NameCensus.

UK surname

Noon

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "at the foot of a hill" or "a hilltop."

In the 1881 census there were 2,152 people recorded with the Noon surname, ranking it #2,065 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,182, ranked #2,136, down from #2,065 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Stratford-on-Avon and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Noon is 3,309 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.9%.

1881 census count

2,152

Ranked #2,065

Modern count

3,182

2016, ranked #2,136

Peak year

2010

3,309 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Noon had 2,152 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,065 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,182 in 2016, ranked #2,136.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,570 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Noon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Noon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Noon 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 1,102 #2,552
1861 historical 1,233 #2,315
1881 historical 2,152 #2,065
1891 historical 2,054 #2,251
1901 historical 2,506 #2,186
1911 historical 2,570 #1,988
1997 modern 3,009 #2,143
1998 modern 3,067 #2,195
1999 modern 3,124 #2,170
2000 modern 3,094 #2,178
2001 modern 3,018 #2,185
2002 modern 3,102 #2,170
2003 modern 3,054 #2,147
2004 modern 3,059 #2,144
2005 modern 3,024 #2,140
2006 modern 3,057 #2,120
2007 modern 3,113 #2,101
2008 modern 3,136 #2,103
2009 modern 3,256 #2,085
2010 modern 3,309 #2,099
2011 modern 3,243 #2,111
2012 modern 3,168 #2,124
2013 modern 3,232 #2,121
2014 modern 3,233 #2,136
2015 modern 3,199 #2,134
2016 modern 3,182 #2,136

Geography

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Where Noons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Liverpool and Heanor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Stratford-on-Avon, Knowsley and Amber Valley. 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 Manchester Lancashire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Heanor Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 018 Rochdale
2 Stratford-on-Avon 004 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Knowsley 005 Knowsley
4 Amber Valley 013 Amber Valley
5 Knowsley 003 Knowsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Noon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Noon

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Noon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Noon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Noon 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

Noon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Noon

The surname Noon has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "non," which translates to "noon" or midday. This suggests that the name was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone who was born or habitually active during the midday hours.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Noon surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1176, where a person named William Noun is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that era.

In the 13th century, the Noon surname appears in various county records, such as the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1272, which reference a Richard Noon. This indicates that the name had gained recognition and spread across different regions of England by this time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not explicitly mention the Noon surname. However, it does include references to place names that may have contributed to the development of the surname, such as Nunnington in Yorkshire and Nuns' Green in Worcestershire.

Notable individuals bearing the Noon surname throughout history include:

1. John Noon (c. 1568-1635), an English clergyman and author known for his theological writings. 2. Benjamin Noon (1808-1892), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Birmingham, England. 3. Sir William Noon (1838-1915), a British industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Noon Bread Company and was knighted for his contributions to the city of Derby. 4. James Noon (1843-1925), a British trade unionist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party. 5. Sir Ismail Noon (1893-1987), a prominent Pakistani industrialist and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of Pakistan's textile industry.

