NameCensus.

UK surname

Muncaster

A habitational surname derived from a location in Cumbria, England.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Muncaster surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 658, ranked #8,097, up from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Muncaster is 679 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.3%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

658

2016, ranked #8,097

Peak year

2014

679 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Muncaster had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016, ranked #8,097.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 559 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Muncaster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Muncaster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Muncaster 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 295 #8,555
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 495 #8,111
1911 historical 559 #7,195
1997 modern 636 #7,798
1998 modern 667 #7,764
1999 modern 667 #7,789
2000 modern 641 #8,015
2001 modern 643 #7,864
2002 modern 657 #7,880
2003 modern 653 #7,809
2004 modern 651 #7,828
2005 modern 652 #7,751
2006 modern 648 #7,819
2007 modern 650 #7,870
2008 modern 641 #7,993
2009 modern 652 #8,046
2010 modern 672 #8,041
2011 modern 670 #7,963
2012 modern 672 #7,865
2013 modern 672 #7,992
2014 modern 679 #7,969
2015 modern 663 #8,063
2016 modern 658 #8,097

Geography

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Where Muncasters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Gateshead, Lancaster and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Lancaster Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 County Durham 032 County Durham
3 County Durham 035 County Durham
4 County Durham 018 County Durham
5 Copeland 008 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Muncaster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Muncaster

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Muncaster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Muncaster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Muncaster is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Muncaster 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

Muncaster falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Muncaster is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Muncaster

The surname Muncaster originated in the English county of Cumberland, now part of Cumbria, in the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the village of Muncaster, which means "monks' homestead" or "monastery farm" in Old English. The village was named after the Benedictine monks who established a priory there in the 12th century.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name was found in the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland in 1195, where it appeared as "de Munecacestre". Other early spellings included Munecastre, Muncaster, and Muncestre. The name was also recorded in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279 as "de Munkecestre".

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sir John de Muncaster, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273 as a landowner in Cumberland. Another early bearer was William de Muncaster, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland in 1332.

The Muncaster family was closely associated with the village of Muncaster and the nearby Muncaster Castle, which dates back to the 12th century. The castle was the seat of the Barons of Muncaster and was home to several notable figures throughout history, including Sir Richard Muncaster (1460-1530), who fought in the Wars of the Roses, and Sir John Muncaster (1545-1616), who served as a Member of Parliament.

Other notable individuals with the surname Muncaster include William Muncaster (1690-1768), an English mathematician and astronomer, and Robert Muncaster (1795-1885), an English geologist and paleontologist who made significant contributions to the study of fossils in the Cumbrian region.

In the 19th century, the Muncaster family also produced several prominent clergymen, including Reverend Frederick Muncaster (1810-1892), who served as the Vicar of Plumbland in Cumberland, and Reverend George Muncaster (1830-1908), who was the Rector of Hesket-in-the-Forest in the same county.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Muncaster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Muncaster 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 133 Muncasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 133 2.92x
Durham 88 7.70x
Cumberland 77 23.27x
Yorkshire 23 0.60x
Westmorland 20 23.68x
Isle of Man 11 15.41x
Northumberland 9 1.57x
Cheshire 5 0.59x
Denbighshire 4 2.76x
Lanarkshire 4 0.32x
Suffolk 3 0.64x
Worcestershire 3 0.60x
Gloucestershire 2 0.27x
Lincolnshire 2 0.33x
Norfolk 2 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.41x
Devon 1 0.13x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Inverness-shire 1 0.87x
Leicestershire 1 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.28x
Warwickshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 19 Muncasters recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.63x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 19 30.63x
Birtley 19 406.85x
Preston Quarter 14 151.02x
Everton 13 8.94x
Beckermet St John 11 1341.46x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 11 22.21x
Ulverston 11 82.83x
East Murton 10 467.29x
Onchan 10 48.64x
Gosforth 9 559.01x
Spotland 9 17.75x
West Broughton 9 584.42x
Colton 8 336.13x
Haswell 8 97.68x
Hurworth 8 400.00x
Seaton Delaval 8 159.36x
Whickham 8 76.05x
Blawith 7 3333.33x
Caton 7 489.51x
Egremont 7 88.72x
Horton In Bradford 7 11.77x
Kirkham 7 116.09x
Lancaster 7 25.79x
Stockton On Tees 7 12.70x
Cleator 6 43.57x
Hensingham 6 222.22x
Kendal 6 38.81x
Skinningrove 6 256.41x
Ennerdale Kinniside 5 1282.05x
Iveston 5 94.88x
Liscard 5 32.70x
Skelsmergh 5 1020.41x
Abergele 4 95.69x
Barony 4 1.27x
Cartmel Fell 4 1025.64x
Evenwood Barony 4 102.83x
Lanchester 4 190.48x
Upper Allithwaite E 4 540.54x
Whitwell Selside 4 1212.12x
Cheetham 3 8.82x
Egton Cum Newland 3 227.27x
Guisbrough 3 36.06x
Hagley 3 185.19x
Preston 3 2.46x
Somerleyton 3 379.75x
St Cuthbert W O 3 18.60x
Whitehaven 3 17.01x
Alford 2 52.49x
Beckermet St Bridget 2 229.89x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.76x
Dalton In Furness 2 11.36x
Dursley 2 64.52x
Easington 2 120.48x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.58x
Haile 2 512.82x
Hulme 2 2.10x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 11.27x
Kirkland 2 111.11x
Lowick 2 392.16x
Orton 2 79.37x
Over Darwen 2 5.49x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 2 15.23x
Barnsley 1 2.55x
Burneston 1 303.03x
Crook 1 270.27x
Dalston Buckabank 1 149.25x
Doncaster 1 3.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.48x
Great Bowden 1 25.77x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 37.88x
Kilmorack 1 28.74x
Kinniside 1 312.50x
Long Buckby 1 29.94x
Low Holme 1 53.48x
Osmotherley 1 82.64x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.84x
Penrith 1 8.18x
Streatlam Stainton 1 222.22x
Tormoham 1 2.95x
Workington 1 5.28x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 27
Mary 27
Sarah 16
Ann 15
Margaret 10
Jane 9
Isabella 7
Annie 6
Hannah 6
Agnes 4
Alice 4
Catherine 4
Eleanor 4
Elizth. 4
Emma 3
Frances 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Cathrine 2
Fanny 2
Maria 2
Nancy 2
Tamar 2
... 1
Ada 1
Bella 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Elisebeth 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Hanah 1
Harriet 1
Isab. 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Louie 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Elizth. 1
Maud 1
Rachael 1
Susanah 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 34
William 28
George 19
Thomas 15
James 12
Robert 8
Ferdinand 6
Daniel 4
Edward 4
Isaac 4
Joseph 4
Anthony 3
Ferdinando 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Andrew 2
Charles 2
Ralph 2
Rbt. 2
Sam. 2
Wm. 2
Anne 1
Arthur 1
Bertram 1
Fardy 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hodgeson 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Jos. 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Maynard 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Samuel 1
Sarah 1
Scott 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Walton 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Muncaster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Muncaster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Muncaster surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Muncaster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 658 in 2016. That gives Muncaster a modern rank of #8,097.

What does the Muncaster surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a location in Cumbria, England.

What does the Muncaster map show?

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