NameCensus.

UK surname

Nathan

Derived from a given name of Hebrew origin meaning "he has given" or "God has given."

In the 1881 census there were 997 people recorded with the Nathan surname, ranking it #3,910 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,904, ranked #3,338, up from #3,910 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East and Christ Church Spitalfields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hertsmere, Redbridge and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nathan is 1,904 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.0%.

1881 census count

997

Ranked #3,910

Modern count

1,904

2016, ranked #3,338

Peak year

2016

1,904 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nathan had 997 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,910 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,904 in 2016, ranked #3,338.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,448 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Nathan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nathan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nathan 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 753 #3,529
1861 historical 743 #3,670
1881 historical 997 #3,910
1891 historical 1,124 #3,778
1901 historical 1,418 #3,571
1911 historical 1,448 #3,333
1997 modern 1,677 #3,551
1998 modern 1,742 #3,563
1999 modern 1,746 #3,577
2000 modern 1,766 #3,527
2001 modern 1,714 #3,548
2002 modern 1,744 #3,575
2003 modern 1,764 #3,455
2004 modern 1,694 #3,593
2005 modern 1,691 #3,555
2006 modern 1,694 #3,557
2007 modern 1,699 #3,574
2008 modern 1,705 #3,589
2009 modern 1,761 #3,567
2010 modern 1,873 #3,457
2011 modern 1,817 #3,505
2012 modern 1,809 #3,461
2013 modern 1,844 #3,462
2014 modern 1,890 #3,408
2015 modern 1,888 #3,382
2016 modern 1,904 #3,338

Geography

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Where Nathans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hertsmere, Redbridge, Camden, Trafford and Barnet. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 1
5 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere
2 Redbridge 036 Redbridge
3 Camden 011 Camden
4 Trafford 019 Trafford
5 Barnet 028 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nathan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nathan

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Nathan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Nathan 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Nathan is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nathan is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nathan falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nathan 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Nathan

The surname Nathan is believed to have originated in medieval England, derived from the Hebrew male given name "Natan," which means "he gave" or "gift of God." The name gained popularity in England during the 12th and 13th centuries, particularly among Jewish communities.

In its early forms, the surname was often spelled as "Natan" or "Nathane." Over time, variations such as "Nathen," "Nathans," and "Nathan" emerged, with the latter becoming the most common spelling. The name's widespread use was facilitated by the biblical figure Nathan, a prophet in the Old Testament.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Nathan can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire, dated 1175, which mentions a "Natan le Judeu" (Nathan the Jew). The surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a "Simon Nathan" is recorded as living in Oxfordshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Nathan. One of the earliest was Rabbi Isaac Nathan (c. 1115 - c. 1190), a French-Jewish scholar and biblical commentator who lived in the 12th century. Another prominent figure was Isaak Nathan (1790-1864), a German composer and music critic who played a significant role in promoting the works of Beethoven.

In the literary world, the name is associated with George Jean Nathan (1882-1958), an American drama critic and editor who co-founded the influential magazine The American Mercury. Robert Nathan (1894-1985), an American novelist and poet, is also remembered for his works such as "The Bishop's Wife" and "Portrait of Jennie."

During the 20th century, the surname gained further recognition through individuals like Baroness Susan Aurelia Isadora Nathan (1836-1922), a British philanthropist and social reformer, and Manny Nathan (1912-1998), an American baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball for several teams between 1938 and 1945.

