NameCensus.

UK surname

Nelhams

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Nelhams surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 233, ranked #17,625, up from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Heston and Richmond. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hillingdon, Three Rivers and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nelhams is 238 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 301.7%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

1997

238 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nelhams had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 102 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Nelhams surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nelhams surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nelhams 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 24 #29,038
1861 historical 30 #30,188
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 74 #27,538
1901 historical 87 #24,386
1911 historical 102 #22,465
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 234 #16,470
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 231 #16,677
2003 modern 230 #16,549
2004 modern 224 #16,918
2005 modern 217 #17,217
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 208 #18,013
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 226 #17,587
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 221 #18,039
2012 modern 224 #17,786
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 233 #17,707
2015 modern 237 #17,413
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Nelhams' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Heston, Richmond, Ealing, Chiswick and St James Clerkenwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hillingdon, Three Rivers, Richmond upon Thames, Hounslow and South Norfolk. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Heston Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 Richmond Surrey
4 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hillingdon 002 Hillingdon
2 Three Rivers 012 Three Rivers
3 Richmond upon Thames 017 Richmond upon Thames
4 Hounslow 028 Hounslow
5 South Norfolk 014 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nelhams

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nelhams

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Nelhams surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Nelhams household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Nelhams is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nelhams is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nelhams falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nelhams is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Nelhams families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nelhams 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 31 Nelhams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 5.48x
Surrey 23 8.35x
Bedfordshire 1 3.41x
Berkshire 1 2.36x
Essex 1 0.90x
Lanarkshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Richmond in Surrey leads with 14 Nelhams' recorded in 1881 and an index of 362.69x.

Place Total Index
Richmond 14 362.69x
Clerkenwell London 9 67.42x
Acton 8 240.96x
Croydon 5 32.68x
Chiswick 4 129.45x
St Pancras London 4 8.79x
Hammersmith London 3 21.54x
Mortlake 3 243.90x
Isleworth 2 79.68x
Bedford St Peter 1 131.58x
Bisley 1 769.23x
Bocking 1 149.25x
Clewer 1 57.47x
Ealing 1 19.80x
Glasgow 1 3.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Caroline 3
Mary 3
Sarah 3
Ellen 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alma 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Kate 1
Laura 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
Thomas 3
George 2
Nathaniel 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
John 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Nelhams households.

FAQ

Nelhams surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nelhams surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Nelhams surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nelhams surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Nelhams a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Nelhams map show?

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