NameCensus.

UK surname

Newham

A toponymic surname referring to the new home, village or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 1,097 people recorded with the Newham surname, ranking it #3,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,135, ranked #5,189, down from #3,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, Scarborough and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newham is 1,511 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.5%.

1881 census count

1,097

Ranked #3,619

Modern count

1,135

2016, ranked #5,189

Peak year

1911

1,511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newham had 1,097 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,135 in 2016, ranked #5,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Newham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newham 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 772 #3,459
1861 historical 1,000 #2,791
1881 historical 1,097 #3,619
1891 historical 1,279 #3,380
1901 historical 1,270 #3,906
1911 historical 1,511 #3,200
1997 modern 1,283 #4,442
1998 modern 1,293 #4,593
1999 modern 1,266 #4,712
2000 modern 1,256 #4,721
2001 modern 1,183 #4,862
2002 modern 1,215 #4,855
2003 modern 1,204 #4,798
2004 modern 1,185 #4,863
2005 modern 1,156 #4,920
2006 modern 1,130 #5,017
2007 modern 1,151 #4,979
2008 modern 1,131 #5,103
2009 modern 1,174 #5,033
2010 modern 1,204 #5,030
2011 modern 1,175 #5,074
2012 modern 1,164 #5,036
2013 modern 1,165 #5,119
2014 modern 1,180 #5,098
2015 modern 1,145 #5,177
2016 modern 1,135 #5,189

Geography

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Where Newhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead, London parishes, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Gedling. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, Scarborough, Burnley and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Gateshead Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Gedling Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 012 New Forest
2 Scarborough 009 Scarborough
3 Burnley 014 Burnley
4 Scarborough 010 Scarborough
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newham

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Newham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Newham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Newham 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

Newham 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

Newham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Newham

The surname Newham is of English origin, originating from the medieval period around the 12th century. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Newham" or "Newholme," referring to a new homestead or farm. The prefix "new" in Old English meant "new" or "recently established," while "ham" or "holme" meant a homestead or low-lying meadow.

One of the earliest records of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1202, where it appears as "de Neuham." This entry suggests that the name was already established in the northern counties of England by the early 13th century.

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a Richard de Newham from the county of Norfolk. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in the eastern regions of England during the latter part of the 13th century.

The Newham surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, where it is listed as "Neuham." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Newham, who was listed in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. His name suggests a connection to the northern county, further solidifying the surname's roots in that region.

In the 14th century, a prominent figure named John Newham (c. 1320-1390) was a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Edward III. His legacy demonstrates the increasing prominence of the Newham family during this period.

Another notable individual was Sir Roger Newham (c. 1410-1478), a knight and landowner from Gloucestershire who served as Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset in the mid-15th century under the reign of Henry VI.

During the Tudor period, a prominent bearer of the name was Thomas Newham (c. 1500-1570), a merchant and alderman in the city of London. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and served as Sheriff of London in 1557.

In the 17th century, John Newham (1617-1687) was a renowned English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Spaxton in Somerset. He published several theological works and was known for his religious writings.

