NameCensus.

UK surname

Parson

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or parish priest in medieval England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,342 people recorded with the Parson surname, ranking it #3,052 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 557, ranked #9,196, down from #3,052 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parson is 1,998 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 58.5%.

1881 census count

1,342

Ranked #3,052

Modern count

557

2016, ranked #9,196

Peak year

1861

1,998 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parson had 1,342 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,052 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016, ranked #9,196.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,998 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Parson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parson 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 1,289 #2,224
1861 historical 1,998 #1,457
1881 historical 1,342 #3,052
1891 historical 1,967 #2,349
1901 historical 1,146 #4,241
1911 historical 1,558 #3,110
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 669 #7,742
1999 modern 634 #8,118
2000 modern 585 #8,555
2001 modern 559 #8,699
2002 modern 553 #8,949
2003 modern 539 #8,981
2004 modern 527 #9,157
2005 modern 497 #9,479
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 527 #9,193
2008 modern 524 #9,299
2009 modern 550 #9,169
2010 modern 563 #9,193
2011 modern 522 #9,645
2012 modern 525 #9,526
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 566 #9,174
2015 modern 551 #9,294
2016 modern 557 #9,196

Geography

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Where Parsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Dudley and Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Carmarthenshire, Exeter, Wirral and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 002 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
3 Exeter 003 Exeter
4 Wirral 022 Wirral
5 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Parson 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

Parson 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

Parson falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Parson

The surname Parson is an English surname derived from the Middle English word "persone," which was used to refer to a member of the clergy or a parish priest. The name originated in England during the medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Parson date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Persone.

The surname Parson is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, given to individuals who served as parish priests or clergymen. In medieval times, priests and clergymen often took on surnames related to their occupation or position within the church.

One notable historical figure with the surname Parson was Robert Parson (c. 1546-1610), an English Jesuit priest and writer. He played a significant role in the Catholic mission to England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and was a prominent figure in the efforts to re-establish Catholicism in the country.

Another individual of note was James Parsons (1705-1770), an English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was a member of the Royal Society.

In the 18th century, Sir William Parsons (1701-1767) was an Irish politician and landowner who served as the Surveyor General of Ireland and played a crucial role in the development of the city of Dublin.

John Parsons (1761-1819) was an American jurist and statesman who served as the 16th Chief Justice of the United States from 1801 to 1819.

Sir Charles Parsons (1854-1931) was a British engineer and inventor best known for his development of the modern steam turbine, which revolutionized power generation and propulsion systems in ships and industry.

