NameCensus.

UK surname

Osmond

A variant spelling of the Old English surname Osmund, meaning "divine protection."

In the 1881 census there were 1,351 people recorded with the Osmond surname, ranking it #3,034 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,692, ranked #3,694, down from #3,034 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Cullompton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, South Somerset and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Osmond is 2,048 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.2%.

1881 census count

1,351

Ranked #3,034

Modern count

1,692

2016, ranked #3,694

Peak year

1911

2,048 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Osmond had 1,351 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,034 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,692 in 2016, ranked #3,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,048 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Osmond surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Osmond surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Osmond 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 1,066 #2,628
1861 historical 892 #3,102
1881 historical 1,351 #3,034
1891 historical 1,436 #3,051
1901 historical 1,819 #2,885
1911 historical 2,048 #2,437
1997 modern 1,719 #3,466
1998 modern 1,753 #3,543
1999 modern 1,770 #3,530
2000 modern 1,753 #3,547
2001 modern 1,719 #3,540
2002 modern 1,738 #3,586
2003 modern 1,674 #3,630
2004 modern 1,666 #3,643
2005 modern 1,638 #3,658
2006 modern 1,628 #3,692
2007 modern 1,648 #3,673
2008 modern 1,660 #3,671
2009 modern 1,705 #3,655
2010 modern 1,712 #3,731
2011 modern 1,716 #3,666
2012 modern 1,681 #3,682
2013 modern 1,703 #3,699
2014 modern 1,711 #3,694
2015 modern 1,695 #3,698
2016 modern 1,692 #3,694

Geography

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Where Osmonds are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, South Somerset, Purbeck, Hastings and The Vale of Glamorgan. 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 Cullompton Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 004 Torfaen
2 South Somerset 007 South Somerset
3 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
4 Hastings 008 Hastings
5 The Vale of Glamorgan 005 Vale of Glamorgan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Osmond

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Osmond

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Osmond 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

Osmond 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

Osmond falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Osmond

The surname Osmond has its origins in the Anglo-Saxon culture of medieval England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name Osmund, composed of the elements "os" meaning divine and "mund" meaning protection. The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Osemundus, indicating its early presence in the region.

During the Middle Ages, the Osmond family was prominent in various parts of England, particularly in Derbyshire and Yorkshire. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Osmond, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Battle of Crécy during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Osmond name appeared in the records of the Subsidy Rolls for Staffordshire, where several individuals bearing the surname were listed as landowners and taxpayers. Among them was John Osmond, who owned property in the village of Sedgley in 1532.

The Osmonds were also established in Scotland, where the name was sometimes spelled Osmond or Osmund. One of the earliest recorded Scottish Osmonds was Robert Osmund, a merchant in Aberdeen in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, the Osmond family had a presence in the New World, with William Osmond being one of the earliest settlers to arrive in Virginia in 1635. Another notable figure was Samuel Osmond, who was born in Massachusetts in 1688 and became a prominent figure in the colonial militia.

The 18th century saw the rise of several influential Osmonds, including Sir John Osmond (1718-1793), a British naval officer who served in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. Another noteworthy individual was Richard Osmond (1736-1818), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Bristol.

