NameCensus.

UK surname

Parsons

An occupational surname referring to a parson, a clergyman or parish priest in the Church of England.

In the 1881 census there were 22,657 people recorded with the Parsons surname, ranking it #151 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29,342, ranked #185, down from #151 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parsons is 31,349 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.5%.

1881 census count

22,657

Ranked #151

Modern count

29,342

2016, ranked #185

Peak year

1999

31,349 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parsons had 22,657 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #151 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 29,342 in 2016, ranked #185.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 31,161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parsons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parsons surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parsons 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 15,037 #145
1861 historical 14,662 #160
1881 historical 22,657 #151
1891 historical 23,951 #150
1901 historical 28,624 #143
1911 historical 31,161 #117
1997 modern 29,945 #174
1998 modern 31,331 #175
1999 modern 31,349 #176
2000 modern 31,070 #178
2001 modern 30,321 #177
2002 modern 30,854 #177
2003 modern 30,021 #178
2004 modern 29,804 #180
2005 modern 29,056 #183
2006 modern 29,057 #183
2007 modern 29,119 #183
2008 modern 29,075 #183
2009 modern 29,705 #183
2010 modern 30,111 #184
2011 modern 29,912 #183
2012 modern 29,268 #183
2013 modern 29,938 #183
2014 modern 30,062 #183
2015 modern 29,600 #184
2016 modern 29,342 #185

Geography

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Where Parsons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) 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, Torridge and Sedgemoor. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 004 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parsons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parsons

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

Parsons 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

Parsons falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Parsons

The surname Parsons is derived from the Old English word "parson," meaning a clergyman or a parish priest. It is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, when the clergy played a significant role in society.

The name Parsons first appeared in historical records around the 13th century, with one of the earliest known references being in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Richard le Persone from Gloucestershire. This early spelling variation, "Persone," highlights the connection to the clerical profession.

As the name spread throughout England, it took on various spellings, such as Parsons, Parson, and Pearson, reflecting regional differences in pronunciation and scribal practices. Some of the earliest recorded bearers of the name include William Parsons, a merchant from London, who lived in the late 13th century, and John Parsons, a landowner from Oxfordshire, mentioned in the Court Rolls of 1327.

The surname Parsons is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Sir Robert Parsons (1546-1610), an English Jesuit priest and writer who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation movement. Another notable figure was Robert Parsons (1647-1714), an English mathematician and philosopher who contributed to the development of calculus.

In the United States, the Parsons surname has a long and distinguished history. One of the earliest recorded bearers was Joseph Parsons (1647-1729), a Puritan settler who arrived in Massachusetts in the 17th century and became a prominent landowner and community leader. Another notable American with the surname was Samuel Holden Parsons (1737-1789), a Revolutionary War general who fought alongside George Washington.

The Parsons surname has also been associated with several important literary figures, including Thomas William Parsons (1819-1892), an American poet and linguist, and Louisa Parsons (1881-1950), an English novelist and short story writer.

Throughout its history, the surname Parsons has maintained its connection to the clerical profession, as well as its English origins. While it has spread worldwide and taken on various spellings, it remains a prominent surname with a rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parsons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parsons 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 2,573 Parsons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2,573 1.16x
Somerset 2,108 5.90x
Surrey 1,913 1.77x
Sussex 1,404 3.75x
Warwickshire 1,247 2.23x
Devon 1,204 2.61x
Gloucestershire 1,103 2.53x
Staffordshire 907 1.21x
Hampshire 810 1.78x
Kent 775 1.02x
Wiltshire 713 3.63x
Lancashire 712 0.27x
Dorset 675 4.63x
Worcestershire 674 2.33x
Cornwall 581 2.31x
Yorkshire 515 0.23x
Berkshire 391 2.35x
Essex 391 0.89x
Glamorgan 348 0.90x
Monmouthshire 275 1.71x
Oxfordshire 271 1.98x
Nottinghamshire 254 0.85x
Norfolk 248 0.73x
Hertfordshire 234 1.53x
Leicestershire 230 0.93x
Derbyshire 223 0.64x
Northamptonshire 220 1.05x
Cheshire 212 0.43x
Bedfordshire 200 1.74x
Lincolnshire 200 0.56x
Cambridgeshire 184 1.31x
Shropshire 168 0.88x
Herefordshire 155 1.70x
Buckinghamshire 152 1.13x
Suffolk 101 0.37x
Durham 90 0.14x
Channel Islands 72 1.09x
Northumberland 40 0.12x
Royal Navy 34 1.29x
Brecknockshire 21 0.47x
Midlothian 20 0.07x
Westmorland 19 0.39x
Lanarkshire 18 0.03x
Huntingdonshire 15 0.34x
Cumberland 8 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 8 0.11x
Montgomeryshire 7 0.14x
Aberdeenshire 6 0.03x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.07x
Rutland 3 0.18x
Denbighshire 2 0.02x
Ayrshire 1 0.01x
Cardiganshire 1 0.02x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.01x
Fife 1 0.01x
Flintshire 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.02x
Radnorshire 1 0.06x
Renfrewshire 1 0.01x
Stirlingshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 430 Parsons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.79x.

