NameCensus.

UK surname

Nanson

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Nanno, a diminutive of Randolph.

In the 1881 census there were 234 people recorded with the Nanson surname, ranking it #11,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 300, ranked #14,738, down from #11,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Werburgh and Greystoke. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Carlisle and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nanson is 333 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.2%.

1881 census count

234

Ranked #11,607

Modern count

300

2016, ranked #14,738

Peak year

1999

333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nanson had 234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016, ranked #14,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 302 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Nanson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nanson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nanson 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 182 #12,949
1881 historical 234 #11,607
1891 historical 260 #12,367
1901 historical 263 #12,717
1911 historical 302 #11,394
1997 modern 315 #13,111
1998 modern 332 #12,990
1999 modern 333 #13,049
2000 modern 327 #13,164
2001 modern 322 #13,098
2002 modern 313 #13,615
2003 modern 304 #13,685
2004 modern 306 #13,720
2005 modern 311 #13,490
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 310 #14,378
2011 modern 314 #14,165
2012 modern 296 #14,635
2013 modern 313 #14,299
2014 modern 311 #14,464
2015 modern 302 #14,687
2016 modern 300 #14,738

Geography

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Where Nansons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Werburgh, Greystoke, Penrith 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 Sunderland, Carlisle and Horsham. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Greystoke Cumberland
4 Penrith Cumberland
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 006 Sunderland
2 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 005 Carlisle
4 Horsham 016 Horsham
5 Carlisle 004 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nanson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nanson

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

Nanson 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

Nanson 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 Nanson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nanson

The surname Nanson is of English origin, and its roots can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

The name Nanson is derived from the medieval given name Nan or Nanne, which was a diminutive form of the name Anne or Ann. This given name was popular during the Middle Ages and was often used as a nickname or pet name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nanson can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a person named John Nanson is mentioned. This historical document provides valuable insight into the early use of the surname and its geographical distribution.

In the 16th century, the name Nanson appeared in various parish records and court documents, indicating its prevalence in various parts of England. For example, in 1567, a man named Robert Nanson was mentioned in the Parish Registers of Wigan, Lancashire.

The surname Nanson has also been linked to several notable individuals throughout history. One such figure was John Nanson (1633-1707), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Winterborne Whitchurch in Dorset.

Another prominent individual was William Nanson (1713-1781), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century. He participated in several naval battles and campaigns, including the Seven Years' War.

In the literary world, the surname Nanson is associated with Mary Nanson (1809-1855), an English poet and writer from Lancashire. She published several works, including a collection of poems titled "Poems, Moral and Religious" in 1845.

Another notable figure was James Nanson (1806-1877), an English architect who was responsible for designing several churches and buildings in Lancashire and Yorkshire during the Victorian era.

The surname Nanson has also been linked to various place names and locations in England. For instance, the village of Nanson in North Yorkshire is believed to have derived its name from the surname, indicating the historical presence of families bearing this name in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nanson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nanson 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. Cumberland leads with 99 Nansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.95x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 99 49.95x
Lancashire 39 1.43x
Middlesex 33 1.43x
Surrey 16 1.43x
Durham 14 2.04x
Derbyshire 10 2.77x
Westmorland 8 15.81x
Lincolnshire 5 1.36x
Essex 4 0.88x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.38x
Hertfordshire 1 0.63x
Isle of Man 1 2.34x
Northumberland 1 0.29x
Shropshire 1 0.50x
Wiltshire 1 0.49x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dalton In Furness in Lancashire leads with 15 Nansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.32x.

Place Total Index
Dalton In Furness 15 142.32x
Penrith 14 191.26x
St Mary Within 12 483.87x
Kensington London 11 8.59x
Dearham 10 383.14x
Widnes 10 50.76x
Derby St Werburgh 9 43.25x
Watermillock 9 2500.00x
Battersea 8 9.44x
Lambeth 8 3.99x
Mungrisdale 8 5714.29x
Rickergate 8 190.93x
Hutton Soil 7 2333.33x
Appleby St Lawrence 5 434.78x
Bassenthwaite 5 1250.00x
Boston 5 44.76x
Hesket In Forest 5 322.58x
Matterdale 5 1851.85x
Paddington London 5 5.91x
Skelton 5 877.19x
Sunderland 5 41.32x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 6.70x
Manchester 4 3.26x
Westminster St John 4 14.27x
Dalston 3 196.08x
Gateshead 3 5.85x
Monkwearmouth Shore 3 22.44x
Moss Side 3 20.88x
St Botolph Aldgate 3 95.54x
Twickenham 3 30.40x
Walthamstow 3 18.34x
Caldewgate 2 18.42x
Fulham London 2 5.99x
Hackney London 2 1.55x
Kirkby Stephen 2 152.67x
St Cuthbert W O 2 20.70x
St Neots 2 80.65x
Aldham 1 294.12x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.86x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.70x
Bowling 1 4.43x
Brough 1 204.08x
Burgh By Sands 1 156.25x
Dawdon 1 11.88x
Dovenby 1 555.56x
Hampstead London 1 2.79x
Kirkham 1 27.70x
Lower Allithwaite 1 153.85x
Malew 1 26.81x
Mickleover 1 90.09x
Mosedale 1 2500.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.63x
Plumpton Wall 1 370.37x
Shenley 1 95.24x
South Shields 1 16.39x
St Marylebone London 1 0.81x
Tottenham 1 2.73x
Warminster 1 22.42x
Wem 1 33.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 10
Elizabeth 8
Margaret 8
Ann 7
Jane 6
Isabella 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Jemima 3
Lucy 3
Dorothy 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Helena 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
E. 1
Elizth.G. 1
Emalene 1
Euphernia 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillias 1
Mabel 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
Thomas 15
William 15
Joseph 10
James 6
Henry 4
Robert 4
Wm. 4
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geoffrey 1
Gerald 1
Isaac 1
Issac 1
Jess 1
Jona 1
Lawrence 1
Mark 1
Mary 1
Musard 1
Octavous 1
Percy 1
Sabastian 1
Septimus 1
Thompson 1
Thoms 1
Tom 1
Undecimus 1

FAQ

Nanson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nanson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 234 people were recorded with the Nanson surname. That placed it at #11,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nanson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016. That gives Nanson a modern rank of #14,738.

What does the Nanson surname mean?

An English surname derived from the medieval personal name Nanno, a diminutive of Randolph.

What does the Nanson map show?

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