2 29.50x
West Ham 2 0.78x
Wimbledon 2 6.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 20
Ann 19
Emma 13
Jane 12
Hannah 10
Alice 9
Annie 9
Eliza 9
Ellen 8
Margaret 7
Clara 6
Emily 6
Esther 5
Martha 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Fanny 4
Susan 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Amy 2
Carolina 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Kitty 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Miriam 2
Rose 2
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth.Amy 1
Elizth. 1
Ellemash 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
H. 1
Helena 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Isidore 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 40
William 30
George 26
James 24
Thomas 19
Henry 18
Joseph 9
Edward 8
Peter 8
Alfred 7
Charles 7
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Robert 5
David 4
Ephraim 4
Joshua 4
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Tom 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Barton 2
Edgar 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Ratcliffe 2
Timothy 2
Allen 1
Arnold 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Edmd. 1
Ephriam 1
Foster 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Gathorne 1
H. 1
Jas. 1
Jonas 1
M. 1
Mathew 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1

FAQ

Manchester surname: questions and answers

How common was the Manchester surname in 1881?

In 1881, 600 people were recorded with the Manchester surname. That placed it at #5,832 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Manchester surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 734 in 2016. That gives Manchester a modern rank of #7,427.

What does the Manchester surname mean?

Referring to someone from the English city of Manchester or an ancestor who hailed from that city.

What does the Manchester map show?

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