NameCensus.

UK surname

Newsome

A habitational surname derived from any of several places in England meaning "new houses" or "new village."

In the 1881 census there were 2,152 people recorded with the Newsome surname, ranking it #2,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,645, ranked #2,523, down from #2,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newsome is 2,791 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.9%.

1881 census count

2,152

Ranked #2,065

Modern count

2,645

2016, ranked #2,523

Peak year

1911

2,791 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newsome had 2,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,645 in 2016, ranked #2,523.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,791 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Newsome surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newsome surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newsome 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 1,213 #2,352
1861 historical 1,278 #2,233
1881 historical 2,152 #2,065
1891 historical 2,309 #2,030
1901 historical 2,611 #2,109
1911 historical 2,791 #1,866
1997 modern 2,648 #2,406
1998 modern 2,737 #2,419
1999 modern 2,754 #2,424
2000 modern 2,720 #2,437
2001 modern 2,657 #2,443
2002 modern 2,732 #2,430
2003 modern 2,658 #2,441
2004 modern 2,666 #2,433
2005 modern 2,671 #2,409
2006 modern 2,612 #2,452
2007 modern 2,620 #2,465
2008 modern 2,616 #2,481
2009 modern 2,652 #2,508
2010 modern 2,743 #2,486
2011 modern 2,731 #2,470
2012 modern 2,661 #2,485
2013 modern 2,711 #2,488
2014 modern 2,702 #2,503
2015 modern 2,663 #2,522
2016 modern 2,645 #2,523

Geography

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Where Newsomes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Birstall, Batley, Bradford and Dewsbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees. 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 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Dewsbury Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 002 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 005 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 006 Kirklees
4 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 011 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newsome

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newsome

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Newsome, 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 Newsome surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Newsome 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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Newsome 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

Newsome is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Newsome 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 Newsome 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 Newsome, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Newsome

The surname Newsome originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "niwe" meaning new, and "ham" meaning homestead or village. It likely referred to someone who had moved to a newly established settlement. The name was first found in Yorkshire, where the earliest records show it spelled as Newsom, Newsham, or Newsome.

One of the earliest known bearers of this surname was Walter de Neusum, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also recorded a William de Newsom in Cambridgeshire. These early records indicate the name was present in various parts of England by the 13th century.

The Newsome name appeared in several historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297, where a John de Newsome was listed. Additionally, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 mentioned a Ricardus Newsom. These entries suggest the name was well-established in Yorkshire by the late medieval period.

During the 16th century, the spelling of the name became more standardized as Newsome. One notable bearer from this time was William Newsome, a merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers in York, who lived from around 1530 to 1590.

In the 17th century, the Newsomes were present in various parts of England, such as Yorkshire, Westmorland, and Northumberland. A notable figure was John Newsome, a clergyman and author who served as the Vicar of Boxford, Berkshire, from 1643 until his death in 1663.

The 18th century saw the Newsome name continue to spread across England. Notable individuals included William Newsome (1697-1752), a clockmaker from Pontefract, Yorkshire, and Thomas Newsome (1732-1807), a prominent architect and surveyor who worked in Leeds and surrounding areas.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the Newsome name was Robert Newsome (1791-1855), a renowned English poet and writer from Yorkshire. Additionally, John Newsome (1814-1887) was a pioneering coal mine owner and entrepreneur in Durham.

Throughout its history, the Newsome surname has been associated with various places in England, particularly in Yorkshire, where it originated. The name has evolved from its Old English roots, but its core meaning of "new homestead" has remained consistent over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newsome families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newsome 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 1,666 Newsomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.00x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,666 8.00x
Lancashire 178 0.71x
Warwickshire 61 1.15x
Middlesex 53 0.25x
Shropshire 20 1.10x
Cheshire 18 0.39x
Somerset 18 0.53x
Surrey 16 0.16x
Angus 13 0.67x
Derbyshire 13 0.40x
Durham 12 0.19x
Staffordshire 8 0.11x
Sussex 8 0.23x
Kent 7 0.10x
Lincolnshire 7 0.21x
Glamorgan 6 0.16x
Northumberland 6 0.19x
Worcestershire 6 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.18x
Ayrshire 4 0.25x
Hertfordshire 4 0.28x
Leicestershire 4 0.17x
Berkshire 3 0.19x
Essex 3 0.07x
Hampshire 3 0.07x
Cumberland 2 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.48x
Oxfordshire 2 0.15x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.02x
Kincardineshire 1 0.39x
Renfrewshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 240 Newsomes recorded in 1881 and an index of 121.34x.

