NameCensus.

UK surname

Neasham

A locational surname referring to a place named Nesham in County Durham, England.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Neasham surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 369, ranked #12,617, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, County Durham and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neasham is 396 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

369

2016, ranked #12,617

Peak year

1999

396 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neasham had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016, ranked #12,617.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 350 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Neasham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neasham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neasham 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 101 #17,036
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 237 #13,242
1901 historical 323 #11,065
1911 historical 350 #10,262
1997 modern 370 #11,666
1998 modern 387 #11,640
1999 modern 396 #11,527
2000 modern 365 #12,196
2001 modern 353 #12,293
2002 modern 374 #12,040
2003 modern 365 #12,038
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 343 #12,546
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 351 #12,661
2009 modern 363 #12,602
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 391 #12,062
2012 modern 383 #12,099
2013 modern 384 #12,295
2014 modern 380 #12,449
2015 modern 370 #12,596
2016 modern 369 #12,617

Geography

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Where Neashams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Whitworth, Auckland St Andrew, Durham St Oswald and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, County Durham, North Lincolnshire and Hambleton. 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 Whitworth Durham
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 Durham St Oswald Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 018 Redcar and Cleveland
2 County Durham 016 County Durham
3 North Lincolnshire 010 North Lincolnshire
4 County Durham 014 County Durham
5 Hambleton 003 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neasham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neasham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Neasham, 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 Neasham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Neasham 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, Neasham 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

Neasham is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Neasham falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Neasham 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 Neasham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Neasham

The surname Neasham has its origins in England, specifically in the county of Durham. It is a locational surname, derived from the village of Neasham, which is located near the town of Darlington. The name Neasham itself is believed to come from the Old English words "neah" meaning "near" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village."

The earliest known record of the surname Neasham dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in various forms such as Nesham, Nesseham, and Nassham. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the 1279 Hundred Rolls of Durham, which mentions a William de Nesham.

In the 14th century, the name Neasham appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Durham, indicating that individuals with this surname were landowners or taxpayers in the region. This suggests that the Neasham family had a presence in the area for several generations.

One notable figure bearing the Neasham surname was John Neasham, who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a Catholic priest and author, best known for his work "The Footpath to Felicitie," published in 1613.

Another individual of historical significance was Thomas Neasham, born in 1624 in Durham. He was a clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts, including "Davidis Regis Exemplum" and "The Heavenly Cloud, Now Breaking."

In the 18th century, a prominent Neasham was George Neasham, born in 1707. He was a successful merchant and landowner in Durham and played an active role in local politics, serving as a justice of the peace.

The Neasham surname also has connections to several place names in the Durham area, such as Neasham Moor, Neasham Hall, and Neasham Abbey, which was a Benedictine monastery founded in the 12th century.

Throughout history, various spellings of the name have been used, including Nesham, Nassham, Neisham, and Naesham, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling over time.

While the surname Neasham is not as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the County Durham region, with individuals bearing this name making notable contributions in fields such as religion, literature, and local governance over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neasham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neasham 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. Durham leads with 190 Neashams recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.80x.

County Total Index
Durham 190 24.80x
Yorkshire 56 2.19x
Midlothian 7 2.03x
East Lothian 6 17.59x
Northumberland 3 0.78x
Royal Navy 1 3.26x
Westmorland 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tudhoe in Durham leads with 16 Neashams recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.81x.

Place Total Index
Tudhoe 16 238.81x
Monk Hesleden 14 657.28x
Bishop Middleham 12 2926.83x
Hetton Le Hole 12 123.58x
Lynesack Softley 12 579.71x
Kirkleatham 11 318.84x
Linthorpe 11 72.23x
Evenwood Barony 10 384.62x
Ingleton 9 4090.91x
Staindrop 8 689.66x
Barton 7 1555.56x
Darlington 7 23.66x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 7 85.78x
Ebchester 6 504.20x
Elvet 6 108.50x
Framwellgate 6 132.16x
Guisbrough 6 107.53x
Haddington 6 119.05x
Westwick 6 8571.43x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 5 15.07x
High Coniscliffe 5 1612.90x
Hutton Rudby 5 657.89x
Newbottle 5 119.62x
Stockton On Tees 5 13.54x
Whorlton 5 2380.95x
Byers Green 4 185.19x
Helmington Row 4 112.04x
Leeds 4 2.78x
West Auckland 4 142.86x
West Rainton 4 168.78x
Cockfield 3 280.37x
Coxhoe 3 138.25x
Dawdon 3 31.85x
Maltby In Middlesbrough 3 3000.00x
St Giles 3 62.76x
Bishop Auckland 2 19.46x
Brompton In 2 175.44x
Byker 2 10.56x
Castle Eden 2 256.41x
Cornforth 2 88.50x
Haswell 2 36.43x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 28.99x
Acomb 1 75.19x
Caldwell 1 666.67x
Eston 1 17.99x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.04x
Ouston 1 89.29x
Over Silton 1 2500.00x
Royal Navy 1 3.81x
Scarborough 1 4.31x
Sherburn 1 42.92x
Shildon 1 16.23x
Stranton 1 3.88x
Streatlam Stainton 1 333.33x
Witherslack 1 208.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Jane 11
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 10
Ann 9
Hannah 6
Alice 5
Isabella 4
Annie 3
Dora 3
Eleanor 3
Ellen 3
Margaret 3
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Isabell 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Betsy 1
Cathrine 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
E. 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
J. 1
Louisa 1
Margery 1
R. 1
Rebecca 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 31
William 18
Thomas 14
George 13
Robert 12
James 7
Joseph 6
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 2
Charles 1
Christ. 1
Coates 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jonathan 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Mecall 1
P. 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Timothy 1

FAQ

Neasham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neasham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Neasham surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neasham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 369 in 2016. That gives Neasham a modern rank of #12,617.

What does the Neasham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to a place named Nesham in County Durham, England.

What does the Neasham map show?

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