NameCensus.

UK surname

Newsham

A locational name derived from a place called Newsham.

In the 1881 census there were 942 people recorded with the Newsham surname, ranking it #4,092 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,213, ranked #4,903, down from #4,092 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, Beetham and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Isle of Wight and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newsham is 1,303 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.8%.

1881 census count

942

Ranked #4,092

Modern count

1,213

2016, ranked #4,903

Peak year

1911

1,303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newsham had 942 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,092 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016, ranked #4,903.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,303 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Newsham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newsham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newsham 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 556 #4,560
1861 historical 682 #3,946
1881 historical 942 #4,092
1891 historical 1,098 #3,849
1901 historical 1,076 #4,491
1911 historical 1,303 #3,656
1997 modern 1,171 #4,820
1998 modern 1,203 #4,868
1999 modern 1,198 #4,934
2000 modern 1,197 #4,918
2001 modern 1,175 #4,902
2002 modern 1,188 #4,941
2003 modern 1,165 #4,928
2004 modern 1,165 #4,940
2005 modern 1,162 #4,891
2006 modern 1,163 #4,896
2007 modern 1,163 #4,937
2008 modern 1,169 #4,941
2009 modern 1,214 #4,893
2010 modern 1,245 #4,895
2011 modern 1,231 #4,878
2012 modern 1,205 #4,897
2013 modern 1,245 #4,835
2014 modern 1,253 #4,839
2015 modern 1,234 #4,848
2016 modern 1,213 #4,903

Geography

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Where Newshams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, Beetham, Glossop, Preston and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Preston, Isle of Wight and Lancaster. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 Beetham Westmorland
3 Glossop Derbyshire
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Preston 014 Preston
2 Isle of Wight 016 Isle of Wight
3 Preston 008 Preston
4 Lancaster 006 Lancaster
5 Lancaster 013 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newsham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newsham

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Newsham 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

Newsham is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Newsham 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 Newsham 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Newsham

The surname Newsham is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "niwe" meaning new and "ham" meaning a homestead or settlement. It likely originated in the late 11th or early 12th century as a locational surname for someone residing in a new town or village.

Records indicate that the surname Newsham was initially concentrated in the northern English counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Northumberland. Some of the earliest documented examples of this surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where individuals with the name Newsham are mentioned.

One notable historical reference to the surname Newsham appears in the Lancashire Inquisitions, a series of court records dating back to the 14th century. These records document legal proceedings involving individuals with the surname Newsham, providing insights into their lives and activities during that period.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Newsham was Roger de Newsham, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1246. Another early record mentions John de Newsham, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire in 1332.

Over the centuries, the surname Newsham has been associated with various place names and locations. For instance, Newsham Abbey in Lincolnshire was founded in the 12th century, and the village of Newsham in Northumberland dates back to at least the 13th century.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Newsham throughout history. One example is Sir Roger Newsham (1568-1645), an English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another prominent figure was John Newsham (1597-1645), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe in Ireland.

Thomas Newsham (1663-1743) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of navigation and celestial mechanics. His works, published in the early 18th century, gained widespread recognition among scholars and navigators of the time.

In the realm of literature, Reverend Robert Newsham (1737-1807) was an English poet and clergyman known for his poetic works, including "Poems on Several Occasions" published in 1790.

Additionally, William Newsham (1820-1890) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in the Victorian era, with his works showcasing the Gothic Revival architectural style.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newsham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newsham 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. Lancashire leads with 644 Newshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 644 5.94x
Yorkshire 75 0.83x
Westmorland 43 21.41x
Middlesex 36 0.39x
Derbyshire 35 2.45x
Cambridgeshire 17 2.94x
Durham 14 0.51x
Kent 13 0.42x
Lincolnshire 8 0.55x
Cumberland 7 0.89x
Essex 6 0.33x
Norfolk 5 0.36x
Hertfordshire 4 0.63x
Leicestershire 4 0.39x
Sussex 4 0.26x
Cheshire 3 0.15x
Northamptonshire 3 0.35x
Northumberland 3 0.22x
Surrey 3 0.07x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.99x
Hampshire 2 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.18x
Gloucestershire 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.08x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 179 Newshams recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.69x.