The surname Newham has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Newham in Gloucestershire, Newham in Kent, and Newham in Essex, further reinforcing its locational origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newham 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 178 Newhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.33x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 178 12.33x
Yorkshire 134 1.26x
Durham 100 3.14x
Leicestershire 81 6.82x
Surrey 76 1.46x
Derbyshire 65 3.88x
Middlesex 65 0.61x
Lancashire 59 0.46x
Lincolnshire 42 2.45x
Hampshire 38 1.73x
Norfolk 31 1.88x
Kent 27 0.74x
Wiltshire 21 2.22x
Northumberland 20 1.26x
Sussex 18 1.00x
Warwickshire 15 0.56x
Glamorgan 12 0.64x
Cheshire 10 0.42x
Suffolk 10 0.77x
Somerset 9 0.52x
Worcestershire 9 0.64x
Bedfordshire 8 1.44x
Northamptonshire 8 0.79x
Hertfordshire 7 0.95x
Rutland 7 8.90x
Shropshire 7 0.76x
Essex 6 0.28x
Staffordshire 6 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.77x
Monmouthshire 5 0.65x
Berkshire 4 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.69x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.66x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.29x
Merionethshire 2 1.02x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.47x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 72 Newhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.28x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 72 19.28x
Westoe 64 35.43x
Melton Mowbray 22 103.04x
Boston 19 36.57x
Basford 18 27.05x
Howden 17 235.78x
Scarborough 17 17.63x
Sutton In Ashfield 17 54.26x
Downton 15 120.97x
Rotherhithe 15 11.33x
Aston 14 1.88x
Derby St Werburgh 13 13.43x
Portsea 13 3.02x
Ringwood 13 92.53x
Carlton 12 72.86x
Kegworth 12 152.09x
Lambeth 12 1.28x
Shoreditch London 12 2.58x
Camberwell 11 1.61x
Chesterfield 11 17.50x
Islington London 11 1.06x
Salford 11 2.94x
Barrow Upon Soar 10 101.94x
Nottingham St Nicholas 10 50.86x
Tudhoe 10 35.87x
Barton Blount 9 1500.00x
Bradford 9 3.50x
Hulme 9 3.39x
Bishop Auckland 8 18.71x
Castle Donnington 8 81.22x
Chester St Oswald 8 18.69x
Sculcoates 8 4.75x
Staveley 8 26.87x
Westmeston 8 666.67x
Bedminster 7 4.32x
Croydon 7 2.42x
Hemingbrough 7 333.33x
Holy Trinity 7 2.74x
Lakenham 7 29.91x
Oakham Lordshold 7 85.05x
Ollerton 7 233.33x
Wimbledon 7 11.95x
Wolverley 7 57.00x
Barton St Peter 6 76.43x
Beverley St Martin 6 33.86x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.19x
Blackley 6 26.93x
Broughton In Salford 6 5.16x
Chigwell 6 30.06x
Clapham 6 4.48x
Fordingbridge 6 50.25x
Gedling 6 252.10x
Heigham 6 6.79x
Llantwit Lower 6 36.61x
Manchester 6 1.05x
Nunton With Bodenham 6 550.46x
Oadby 6 94.34x
Shardlow 6 188.68x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 6 116.73x
Skelton In Guisbrough 6 20.90x
South Elmham St Cross 6 759.49x
South Lynn 6 32.29x
St Marylebone London 6 1.05x
Streatham 6 7.55x
Tynemouth 6 7.03x
Wellow 6 444.44x
Whitherley 6 315.79x
Wingate 6 27.47x
Barrow On Humber 5 50.30x
Cheshunt 5 19.37x
Christchurch 5 20.88x
Denton 5 17.76x
Epsom 5 19.66x
Leicester St Margaret 5 1.73x
Loughborough 5 9.28x
Newton 5 5.10x
Ockbrook 5 70.22x
Southcoates 5 8.49x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 5 32.98x
Wetherby 5 72.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 84
William 77
Thomas 38
George 35
James 30
Charles 26
Henry 26
Robert 16
Joseph 15
Edward 12
Albert 9
Arthur 9
Frank 9
Harry 9
Samuel 8
Alfred 7
Francis 6
Frederick 6
Ernest 5
Richard 5
David 4
Herbert 4
Leonard 4
Peter 4
Walter 4
Adam 3
Bartholomew 3
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Chas.J. 2
Edgar 2
Edwd. 2
Jeremiah 2
Michael 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Andrew 1
Anthoney 1
Benj. 1
C.Hy. 1
Cafey 1
Eden 1
Edwd 1
Eli 1
Emmerson 1
Henworth 1
Hugh 1
I.C. 1

FAQ

Newham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,097 people were recorded with the Newham surname. That placed it at #3,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,135 in 2016. That gives Newham a modern rank of #5,189.

What does the Newham surname mean?

A toponymic surname referring to the new home, village or settlement.

What does the Newham map show?

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