UK surname
An English surname derived from a locational name referring to the head of a river or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Mothershead surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2, ranked #38,825, down from #32,243 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Wilmslow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mothershead is 180 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 80.0%.
1881 census count
10
Ranked #32,243
Modern count
2
2016, ranked #38,825
Peak year
1861
180 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mothershead surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mothershead surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 36 | #26,838 |
| 1861 | historical | 180 | #13,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 10 | #32,243 |
| 1891 | historical | 118 | #21,540 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 82 | #24,635 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2005 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 2 | #38,825 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Wilmslow, Gawsworth and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 3 | Wilmslow | Cheshire |
| 4 | Gawsworth | Cheshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mothershead surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mothershead, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mothershead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mothershead household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mothershead is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mothershead is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mothershead, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mothershead has its origins in medieval England, likely emerging in the late 12th or early 13th century. The name is believed to be derived from a combination of the Old English words "modor" (meaning mother) and "heafod" (meaning head), suggesting a possible connection to midwifery or the role of a mother figure in a community.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, a collection of medieval records from the 13th and 14th centuries. In this document, a reference is made to a William Mothershead who held land in Oxfordshire in the year 1296.
During the 14th century, the name appears to have spread across various regions of England, with records indicating individuals bearing the name in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Warwickshire. Variants of the spelling, such as Motherhed and Mothersheade, were also observed in these early records.
Notable individuals with the surname Mothershead throughout history include John Mothershead (c. 1550-1629), a prominent merchant and landowner in Staffordshire, and Robert Mothershead (1670-1743), a respected clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Gloucestershire.
In the 17th century, the name Mothershead gained prominence in Yorkshire, where a family of that name established themselves as successful farmers and landowners. One of their descendants, William Mothershead (1692-1768), is recorded as having served as a magistrate and justice of the peace in the county.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Mothershead (1745-1814), a renowned author and poet from Warwickshire, whose works were widely published and celebrated during her lifetime.
As the centuries passed, the Mothershead surname continued to be found across various parts of England, with individuals bearing the name making contributions in various fields, including agriculture, commerce, and the clergy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mothershead surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 3 Mothersheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.97x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 3 | 13.97x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 2.60x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 2.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 6.43x |
| Surrey | 1 | 2.11x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 2 Mothersheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.53x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | 2 | 28.53x |
| Bethnal Green London | 1 | 23.64x |
| Bow London | 1 | 80.65x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 256.41x |
| Hale | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 11.79x |
| Manthorpe Cum Little | 1 | 833.33x |
| Stretford | 1 | 156.25x |
| Witton Cum Twambrooks | 1 | 526.32x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mothershead surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mothershead surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mothershead households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Drayman | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| General Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Inmate Of School | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Pansmiths Widow | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Mothershead surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 2 in 2016. That gives Mothershead a modern rank of #38,825.
An English surname derived from a locational name referring to the head of a river or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mothershead bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.