NameCensus.

UK surname

Onions

A surname derived from an occupational reference to an onion seller or farmer.

In the 1881 census there were 1,666 people recorded with the Onions surname, ranking it #2,583 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,662, ranked #3,753, down from #2,583 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Loughborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Wolverhampton and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Onions is 2,436 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.2%.

1881 census count

1,666

Ranked #2,583

Modern count

1,662

2016, ranked #3,753

Peak year

1911

2,436 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Onions had 1,666 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,583 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,662 in 2016, ranked #3,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,436 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Onions surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Onions surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Onions 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 1,030 #2,717
1861 historical 892 #3,102
1881 historical 1,666 #2,583
1891 historical 1,755 #2,601
1901 historical 2,206 #2,450
1911 historical 2,436 #2,106
1997 modern 1,862 #3,236
1998 modern 1,921 #3,258
1999 modern 1,937 #3,262
2000 modern 1,911 #3,288
2001 modern 1,830 #3,343
2002 modern 1,861 #3,368
2003 modern 1,800 #3,395
2004 modern 1,783 #3,426
2005 modern 1,735 #3,477
2006 modern 1,732 #3,494
2007 modern 1,718 #3,545
2008 modern 1,732 #3,541
2009 modern 1,755 #3,576
2010 modern 1,747 #3,654
2011 modern 1,725 #3,650
2012 modern 1,672 #3,702
2013 modern 1,701 #3,704
2014 modern 1,705 #3,708
2015 modern 1,691 #3,704
2016 modern 1,662 #3,753

Geography

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Where Onions' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Loughborough, Madeley and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Wolverhampton, Herefordshire and Shropshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Loughborough Leicestershire
4 Madeley Shropshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
2 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
3 Herefordshire 019 Herefordshire, County of
4 Charnwood 002 Charnwood
5 Shropshire 020 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Onions

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Onions

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Onions surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Onions household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Onions 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

Onions 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

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

Meaning and origin of Onions

The surname Onions is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the occupational name for someone who grew or sold onions. It is thought to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century, during the Middle English period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Onions can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, England, from 1273, where it appears as "Willelmus le Onion." This early spelling variation suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname or a reference to someone's occupation.

In the 14th century, the surname Onions also appeared in various forms in historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it was recorded as "Thomas le Onyons." This spelling variation indicates the influence of regional dialects on the name's pronunciation and written form.

The name Onions may also have been derived from a place name, as there are several locations in England with names like Onion Hill or Onion Field. For example, in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire from 1199, there is a reference to "Hugh de Onion," which could indicate a connection to a specific place.

Notable historical figures with the surname Onions include:

1. Sir Peter Onions (1607-1688), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northampton in the 17th century.

2. John Onions (1707-1783), an English botanist and horticulturist known for his work on cultivating and promoting the use of various vegetable crops, including onions.

3. Elizabeth Onions (1768-1847), an English author and poet who wrote under the pen name "Rosina." She published several collections of poetry and prose works during her lifetime.

4. Charles Trice Martin Onions (1873-1965), an English philologist and lexicographer who worked on the Oxford English Dictionary and authored several books on English etymology and semantics.

5. Oliver Onions (1873-1961), an English novelist and short story writer who is best known for his supernatural and horror fiction works, such as "The Beckoning Fair One" and "Widdershins."

While the surname Onions may have originated from humble beginnings, its history reflects the diverse occupations and achievements of those who have borne this name throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Onions families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Onions 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. Staffordshire leads with 533 Onions' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.72x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 533 9.72x
Shropshire 285 20.30x
Warwickshire 210 5.12x
Worcestershire 115 5.42x
Leicestershire 105 5.83x
Yorkshire 83 0.52x
Lancashire 75 0.39x
Kent 45 0.81x
Gloucestershire 29 0.91x
Middlesex 29 0.18x
Durham 27 0.56x
Surrey 26 0.33x
Cheshire 15 0.42x
Lanarkshire 13 0.25x
Derbyshire 11 0.43x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.78x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.37x
Flintshire 7 1.60x
Herefordshire 7 1.05x
Glamorgan 5 0.18x
Sussex 5 0.18x
West Lothian 5 2.04x
Northamptonshire 4 0.26x
Northumberland 4 0.17x
Essex 2 0.06x
Monmouthshire 2 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.15x
Denbighshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 87 Onions' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.71x.

