NameCensus.

UK surname

Nevison

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "new town" or "new village".

In the 1881 census there were 344 people recorded with the Nevison surname, ranking it #8,864 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 389, ranked #12,109, down from #8,864 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Auckland St Andrew and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, IZ09 and Darlington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nevison is 402 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.1%.

1881 census count

344

Ranked #8,864

Modern count

389

2016, ranked #12,109

Peak year

2014

402 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nevison had 344 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,864 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016, ranked #12,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 385 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Nevison surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nevison surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nevison 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 243 #8,983
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 344 #8,864
1891 historical 326 #10,405
1901 historical 385 #9,730
1911 historical 379 #9,672
1997 modern 357 #11,998
1998 modern 362 #12,259
1999 modern 352 #12,552
2000 modern 356 #12,408
2001 modern 354 #12,274
2002 modern 359 #12,383
2003 modern 348 #12,452
2004 modern 337 #12,818
2005 modern 345 #12,496
2006 modern 356 #12,284
2007 modern 357 #12,413
2008 modern 371 #12,155
2009 modern 386 #12,044
2010 modern 395 #12,105
2011 modern 392 #12,038
2012 modern 398 #11,755
2013 modern 398 #11,967
2014 modern 402 #11,949
2015 modern 393 #12,059
2016 modern 389 #12,109

Geography

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Where Nevisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Auckland St Andrew, Edinburgh, Sanquhar and Newcastle St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, IZ09, Darlington and Carlisle. 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 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Auckland St Andrew Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Sanquhar Dumfries
5 Newcastle St John Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 015 Bradford
2 IZ09 East Lothian
3 Darlington 006 Darlington
4 Carlisle 011 Carlisle
5 Carlisle 008 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nevison

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nevison

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nevison is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Nevison is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nevison falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Nevison

The surname Nevison is of English origin and derives from the Old Norse personal name 'Nafair', which means 'son of the seafarer'. The name is thought to have emerged in the North of England during the Viking invasions and settlements of the 9th and 10th centuries.

Historically, the name was first recorded in Yorkshire, England, in the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire from 1273, which mentions a Richard Nafairson. The name evolved over time, with variations such as Nevyson, Nevison, and eventually settling on the modern spelling of Nevison.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records across Northern England, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1545, which listed a John Nevison. During this period, the name was particularly concentrated in the areas around the city of York and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

One notable historical figure with the surname Nevison was Christopher Nevison, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in Yorkshire in 1598 and served as a vicar in several parishes before publishing works on religious subjects.

Another individual of note was John Nevison, a 19th-century English architect and surveyor. Born in 1784 in Yorkshire, he was responsible for designing several notable buildings in the region, including the Athenaeum in Hull.

In the late 19th century, the surname was also found in Scotland, where a prominent bearer was Robert Nevison, a businessman and philanthropist from Dundee. He was born in 1848 and made significant contributions to the city's development and charitable causes.

Moving into the 20th century, one notable figure was Henry Wentworth Nevinson, a British journalist and war correspondent. He was born in 1856 and covered conflicts such as the Boer War and World War I, publishing several books on his experiences.

Another individual worth mentioning is Marmaduke Nevinson, a British writer and artist born in 1892. He was a prominent figure in the Vorticist movement and is known for his paintings depicting the harsh realities of World War I.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nevison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nevison 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 117 Nevisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.72x.

County Total Index
Durham 117 11.72x
Yorkshire 63 1.89x
Lancashire 39 0.98x
Northumberland 35 7.01x
Cumberland 16 5.54x
Dumfriesshire 16 21.59x
Middlesex 16 0.48x
Westmorland 14 18.99x
Midlothian 13 2.89x
Lincolnshire 5 0.93x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 8.24x
Caithness 1 2.18x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 1.63x
Renfrewshire 1 0.38x
Surrey 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 2.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishop Auckland in Durham leads with 40 Nevisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 298.73x.

Place Total Index
Bishop Auckland 40 298.73x
Barnard Castle 26 527.38x
Thornaby 23 185.19x
Sanquhar 16 613.03x
Elswick 13 32.62x
Bethnal Green London 8 5.49x
Gateshead 8 10.70x
Penrith 8 74.98x
West Derby 8 6.87x
Hunslet 7 13.50x
Kendal 7 51.85x
North Shields 7 70.28x
Pilling 7 374.33x
Westgate 7 22.64x
Willington 7 121.32x
Tynemouth 6 22.44x
Appleby St Michael 5 301.20x
Dalton In Furness 5 32.53x
Penicuik 5 81.83x
Pollards Land 5 704.23x
Aiskew 4 421.05x
Barnoldswick 4 86.21x
Bradford 4 4.97x
Kirkpatrick Durham 4 264.90x
Liverpool 4 1.65x
Northallerton 4 94.34x
Preston 4 3.75x
Romanby 4 833.33x
Shildon 4 49.88x
St Marylebone London 4 2.23x
Throston 4 208.33x
Westoe 4 7.07x
Wigan 4 7.19x
Winlaton 4 41.75x
Darlington 3 7.78x
South Leith 3 5.93x
Stamford All Sts 3 100.00x
Stockton On Tees 3 6.23x
Walton On Hill 3 13.91x
Dearham 2 52.49x
East Keswick 2 392.16x
Edinburgh Newington 2 250.00x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 21.44x
Hexham 2 25.87x
Holy Trinity 2 2.50x
Langdale 2 238.10x
Leeds 2 1.07x
Little Salkeld 2 1428.57x
Manchester 2 1.12x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 10.26x
Paddington London 2 1.62x
St Cuthbert Within 2 59.70x
St George Bloomsbury 2 10.39x
Ulverston 2 17.24x
Archdeacon Newton 1 1666.67x
Bedale 1 82.64x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.17x
Brompton In 1 67.11x
Burneston 1 344.83x
Clayton 1 12.29x
Clee With Weelsby 1 8.51x
Clifford Cum Boston 1 33.44x
Coundon Grange 1 45.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.55x
Elvet 1 13.87x
Grantham 1 14.31x
Hale 1 39.22x
Halkirk 1 32.15x
Hartlepool 1 7.05x
Hesket In Forest 1 44.44x
Kirkinner 1 54.35x
Llanaber 1 41.15x
Millom 1 11.30x
Paisley Middle Church 1 6.61x
Richmond 1 19.23x
South Shields 1 11.25x
Stranton 1 2.98x
Woking 1 10.15x
Yafforth 1 454.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 18
Jane 16
Margaret 7
Hannah 6
Ann 5
Emma 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Dorothy 2
Eliz. 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Susanah 2
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christabel 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elisabeth 1
Elloner 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hanah 1
Henriette 1
Isabel 1
Jemmima 1
Jessie 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Marjory 1
Maryann 1
Meggie 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Nicola 1
Phillas 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 19
Thomas 15
James 12
Robert 11
Henry 10
George 7
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Edward 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Stephen 3
Alfred 2
Daniel 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Basil 1
Christopher 1
Edwd.W. 1
Ellen 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Septimus 1
Simon 1
Wilson 1
Woodburn 1

FAQ

Nevison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nevison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 344 people were recorded with the Nevison surname. That placed it at #8,864 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nevison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 389 in 2016. That gives Nevison a modern rank of #12,109.

What does the Nevison surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "new town" or "new village".

What does the Nevison map show?

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