NameCensus.

UK surname

Onion

A surname potentially derived from someone who grew or sold onions.

In the 1881 census there were 584 people recorded with the Onion surname, ranking it #5,979 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 267, ranked #16,054, down from #5,979 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Maidstone and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Onion is 645 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.3%.

1881 census count

584

Ranked #5,979

Modern count

267

2016, ranked #16,054

Peak year

1911

645 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Onion had 584 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,979 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016, ranked #16,054.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 645 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Onion surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Onion surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Onion 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 378 #6,315
1861 historical 365 #7,009
1881 historical 584 #5,979
1891 historical 451 #8,062
1901 historical 591 #7,149
1911 historical 645 #6,480
1997 modern 336 #12,549
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 332 #13,075
2000 modern 327 #13,164
2001 modern 318 #13,205
2002 modern 318 #13,475
2003 modern 303 #13,718
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 292 #14,072
2006 modern 290 #14,202
2007 modern 293 #14,272
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 290 #15,096
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 274 #15,764
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 268 #16,007
2016 modern 267 #16,054

Geography

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Where Onions are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Loughborough and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Maidstone, Stafford and North East Derbyshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Loughborough Leicestershire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 021 County Durham
2 Maidstone 013 Maidstone
3 Stafford 015 Stafford
4 North East Derbyshire 012 North East Derbyshire
5 Stafford 012 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Onion

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Onion

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Onion surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Onion 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Onion is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Onion is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Onion falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Onion 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 Onion, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Onion

The surname "ONION" has its origins in the Mediterranean region, particularly in countries such as Italy and Greece, where the onion was a staple vegetable in their cuisine. Historically, surnames derived from occupations or objects were common, and "Onion" likely originated as a nickname for someone who grew, sold, or had a particular affinity for this pungent bulb.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname "Onion" can be traced back to the 14th century in the Italian region of Tuscany. Records from the city of Florence mention a family with the name "Cipolla," which translates to "Onion" in Italian. This suggests that the surname may have originated as a descriptive name for someone associated with onions, either through their occupation or physical appearance.

In the 16th century, the surname "Onion" made its way to England, where it was likely brought by Italian immigrants or traders. The first known record of the name in England dates back to 1587, when a man named John Onion was mentioned in the parish records of St. Giles Cripplegate in London.

One of the earliest prominent figures with the surname "Onion" was William Onion, a 17th-century English poet and playwright. Born in 1628 in London, he is best known for his satirical play "The Atheist Unmasked," which criticized the growing influence of atheism and skepticism in English society.

Another notable individual with the surname "Onion" was Sarah Onion, a 19th-century British writer and activist. Born in 1830 in Lincolnshire, she was a staunch advocate for women's rights and education. Her works include the novel "The Vicar's Daughter" and several essays on social and political issues.

In the late 19th century, the Onion surname made its way to North America, where it was adopted by immigrants from various European countries. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in the United States was that of John Onion, a farmer from Pennsylvania who served in the American Civil War.

Moving into the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname "Onion" was Sir Peter Onion, a British diplomat and ambassador. Born in 1922 in London, he served as the United Kingdom's ambassador to several countries, including Italy and the United States, and played a significant role in international diplomacy during the Cold War era.