While the Noon surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved over centuries and been carried by individuals from various walks of life, leaving an indelible mark on the historical tapestry of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Noon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Noon 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 558 Noons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 558 2.24x
Leicestershire 175 7.52x
Warwickshire 163 3.08x
Derbyshire 142 4.32x
Staffordshire 141 1.99x
Middlesex 133 0.63x
Yorkshire 130 0.62x
Durham 73 1.17x
Cheshire 72 1.55x
Nottinghamshire 65 2.30x
Northamptonshire 52 2.63x
Surrey 52 0.51x
Lanarkshire 45 0.66x
Lincolnshire 32 0.95x
Northumberland 26 0.83x
Essex 25 0.60x
Midlothian 25 0.89x
Worcestershire 25 0.91x
Berkshire 22 1.40x
Kent 21 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 17 3.67x
East Lothian 13 4.68x
Renfrewshire 13 0.80x
Oxfordshire 12 0.93x
Devon 11 0.25x
Glamorgan 11 0.30x
Hampshire 10 0.23x
Rutland 10 6.49x
Wiltshire 10 0.54x
Huntingdonshire 8 1.92x
Angus 7 0.36x
Bedfordshire 7 0.64x
Fife 7 0.56x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.90x
Hertfordshire 5 0.35x
Ayrshire 3 0.19x
Berwickshire 3 1.18x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.53x
Royal Navy 3 1.20x
Suffolk 3 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.15x
Flintshire 2 0.35x
Norfolk 2 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.16x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.58x
Radnorshire 1 0.59x
Somerset 1 0.03x
West Lothian 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 76 Noons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.02x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 76 5.02x
Manchester 55 4.91x
Leeds 43 3.66x
Warrington 42 14.22x
Leicester St Margaret 41 7.22x
Aston 38 2.61x
Birmingham 34 1.93x
Heanor 30 61.04x
Stockton 27 546.56x
Leicester St Mary 24 12.76x
Loughborough 24 22.72x
Glasgow 22 1.82x
Lambeth 22 1.20x
Branstone 21 294.94x
Everton 21 2.65x
Shipley 20 384.62x
Widnes 20 11.13x
Islington London 19 0.93x
Walsall Foreign 19 5.19x
Hulme 18 3.46x
Latchford 17 55.23x
Nottingham St Mary 17 2.32x
Stafford St Mary 17 16.95x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 2.26x
Berwick Upon Tweed 16 24.18x
Rugby 16 22.34x
Burton Dassett 15 319.83x
Salford 15 2.05x
St George Hanover 15 5.47x
Blackburn 14 2.11x
Burnley 14 6.67x
Hackney London 14 1.19x
Rutherglen 14 14.06x
West Derby 14 1.92x
Bishampton 13 422.08x
Hellidon 13 567.69x
Ilkeston 13 14.11x
Oakthorpe Donsthorpe 13 208.67x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 12 15.89x
Ashton Under Lyne 12 2.20x
Newcastle Under Lyme 12 9.57x
Newchurch 12 5.89x
Newington 12 1.55x
Washington 12 45.82x
Broughton In Salford 11 4.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 11 0.97x
Heworth 11 8.94x
Kensington London 11 0.94x
Middleton In Teesdale 11 66.75x
Wednesbury 11 6.21x
Barton Upon Irwell 10 5.33x
Catesby 10 1428.57x
Chesterfield 10 8.12x
Eastwood 10 39.53x
Golborne 10 30.80x
Gorton 10 4.27x
Heap 10 7.57x
Horsley 10 50.56x
Horton In Bradford 10 3.08x
Lancaster 10 6.75x
Mountsorrel South End 10 301.20x
Oxford St Giles 10 16.17x
Paddington London 10 1.30x
St Pancras London 10 0.59x
West Ham 10 1.09x
Ardwick 9 4.01x
Castleford 9 11.88x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.27x
Claylane 9 19.70x
Great Bolton 9 2.73x
Llandaff 9 7.40x
Oldham 9 1.12x
Staverton 9 326.09x
Westleigh 9 15.91x
Bourn 8 29.51x
Kings Norton 8 3.25x
Old Monkland 8 2.97x
St Andrew Holborn 8 11.24x
Stone 8 8.83x
Whitwick 8 27.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 210
Elizabeth 67
Sarah 60
Ann 53
Margaret 44
Ellen 43
Catherine 34
Bridget 31
Annie 29
Emma 27
Eliza 23
Hannah 22
Jane 19
Alice 18
Kate 18
Emily 14
Ada 12
Julia 12
Fanny 11
Agnes 10
Clara 10
Martha 10
Frances 7
Amelia 6
Charlotte 6
Edith 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Rebecca 6
Anne 5
Lucy 5
Mabel 5
Maria 5
Matilda 5
Amy 4
Elizth. 4
Florence 4
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Margt. 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Gertrude 3
Minnie 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Winifred 3
Arabella 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 154
Thomas 99
William 81
James 63
Patrick 48
Michael 47
George 46
Edward 31
Joseph 29
Charles 27
Martin 26
Henry 19
Arthur 17
Peter 15
Robert 15
Samuel 15
Daniel 14
Albert 13
Frederick 11
Alfred 10
Richard 10
Matthew 8
David 7
Harry 6
Christopher 5
Francis 5
Thos. 5
Walter 5
Andrew 4
Anthony 4
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Job 4
Josh. 4
Pat 4
Timothy 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Amos 3
Bernard 3
Elijah 3
Hugh 3
Levi 3
Luke 3
Mark 3
Chas. 2
Matthias 2
Richd. 2

FAQ

Noon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Noon surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Noon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,182 in 2016. That gives Noon a modern rank of #2,136.

What does the Noon surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "at the foot of a hill" or "a hilltop."

What does the Noon map show?

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