NameCensus.

UK surname

Onslow

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Onslow surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 582, ranked #8,913, down from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Kidderminster and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torbay, Waverley and West Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Onslow is 673 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.3%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

582

2016, ranked #8,913

Peak year

1999

673 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Onslow had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 582 in 2016, ranked #8,913.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 567 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Onslow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Onslow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Onslow 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 291 #7,827
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 437 #8,251
1901 historical 567 #7,374
1911 historical 559 #7,195
1997 modern 641 #7,739
1998 modern 671 #7,727
1999 modern 673 #7,744
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 634 #7,925
2002 modern 667 #7,794
2003 modern 635 #7,970
2004 modern 634 #7,986
2005 modern 633 #7,947
2006 modern 625 #8,042
2007 modern 615 #8,203
2008 modern 624 #8,160
2009 modern 636 #8,208
2010 modern 627 #8,493
2011 modern 602 #8,675
2012 modern 579 #8,830
2013 modern 610 #8,628
2014 modern 618 #8,601
2015 modern 599 #8,750
2016 modern 582 #8,913

Geography

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Where Onslows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Kidderminster, St Marylebone and Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torbay, Waverley, West Oxfordshire, Stratford-on-Avon and Wiltshire. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Kidderminster Worcestershire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torbay 018 Torbay
2 Waverley 016 Waverley
3 West Oxfordshire 006 West Oxfordshire
4 Stratford-on-Avon 007 Stratford-on-Avon
5 Wiltshire 012 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Onslow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Onslow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Onslow, 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 Onslow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Onslow 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Onslow is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Onslow 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

Onslow falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Onslow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Onslow 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. Middlesex leads with 66 Onslows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.52x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 66 1.52x
Shropshire 64 17.03x
Surrey 50 2.36x
Kent 45 3.03x
Worcestershire 34 5.98x
Staffordshire 24 1.63x
Lancashire 19 0.37x
Gloucestershire 18 2.11x
Warwickshire 17 1.55x
Hampshire 16 1.79x
Sussex 12 1.64x
Devon 11 1.21x
Yorkshire 11 0.26x
Cornwall 7 1.42x
Denbighshire 6 3.65x
Bedfordshire 5 2.22x
Dorset 5 1.75x
Essex 5 0.58x
Berkshire 4 1.22x
Cheshire 3 0.31x
Herefordshire 3 1.68x
Northamptonshire 3 0.73x
Somerset 3 0.43x
Carmarthenshire 2 1.09x
Radnorshire 2 5.70x
Royal Navy 2 3.86x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.38x
Flintshire 1 0.86x
Hertfordshire 1 0.33x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.14x
Monmouthshire 1 0.32x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.72x
Westmorland 1 1.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 13 Onslows recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.10x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 13 39.10x
Ditton Priors 10 1123.60x
Ellesmere 10 155.04x
Dudley 9 13.03x
Ellesmere Criftins 9 2903.23x
Hammersmith London 9 8.40x
Rochester St Nicholas 9 194.81x
Aston 8 2.65x
Barrow In Furness 8 11.39x
Battersea 8 5.00x
Christchurch 8 41.37x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 11.47x
Ribbesford 8 169.13x
Saddleworth 8 24.06x
Send Ripley 8 289.86x
St Marylebone London 8 3.44x
Birmingham 7 1.91x
Brighton 7 4.73x
Deptford St Paul 7 6.11x
Godalming 7 52.47x
Holdenhurst 7 29.93x
Kensington London 7 2.89x
Strood 7 82.64x
Wombridge 7 150.86x
Bermondsey 6 4.63x
Hackney London 6 2.46x
Harborne 6 12.75x
Islington London 6 1.42x
Newent 6 138.25x
Plumstead 6 12.13x
Stroud 6 36.14x
Bromley London 5 5.22x
Hambledon 5 223.21x
Kingswinford 5 9.38x
Luton 5 12.82x
Mile End Old Town 5 7.28x
Ruabon 5 22.12x
Silvington 5 7142.86x
St Tudy 5 641.03x
Woolwich 5 9.12x
Wrockwardine 5 60.46x
Cannock 4 15.61x
Lambeth 4 1.05x
Lancaster 4 13.02x
Poole St James 4 37.28x
West Ham 4 2.11x
Clevedon 3 41.21x
Horsell 3 223.88x
Kingston On Thames 3 5.89x
Liverpool 3 0.96x
Madeley 3 21.77x
Painswick 3 49.75x
Ramsgate 3 12.38x
Speen 3 56.18x
St George Hanover 3 5.28x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.93x
Upper Sapey 3 625.00x
Wapping London 3 90.36x
Whitechapel London 3 7.00x
Willenhall 3 10.91x
Worthen 3 75.19x
Badger 2 909.09x
Chelsea London 2 1.53x
Cheltenham 2 3.04x
Chester St Oswald 2 11.50x
Claverdon 2 232.56x
Ercall Magna 2 74.35x
Hove 2 6.22x
Kidderminster Foreign 2 24.91x
Lee 2 9.28x
Llanfihangel Beguildy 2 135.14x
Llangendeirne 2 58.82x
Manchester 2 0.86x
Peterborough 2 6.75x
Royal Navy 2 4.51x
Sutton 2 13.04x
Westminster St James 2 4.47x
Wolverhampton 2 1.77x
Grasby 1 163.93x
Stanton Upon Hine Heath 1 101.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 23
Sarah 16
Edith 9
Ann 6
Annie 6
Clara 6
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Emily 5
Caroline 4
Eliza 4
Eva 4
Alice 3
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Constance 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Daisy 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Bella 1
Betsy 1
E.N.A. 1
Elen 1
Elise 1
Elizebth 1
Geraldine 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Ht. 1
Isabela 1
W.L. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
George 20
John 17
Arthur 16
Thomas 16
Henry 11
Richard 11
Edward 9
James 9
Charles 6
Frank 6
Harry 6
Alfred 5
Joseph 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Denzil 3
Robert 3
Andrew 2
Essex 2
Mary 2
Chas. 1
Constantine 1
Cranley 1
Douglas 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
F. 1
Ferrers 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Harington 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Matthew 1
Middleton 1
Nathaniel 1
Ofley 1
Phipps 1
Pitcairn 1
R.N. 1
Sydney 1
W.H. 1
Walter 1
Wiliam 1
Willie 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Onslow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Onslow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Onslow surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Onslow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 582 in 2016. That gives Onslow a modern rank of #8,913.

What does the Onslow map show?

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