NameCensus.

UK surname

Nield

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning 'new field' or 'new clearing'.

In the 1881 census there were 2,052 people recorded with the Nield surname, ranking it #2,149 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,142, ranked #3,018, down from #2,149 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Stockport and Glossop. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester, Rossendale and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nield is 2,643 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

2,052

Ranked #2,149

Modern count

2,142

2016, ranked #3,018

Peak year

1911

2,643 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nield had 2,052 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,149 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,142 in 2016, ranked #3,018.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,643 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Nield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nield 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 1,255 #2,275
1861 historical 1,048 #2,675
1881 historical 2,052 #2,149
1891 historical 1,995 #2,310
1901 historical 2,478 #2,204
1911 historical 2,643 #1,947
1997 modern 2,226 #2,790
1998 modern 2,304 #2,807
1999 modern 2,334 #2,789
2000 modern 2,307 #2,797
2001 modern 2,279 #2,776
2002 modern 2,333 #2,781
2003 modern 2,238 #2,820
2004 modern 2,250 #2,805
2005 modern 2,204 #2,835
2006 modern 2,174 #2,866
2007 modern 2,173 #2,886
2008 modern 2,154 #2,938
2009 modern 2,215 #2,932
2010 modern 2,234 #2,977
2011 modern 2,200 #2,971
2012 modern 2,128 #3,008
2013 modern 2,187 #2,979
2014 modern 2,171 #3,018
2015 modern 2,167 #2,995
2016 modern 2,142 #3,018

Geography

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Where Nields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Stockport, Glossop and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester, Rossendale, Oldham and Tameside. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Glossop Derbyshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 002 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
3 Cheshire West and Chester 015 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Oldham 012 Oldham
5 Tameside 001 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nield

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Nield 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

Nield 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nield

The surname NIELD originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "feld", meaning open land or field, and likely referred to someone who lived near or worked on an open field or pasture.

The earliest known record of the name NIELD appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1193, where it is spelled "Nield". Other early spellings include "Neld" and "Neild". These early variations are likely due to the name being passed down orally before standardized spelling became common.

In the 13th century, the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, suggesting the name had spread beyond its origins in Lancashire. By the 14th century, records show people with the name NIELD living in various parts of northern England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname NIELD was John Nield, who was born around 1450 in Rochdale, Lancashire. Another notable early bearer of the name was William Nield, a merchant from Manchester who lived in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name NIELD appears in parish records from various parts of England, including Essex, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire, indicating the name had spread across the country by this time.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several individuals with the surname NIELD achieved notable status. These include Jonathan Nield (1710-1792), a prominent Baptist minister from Yorkshire, and James Nield (1744-1830), a industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester.

