NameCensus.

UK surname

Mottershead

From 'heafod', Old English for head, meaning a woodman or forester.

In the 1881 census there were 1,007 people recorded with the Mottershead surname, ranking it #3,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,306, ranked #4,589, down from #3,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Stockport and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Shropshire and Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mottershead is 1,441 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.7%.

1881 census count

1,007

Ranked #3,889

Modern count

1,306

2016, ranked #4,589

Peak year

1911

1,441 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mottershead had 1,007 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,306 in 2016, ranked #4,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,441 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Mottershead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mottershead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mottershead 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 681 #3,816
1861 historical 593 #4,467
1881 historical 1,007 #3,889
1891 historical 1,093 #3,867
1901 historical 1,336 #3,746
1911 historical 1,441 #3,353
1997 modern 1,276 #4,465
1998 modern 1,365 #4,365
1999 modern 1,396 #4,311
2000 modern 1,360 #4,404
2001 modern 1,346 #4,343
2002 modern 1,378 #4,347
2003 modern 1,362 #4,314
2004 modern 1,363 #4,322
2005 modern 1,330 #4,354
2006 modern 1,318 #4,399
2007 modern 1,306 #4,467
2008 modern 1,313 #4,474
2009 modern 1,370 #4,400
2010 modern 1,372 #4,479
2011 modern 1,369 #4,434
2012 modern 1,326 #4,492
2013 modern 1,312 #4,620
2014 modern 1,313 #4,631
2015 modern 1,297 #4,645
2016 modern 1,306 #4,589

Geography

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Where Mottersheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Stockport, Manchester and Leek. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Shropshire, Erewash, Cheshire East and Stafford. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Leek Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 006 Derbyshire Dales
2 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
3 Erewash 014 Erewash
4 Cheshire East 051 Cheshire East
5 Stafford 007 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mottershead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mottershead

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mottershead, 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 Mottershead surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mottershead 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mottershead 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

Mottershead is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Mottershead

The surname Mottershead originates from England, specifically from the county of Cheshire. It is believed to have emerged in the 13th century, derived from the Old English words "mot" meaning a meeting or assembly, and "heafod" meaning head or chief. This suggests that the name may have referred to a person who presided over local assemblies or councils.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cheshire Pipe Rolls of 1260, which mention a person named Richard de Motresheved. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surname spellings in medieval times. The name is also documented in the Cheshire Recognizance Rolls of 1292, where it appears as "Motersheved."

During the 14th century, the name Mottershead became more widespread across Cheshire and neighboring counties. In 1379, a John Mottershead is mentioned in the Wills and Inventories of the Archdeaconry of Richmond. This record provides valuable insight into the early distribution of the name.

Notable individuals with the surname Mottershead include John Mottershead (1492-1559), a prominent landowner and farmer from Nantwich, Cheshire. His descendants continued to hold lands in the area for several generations. Another person of note is William Mottershead (1638-1717), a respected merchant and alderman in the city of Chester.

In the 18th century, the Mottershead family had a strong presence in the village of Wilmslow, Cheshire. Thomas Mottershead (1712-1783) was a respected yeoman farmer and landowner in the area. His son, also named Thomas (1745-1821), served as the parish clerk of Wilmslow for over four decades.

One of the most notable individuals with this surname was Sir Archibald Mottershead (1809-1891), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester. He made significant contributions to the development of the city's textile industry and was knighted for his services in 1877.

Throughout its history, the surname Mottershead has maintained a strong association with the county of Cheshire and its surrounding regions. While variations in spelling occurred over time, the name's origins can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the important role of local assemblies and governance in its formation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mottershead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mottershead 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. Cheshire leads with 630 Mottersheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.11x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 630 29.11x
Lancashire 260 2.24x
Staffordshire 65 1.96x
Derbyshire 13 0.85x
Middlesex 8 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.53x
Shropshire 6 0.71x
Essex 5 0.26x
Yorkshire 4 0.04x
Denbighshire 3 0.81x
Flintshire 3 1.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Macclesfield in Cheshire leads with 120 Mottersheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.75x.