Place Total Index
Aston 87 7.71x
Tipton 76 45.24x
Birmingham 73 5.34x
Wolverhampton 73 17.31x
Loughborough 65 79.50x
Madeley 54 104.90x
Bilston 49 46.09x
Wombridge 42 242.35x
Oldbury 40 38.31x
West Bromwich 34 10.83x
Walsall Foreign 26 9.18x
Dudley 25 9.69x
Wednesbury 23 16.78x
Wellington 23 29.15x
Sheepshed 22 89.10x
Wednesfield 22 27.25x
Wrockwardine 22 71.27x
Sedgley 21 10.31x
Kings Norton 18 9.46x
Yalding 18 128.57x
Harborne 17 9.67x
Gateshead 16 4.42x
Ormesby 16 36.97x
Coventry St Michael 15 11.39x
Gorton 15 8.27x
Kenley 15 1239.67x
Kingswinford 15 7.53x
Stoke Upon Trent 15 2.58x
Baschurch 14 145.68x
Cannock 14 14.63x
Willenhall 14 13.63x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 8.66x
Lewisham 13 4.40x
Darlaston 12 15.83x
Rowley Regis 12 7.85x
Ruardean 12 166.67x
Lichfield St Chad 11 89.14x
Shifnal 11 28.86x
Southwark St Saviour 11 13.17x
Coventry Holy Trinity 10 8.17x
Handsworth 10 7.40x
Leicester St Margaret 10 2.28x
Mile End Old Town 10 3.90x
Much Wenlock 10 77.22x
Bradford 9 2.31x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 4.30x
Shoreditch London 9 1.28x
Alberbury 8 242.42x
Aldridge 8 75.90x
Amblecote 8 51.15x
Barrow In Furness 8 3.05x
Castlemorton 8 192.31x
Middlesbrough 8 3.81x
Montford 8 287.77x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.41x
Oswestry Rural 8 37.19x
Shrawardine 8 747.66x
Shrewsbury St Chad 8 16.23x
Wigan 8 2.97x
Bassingbourn 7 46.27x
Bowling 7 4.39x
Essington 7 96.82x
Haseley 7 555.56x
Penkridge 7 49.47x
Shrewsbury St Mary 7 12.64x
Trentham 7 15.00x
Walford 7 105.58x
Westbury On Severn East 7 9.71x
Yardley 7 12.89x
Chester St John Baptist 6 9.31x
Edgbaston 6 4.72x
Greenwich 6 2.32x
Islington London 6 0.38x
Longdon 6 78.95x
Newington 6 1.00x
Newton 6 4.04x
Patshull 6 560.75x
Wath On Dearne 6 18.67x
Wolstanton 6 3.60x
York St Nicholas In 6 66.23x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 111
William 103
James 64
Thomas 53
Joseph 43
George 39
Charles 30
Edward 29
Henry 28
Alfred 26
Samuel 21
Isaac 15
Albert 13
Arthur 13
Walter 13
Benjamin 12
Richard 12
Edwin 10
Frederick 9
Harry 9
Robert 8
David 7
Francis 7
Herbert 7
Abraham 6
Jabez 6
Enoch 5
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Thos. 5
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Joel 3
Wm. 3
Zachariah 3
Zackariah 3
Aaron 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Fredk. 2
Jas. 2
Josiah 2
Noah 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Sampson 2
Simon 2
Stephen 2
T. 2
Thos 2

FAQ

Onions surname: questions and answers

How common was the Onions surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,666 people were recorded with the Onions surname. That placed it at #2,583 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Onions surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,662 in 2016. That gives Onions a modern rank of #3,753.

What does the Onions surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational reference to an onion seller or farmer.

What does the Onions map show?

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