NameCensus.

UK surname

Penistone

In the 1881 census there were 127 people recorded with the Penistone surname, ranking it #17,166 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 177, ranked #21,230, down from #17,166 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darfield, Wickersley and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penistone is 223 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.4%.

1881 census count

127

Ranked #17,166

Modern count

177

2016, ranked #21,230

Peak year

2005

223 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penistone had 127 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,166 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016, ranked #21,230.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 190 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Penistone surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penistone surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penistone 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 57 #23,092
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 127 #17,166
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 190 #15,634
1911 historical 179 #16,023
1997 modern 221 #16,565
1998 modern 220 #17,074
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 210 #17,670
2001 modern 209 #17,469
2002 modern 204 #18,062
2003 modern 206 #17,799
2004 modern 209 #17,706
2005 modern 223 #16,938
2006 modern 216 #17,397
2007 modern 220 #17,377
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 217 #18,070
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 205 #18,965
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 202 #19,575
2015 modern 190 #20,272
2016 modern 177 #21,230

Geography

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Where Penistones are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darfield, Wickersley, Sheffield, Snaith and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Wakefield and Sheffield. 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 Darfield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Wickersley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Snaith Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 042 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Wakefield 010 Wakefield
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 040 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Sheffield 008 Sheffield
5 Wakefield 011 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penistone

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penistone

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Penistone is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Penistone is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Penistone families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penistone 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. Yorkshire leads with 103 Penistones recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 103 8.39x
Derbyshire 7 3.61x
Lancashire 7 0.48x
Warwickshire 3 0.96x
Leicestershire 2 1.46x
Lincolnshire 2 1.01x
Rutland 2 22.00x
Cheshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Snaith Cowick in Yorkshire leads with 25 Penistones recorded in 1881 and an index of 3424.66x.

Place Total Index
Snaith Cowick 25 3424.66x
Wickersley 16 4705.88x
Sheffield 10 25.59x
Garforth 6 638.30x
Leeds 6 8.66x
Sandal Magna 6 329.67x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 15.57x
Armthorpe 4 2352.94x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 123.08x
Birmingham 3 2.88x
Dewsbury 3 23.83x
Dronfield 3 120.48x
Holmesfield 3 1428.57x
Thirsk 3 211.27x
Belgrave 2 64.52x
Broughton 2 363.64x
Doncaster 2 22.30x
Ecclesfield 2 22.22x
Hampole 2 4000.00x
Horton In Bradford 2 10.43x
Hulme 2 6.52x
Hunslet 2 10.45x
Kexborough 2 769.23x
Leyburn 2 487.80x
Masham 2 444.44x
Preston 2 1666.67x
Baslow With Bubnell 1 277.78x
Brightside Bierlow 1 4.15x
Dukinfield 1 7.92x
Gateforth 1 1250.00x
Lindrck W Studly Royl 1 2000.00x
Nether Hallam 1 6.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
William 8
Robert 5
Thomas 5
Henry 4
James 4
John 4
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Isaac 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Cawood 1
Edward 1
Eva 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Jonathan 1
Mary 1
Percy 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Penistone surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penistone surname in 1881?

In 1881, 127 people were recorded with the Penistone surname. That placed it at #17,166 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penistone surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 177 in 2016. That gives Penistone a modern rank of #21,230.

What does the Penistone map show?

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