Place Total Index
Preston 179 61.69x
Barrow In Furness 32 21.69x
Glossop Dale 27 40.29x
Blackburn 22 7.62x
Chorley 21 34.51x
Beetham 19 614.89x
Lancaster 19 29.44x
Liverpool 19 2.88x
Ulverston 19 60.15x
Dalton In Furness 16 38.21x
Tonge With Haulgh 14 66.32x
Everton 13 3.76x
Crosthwaite Lyth 11 454.55x
Great Lever 11 95.57x
Lytham 11 66.43x
Newton 11 13.16x
St Marylebone London 11 2.25x
Leverington 10 262.47x
Little Bolton 10 7.17x
Alston 9 178.22x
Clayton Le Moors 9 42.78x
Marton 9 124.83x
Westleigh 9 36.54x
Habergham Eaves 8 8.07x
Leeds 8 1.56x
Pilling 8 157.17x
Quernmore 8 437.16x
Thurnham 8 479.04x
Walton Le Dale 8 27.45x
Warton With Lindeth 8 175.82x
Brenenden 7 174.56x
Fulwood 7 59.73x
Heysham 7 353.54x
Levens 7 236.49x
Prescot 7 35.70x
Witton Le Wear 7 90.79x
Azerley 6 277.78x
Bradford 6 2.74x
Enfield 6 10.01x
Kirkland 6 600.00x
Lower Booths 6 30.88x
Newton In Makerfield 6 18.07x
North Meols 6 5.65x
Northorpe 6 1052.63x
Radcliffe 6 11.48x
Salford 6 1.88x
Whalley 6 37.95x
Wisbech St Mary 6 90.23x
Brightside Bierlow 5 2.81x
Hulme 5 2.21x
Nateby 5 406.50x
Ormskirk 5 24.10x
Rusholme 5 17.28x
Sandon 5 342.47x
Skelmersdale 5 27.67x
Thorganby Cum West 5 393.70x
Walpole St Peter 5 140.45x
Walton On Hill 5 8.51x
Accrington 4 4.06x
Birkdale 4 14.58x
Bishop Auckland 4 10.96x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 4.64x
Bury 4 3.23x
Giggleswick 4 130.72x
Howden Thorpe In 4 408.16x
Kendal 4 10.88x
Little Eaton 4 135.14x
Livesey 4 21.01x
Newchurch 4 4.51x
Norton 4 33.93x
Otley 4 18.19x
Padiham 4 15.27x
Reeth 4 178.57x
St George In East 4 6.43x
Thornton Dale 4 166.67x
Wingham 4 110.80x
Burnley 3 3.28x
Kensington London 3 0.59x
Mottram 3 32.82x
Tynemouth 3 4.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Alice 39
Margaret 36
Elizabeth 33
Jane 24
Sarah 22
Ann 18
Ellen 18
Annie 9
Emma 8
Catherine 7
Hannah 7
Isabella 7
Martha 7
Agnes 6
Frances 6
Clara 5
Grace 5
Dorothy 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Rachel 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Matilda 3
Nancy 3
Phoebe 3
Selina 3
Amy 2
Barbara 2
Betsy 2
Betty 2
Eleanor 2
Elizebeth 2
Harriett 2
Lois 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Minnie 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Willows 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 66
John 61
James 51
Thomas 48
George 31
Richard 23
Joseph 22
Robert 20
Henry 14
Edward 13
Charles 9
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Ralph 7
Samuel 5
Thos. 5
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Peter 4
Robt. 4
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Lawrence 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredric 2
Chas. 1
Emily 1
Freeman 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Horation 1
J. 1
Jacob 1
Levi 1
Mathew 1
Medland 1
Nicholas 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Ralf 1
Wm.P. 1

FAQ

Newsham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newsham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 942 people were recorded with the Newsham surname. That placed it at #4,092 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newsham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,213 in 2016. That gives Newsham a modern rank of #4,903.

What does the Newsham surname mean?

A locational name derived from a place called Newsham.

What does the Newsham map show?

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