While the surname "Onion" may seem unusual or even humorous to some, it has a rich and diverse history that spans multiple countries and centuries. From its humble beginnings as a descriptive name for those associated with onions, it has evolved into a recognizable surname with a distinct cultural and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Onion families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Onion 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 78 Onions recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.18x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 78 10.18x
Staffordshire 67 3.49x
Middlesex 43 0.76x
Yorkshire 43 0.76x
Worcestershire 40 5.39x
Sussex 32 3.34x
Surrey 31 1.12x
Gloucestershire 27 2.42x
Lancashire 24 0.36x
Derbyshire 23 2.58x
Warwickshire 23 1.60x
Kent 21 1.08x
Cambridgeshire 19 5.27x
Somerset 19 2.08x
Devon 17 1.44x
Bedfordshire 12 4.08x
Leicestershire 11 1.74x
Monmouthshire 10 2.43x
Suffolk 8 1.15x
Berkshire 6 1.41x
Durham 6 0.35x
Shropshire 6 1.22x
Cheshire 4 0.32x
Essex 4 0.36x
Cumberland 3 0.61x
Hampshire 2 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.77x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 39 Onions recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.67x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 39 19.67x
Bowling 26 46.58x
Brewood 19 343.58x
Wolverhampton 19 12.87x
Feckenham 17 200.00x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 17 702.48x
Snenton 16 53.12x
Camberwell 14 3.85x
St Marylebone London 14 4.61x
Birmingham 12 2.51x
Wadhurst 12 190.48x
Wells St Cuthbert 12 192.00x
Wilford 11 511.63x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 10 63.65x
Nottingham St Peter 10 116.96x
Oldbury 10 27.37x
Woodthorpe 10 628.93x
Brighton 9 4.65x
Bristol St Paul In 9 30.29x
Maidstone 9 15.57x
Monmouth 9 82.57x
Northill 9 327.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 4.42x
Dalham 8 975.61x
Derby St Werburgh 7 13.62x
Pudsey 7 23.24x
Cheltenham 6 6.97x
Dullingham 6 370.37x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.90x
Measham 6 183.49x
Newbottle 6 64.94x
Winkfield 6 84.75x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.02x
Bisley 5 393.70x
Blymhill 5 510.20x
Croydon 5 3.25x
Droitwich St Andrew 5 267.38x
Lancaster 5 12.45x
Loughborough 5 17.48x
St Luke London 5 5.48x
Tong 5 505.05x
Weston Super Mare 5 21.63x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 3.81x
Eastbourne 4 9.07x
Edgbaston 4 8.99x
Fairford 4 134.23x
Fulwood 4 54.87x
Habergham Eaves 4 6.49x
Iwade 4 869.57x
Rotherhithe 4 5.69x
St George In East 4 10.34x
Walsall Foreign 4 4.03x
Webheath 4 303.03x
Wednesbury 4 8.34x
Wilmington 4 833.33x
Brightside Bierlow 3 2.71x
Goudhurst 3 55.87x
Handsworth 3 6.34x
Leyton Low 3 13.15x
Polesworth 3 44.05x
Tilbrook 3 394.74x
Workington 3 10.70x
Aston 2 0.51x
Birkenhead 2 2.00x
Bridgewater 2 8.05x
Bristol St James In 2 12.20x
Chadderton 2 6.06x
Droitwich St Peter 2 119.76x
Hackney London 2 0.63x
Islington London 2 0.36x
Kensington London 2 0.63x
Keymer 2 29.54x
Leamington Priors 2 5.67x
Openshaw 2 6.33x
Paddington London 2 0.96x
Salford 2 1.01x
Sedgley 2 2.81x
Southwark Christchurch 2 7.50x
Tonbridge 2 2.86x
West Bridgford 2 263.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 24
Eliza 17
Ann 11
Annie 11
Jane 11
Alice 9
Hannah 9
Ada 7
Emma 7
Harriet 7
Lucy 7
Rose 7
Ellen 6
Martha 6
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Florence 5
Maria 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Harriett 3
Fanny 2
Jessie 2
Lilian 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Theresa 2
Addie 1
Alexandra 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Charles 1
Chrissie 1
Edith 1
Edward 1
Elizth. 1
Henrietta 1
Ismay 1
Jemmia 1
Jennie 1
Jennit 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
Thomas 25
John 23
James 18
Joseph 16
Edward 14
George 13
Henry 9
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Harry 6
Robert 6
Isaac 5
Benjamin 4
Herbert 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Richard 3
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Friend 2
Harley 2
Isaiah 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.W. 1
Horatio 1
Howard 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
May 1
Michael 1
Patrick 1
Roger 1
Ruben 1
S. 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Onion surname: questions and answers

How common was the Onion surname in 1881?

In 1881, 584 people were recorded with the Onion surname. That placed it at #5,979 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Onion surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 267 in 2016. That gives Onion a modern rank of #16,054.

What does the Onion surname mean?

A surname potentially derived from someone who grew or sold onions.

What does the Onion map show?

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