NameCensus.

UK surname

Osborne

Derived from a place name meaning "bear god's stream" or "divine bear's stream" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 14,203 people recorded with the Osborne surname, ranking it #285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24,541, ranked #237, up from #285 in 1881.

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

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Osborne is 25,635 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.8%.

1881 census count

14,203

Ranked #285

Modern count

24,541

2016, ranked #237

Peak year

1999

25,635 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Osborne had 14,203 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 24,541 in 2016, ranked #237.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21,349 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Osborne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Osborne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Osborne 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 6,369 #434
1861 historical 6,901 #406
1881 historical 14,203 #285
1891 historical 16,165 #258
1901 historical 21,029 #224
1911 historical 21,349 #201
1997 modern 24,622 #222
1998 modern 25,518 #224
1999 modern 25,635 #224
2000 modern 25,484 #223
2001 modern 24,827 #223
2002 modern 25,340 #224
2003 modern 24,628 #227
2004 modern 24,553 #228
2005 modern 23,959 #230
2006 modern 23,851 #231
2007 modern 23,948 #232
2008 modern 24,027 #232
2009 modern 24,643 #232
2010 modern 25,009 #234
2011 modern 24,677 #234
2012 modern 24,198 #234
2013 modern 24,729 #234
2014 modern 24,902 #236
2015 modern 24,682 #236
2016 modern 24,541 #237

Geography

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Where Osbornes are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 030 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 070 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Osborne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Osborne

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Osborne is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Osborne is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Osborne falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Osborne

The surname Osborne is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "or" meaning "bank" or "shore" and "burne" meaning "stream" or "brook". It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a stream bank.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Osborne can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Osebern" and "Osbern". This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Osbern, Osborn, Osbourne, and Osburn. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common at the time.

The Osborne family was particularly prominent in Derbyshire, where they held lands and estates. One notable figure was Sir Hewett Osborne (c. 1470-1555), who served as a member of Parliament and was a devoted supporter of King Henry VIII during the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, Sir Peter Osborne (1584-1653) was a significant figure in the English Civil War, serving as a Royalist commander and later as Lord Treasurer under King Charles II. His grandson, Sir Thomas Osborne (1631-1712), became the 1st Duke of Leeds and held various positions in the government, including Lord President of the Council.

During the 18th century, the Osborne family continued to play a prominent role in British society. Francis Osborne (1593-1659) was a notable English essayist and philosopher, while Thomas Osborne (1705-1768) was a successful merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several churches and schools in London.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous bearers of the Osborne name was Ralph Bernal Osborne (1808-1882), a British politician and writer who served as a Member of Parliament and authored several works on history and literature.

Another notable figure from this period was Bernal Osborne (1792-1863), a British naval officer who played a significant role in the Napoleonic Wars and later served as a Member of Parliament.