While the surname Nathan has its roots in medieval England and gained prominence among Jewish communities, it has since been adopted by people of various cultures and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity and richness of its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nathan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nathan 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. Middlesex leads with 553 Nathans recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 553 5.68x
Lancashire 95 0.82x
Surrey 49 1.03x
Warwickshire 36 1.47x
Devon 35 1.73x
Cheshire 32 1.49x
Glamorgan 32 1.89x
Gloucestershire 22 1.15x
Essex 19 0.99x
Kent 16 0.48x
Pembrokeshire 15 4.85x
Yorkshire 15 0.16x
Durham 14 0.48x
Dorset 7 1.10x
Hampshire 7 0.35x
Monmouthshire 7 0.99x
Oxfordshire 6 1.00x
Midlothian 5 0.38x
Cardiganshire 4 1.68x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.97x
Leicestershire 3 0.28x
Northumberland 3 0.21x
Radnorshire 3 3.82x
Hertfordshire 2 0.30x
Lincolnshire 2 0.13x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Sussex 2 0.12x
Brecknockshire 1 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.17x
Channel Islands 1 0.35x
Cornwall 1 0.09x
Cumberland 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.07x
Renfrewshire 1 0.13x
Rutland 1 1.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Spitalfields London in Middlesex leads with 94 Nathans recorded in 1881 and an index of 128.38x.

Place Total Index
Spitalfields London 94 128.38x
Mile End Old Town 91 59.22x
Kensington London 40 7.39x
Whitechapel London 38 39.60x
Paddington London 34 9.50x
Lambeth 24 2.83x
St George In East 24 36.24x
Hackney London 23 4.21x
Shoreditch London 22 5.21x
Chorlton On Medlock 19 10.35x
St Pancras London 19 2.42x
Cheetham 18 20.89x
Birkenhead 17 9.92x
Birmingham 17 2.08x
St Botolph Aldgate 16 120.39x
Hampstead London 15 9.89x
Liverpool 15 2.14x
Hyde 14 22.08x
Islington London 14 1.48x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 7.15x
East Stonehouse 13 32.57x
Edgbaston 13 17.08x
Bethnal Green London 12 2.84x
Mile End New Town 12 90.29x
Bromley London 11 5.14x
Chelsea London 11 3.75x
East Teignmouth 11 132.69x
Everton 10 2.72x
Milton In Gravesend 10 20.08x
Leeds 9 1.65x
Roath 9 11.69x
St Marylebone London 9 1.73x
Cheltenham 8 5.43x
Manchester 8 1.54x
Old Artillery Ground 8 95.47x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 8 58.06x
St Dogmells 8 97.32x
Walthamstow 8 11.57x
Willesden 8 8.72x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 10.99x
Cardiff St Mary 7 7.50x
St George Hanover 7 5.51x
St Giles In Fields 7 20.85x
St Luke London 7 4.48x
St Woollos 7 8.91x
Abram 6 67.72x
Aston 6 0.89x
Fishguard 6 89.55x
Iveston 6 44.98x
Neithrop 6 29.70x
Portsea 6 1.53x
Salford 6 1.77x
Wanstead 6 17.83x
Ystradyfodwg 6 4.04x
Broughton In Salford 5 4.73x
Melcombe Regis 5 18.88x
Merthyr Tydfil 5 3.07x
Neath 5 14.50x
Tudhoe 5 19.73x
Woodford 5 22.99x
Clapham 4 3.29x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 0.76x
Llansadwrn 4 126.58x
Manningham 4 3.37x
St Anne Soho London 4 7.20x
St Martin In Fields 4 6.86x
Sutton 4 11.66x
West Teignmouth 4 25.81x
Blaenporth 3 132.16x
Corse 3 173.41x
Edmonton 3 3.82x
Llanelwedd 3 441.18x
Plymouth Charles The 3 3.36x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 1.92x
Toxteth Park 3 0.77x
Bury 2 1.52x
Hetton Le Hole 2 5.45x
Leicester St Margaret 2 0.76x
Watford 2 3.84x
Weymouth 2 16.53x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Nathan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nathan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 997 people were recorded with the Nathan surname. That placed it at #3,910 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nathan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,904 in 2016. That gives Nathan a modern rank of #3,338.

What does the Nathan surname mean?

Derived from a given name of Hebrew origin meaning "he has given" or "God has given."

What does the Nathan map show?

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