NameCensus.

UK surname

Osbourne

From the Old English "os" meaning "god" and "beorn" meaning "bear", thus "god-bear" or "divine bear".

In the 1881 census there were 1,102 people recorded with the Osbourne surname, ranking it #3,605 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,562, ranked #3,966, down from #3,605 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Clee and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Melton, Wolverhampton and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Osbourne is 1,754 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.7%.

1881 census count

1,102

Ranked #3,605

Modern count

1,562

2016, ranked #3,966

Peak year

2010

1,754 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Osbourne had 1,102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,605 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016, ranked #3,966.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,233 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Osbourne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Osbourne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Osbourne 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 438 #5,615
1861 historical 852 #3,250
1881 historical 1,102 #3,605
1891 historical 948 #4,366
1901 historical 703 #6,266
1911 historical 1,233 #3,829
1997 modern 1,248 #4,564
1998 modern 1,330 #4,457
1999 modern 1,362 #4,413
2000 modern 1,343 #4,442
2001 modern 1,290 #4,512
2002 modern 1,366 #4,378
2003 modern 1,323 #4,417
2004 modern 1,334 #4,399
2005 modern 1,307 #4,412
2006 modern 1,386 #4,227
2007 modern 1,421 #4,182
2008 modern 1,458 #4,115
2009 modern 1,628 #3,826
2010 modern 1,754 #3,640
2011 modern 1,643 #3,832
2012 modern 1,585 #3,883
2013 modern 1,590 #3,940
2014 modern 1,599 #3,941
2015 modern 1,560 #3,989
2016 modern 1,562 #3,966

Geography

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Where Osbournes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Clee, London parishes, Glasgow and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Melton, Wolverhampton, Stoke-on-Trent and Westminster. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Clee Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Melton 003 Melton
2 Wolverhampton 003 Wolverhampton
3 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Westminster 004 Westminster
5 Wolverhampton 013 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Osbourne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Osbourne

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Osbourne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Osbourne 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Osbourne is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Osbourne is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Osbourne falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Osbourne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Osbourne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Osbourne

The surname Osbourne is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English personal name Osbeorn, which means "divine bear." It is believed to have originated in the regions of Derbyshire and Staffordshire in England during the 8th or 9th century.

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

In the 12th century, the name evolved into various spellings such as Osbern, Osborn, and Osbourne. These variations were likely influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

Historically, the Osbourne family held lands and estates in various parts of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. One notable figure from this lineage was Sir John Osbourne (1552-1628), who served as a member of Parliament for Worcestershire and was knighted by King James I.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Osbourne (1632-1712), 1st Duke of Leeds. He was a prominent English statesman who served as Lord President of the Council and Lord Privy Seal under King William III and Queen Anne.

In the literary realm, Dorothy Osbourne (1627-1695) gained recognition for her letters, which provided insight into the social and cultural life of the 17th century English gentry. Her correspondences with Sir William Temple were published posthumously and became widely popular.

The name Osbourne has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Osbourne Hollow in Wiltshire and Osbourne's Hill in Derbyshire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers or landowners bearing the Osbourne surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Osbourne include John Osbourne (1858-1923), a British poet and playwright, and John Osbourne (1929-1994), the English playwright and screenwriter best known for his iconic play "Look Back in Anger."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Osbourne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Osbourne 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. Lincolnshire leads with 94 Osbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 94 5.47x
Middlesex 92 0.86x
Kent 85 2.32x
Yorkshire 78 0.73x
Warwickshire 70 2.58x
Gloucestershire 60 2.85x
Staffordshire 57 1.57x
Surrey 53 1.01x
Worcestershire 45 3.21x
Sussex 44 2.43x
Lancashire 37 0.29x
Cheshire 34 1.43x
Nottinghamshire 31 2.14x
Essex 30 1.41x
Lanarkshire 25 0.72x
Devon 23 1.03x
Hampshire 23 1.04x
Leicestershire 23 1.93x
Northamptonshire 20 1.98x
Derbyshire 19 1.13x
Cambridgeshire 18 2.64x
Glamorgan 16 0.85x
Suffolk 15 1.15x
Norfolk 12 0.73x
Shropshire 9 0.97x
Dunbartonshire 8 2.77x
Durham 8 0.25x
Oxfordshire 8 1.21x
Ayrshire 7 0.87x
Somerset 7 0.40x
Berkshire 6 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.92x
Cornwall 6 0.49x
Dorset 6 0.85x
Cardiganshire 5 1.91x
Cumberland 4 0.43x
Northumberland 4 0.25x
Wiltshire 4 0.42x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.41x
Hertfordshire 2 0.27x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.42x
Orkney 1 0.85x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.29x
Renfrewshire 1 0.12x