As the name spread across the English-speaking world, it continued to be associated with individuals of prominence and achievement in various fields, from politics and military service to literature and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Osborne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Osborne 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 1,664 Osbornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.19x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,664 1.19x
Surrey 841 1.24x
Kent 784 1.65x
Yorkshire 712 0.52x
Essex 708 2.57x
Cornwall 696 4.41x
Warwickshire 586 1.67x
Devon 551 1.90x
Suffolk 504 2.97x
Lancashire 486 0.29x
Somerset 473 2.11x
Norfolk 472 2.20x
Gloucestershire 458 1.67x
Staffordshire 450 0.96x
Sussex 412 1.75x
Hampshire 402 1.41x
Worcestershire 361 1.98x
Nottinghamshire 313 1.67x
Derbyshire 284 1.30x
Lincolnshire 278 1.25x
Northamptonshire 252 1.92x
Lanarkshire 231 0.51x
Glamorgan 195 0.80x
Leicestershire 195 1.26x
Cambridgeshire 163 1.85x
Hertfordshire 155 1.61x
Wiltshire 133 1.08x
Durham 130 0.31x
Cumberland 116 0.97x
Cheshire 110 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 107 1.27x
Oxfordshire 99 1.15x
Bedfordshire 90 1.25x
Northumberland 90 0.43x
Renfrewshire 89 0.82x
Huntingdonshire 83 3.00x
Ayrshire 78 0.75x
Channel Islands 71 1.72x
Dorset 69 0.75x
Shropshire 60 0.50x
Monmouthshire 52 0.52x
Berkshire 41 0.39x
Rutland 31 3.03x
Midlothian 27 0.14x
Fife 19 0.23x
Dunbartonshire 17 0.45x
Wigtownshire 17 0.92x
Royal Navy 16 0.96x
Pembrokeshire 14 0.32x
East Lothian 10 0.54x
Herefordshire 9 0.16x
West Lothian 9 0.43x
Dumfriesshire 7 0.23x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.35x
Orkney 7 0.46x
Stirlingshire 7 0.14x
Clackmannanshire 6 0.52x
Isle of Man 6 0.23x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.04x
Angus 5 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.09x
Perthshire 5 0.08x
Westmorland 4 0.13x
Argyllshire 3 0.08x
Banffshire 3 0.10x
Caithness 3 0.16x
Radnorshire 3 0.27x
Shetland 2 0.14x
Inverness-shire 1 0.02x
Roxburghshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 209 Osbornes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.78x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 209 1.78x
Islington London 185 1.37x
Aston 178 1.84x
Lambeth 159 1.31x
Brighton 118 2.49x
Kensington London 117 1.51x
St Pancras London 105 0.94x
Hackney London 103 1.32x
Merriott 103 156.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 102 3.96x
Battersea 96 1.87x
Govan 91 0.82x
Nottingham St Mary 83 1.71x
Bethnal Green London 80 1.32x
Portsea 79 1.41x
St Marylebone London 78 1.05x
Bristol St George 76 6.01x
Paddington London 76 1.48x
Holdenhurst 74 9.87x
Camberwell 72 0.81x
Liverpool 71 0.71x
Shoreditch London 70 1.16x
Cleethorpes 68 51.85x
Mile End Old Town 65 2.95x
Newington 65 1.26x
Walsall Foreign 64 2.63x
Leicester St Margaret 59 1.57x
West Ham 58 0.95x
Wolverhampton 56 1.55x
Ecclesall Bierlow 55 1.96x
Lewisham 54 2.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 54 2.42x
Barony 53 0.46x
Bermondsey 52 1.25x
Tonbridge 52 3.03x
West Bromwich 52 1.93x
St George Hanover 49 2.69x
Fulham London 46 2.27x
Southwark St George Martyr 44 1.57x
Croydon 43 1.14x
Leeds 43 0.55x
Norton Sub Hamdon 43 167.19x
St Luke London 43 1.92x
Perranzabuloe 41 30.11x
Barnsley 39 2.74x
Chelsea London 39 0.93x
Walcot 39 3.26x
Glasgow 38 0.47x
Goudhurst 38 28.86x
Wandsworth 38 2.83x
Basford 37 4.27x
East Harling 37 72.72x
Lowestoft 37 4.61x
Illogan 36 8.61x
Crewkerne 35 14.68x
Greenwich 35 1.58x
Hastings St Mary In The 35 6.98x
Monks Coppenhall 35 3.01x
Ryde 35 5.70x
St Stephen In Brannel 34 23.61x
Bromley London 33 1.08x
Great Yarmouth 33 1.86x
Nether Hallam 33 1.77x
Sheffield 33 0.75x
Clapham 32 1.84x
Everton 32 0.61x
Stoke Damerel 32 1.58x
Bury St Edmunds St James 31 6.83x
Heanor 31 9.50x
St Columb Major 31 23.66x
Tottenham 31 1.40x
Kings Norton 30 1.84x
East Ham 29 5.68x
Hammersmith London 29 0.84x
Ipswich St Clement 29 6.72x
Prittlewell 29 7.60x
Kenwyn 28 6.78x
Northampton St Sepulchre 28 4.20x
St Columb Minor 28 21.13x
Westminster St John 28 1.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 816
Elizabeth 524
Sarah 422
Emma 262
Ellen 257
Jane 237
Ann 226
Eliza 223
Emily 200
Annie 196
Alice 178
Hannah 129
Martha 120
Louisa 119
Charlotte 109
Harriet 96
Edith 95
Susan 95
Caroline 94
Maria 92
Kate 89
Fanny 85
Margaret 80
Florence 78
Catherine 74
Lucy 69
Ada 64
Anne 60
Harriett 59
Frances 56
Clara 54
Rose 54
Agnes 53
Amelia 50
Rebecca 42
Minnie 41
Sophia 37
Gertrude 35
Julia 35
Bessie 33
Esther 33
Matilda 33
Anna 30
Ethel 28
Jessie 28
Isabella 27
Laura 27
Amy 26
Eleanor 26
Elizth. 25

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 846
John 694
George 579
Thomas 417
Henry 373
James 364
Charles 315
Joseph 211
Alfred 208
Samuel 143
Robert 140
Arthur 137
Edward 137
Frederick 128
Albert 104
Harry 101
Walter 98
Richard 79
Frank 69
Herbert 67
Edwin 60
Ernest 58
Francis 41
Wm. 40
David 38
Benjamin 29
Daniel 29
Fred 29
Isaac 28
Thos. 21
Geo. 20
Chas. 17
Mark 17
Stephen 17
Willm. 17
Percy 16
Philip 15
Michael 14
Sidney 14
Saml. 13
Sydney 13
Matthew 12
Amos 11
Frederic 11
Oliver 11
Tom 11
Edgar 10
Job 10
Leonard 10
Robt. 10

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Osborne households.

FAQ

Osborne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Osborne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,203 people were recorded with the Osborne surname. That placed it at #285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Osborne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 24,541 in 2016. That gives Osborne a modern rank of #237.

What does the Osborne surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "bear god's stream" or "divine bear's stream" in Old English.

What does the Osborne map show?

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