NameCensus.

UK surname

Ogston

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "stone town".

In the 1881 census there were 369 people recorded with the Ogston surname, ranking it #8,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 441, ranked #10,971, down from #8,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Old Deer and Strichen. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fyvie-Rothie, Heathryfold and Middlefield and Inverurie South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ogston is 466 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.5%.

1881 census count

369

Ranked #8,443

Modern count

441

2016, ranked #10,971

Peak year

1998

466 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ogston had 369 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016, ranked #10,971.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 418 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Ogston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ogston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ogston 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 250 #8,788
1861 historical 264 #9,385
1881 historical 369 #8,443
1891 historical 401 #8,860
1901 historical 418 #9,200
1911 historical 59 #26,914
1997 modern 437 #10,299
1998 modern 466 #10,140
1999 modern 463 #10,230
2000 modern 445 #10,539
2001 modern 434 #10,539
2002 modern 432 #10,801
2003 modern 439 #10,487
2004 modern 437 #10,557
2005 modern 422 #10,739
2006 modern 408 #11,062
2007 modern 406 #11,249
2008 modern 404 #11,374
2009 modern 407 #11,556
2010 modern 419 #11,550
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 414 #11,431
2013 modern 429 #11,280
2014 modern 431 #11,308
2015 modern 427 #11,292
2016 modern 441 #10,971

Geography

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Where Ogstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Old Deer, Strichen, Ellon and Cruden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fyvie-Rothie, Heathryfold and Middlefield, Inverurie South, Turriff and Aboyne and South Deeside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Strichen Aberdeen
4 Ellon Aberdeen
5 Cruden Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fyvie-Rothie Aberdeenshire
2 Heathryfold and Middlefield Aberdeen City
3 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
4 Turriff Aberdeenshire
5 Aboyne and South Deeside Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ogston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ogston

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Ogston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Ogston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ogston 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

Ogston is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ogston falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ogston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ogston

The surname Ogston originated in Scotland, where it can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "og" meaning "ridge" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement". This suggests that the name likely originated from a place name referring to a settlement located on a ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ogston can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which document Scottish nobles who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Ogistoune".

The name Ogston is also mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the 14th century, indicating that individuals with this surname held lands or properties during that time period.

In the 16th century, the Ogston family was prominent landowners in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. A notable figure from this era was Alexander Ogston (c. 1525 - 1594), who served as a baillie (magistrate) in Aberdeen.

During the 17th century, the spelling of the name evolved to its modern form of "Ogston". One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Ogston (1609 - 1685), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of Marischal College in Aberdeen.

In the 18th century, the Ogston family continued to hold influence in the Aberdeenshire region. Alexander Ogston (1711 - 1773) was a prominent merchant and landowner who served as a magistrate in Aberdeen.

Another notable figure with the surname Ogston was Sir William Ogston (1853 - 1932), a Scottish surgeon who made significant contributions to the field of orthopedics. He was born in Ardoe, Aberdeenshire, and served as the Regius Professor of Surgery at the University of Aberdeen.

Other historical bearers of the Ogston surname include Alexander Ogston (1844 - 1929), a Scottish physician and bacteriologist who made important discoveries in the study of microbiology, and Alexander Ogston (1877 - 1949), a Scottish golfer who competed in the early 20th century.

While the surname Ogston has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ogston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ogston 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 286 Ogstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.26x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 286 86.26x
Kincardineshire 17 39.00x
Banffshire 11 14.81x
Middlesex 11 0.31x
Yorkshire 11 0.31x
Lanarkshire 6 0.52x
Surrey 6 0.34x
Kent 5 0.41x
Morayshire 5 8.99x
Angus 2 0.60x
Ross-shire 2 2.03x
Berkshire 1 0.37x
Caithness 1 2.04x
Durham 1 0.09x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 31 Ogstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.78x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 31 44.78x
Peterhead 30 171.14x
New Deer 23 383.33x
Old Deer 23 366.24x
Tyrie 21 504.81x
Strichen 17 590.28x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 25.79x
Drumoak 13 1140.35x
Longside 12 303.03x
Lonmay 12 398.67x
Ellon 11 241.23x
Tarves 11 350.32x
Banchory Devenick 10 245.70x
Fyvie 10 184.84x
Huddersfield 10 19.35x
Cruden 9 210.77x
Fraserburgh 9 96.46x
Kensington London 8 4.02x
Aberdour 7 268.20x
Alford 6 331.49x
Bourtie 6 1052.63x
Forglen 6 659.34x
Govan 6 2.10x
Fintray 5 393.70x
Guildford St Mary 5 232.56x
Kinloss 5 378.79x
St Fergus 5 265.96x
Fetteresso 4 58.57x
Plumstead 4 9.83x
Banchory Ternan 3 79.58x
Crathie Braemar 3 151.52x
Dyce 3 209.79x
Alness 2 157.48x
Turriff 2 37.38x
Birse 1 74.63x
Crimond 1 98.04x
Dartford 1 8.01x
Dundee 1 0.81x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 10.59x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 32.47x
Islington London 1 0.29x
Kintore 1 34.72x
Methlick 1 37.74x
Middlesbrough 1 2.16x
Montrose 1 4.98x
Newton In Makerfield 1 7.69x
Pitsligo 1 31.55x
Rathen 1 28.82x
St Luke London 1 1.74x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.95x
Sunninghill 1 26.81x
Thurso 1 13.07x
Westminster St James 1 2.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jessie 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Isabella 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Barbara 1
Bella 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Jane 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Alexander 3
John 3
George 2
James 2
William 2
Colin 1
Frank 1
Geo.H. 1
Henry 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 Ogston households.

FAQ

Ogston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ogston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 369 people were recorded with the Ogston surname. That placed it at #8,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ogston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 441 in 2016. That gives Ogston a modern rank of #10,971.

What does the Ogston surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "stone town".

What does the Ogston map show?

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