Other notable people with the surname NIELD throughout history include Sir Samuel Nield (1809-1880), a British politician and businessman; Edith Nield (1876-1952), an English actress and writer; and Sir Basil Nield (1888-1969), a British judge and Lord Justice of Appeal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nield 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 1,005 Nields recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,005 4.22x
Cheshire 637 14.39x
Yorkshire 114 0.57x
Derbyshire 92 2.93x
Staffordshire 41 0.61x
Flintshire 36 6.68x
Warwickshire 36 0.71x
Middlesex 27 0.13x
Shropshire 25 1.44x
Hampshire 14 0.34x
Surrey 7 0.07x
Isle of Man 6 1.61x
Oxfordshire 6 0.48x
Gloucestershire 3 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.25x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x
Somerset 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. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 242 Nields recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.50x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 242 31.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 132 25.38x
Dukinfield 77 37.64x
Crompton 66 97.39x
Manchester 51 4.77x
Glossop Dale 44 29.92x
Saddleworth 41 26.74x
Stockport 40 17.56x
Macclesfield 38 19.31x
Blackburn 30 4.74x
Bury 29 10.67x
Mellor 29 339.98x
Royton 28 38.46x
Chadderton 25 21.49x
Cheetham 25 14.08x
Cheadle 24 28.38x
Heaton Norris 23 16.98x
Sutton In Macclesfield 23 50.07x
Little Lever 22 72.30x
Stayley 21 41.50x
Ince 20 873.36x
Newton 20 10.90x
Birmingham 19 1.13x
Chester St Oswald 19 23.70x
Hyde 19 14.54x
Halliwell 17 19.63x
Monks Coppenhall 17 10.18x
Wardleworth 17 12.50x
Failsworth 16 29.38x
Hulme 16 3.22x
Prestwich 15 25.27x
Aston 14 1.01x
Denton 14 26.55x
Hawarden Ewloe Town 14 240.55x
North Meols 14 6.01x
Ardwick 13 6.06x
Stretford 13 9.93x
Castleton 12 5.05x
Willaston In Wirral 12 378.55x
Frodsham Lordship 11 146.86x
Wolstanton 11 5.35x
Bramhall 10 54.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 2.65x
Great Warford 10 414.94x
Harborne 10 4.61x
Hurdsfield 10 36.71x
Middlewich 10 109.77x
Altrincham 9 11.63x
Broughton In Salford 9 4.14x
Church Coppenhall 9 45.48x
Hackney London 9 0.80x
Heeley 9 14.90x
Oswestry Town 9 16.22x
Salford 9 1.29x
Tonge With Haulgh 9 19.43x
Whitchurch 9 26.76x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 9 22.84x
Delamere 8 201.01x
Headingley Cum Burley 8 6.25x
Hollingworth 8 43.84x
Huddersfield 8 2.76x
Little Bolton 8 2.61x
Macclesfield Forest 8 563.38x
Portsmouth 8 8.45x
Sutton Cum Duckmanton 8 244.65x
Thornton Le Moors 8 459.77x
Tintwistle 8 33.81x
Winnington 8 163.27x
Bollington In 7 17.76x
Brotton 7 26.99x
Great Bolton 7 2.22x
Kingswood 7 429.45x
Little Budworth 7 188.68x
Mile End Old Town 7 2.21x
Rainow 7 79.37x
Sharples 7 27.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 0.98x
Toxteth Park 7 0.87x
Widnes 7 4.08x
Woodcott 7 3043.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 167
Sarah 125
Elizabeth 87
Ann 47
Jane 46
Hannah 40
Alice 39
Martha 27
Annie 25
Ellen 25
Emma 23
Emily 21
Harriet 20
Betty 19
Eliza 17
Margaret 15
Maria 15
Ada 14
Lucy 13
Clara 12
Agnes 9
Bertha 8
Edith 8
Selina 7
Anne 6
Elizth. 6
Kate 6
Louisa 6
Caroline 5
Catherine 5
Charlotte 5
Esther 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Gertrude 5
Grace 5
Nancy 5
Ruth 5
Anna 4
Frances 4
Minnie 4
Rachel 4
Rebecca 4
Eleanor 3
Isabella 3
Jessie 3
Lilly 3
Margret 3
Olive 3
Sally 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 147
William 92
James 80
Thomas 77
Joseph 54
George 47
Samuel 38
Robert 32
Edward 31
Charles 29
Arthur 24
Alfred 23
Henry 14
Albert 13
Daniel 13
Harry 13
Walter 13
Herbert 11
David 10
Edwin 10
Francis 8
Richard 8
Fred 7
Mark 6
Abraham 5
Frank 5
Jonathan 5
Luke 5
Peter 5
Ralph 5
Alexander 3
Allen 3
Ambrose 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Fredrick 3
Josiah 3
Tom 3
Willie 3
Amos 2
Andrew 2
Authur 2
Ben 2
Benjamin 2
Edwd. 2
Jesse 2
Joshua 2
Matthew 2
Robt. 2
Saml. 2

FAQ

Nield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,052 people were recorded with the Nield surname. That placed it at #2,149 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,142 in 2016. That gives Nield a modern rank of #3,018.

What does the Nield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning 'new field' or 'new clearing'.

What does the Nield map show?

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