NameCensus.

UK surname

Newsom

A locational surname derived from several places in England, likely referring to a "new home" or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 284 people recorded with the Newsom surname, ranking it #10,100 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, down from #10,100 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kirkheaton and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selby, Kingston upon Hull and Adur.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newsom is 384 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 20.1%.

1881 census count

284

Ranked #10,100

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

1851

384 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newsom had 284 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,100 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 384 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Newsom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newsom surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newsom 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 384 #6,235
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 284 #10,100
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 258 #12,614
1997 modern 247 #15,399
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 236 #16,286
2006 modern 230 #16,690
2007 modern 230 #16,890
2008 modern 238 #16,640
2009 modern 252 #16,323
2010 modern 255 #16,563
2011 modern 241 #17,057
2012 modern 228 #17,584
2013 modern 232 #17,663
2014 modern 238 #17,480
2015 modern 233 #17,627
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

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Where Newsoms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kirkheaton, Bradford, Sheffield and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selby, Kingston upon Hull and Adur. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selby 008 Selby
2 Selby 006 Selby
3 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Kingston upon Hull 025 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Adur 003 Adur

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newsom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newsom

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Newsom, 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 Newsom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Newsom household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Newsom 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

Newsom is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Newsom falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Newsom

The surname Newsom is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from various place names in England, such as Newsham or Newsholme. These place names are thought to be derived from the Old English words "niwe" meaning new and "ham" meaning homestead or settlement, indicating a new village or farmstead.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Newsom can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Newesham" in reference to a location in Yorkshire. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a William de Newesham in Yorkshire, and in the 14th century, there are references to a John de Newsom in Lancashire. These early recordings highlight the variations in spelling that were common during those times.

The surname Newsom has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was Sir Roger Newsom (c. 1590-1644), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Guildford during the English Civil War.

Another prominent figure was John Newsom (1677-1756), an English merchant and shipowner from Bristol, who played a significant role in the city's maritime trade during the 18th century.

In the United States, one of the earliest documented instances of the Newsom surname can be found in the records of John Newsom (c. 1658-1724), an English immigrant who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century.

Other notable individuals with the Newsom surname include William Newsom (1753-1831), an American Revolutionary War soldier from Virginia, and Nathaniel Newsom (1809-1895), a prominent farmer and landowner in Mississippi in the 19th century.

The name Newsom has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Newsham in Yorkshire, Newsholme in Lancashire, and Newsome in West Yorkshire. These place names likely contributed to the development and spread of the surname throughout the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newsom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newsom 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. Yorkshire leads with 91 Newsoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.33x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 91 3.33x
Middlesex 44 1.59x
Surrey 35 2.60x
Lancashire 23 0.70x
Kent 18 1.91x
Durham 17 2.07x
Sussex 8 1.72x
Derbyshire 7 1.62x
Hertfordshire 6 3.15x
Devon 5 0.87x
Northumberland 5 1.22x
Warwickshire 5 0.72x
Essex 4 0.73x
Cumberland 3 1.26x
Lincolnshire 3 0.68x
Leicestershire 2 0.65x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.54x
Bedfordshire 1 0.70x
Berkshire 1 0.48x
Hampshire 1 0.18x
Isle of Man 1 1.95x
Midlothian 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Elvet in Durham leads with 15 Newsoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 252.95x.

Place Total Index
Elvet 15 252.95x
Clapham 14 40.57x
Bradford 12 18.12x
Hackney London 12 7.75x
Sheffield 12 13.78x
West Tanfield 12 2307.69x
Battersea 8 7.88x
Brighton 8 8.52x
Charlton Next Woolwich 8 81.47x
Heeley 8 96.27x
St Marylebone London 7 4.75x
Castleton 6 18.34x
Dewsbury 6 21.39x
Salford 6 6.23x
Byker 5 24.63x
Harpenden 5 172.41x
Birmingham 4 1.72x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.51x
Halifax 4 9.96x
Heckmondwike 4 45.45x
Islington London 4 1.50x
Leeds 4 2.59x
Litchurch 4 23.00x
St Giles In Fields 4 42.02x
Tottenham 4 9.10x
West Ham 4 3.33x
Blackburn 3 3.44x
Brightside Bierlow 3 5.59x
Greenwich 3 6.83x
Holy Trinity 3 4.56x
Hunslet 3 7.03x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 6.78x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 3 23.60x
Beddington 2 38.46x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.67x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 21.37x
Camberwell 2 1.13x
Dorking 2 22.15x
East Ferry 2 1428.57x
Killamarsh 2 74.35x
Leicester St Mary 2 8.09x
Lewisham 2 3.98x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.59x
Mitcham 2 23.53x
Moss Side 2 11.60x
Otley 2 30.12x
Poplar London 2 3.84x
Rickergate 2 39.76x
St Mary 2 109.29x
Stillington 2 350.88x
West Retford 2 259.74x
Westleigh 2 26.88x
Arthington 1 238.10x
Bishop Stortford 1 15.72x
Bromley London 1 1.65x
Chilton Foliat 1 188.68x
Collingham 1 322.58x
Denaby 1 64.52x
Devonport 1 15.15x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.67x
Feltham 1 36.23x
Glossop Dale 1 4.94x
Heaton 1 34.01x
Lambeth 1 0.42x
Leatherhead 1 29.67x
Litherland 1 14.60x
Luton 1 4.04x
Manchester 1 0.68x
Marton 1 45.87x
Northorpe 1 588.24x
Northowram 1 5.21x
Over Darwen 1 3.82x
Paddington London 1 0.99x
Portsea 1 0.90x
Preston 1 66.23x
Shoreditch London 1 0.84x
Southwark St Saviour 1 7.05x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.05x
Stranton 1 3.62x
Wortley In Bramley 1 4.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Ellen 10
Sarah 9
Alice 7
Elizabeth 6
Emily 6
Louisa 5
Eliza 4
Elizth. 4
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Georgina 3
Ada 2
Eleanor 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rhdoa 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elsie 1
Emely 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Harriey 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jackobennia 1
Jannett 1
Kate 1
Lilley 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Losetta 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Tilley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
George 13
William 10
Alfred 9
Thomas 8
Arthur 6
Edward 6
James 6
Robert 6
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Samuel 3
Tom 3
Henry 2
Percy 2
Robt. 2
Sam 2
Timothy 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Augustus 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Septimus 1
Steven 1
Thos. 1
Walt. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Newsom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newsom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 284 people were recorded with the Newsom surname. That placed it at #10,100 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newsom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Newsom a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Newsom surname mean?

A locational surname derived from several places in England, likely referring to a "new home" or settlement.

What does the Newsom map show?

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