UK surname
An archaic English occupational surname derived from the term for a maker of ribbons or laces.
In the 1881 census there were 20 people recorded with the Pason surname, ranking it #30,738 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #30,738 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wilne, Halifax and Thornhill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pason is 109 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.
1881 census count
20
Ranked #30,738
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1861
109 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pason surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pason surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 12 | #31,134 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 20 | #30,738 |
| 1891 | historical | 32 | #31,754 |
| 1901 | historical | 7 | #33,435 |
| 1911 | historical | 8 | #32,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 14 | #36,528 |
| 1998 | modern | 13 | #36,679 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 15 | #36,843 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 28 | #36,048 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 25 | #36,297 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wilne, Halifax, Thornhill, Manchester and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilne | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Thornhill | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pason surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pason, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pason surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pason household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pason is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pason is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pason, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pason is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is likely derived from the Old English word "pas," which means Easter, suggesting that the name may have been initially given to someone born around the Easter season or associated with the religious festival.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Pason can be traced back to the 13th century in various records and documents from counties such as Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. One of the earliest known mentions is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1275, which lists a Robert Pason as a landowner in the region.
In the 14th century, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Warwickshire, where a John Pason is recorded as a taxpayer in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon in 1332. This connection to Stratford-upon-Avon is notable, as it shares a connection with the renowned playwright William Shakespeare, who was born in the same town in 1564.
During the 15th century, the Pason surname gained prominence, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Richard Pason, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived from approximately 1420 to 1492. Another was John Pason, a scholar and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Richmond from 1472 until his death in 1499.
In the 16th century, the Pason family continued to make their mark, with one notable member being William Pason, who was born in Gloucestershire in 1534 and later became a prominent lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London. He is recorded as having served as a legal advisor to Queen Elizabeth I during her reign.
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the Pason surname maintained its presence across various regions of England, with individuals bearing the name found in records from counties such as Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Yorkshire. One notable figure from this period was Samuel Pason, a clergyman and author who was born in Oxfordshire in 1649 and wrote several religious texts before his death in 1719.
As the centuries progressed, the Pason surname continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, with the name appearing in various historical records, parish registers, and genealogical documents throughout England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pason surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 11 Pasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.68x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 8.68x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.66x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Martyr in Middlesex leads with 8 Pasons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3809.52x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George Martyr | 8 | 3809.52x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 29.38x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 73.53x |
| Clapham | 1 | 62.89x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pason surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pason surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Pason households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant (Dom) | 1 |
| Hackney Coach Man | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Manager Pawnbroker | 1 |
| Metal Stamper (Worker) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 20 people were recorded with the Pason surname. That placed it at #30,738 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Pason a modern rank of #36,324.
An archaic English occupational surname derived from the term for a maker of ribbons or laces.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pason bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.