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 27 Osbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.99x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 27 2.99x
Holy Trinity 21 8.20x
Bristol St George 18 18.46x
Odd Rode 18 153.19x
Acol 16 1467.89x
Brighton 16 4.38x
Lambeth 16 1.71x
St Marylebone London 14 2.44x
Cranbrook 13 83.66x
Govan 13 1.51x
Hackney London 13 2.16x
Liverpool 13 1.68x
Oldbury 13 18.82x
Pentyrch 13 168.18x
Broughton In Salford 12 10.29x
Heanor 11 43.70x
Walsall Foreign 11 5.87x
Bolehall Glascote 10 87.11x
Islington London 10 0.96x
Pucklechurch 10 210.53x
St Martin Lincoln 10 62.70x
St Pancras London 10 1.16x
Aston 9 1.21x
Birkenhead 9 4.76x
Chelsea London 9 2.78x
Great Grimsby 9 8.25x
Maryhill 9 13.22x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.83x
Great Wilbraham 8 398.01x
Greenwich 8 4.67x
Irby On Humber 8 975.61x
Marsh Chapel 8 377.36x
Newick 8 200.50x
Row 8 21.41x
Aldridge 7 100.43x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 3.53x
Coventry Holy Trinity 7 8.65x
Fletching 7 86.31x
Northampton St Sepulchre 7 13.61x
Nottingham St Mary 7 1.87x
Rowley Regis 7 6.92x
Strood 7 33.46x
Wombridge 7 61.03x
Aldham 6 379.75x
Bitton Oldland 6 27.84x
Camberwell 6 0.87x
Chiddingstone 6 125.26x
Fulham London 6 3.85x
Halstead 6 24.24x
Himbleton 6 355.03x
Kingsteignton 6 96.46x
Leicester St Margaret 6 2.06x
Liversedge 6 12.65x
Market Rasen 6 62.44x
North Coates 6 612.24x
Riby 6 576.92x
St George Hanover 6 4.28x
Stapleton 6 15.00x
Stoke Damerel 6 3.83x
Walsall Borough 6 21.30x
Aberystwith 5 22.15x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 18.10x
Birdbrook 5 233.64x
Grafton Flyford 5 595.24x
Great Malvern 5 17.07x
Haverhill 5 42.99x
Irchester 5 79.62x
Kilmarnock 5 5.22x
Kirkdale 5 2.33x
Knottingley 5 26.71x
Layer De La Hay 5 197.63x
Long Bennington 5 149.70x
Marden 5 58.14x
Newark Upon Trent 5 9.60x
Newington In Milton 5 130.89x
Orby 5 331.13x
Skircoat 5 11.90x
Southcoates 5 8.45x
St Austell 5 12.02x
Wolstanton 5 4.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 68
John 65
George 42
James 34
Henry 31
Thomas 29
Joseph 28
Charles 20
Edward 16
Arthur 13
Albert 11
Alfred 11
Harry 11
Samuel 11
Frank 10
Richard 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Francis 6
Daniel 5
Wm. 5
Edwin 4
Percy 4
Chas. 2
David 2
Elam 2
Ernest 2
Isaac 2
Jonathan 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Sydney 2
Alexander 1
Allen 1
Amos 1
Authur 1
Burnell 1
C. 1
Edgar 1
Elijah 1
Emmanuel 1
Eward 1
Fere 1
Isaiah 1
Ivet 1
Jessie 1
Jiles 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Osbourne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Osbourne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,102 people were recorded with the Osbourne surname. That placed it at #3,605 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Osbourne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,562 in 2016. That gives Osbourne a modern rank of #3,966.

What does the Osbourne surname mean?

From the Old English "os" meaning "god" and "beorn" meaning "bear", thus "god-bear" or "divine bear".

What does the Osbourne map show?

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