NameCensus.

UK surname

Ormiston

A locational surname referring to someone from Ormiston, an area in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 890 people recorded with the Ormiston surname, ranking it #4,275 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 825, ranked #6,734, down from #4,275 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Haddington and Hawick and Wilton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, Galashiels West and Langlee.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ormiston is 929 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.3%.

1881 census count

890

Ranked #4,275

Modern count

825

2016, ranked #6,734

Peak year

1901

929 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ormiston had 890 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,275 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016, ranked #6,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 929 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ormiston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ormiston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ormiston 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 598 #4,284
1861 historical 623 #4,292
1881 historical 890 #4,275
1891 historical 877 #4,691
1901 historical 929 #5,021
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 848 #6,255
1998 modern 870 #6,321
1999 modern 872 #6,364
2000 modern 870 #6,333
2001 modern 839 #6,409
2002 modern 849 #6,462
2003 modern 820 #6,521
2004 modern 834 #6,438
2005 modern 815 #6,512
2006 modern 814 #6,522
2007 modern 831 #6,491
2008 modern 837 #6,511
2009 modern 860 #6,513
2010 modern 886 #6,475
2011 modern 853 #6,594
2012 modern 804 #6,806
2013 modern 833 #6,730
2014 modern 850 #6,655
2015 modern 841 #6,670
2016 modern 825 #6,734

Geography

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Where Ormistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Haddington, Hawick and Wilton, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, Galashiels West, Langlee, Selkirk and Winchester. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Haddington Haddington
3 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 007 Ribble Valley
2 Galashiels West Scottish Borders
3 Langlee Scottish Borders
4 Selkirk Scottish Borders
5 Winchester 006 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ormiston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ormiston

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ormiston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ormiston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Ormiston 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

Ormiston 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ormiston

The surname Ormiston finds its origins in the lands of Scotland, where it first emerged as a locational name derived from the place called Ormiston, a small village located in East Lothian, near Edinburgh. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "orms" meaning "serpent" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement," suggesting that the name might have once referred to a place where serpents or snakes were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ormiston can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of homage renderings made to Edward I of England by Scottish nobles and landowners. In these rolls, the name appears as "de Ormiston," indicating that it was already an established surname at the time.

During the 14th century, the Ormiston family played a significant role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England. In 1333, Sir John Ormiston, a prominent Scottish knight, is mentioned in historical records for his participation in the Battle of Halidon Hill, where he fought alongside the forces of Sir Archibald Douglas.

The Ormiston name is also associated with the Ormiston family estate, which was located in the parish of Ormiston in East Lothian. This estate remained in the family's possession for several centuries, with various members of the Ormiston clan holding prominent positions in Scottish society.

One notable bearer of the Ormiston surname was Sir John Ormiston (1420-1492), who served as Lord Treasurer of Scotland during the reign of King James III. He was also appointed as Lord Justice General of Scotland in 1487, a position he held until his death.

Another prominent figure was Robert Ormiston (1560-1628), a Scottish clergyman and theologian who served as the minister of the parish of Ormiston. He was known for his involvement in the ecclesiastical affairs of the Church of Scotland during the turbulent times of the Scottish Reformation.

In the 17th century, Sir John Ormiston (1611-1679) was a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord Justice Clerk, one of the highest judicial positions in Scotland at the time. He played a significant role in the legal and judicial affairs of the country during the reign of Charles II.

The Ormiston surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Ormiston House, a historic country house located in the village of Ormiston, East Lothian, and Ormiston Hall, a manor house in the Ormiston area.

