NameCensus.

UK surname

Osgood

Derived from the Old English elements "os" meaning "god" and "gōd" meaning "good," likely referring to a pious person.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Osgood surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 883, ranked #6,385, up from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fareham, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Newbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Hampshire and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Osgood is 900 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 131.2%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

883

2016, ranked #6,385

Peak year

2014

900 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Osgood had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 883 in 2016, ranked #6,385.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 676 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Osgood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Osgood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Osgood 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 226 #9,487
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 472 #7,778
1901 historical 560 #7,432
1911 historical 676 #6,248
1997 modern 867 #6,143
1998 modern 898 #6,170
1999 modern 881 #6,315
2000 modern 873 #6,322
2001 modern 838 #6,415
2002 modern 861 #6,406
2003 modern 832 #6,443
2004 modern 815 #6,561
2005 modern 810 #6,547
2006 modern 812 #6,534
2007 modern 812 #6,608
2008 modern 814 #6,647
2009 modern 842 #6,610
2010 modern 887 #6,470
2011 modern 866 #6,526
2012 modern 874 #6,391
2013 modern 887 #6,400
2014 modern 900 #6,372
2015 modern 894 #6,355
2016 modern 883 #6,385

Geography

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Where Osgoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fareham, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newbury, Clifton and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Hampshire and Carlisle. 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 Fareham Hampshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Newbury Berkshire
4 Clifton Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Hampshire 003 East Hampshire
2 Carlisle 012 Carlisle
3 Carlisle 010 Carlisle
4 East Hampshire 002 East Hampshire
5 Carlisle 009 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Osgood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Osgood

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Osgood is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Osgood 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

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

Meaning and origin of Osgood

The surname Osgood originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Osegod, which is composed of the elements "os" meaning "god" and "god" meaning "good". The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was considered a devout or virtuous individual.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Osgood can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed in various forms, such as Osgod, Osgot, and Osgodde.

In the 12th century, the name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a certain Roger Osgod was mentioned in 1166. Another early record is found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Wiltshire from 1199, which mentions a William Osgod.

The surname Osgood has its roots in several English counties, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. It is believed that the name may have originated in the village of Osgodby in Yorkshire, which was once known as Osgodby or Osgodebi.

One notable individual with the surname Osgood was Samuel Osgood (1747-1813), an American merchant and statesman from Massachusetts. He served as the first Postmaster General of the United States from 1789 to 1791 under President George Washington.

Another prominent figure was Frances Sargent Osgood (1811-1850), an American poet and writer from Massachusetts. She was a well-known literary figure in her time and published several collections of poetry.

In the 19th century, Peter Osgood (1847-1913) was a British clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Ely from 1905 until his death.

John Fell Osgood (1835-1912) was an American lawyer and politician from Massachusetts who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

Lastly, Howard Osgood (1872-1915) was an American architect from New York who designed several notable buildings, including the Old Post Office in Washington, D.C., and the New York State Education Building in Albany.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Osgood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Osgood 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. Hampshire leads with 126 Osgoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.54x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 126 16.54x
Middlesex 62 1.67x
Berkshire 45 16.13x
Surrey 36 1.99x
Gloucestershire 33 4.53x
Somerset 16 2.67x
Sussex 13 2.07x
Essex 10 1.36x
Hertfordshire 9 3.51x
Lancashire 8 0.18x
Yorkshire 7 0.19x
Wiltshire 5 1.52x
Devon 3 0.39x
Kent 3 0.24x
Midlothian 2 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.45x
Glamorgan 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Alton in Hampshire leads with 17 Osgoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 296.17x.

Place Total Index
Alton 17 296.17x
Fareham 17 185.79x
Bucklebury 12 827.59x
Newbury 12 134.23x
Portsea 12 8.04x
Selborne 11 709.68x
Clifton 10 27.14x
Thatcham 10 232.56x
Aldenham 9 386.27x
Bradfield 9 865.38x
Bromley London 9 11.01x
Clevedon 9 144.69x
Lodsworth 9 1034.48x
Warnford 9 1836.73x
Petersfield 8 380.95x
St Clement Danes 8 132.89x
Westbury On Trym 8 32.40x
Alverstoke 7 25.39x
Exton 7 1891.89x
Skinningrove 7 309.73x
Wonston 7 795.45x
Bedminster 6 10.67x
Guildford St Nicholas 6 187.50x
Ash Normandy 5 203.25x
Dorking 5 41.12x
Hampstead London 5 8.64x
Kingston On Thames 5 11.49x
St Giles Cripplegate 5 101.42x
West Derby 5 3.88x
Bristol Temple 4 83.33x
Clewer 4 35.00x
East Tisted 4 1666.67x
Isleworth 4 24.21x
Kensington London 4 1.94x
Mile End Old Town 4 6.82x
New Alresford 4 203.05x
St Andrew Holborn 4 31.75x
Wimbledon 4 19.68x
Bristol St George 3 8.90x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 4.37x
East Meon 3 150.75x
Islington London 3 0.83x
Liss 3 193.55x
Openshaw 3 14.53x
Paddington London 3 2.20x
Titchfield 3 52.26x
Woodford 3 535.71x
Battersea 2 1.46x
Brampford Speke 2 322.58x
Bristol St James In 2 18.66x
Croydon 2 1.99x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 1.00x
Farringdon 2 270.27x
Froxfield 2 227.27x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 14.96x
Limehouse London 2 4.90x
Speen 2 43.86x
St Marylebone London 2 1.01x
St Pancras London 2 0.67x
Thames Ditton 2 53.19x
Tilehurst 2 35.46x
Tottenham 2 3.38x
Wandsworth 2 5.59x
Bristol St Augustine 1 8.50x
Burghclere 1 103.09x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 7.56x
Chelsea London 1 0.89x
East Ham 1 7.34x
Holy Trinity 1 61.73x
Hornsey 1 2.13x
Lambeth 1 0.31x
Lee 1 5.43x
North Bradley 1 41.67x
Portsmouth 1 5.70x
Reading St Giles 1 3.65x
Reading St Lawrence 1 16.75x
South Stoneham 1 6.05x
St Mary Kalendar 1 62.89x
Tillington 1 88.50x
West Meon 1 98.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 14
Ellen 10
Jane 8
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Annie 6
Emily 6
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Ada 5
Ann 5
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Amy 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Betsy 1
Charlott 1
Charlotta 1
Constance 1
Evaline 1
Flory 1
Getor 1
Henden 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
L. 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Maud 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 30
George 24
John 16
Alfred 14
Charles 12
Thomas 10
James 9
Harry 7
Henry 7
Albert 5
Joseph 5
Tom 5
David 4
Frank 4
Richard 4
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Enos 2
Ernest 2
Robert 2
W. 2
Albion 1
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edw.R. 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.William 1
Jacob 1
Jonas 1
Leopold 1
Levi 1
Lot 1
Peter 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Osgood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Osgood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Osgood surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Osgood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 883 in 2016. That gives Osgood a modern rank of #6,385.

What does the Osgood surname mean?

Derived from the Old English elements "os" meaning "god" and "gōd" meaning "good," likely referring to a pious person.

What does the Osgood map show?

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