Place Total Index
Macclesfield 120 124.75x
Poynton 51 700.55x
Stockport 41 36.81x
Salford 37 10.81x
Sutton In Macclesfield 35 155.83x
Leek Lowe 34 77.22x
Bollington In 33 171.34x
Hurdsfield 32 240.24x
Manchester 29 5.54x
Handforth 27 1093.12x
Heaton Norris 23 34.74x
Hyde 21 32.88x
Congleton 20 53.49x
Pownall Fee 19 196.28x
Openshaw 17 31.20x
Gorton 16 14.63x
Brinnington 15 74.18x
Everton 15 4.05x
Hulme 15 6.18x
Bosden 14 210.84x
Peover Superior 14 682.93x
Rusholme 13 41.89x
Chester St Oswald 12 30.62x
Gawsworth 12 609.14x
Burslem 10 10.55x
Didsbury 10 64.72x
Adlington 9 310.34x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 4.87x
Coddington 9 2307.69x
Goostrey Cum Barnshaw 9 737.70x
Leftwich 9 93.65x
Liverpool 9 1.27x
Harborne 8 7.54x
Newton In Ashton Under 8 37.47x
Stockport Etchells 8 173.54x
Tranmere 8 10.06x
Widnes 8 9.53x
Altrincham 7 18.51x
Fulshaw 7 175.88x
Hartford 7 142.86x
Henbury Cum Pexhall 7 476.19x
Newton 7 7.81x
Nottingham St Peter 7 47.52x
Bowdon 6 69.85x
Cheadle 6 14.52x
Norbury 6 119.05x
Northen Etchells 6 236.22x
Stafford St Mary 6 12.81x
Wem 6 47.62x
West Derby 6 1.76x
Ardwick 5 4.77x
Birkenhead 5 2.90x
Braintree 5 28.77x
Buxton 5 38.49x
Harpurhey 5 30.98x
Leek Frith 5 181.16x
Reddish 5 31.21x
Wigan 5 3.08x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 5 25.96x
Bow London 4 3.20x
Bradford 4 7.35x
Buglawton 4 76.78x
Butley 4 216.22x
Old Withington 4 205.13x
Rainow 4 92.81x
Spotland 4 3.09x
Barton Upon Irwell 3 3.43x
Bronington 3 131.58x
Derby St Alkmund 3 6.52x
Derby St Werburgh 3 3.39x
Mobberley 3 60.73x
Newton In Northwich 3 45.52x
Wharton 3 25.45x
Bollin Fee 2 20.83x
Clerkenwell London 2 0.86x
Holt 2 58.31x
Levenshulme 2 16.71x
Threapwood 2 312.50x
Withington 2 5.34x
Worsley 2 2.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 76
Sarah 49
Elizabeth 48
Hannah 32
Ann 28
Eliza 20
Annie 18
Alice 16
Jane 14
Martha 14
Emma 11
Maria 9
Ellen 8
Emily 8
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Charlotte 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Tabitha 5
Edith 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Lucy 4
Bertha 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Matilda 3
Phoebe 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Edna 2
Eleanor 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Maude 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Sylvia 2
Burtha 1
Caroline 1
Elenor 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 68
William 56
Thomas 47
Joseph 43
James 38
George 24
Samuel 17
Arthur 13
Charles 13
David 13
Edward 10
Frederick 10
Henry 10
Isaac 7
Albert 6
Daniel 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Walter 6
Edmund 5
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Matthew 5
Peter 5
Robert 5
Thos. 5
Alfred 4
Wm. 4
Abraham 3
Adam 3
Jesse 3
Noah 3
Phillip 3
Ralph 3
Richard 3
Fred 2
Jno. 2
Philip 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Archibald 1
Edwd. 1
Hugh 1
J.Saml 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Josith 1
Moses 1
P. 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Mottershead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mottershead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,007 people were recorded with the Mottershead surname. That placed it at #3,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mottershead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,306 in 2016. That gives Mottershead a modern rank of #4,589.

What does the Mottershead surname mean?

From 'heafod', Old English for head, meaning a woodman or forester.

What does the Mottershead map show?

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