NameCensus.

UK surname

Openshaw

A locational surname referring to someone from a place with open woods or shaw (small wooded area).

In the 1881 census there were 1,453 people recorded with the Openshaw surname, ranking it #2,866 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,519, ranked #4,073, down from #2,866 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Radcliffe and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Openshaw is 1,838 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.5%.

1881 census count

1,453

Ranked #2,866

Modern count

1,519

2016, ranked #4,073

Peak year

1911

1,838 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Openshaw had 1,453 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,866 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,519 in 2016, ranked #4,073.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,838 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Openshaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Openshaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Openshaw 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 976 #2,860
1861 historical 1,029 #2,720
1881 historical 1,453 #2,866
1891 historical 1,615 #2,764
1901 historical 1,823 #2,881
1911 historical 1,838 #2,684
1997 modern 1,549 #3,809
1998 modern 1,560 #3,917
1999 modern 1,606 #3,861
2000 modern 1,590 #3,881
2001 modern 1,627 #3,716
2002 modern 1,615 #3,818
2003 modern 1,594 #3,775
2004 modern 1,527 #3,939
2005 modern 1,514 #3,931
2006 modern 1,511 #3,944
2007 modern 1,487 #4,031
2008 modern 1,499 #4,034
2009 modern 1,536 #4,029
2010 modern 1,566 #4,036
2011 modern 1,561 #4,004
2012 modern 1,546 #3,971
2013 modern 1,564 #3,995
2014 modern 1,566 #4,009
2015 modern 1,533 #4,053
2016 modern 1,519 #4,073

Geography

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Where Openshaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Radcliffe, Dean, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton and Bury. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Radcliffe Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 024 Bolton
2 Bury 008 Bury
3 Bolton 003 Bolton
4 Bolton 017 Bolton
5 Bolton 013 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Openshaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Openshaw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Openshaw, 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 Openshaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Openshaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Openshaw 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

Openshaw 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

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

Meaning and origin of Openshaw

The surname Openshaw has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Openshaw, which was once a small village near Manchester. The name itself is thought to come from the Old English words "opene" meaning "open" and "sceaga" meaning "shaw" or "small wood," suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have lived in or near an open area of woodland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Openshaw name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, where a Robert de Openshagh is mentioned. This particular spelling variation highlights the locational origin of the name. Over time, the name evolved through various spellings such as Openshaw, Openshagh, and Openshae before settling into its modern form.

In the 16th century, the Openshaw family appears to have been well-established in the area around Manchester. Records from this time period include mentions of individuals such as John Openshaw (born around 1520), who held land in the township of Openshaw, and his son, Thomas Openshaw (born circa 1550), who served as a constable in the same area.

One notable figure from the 17th century was Robert Openshaw (1620-1695), a successful merchant and landowner who played a role in the development of the town of Openshaw. He was also involved in local government and served as a magistrate.

Moving into the 18th century, a prominent Openshaw was John Openshaw (1738-1808), a wealthy industrialist and landowner from Manchester. He was involved in the textile trade and owned several mills in the area.

In the 19th century, the name Openshaw continued to be associated with the Manchester region. One individual of note was Joseph Openshaw (1828-1901), a successful businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the local community through his charitable endeavors.

While the Openshaw name has its roots in England, particularly in the Manchester area, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by those who emigrated from their ancestral homeland over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Openshaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Openshaw 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 1,238 Openshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.35x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,238 7.35x
Yorkshire 49 0.35x
Cheshire 41 1.31x
Kent 22 0.45x
Derbyshire 17 0.76x
Durham 17 0.40x
Gloucestershire 10 0.36x
Staffordshire 10 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.82x
Norfolk 6 0.27x
Herefordshire 5 0.86x
Lincolnshire 5 0.22x
Westmorland 5 1.60x
Merionethshire 4 1.54x
Northumberland 4 0.19x
Warwickshire 4 0.11x
Isle of Man 2 0.76x
Surrey 2 0.03x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Cumberland 1 0.08x
Devon 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.03x
Middlesex 1 0.01x
Perthshire 1 0.16x
Worcestershire 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. Bury in Lancashire leads with 181 Openshaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.02x.

