NameCensus.

UK surname

Neylon

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Niallain, meaning "descendant of Niall".

In the 1881 census there were 8 people recorded with the Neylon surname, ranking it #32,581 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 212, ranked #18,843, up from #32,581 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Selby and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neylon is 216 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2550.0%.

1881 census count

8

Ranked #32,581

Modern count

212

2016, ranked #18,843

Peak year

1997

216 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neylon had 8 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,581 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016, ranked #18,843.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 50 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Neylon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neylon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neylon 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 12 #32,329
1881 historical 8 #32,581
1891 historical 29 #31,963
1901 historical 50 #28,590
1911 historical 48 #28,006
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 210 #17,600
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 189 #18,855
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 195 #18,799
2008 modern 188 #19,387
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 198 #19,340
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 212 #18,945
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 212 #18,843

Geography

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Where Neylons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Selby, St. Helens, Kingston upon Hull and Bexley. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
2 Selby 002 Selby
3 St. Helens 014 St. Helens
4 Kingston upon Hull 027 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Bexley 022 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neylon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neylon

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Neylon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Neylon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Neylon is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Neylon 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

Neylon 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 Neylon 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Neylon

The surname Neylon originated in Ireland, specifically in the southern counties of Cork and Kerry. It is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Niallón," meaning "champion" or "descendant of Niall." This name can be traced back to the 10th century and is believed to be associated with the Uí Néill dynasty, a prominent Irish clan that ruled portions of Ireland for several centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Neylon can be found in the Annals of Inisfallen, a medieval Irish chronicle dating back to the 12th century. The annals mention a person named "Mael Sechnaill Ua Nialláin," who was the King of Cennéidigh (a territory in modern-day County Kerry) in the late 11th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Neylon was particularly prevalent in the baronies of Magunihy and Tullagh in County Kerry. Several Neylon families were prominent landowners and played a significant role in the local history of the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Neylon include Sir Nicholas Neylon (1554-1623), an Irish soldier and politician who served as a member of the Irish Parliament and fought in the Nine Years' War against the English. Another prominent figure was John Neylon (1730-1797), an Irish Catholic priest and educator who founded the prestigious Neylon Academy in County Cork.

In the 19th century, several Neylons made their mark in various fields. Patrick Neylon (1810-1881) was an Irish Catholic bishop who served as the Bishop of Dromore from 1856 until his death. Michael Neylon (1834-1906) was an Irish-American lawyer and judge who served as a justice on the Supreme Court of New York.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Neylon was Charles Neylon (1881-1958), an Irish chemist who pioneered the development of synthetic fibers, particularly nylon. His groundbreaking work on nylon revolutionized the textile industry and earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

While the name Neylon is primarily associated with Ireland, it has also been found in other parts of the world due to Irish emigration. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Irish clans and their descendants who carried this distinctive surname through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neylon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neylon 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 5 Neylons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.47x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 5 6.47x
Northumberland 2 17.23x
Lancashire 1 1.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 5 Neylons recorded in 1881 and an index of 268.82x.

Place Total Index
Holy Trinity 5 268.82x
Byker 2 350.88x
Liverpool 1 17.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Dorothy 1
Margt. 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Daniel 1
James 1
Timothy 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Neylon households.

FAQ

Neylon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neylon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 8 people were recorded with the Neylon surname. That placed it at #32,581 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neylon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 212 in 2016. That gives Neylon a modern rank of #18,843.

What does the Neylon surname mean?

An anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Niallain, meaning "descendant of Niall".

What does the Neylon map show?

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