As the centuries progressed, the Osmond surname continued to spread across various regions, with individuals bearing the name making their mark in various fields, including arts, literature, and politics. Some notable examples include the English poet and critic Osmond Airy (1806-1892), the American novelist and playwright John Osmond (1857-1928), and the British politician Sir Lionel Osmond (1885-1963).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Osmond families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Osmond 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 244 Osmonds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 244 1.85x
Somerset 230 10.83x
Devon 182 6.63x
Hampshire 95 3.51x
Surrey 89 1.38x
Dorset 79 9.13x
Kent 61 1.36x
Gloucestershire 58 2.24x
Wiltshire 45 3.86x
Monmouthshire 34 3.57x
Glamorgan 29 1.26x
Berkshire 28 2.83x
Hertfordshire 20 2.20x
Sussex 18 0.81x
Pembrokeshire 17 4.06x
Lancashire 14 0.09x
Warwickshire 12 0.36x
Yorkshire 11 0.08x
Durham 10 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.51x
Shropshire 9 0.79x
Essex 7 0.27x
Anglesey 6 2.57x
Staffordshire 6 0.13x
Cornwall 4 0.27x
Derbyshire 4 0.19x
Lincolnshire 4 0.19x
Oxfordshire 4 0.49x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.36x
Channel Islands 3 0.77x
Cheshire 3 0.10x
Norfolk 3 0.15x
Northamptonshire 3 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.25x
Angus 1 0.08x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.64x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 42 Osmonds recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.96x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 42 3.96x
Islington London 31 2.43x
Tiverton 29 61.32x
Wellington 27 93.82x
St Marylebone London 26 3.69x
Camberwell 22 2.61x
Corton Denham 22 1437.91x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 8.21x
Croydon 19 5.33x
Halberton 17 265.63x
Cullompton 16 133.44x
Taunton St Mary 16 41.06x
Ryde 14 24.11x
South Mimms 14 77.39x
Chelsea London 13 3.27x
Brampford Speke 12 547.95x
Rockbourne 12 582.52x
St Woollos 12 11.28x
Wardour 12 350.88x
Child Okeford 11 287.96x
Hackney London 11 1.49x
Walcot 11 9.73x
Cardiff St Mary 10 7.91x
Claverton 10 884.96x
Shoreditch London 10 1.75x
Southwark St Saviour 10 14.75x
St Giles In Fields 10 21.98x
Bradninch 9 116.28x
Chittlehampton 9 132.94x
Congresbury 9 167.29x
Corsham 9 52.88x
East Stonehouse 9 16.64x
Hampstead London 9 4.38x
Kensington London 9 1.23x
Maperton 9 967.74x
Portsmouth 9 14.46x
Trevethin 9 10.00x
Willand 9 592.11x
Yatton 9 108.96x
Carew 8 191.39x
Charlton Next Woolwich 8 17.05x
Dawdon 8 16.58x
Dorchester All Sts 8 193.70x
Lytchett Matravers 8 256.41x
North Petherton 8 46.73x
Pembroke St Mary 8 14.82x
Preston 8 253.16x
Roath 8 7.67x
Shaw Cum Donnington 8 252.37x
Westminster St James 8 5.90x
Woolwich 8 4.81x
Yeovil 8 18.54x
Cheltenham 7 3.51x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.25x
Hammersmith London 7 2.15x
Hinton St George 7 228.01x
Loddiswell 7 192.84x
Shenley 7 116.67x
St Bartholomew Hyde 7 108.36x
St George Hanover 7 4.07x
Subdeanary 7 117.06x
Tonbridge 7 4.31x
Totnes 7 43.59x
Winterborne Herringstone 7 2121.21x
Ashford 6 13.69x
Bromley London 6 2.07x
Chew Magna 6 80.65x
Clapham 6 3.64x
Gisburn 6 251.05x
Holyhead 6 13.77x
Lambeth 6 0.52x
Nailsea 6 71.51x
Newington 6 1.23x
Newport 6 43.64x
Pointington 6 1153.85x
Salisbury St Martin 6 49.42x
Whitchurch 6 69.93x
Wincanton 6 54.89x
Yeovilton 6 550.46x
Portland 5 10.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Elizabeth 60
Sarah 49
Eliza 29
Jane 27
Ellen 26
Emily 23
Alice 16
Ann 16
Louisa 16
Annie 15
Emma 15
Florence 15
Edith 14
Caroline 13
Harriet 13
Charlotte 12
Fanny 11
Maria 11
Martha 11
Agnes 10
Susan 9
Kate 8
Ada 7
Hannah 7
Lucy 7
Bessie 6
Harriett 6
Amelia 5
Anne 5
Catherine 5
Clara 5
Elizth. 5
Rose 5
Anna 4
E. 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Grace 4
Jessie 4
May 4
Sophia 4
Susannah 4
Esther 3
Laura 3
Lillian 3
Mabel 3
Matilda 3
Maud 3
Lizzie 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 74
George 45
Henry 37
James 33
Charles 25
Robert 22
Alfred 19
Thomas 19
Arthur 17
Edward 16
Frederick 12
Joseph 12
Richard 12
Samuel 12
Albert 11
Walter 11
David 6
Wm. 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Sidney 5
Edwin 4
Reuben 4
Thos. 4
Tom 4
Albion 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Geo. 3
Harold 3
Philip 3
W. 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Isaac 2
Jas. 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2
Silas 2
Stephen 2
Willm. 2
Bernard 1
Cecil 1

FAQ

Osmond surname: questions and answers

How common was the Osmond surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,351 people were recorded with the Osmond surname. That placed it at #3,034 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Osmond surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,692 in 2016. That gives Osmond a modern rank of #3,694.

What does the Osmond surname mean?

A variant spelling of the Old English surname Osmund, meaning "divine protection."

What does the Osmond map show?

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