While the surname Parson has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration and migration patterns. The name can be found in various spellings, such as Parsons, Parsonns, and Parsonns, reflecting regional variations and changes over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parson 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 172 Parsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.31x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 172 1.31x
Yorkshire 140 1.08x
Lancashire 100 0.64x
Surrey 79 1.24x
Devon 65 2.38x
Sussex 51 2.31x
Warwickshire 48 1.45x
Kent 45 1.01x
Staffordshire 42 0.95x
Cambridgeshire 41 4.94x
Durham 40 1.03x
Gloucestershire 37 1.44x
Bedfordshire 36 5.30x
Worcestershire 36 2.10x
Derbyshire 35 1.71x
Cornwall 30 2.02x
Glamorgan 30 1.31x
Lincolnshire 30 1.43x
Somerset 29 1.37x
Hampshire 27 1.00x
Norfolk 24 1.19x
Oxfordshire 24 2.96x
Berkshire 21 2.13x
Northamptonshire 20 1.62x
Suffolk 20 1.25x
Dorset 18 2.09x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.91x
Monmouthshire 15 1.58x
Essex 13 0.50x
Leicestershire 12 0.83x
Shropshire 8 0.71x
Cheshire 7 0.24x
Northumberland 6 0.31x
Lanarkshire 5 0.12x
Herefordshire 4 0.74x
Hertfordshire 4 0.44x
Isle of Man 3 1.23x
Wiltshire 3 0.26x
Angus 2 0.16x
Brecknockshire 1 0.38x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Midlothian 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 28 Parsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.45x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 28 13.45x
St Pancras London 22 2.08x
Aston 19 2.09x
Camberwell 18 2.15x
Shoreditch London 18 3.17x
Leighton Buzzard 16 54.79x
Plymouth Charles The 16 13.31x
Stalbridge 16 195.60x
Downham 14 158.73x
Kensington London 14 1.92x
Islington London 13 1.02x
Brampton 12 41.83x
Luton 12 10.21x
Over Darwen 12 9.66x
Austonley 11 149.46x
Liverpool 11 1.16x
Sheffield 11 2.66x
West Derby 11 2.42x
Alston 10 138.12x
Littleport 10 63.05x
Paddington London 10 2.07x
Wednesbury 10 9.04x
West Swallowfield 10 214.13x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.25x
Bedwellty 9 5.38x
Castleford 9 19.02x
Itchingswell 9 450.00x
Lambeth 9 0.79x
Mangotsfield 9 35.12x
Monkwearmouth Shore 9 11.82x
Wansford 9 1384.62x
Aylmerton 8 583.94x
Birmingham 8 0.73x
Harborne 8 5.64x
Hougham 8 30.08x
Kingswinford 8 4.98x
Lutterworth 8 90.29x
South Bersted 8 42.55x
St Marylebone London 8 1.14x
Westminster St John 8 5.01x
Wroxton 8 269.36x
Battersea 7 1.45x
Bratton Clovelly 7 259.26x
Clapham 7 4.27x
Gedney 7 81.78x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 4.14x
Holbeck 7 8.13x
Holy Trinity 7 2.24x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.38x
Sowerby In Halifax 7 16.48x
Tipton 7 5.17x
Upton 7 588.24x
West Teignmouth 7 33.52x
Antony 6 41.87x
Boxford 6 202.70x
Charnock Richard 6 195.44x
Chipping Norton 6 32.05x
Chislet 6 118.81x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.94x
Coates 6 287.08x
Cwmdu 6 21.58x
Dunsfold 6 172.91x
Killamarsh 6 46.99x
Llanishen 6 555.56x
Lowestoft 6 7.95x
Nottingham St Mary 6 1.31x
Rishworth 6 120.24x
Sedgefield 6 43.17x
Stoke Newington London 6 5.88x
Swerford 6 319.15x
Temple Grafton 6 322.58x
West Ardsley 6 38.36x
Westbury On Severn East 6 10.32x
Aberdare 5 3.19x
Broad Clist 5 53.08x
Chelsea London 5 1.27x
Croydon 5 1.41x
St George In East 5 5.61x
Storrington 5 82.51x
Worsley 5 5.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 92
Elizabeth 58
Sarah 50
Ann 31
Eliza 28
Emma 21
Jane 19
Ellen 17
Alice 15
Annie 14
Harriet 14
Louisa 13
Emily 12
Catherine 11
Lucy 11
Margaret 11
Maria 11
Martha 11
Charlotte 10
Florence 9
Fanny 8
Hannah 8
Edith 7
Kate 7
Rebecca 7
Rose 7
Matilda 6
Agnes 5
Caroline 5
Grace 5
Harriett 5
Helen 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Jessie 4
Selina 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Anna 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Julia 3
Rachel 3
Ruth 3
Susannah 3
Margt. 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 69
James 42
George 37
Thomas 31
Charles 30
Henry 30
Joseph 30
Richard 26
Frederick 17
Alfred 15
Robert 11
Samuel 11
Arthur 10
Edward 10
Herbert 9
Walter 9
Benjamin 7
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Fred 5
Fredrick 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Isaac 4
Stephen 4
Amos 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Geo. 3
Thos. 3
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Elizah 2
Fletcher 2
Horace 2
Leonard 2
Owen 2
Richd. 2
Wm. 2
Augustus 1
Aurther 1
Chas 1
Christopher 1
Dixon 1
Dudley 1
Earnest 1
Freeman 1
Gad 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Parson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,342 people were recorded with the Parson surname. That placed it at #3,052 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 557 in 2016. That gives Parson a modern rank of #9,196.

What does the Parson surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a clergyman or parish priest in medieval England.

What does the Parson map show?

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