NameCensus.

UK surname

Margison

A name derived from the old French word "marge" meaning boundary or border.

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Margison surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wakefield, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Burnley and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Margison is 240 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.9%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2015

240 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Margison had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 175 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Margison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Margison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Margison 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 89 #18,446
1861 historical 99 #21,294
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 175 #16,246
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 235 #16,458
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 205 #17,683
2002 modern 202 #18,189
2003 modern 193 #18,501
2004 modern 194 #18,566
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 199 #18,357
2007 modern 200 #18,485
2008 modern 213 #17,903
2009 modern 216 #18,120
2010 modern 216 #18,492
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 240 #17,279
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Margisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wakefield, Preston, Blackburn, Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) and Leyland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Burnley, Calderdale and Bradford. 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 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire
5 Leyland Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
2 Burnley 014 Burnley
3 Barnsley 011 Barnsley
4 Calderdale 002 Calderdale
5 Bradford 047 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Margison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Margison

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Margison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Margison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Margison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Margison 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

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

Meaning and origin of Margison

The surname Margison is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from the place name Margesoun or Marjeson, which referred to a small settlement or hamlet in the northern counties of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Thomas de Margesoun." This suggests that the name may have originated in the Cambridgeshire area, although it is also possible that it was brought there by someone from another region.

The name Margison is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "mæres" or "mearc," meaning boundary or border, and "tun," meaning a farm or settlement. This indicates that the original place name likely referred to a settlement near a boundary or border area.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Margeson," "Margesoun," and "Marjeson," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that time period.

One notable figure with the surname Margison was John Margison, a merchant and landowner who lived in Yorkshire in the late 15th century. Records show that he owned properties in the village of Marston and the town of Doncaster.

Another individual of note was William Margison, a member of the Guild of Weavers in London during the 16th century. He is mentioned in the guild's records from 1542, indicating that the name had spread to the capital city by that time.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various parish records across northern England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One such record is the baptism of Thomas Margison in the parish of Kirkby Malzeard, Yorkshire, in 1647.

A notable figure from the 18th century was Robert Margison, a farmer and landowner in the village of Cartmel, Cumbria. He is mentioned in several land deeds and property records from the latter half of the century.

In the 19th century, the name Margison can be found in various census records and directories throughout England, with concentrations in the northern counties, reflecting the name's original regional roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Margison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Margison 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 57 Margisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.57x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 57 3.57x
Yorkshire 46 3.45x
Lincolnshire 17 7.90x
Cheshire 6 2.02x
Middlesex 6 0.45x
Durham 5 1.25x
Kent 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 12 Margisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.24x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 12 28.24x
Friskney 10 1470.59x
Preston 9 21.06x
Darfield 8 661.16x
Salford 7 14.90x
Sculcoates 7 33.10x
Walton Le Dale 7 163.17x
Poplar London 6 23.61x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 6 96.77x
Withernsea 6 4000.00x
Wrangle 6 1111.11x
Barugh 5 442.48x
Dewsbury 5 36.55x
Tanfield 5 105.04x
Tottington Lower End 5 65.88x
Hoghton 4 1000.00x
Cheadle 3 52.82x
Rotherham 3 39.89x
Whalley 3 128.76x
Brightside Bierlow 2 7.65x
Haslingden 2 30.26x
Stockport 2 13.08x
Tottington Higher End 2 109.89x
Accrington 1 6.89x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 2.86x
Church 1 44.25x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.69x
Great Grimsby 1 7.32x
Great Harwood 1 34.60x
Kilham 1 178.57x
Lancaster 1 10.53x
Minster In Sheppey 1 13.14x
Soothill 1 20.75x
Sowerby In Halifax 1 22.94x
Stockport Etchells 1 158.73x
Wrightington 1 142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 9
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Ann 4
Martha 3
Alice 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Ada 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Emeline 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
James 1
Maria 1
Marth 1
Nancy 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Septima 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Margison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Margison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Margison surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Margison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Margison a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Margison surname mean?

A name derived from the old French word "marge" meaning boundary or border.

What does the Margison map show?

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