While these are just a few examples, the Ormiston surname has a rich history deeply rooted in the lands of Scotland, with various members of the family leaving their mark on the country's history, from military service to legal and religious affairs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ormiston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ormiston 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. Midlothian leads with 202 Ormistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.95x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 202 17.95x
Roxburghshire 121 79.54x
Lanarkshire 82 3.02x
East Lothian 77 69.21x
Northumberland 46 3.68x
Yorkshire 33 0.40x
Durham 31 1.24x
Peeblesshire 29 73.40x
Middlesex 27 0.32x
Lancashire 21 0.21x
Norfolk 20 1.55x
Selkirkshire 18 23.69x
Cumberland 17 2.35x
Berwickshire 14 13.76x
Surrey 13 0.32x
Sutherland 12 18.58x
Renfrewshire 10 1.54x
Clackmannanshire 8 11.53x
Gloucestershire 8 0.49x
Leicestershire 8 0.86x
Pembrokeshire 7 2.62x
Fife 6 1.21x
Glamorgan 6 0.41x
Stirlingshire 6 1.94x
Perthshire 5 1.33x
Lincolnshire 4 0.30x
Cheshire 3 0.16x
Dumfriesshire 3 1.62x
Herefordshire 3 0.87x
Ross-shire 3 1.30x
Shropshire 3 0.41x
West Lothian 3 2.37x
Ayrshire 2 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.65x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.13x
Angus 1 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.44x
Flintshire 1 0.44x
Inverness-shire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 61 Ormistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.48x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 61 13.48x
Haddington 27 164.43x
Barony 19 2.76x
Newbattle 19 197.51x
South Leith 19 15.01x
Glasgow 18 3.73x
Crichton 17 541.40x
North Leith 17 32.65x
Gladsmuir 16 322.58x
Hawick 16 46.99x
Peebles 15 128.42x
Galashiels 14 49.84x
Govan 14 2.08x
Kelso 13 85.75x
Bowden 12 542.99x
Innerleithen 12 114.39x
Melrose 12 91.25x
Stow 12 207.61x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 11 167.94x
Tranent 11 73.19x
Maxton 10 757.58x
Sprouston 10 338.98x
Bedrule 9 1168.83x
Falsgrave 9 73.41x
Kildonan 9 161.00x
Sheffield 9 3.40x
St George Hanover 9 8.21x
Warwick 9 978.26x
Westgate 9 11.63x
Yester 9 337.08x
Alloa 8 23.78x
Camberwell 8 1.49x
Clifton 8 9.61x
Dalkeith 8 36.04x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 8 30.05x
Hackford In Aylsham 8 344.83x
Jedburgh 8 53.66x
Wetheral 8 83.51x
Wilton 8 47.93x
Ancrum 7 177.67x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.26x
Bournmoor 7 178.57x
Hampstead London 7 5.35x
Loughborough 7 16.56x
Old Monkland 7 6.49x
Pembroke St Mary 7 20.37x
Clase 6 11.03x
Dunsyre 6 800.00x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 20.95x
Lesmahagow 6 20.88x
Shadwell London 6 25.53x
Biggar 5 81.43x
Bigges Quarter 5 666.67x
Causey Park 5 2083.33x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 3.16x
Hobkirk 5 260.42x
Liberton 5 28.79x
Pendleton In Salford 5 4.21x
Stenton 5 292.40x
Swarland 5 1250.00x
Tweedmouth 5 32.09x
Abbey 4 4.03x
Chirnside 4 91.74x
Cornforth 4 54.35x
Cowpen 4 13.90x
Eccles 4 89.69x
Edinburgh Trinity 4 110.50x
Elsdon 4 689.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 3.70x
Kirkdale 4 2.39x
Newton By Toft 4 1600.00x
Paisley Middle Church 4 10.55x
Penicuik 4 26.16x
South Lynn 4 27.45x
Southdean 4 191.39x
Wintersett 4 851.06x
Dunbar 3 19.23x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 1.77x
Poplar London 3 1.89x
Whitburn 3 16.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 9
Alice 8
Sarah 8
Isabella 7
Ann 6
Jane 6
Charlotte 4
Jessie 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Eleanor 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Marian 2
Rachael 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Allis 1
Anne 1
Ariter 1
Bessie 1
Edith 1
Elleaner 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
France 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Jeanie 1
Joan 1
Kathe. 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Madeline 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 20
William 18
Thomas 13
John 9
George 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Andrew 3
Henry 3
Alex. 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Herbert 2
Albt.Henry 1
Alexa. 1
Alexander 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jane 1
Lionel 1
Oxley 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Thos.William 1
W.A. 1
Will. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Ormiston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ormiston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 890 people were recorded with the Ormiston surname. That placed it at #4,275 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ormiston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 825 in 2016. That gives Ormiston a modern rank of #6,734.

What does the Ormiston surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Ormiston, an area in Scotland.

What does the Ormiston map show?

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