Place Total Index
Aston 430 2.79x
Birmingham 303 1.62x
Islington London 288 1.34x
Lambeth 284 1.47x
Camberwell 262 1.85x
Rowley Regis 233 11.16x
Brighton 218 2.89x
St Pancras London 217 1.21x
Battersea 195 2.39x
Kensington London 192 1.56x
St Marylebone London 154 1.30x
Portsea 148 1.66x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 145 3.54x
Paddington London 143 1.75x
Newington 128 1.56x
Bedminster 122 3.63x
West Ham 122 1.26x
Stalbridge 115 83.08x
Dudley 113 3.21x
Plymouth St Andrew 112 3.15x
Luton 105 5.28x
Clifton 102 4.64x
Bridgewater 101 10.41x
Bermondsey 98 1.48x
St George Hanover 98 3.38x
Westbury On Severn East 96 9.76x
Bromley London 92 1.88x
Shoreditch London 87 0.90x
Alderbury 84 91.16x
Bethnal Green London 83 0.86x
Hackney London 82 0.66x
Bristol St George 79 3.92x
Chelsea London 79 1.18x
Hove 77 4.69x
Mile End Old Town 77 2.20x
Leicester St Margaret 75 1.25x
Kingswinford 74 2.72x
Stoke Damerel 74 2.29x
Nottingham St Mary 73 0.94x
Deptford St Paul 70 1.20x
Westbury On Trym 69 4.68x
Croydon 65 1.08x
Willesden 65 3.11x
Leeds 62 0.50x
Weston Super Mare 62 6.87x
Broadwater 61 7.11x
Wincanton 61 33.18x
Clapham 60 2.16x
Roath 60 3.42x
Kingston On Thames 59 2.27x
Bristol St James St Paul 57 3.93x
Clerkenwell London 57 1.09x
Wandsworth 57 2.67x
Ealing 56 2.82x
Kings Norton 55 2.12x
The Hill 55 29.55x
Wellington 55 11.35x
Barrow In Furness 53 1.48x
Handsworth 53 2.87x
North Petherton 52 18.05x
Reading St Mary 52 3.90x
Bristol St Augustine 51 7.26x
Coventry Holy Trinity 51 3.05x
Harborne 51 2.12x
West Derby 50 0.65x
Liverpool 49 0.31x
Hammersmith London 47 0.86x
Southampton St Mary 47 1.64x
St Teath 47 31.06x
Angmering 46 61.47x
Reading St Giles 46 2.81x
Clevedon 45 12.11x
Eastbourne 45 2.61x
Greenwich 45 1.27x
Plymouth Charles The 45 2.21x
Aberystruth 44 3.11x
Fulham London 43 1.34x
Lewisham 43 1.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 43 0.96x
Westminster St John 43 1.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,386
Elizabeth 866
Sarah 754
Ann 440
Jane 409
Eliza 408
Ellen 391
Emma 373
Alice 346
Emily 339
Annie 334
Louisa 233
Hannah 196
Harriet 180
Florence 167
Edith 160
Caroline 159
Charlotte 159
Martha 153
Fanny 148
Maria 139
Ada 131
Kate 125
Lucy 119
Clara 104
Susan 102
Margaret 95
Frances 87
Agnes 82
Anne 82
Amelia 81
Rose 76
Matilda 74
Catherine 73
Harriett 64
Bessie 61
Julia 58
Amy 57
Sophia 55
Elizth. 53
Susannah 49
Jessie 46
Laura 45
Minnie 45
Rebecca 43
Ethel 40
Gertrude 39
Anna 38
Eleanor 37
Esther 37

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,456
John 1,117
George 857
James 724
Thomas 613
Henry 577
Charles 522
Joseph 354
Alfred 274
Frederick 271
Edward 259
Arthur 237
Robert 220
Walter 206
Albert 193
Richard 187
Samuel 169
Harry 130
Frank 123
Ernest 109
Edwin 100
Benjamin 89
Herbert 87
Wm. 68
Francis 62
David 60
Fred 43
Sidney 43
Isaac 42
Daniel 38
Jesse 36
Tom 36
Percy 32
Stephen 32
Fredrick 30
Geo. 30
Peter 30
Philip 28
Fredk. 25
Edmund 24
Thos. 24
Chas. 22
Leonard 21
Alexander 20
Job 20
Mark 19
Abraham 18
Harold 18
Joshua 16
Sydney 16

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 Parsons households.

FAQ

Parsons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parsons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 22,657 people were recorded with the Parsons surname. That placed it at #151 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parsons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 29,342 in 2016. That gives Parsons a modern rank of #185.

What does the Parsons surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a parson, a clergyman or parish priest in the Church of England.

What does the Parsons map show?

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