Place Total Index
Bury 181 94.02x
Radcliffe 122 150.17x
Farnworth 87 86.16x
Little Bolton 79 36.46x
Great Bolton 60 26.88x
Darcy Lever 55 567.01x
Halliwell 50 81.51x
Salford 48 9.68x
Elton 47 80.71x
Heap 41 45.87x
Little Lever 30 139.21x
Ainsworth 27 414.11x
Hindley 25 34.79x
Openshaw 23 29.14x
Golborne 19 86.48x
Kearsley 19 53.58x
Broughton In Salford 17 11.03x
Tottington Lower End 17 21.23x
Manchester 15 1.98x
Blackburn 14 3.12x
Bradford 14 17.75x
Pendleton In Salford 14 6.97x
Prestwich 14 33.30x
Tottington Higher End 14 72.99x
Harwood 13 147.73x
Bishopwearmouth 12 3.31x
Dartford 12 24.22x
Pilkington 12 18.74x
Adlington 11 69.71x
Great Lever 11 61.52x
Clifton 10 7.10x
Oldham 10 1.84x
Kimberworth 8 10.24x
Thornton In Fylde 8 21.70x
Wigan 8 3.40x
Breightmet 7 94.47x
Glossop Dale 7 6.72x
Handsworth 7 5.92x
Hollingworth 7 54.14x
Lowton 7 61.08x
Oswaldtwistle 7 11.75x
Wycombe 7 10.94x
Beverley St Martin 6 25.54x
Heaton Norris 6 6.25x
Holy Trinity 6 1.77x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 9.15x
Layton With Warbreck 6 9.70x
Lower Darwen 6 27.12x
Marple 6 27.88x
Offerton 6 346.82x
Pendlebury 6 16.86x
Royton 6 11.64x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 5 3.81x
Brimfield 5 162.34x
Chesterfield 5 6.00x
Crook Billy Row 5 9.24x
Fairfield 5 33.62x
Kendal 5 8.75x
Newchurch 5 3.63x
Pennington In Leigh 5 15.46x
Saddleworth 5 4.61x
Skirbeck Quarter 5 120.48x
Warrington 5 2.50x
Birtle Cum Bamford 4 36.36x
Dolgelley 4 20.69x
East Farleigh 4 49.20x
Hyde 4 4.32x
Leeds 4 0.50x
Preston 4 0.89x
Sculcoates 4 1.79x
Stockport 4 2.48x
Todmorden Walsden 4 8.86x
Tonge With Haulgh 4 12.19x
Turton 4 14.49x
Tynemouth 4 3.53x
Yealand Conyers 4 266.67x
Dukinfield 3 2.07x
Lytham 3 11.66x
North Meols 3 1.82x
Walmersley Cum 3 11.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 127
Alice 53
Elizabeth 49
Sarah 46
Hannah 28
Ann 27
Ellen 24
Margaret 23
Eliza 21
Jane 21
Annie 20
Martha 20
Betsy 17
Emily 15
Emma 13
Betty 11
Ada 10
Rachel 9
Clara 8
Maria 8
Bertha 7
Elizth. 7
Harriet 7
Agnes 6
Amy 6
Catherine 6
Florence 6
Nancy 6
Frances 5
Isabella 5
Amelia 4
Anne 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Leah 4
Louisa 4
Susannah 4
Betsey 3
Eleanor 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Susan 3
Caroline 2
Christiane 2
Eva 2
Lillian 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
May 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 102
James 85
William 82
Thomas 58
Joseph 36
Robert 27
Samuel 25
George 21
Charles 20
Edward 15
Henry 15
Arthur 12
Albert 9
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Thos. 8
Frank 7
David 6
Edwin 6
Peter 6
Walter 6
Allen 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Joshua 5
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Isaac 4
Job 4
Abraham 3
Edwd. 3
Eli 3
Herbert 3
Jonathan 3
Oliver 3
Squire 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Emanuel 2
Harold 2
Horatio 2
Jacob 2
Levi 2
Ormrod 2
Robt. 2
Zephaniah 1

FAQ

Openshaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Openshaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,453 people were recorded with the Openshaw surname. That placed it at #2,866 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Openshaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,519 in 2016. That gives Openshaw a modern rank of #4,073.

What does the Openshaw surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place with open woods or shaw (small wooded area).

What does the Openshaw map show?

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