Place Total Index
Batley 240 121.34x
Dewsbury 168 78.71x
Soothill 127 168.93x
Leeds 85 7.23x
Heckmondwike 73 109.05x
Mirfield 59 51.63x
Bradford 41 8.14x
Huddersfield 35 11.54x
Kirkburton 32 130.40x
Birmingham 30 1.70x
Worsbrough 26 42.64x
Baildon 25 63.79x
Lepton 22 101.20x
Lockwood 21 28.04x
Manningham 21 8.19x
Ashton Under Lyne 20 3.67x
Liversedge 20 21.59x
Coventry St Michael 18 10.58x
Habergham Eaves 18 7.90x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 18 24.21x
Barnsley 17 7.92x
Great Little Marsden 17 14.89x
Hackney London 17 1.44x
Ecclesfield 16 10.48x
Thornhill 16 26.35x
Doncaster 15 9.87x
Warmfield Cum Heath 15 213.37x
Brightside Bierlow 14 3.43x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 3.31x
Halifax 14 4.58x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 14 666.67x
South Milford 13 171.28x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 12 16.86x
Blackburn 12 1.81x
Monk Bretton 12 56.95x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 11 14.55x
Elland Cum Greetland 11 11.73x
Hipperholme Cum 11 12.03x
Normanby In 11 19.77x
Almondbury 10 9.94x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 10 48.59x
Featherstone 10 42.79x
Handsworth 10 18.18x
Longwood 10 29.82x
Middleton In Hunslet 10 341.30x
Sculcoates 10 3.03x
Southowram 10 15.74x
Twerton 10 28.69x
Wortley In Bramley 10 6.07x
Arthington 9 278.64x
Badsworth 9 569.62x
Bowling 9 4.37x
Gomersal 9 9.27x
Shipley 9 8.33x
Swinton In Rotherham 9 16.35x
Armley 8 8.72x
Aston 8 0.55x
Chetwynd 8 136.52x
Heaton Norris 8 5.64x
Hunslet 8 2.47x
Islington London 8 0.39x
St Pancras London 8 0.47x
Wellow 8 80.48x
Westoe 8 2.26x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 1.77x
Droylsden 7 8.61x
Forfar 7 6.64x
Hemsworth 7 58.53x
Holbeck 7 5.08x
Horton In Bradford 7 2.15x
Linton In Wetherby 7 608.70x
Morley 7 6.47x
Thorganby Cum West 7 239.73x
West Clayton 7 67.76x
Burnley 6 2.86x
Cleckheaton 6 7.83x
Dundee 6 0.83x
Gorton 6 2.56x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 6 35.52x
St Marylebone London 6 0.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 150
Sarah 100
Elizabeth 78
Hannah 56
Ann 50
Jane 48
Emma 45
Annie 40
Martha 40
Alice 31
Eliza 30
Ellen 25
Harriet 19
Clara 18
Ada 17
Emily 13
Louisa 11
Maria 11
Fanny 10
Florence 10
Margaret 10
Rebecca 10
Agnes 8
Anne 8
Charlotte 8
Catherine 7
Edith 7
Elizth. 7
Grace 7
Nancy 7
Dinah 6
Kate 6
Esther 5
Isabella 5
Selina 5
Amelia 4
Bertha 4
Betty 4
Caroline 4
Eleanor 4
Frances 4
Lizzie 4
Lydia 4
Rhoda 4
Susan 4
Susannah 4
Laura 3
Lavinia 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 119
William 111
George 73
Joseph 51
James 46
Thomas 44
Charles 39
Henry 28
Arthur 22
Walter 22
Samuel 20
Harry 19
Alfred 18
Albert 17
Tom 17
Robert 14
Edward 13
Fred 12
Frederick 12
Herbert 12
Richard 12
David 11
Ernest 11
Frank 11
Francis 10
Joe 10
Mark 9
Wm. 9
Benjamin 8
Joshua 8
Abraham 7
Sam 7
Willie 7
Edwin 6
Jno. 6
Isaac 5
Ben 4
Stephen 4
Chas. 3
Fred. 3
Geo. 3
Oliver 3
Ellis 2
Joe. 2
Jonas 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Morvel 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Newsome surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newsome surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,152 people were recorded with the Newsome surname. That placed it at #2,065 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newsome surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,645 in 2016. That gives Newsome a modern rank of #2,523.

What does the Newsome surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from any of several places in England meaning "new houses" or "new village."

What does the Newsome map show?

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