NameCensus.

UK surname

Penston

In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Penston surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 104, ranked #30,317, down from #27,019 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Ealing and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Penston is 135 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 121.3%.

1881 census count

47

Ranked #27,019

Modern count

104

2016, ranked #30,317

Peak year

2008

135 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Penston had 47 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,019 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016, ranked #30,317.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 83 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Penston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Penston surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Penston 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 43 #25,518
1861 historical 83 #23,189
1881 historical 47 #27,019
1891 historical 60 #29,204
1901 historical 49 #28,696
1911 historical 63 #26,537
1997 modern 113 #25,106
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 123 #24,735
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 131 #23,737
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 132 #24,166
2008 modern 135 #24,123
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 133 #25,177
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 115 #28,176
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 104 #30,269
2016 modern 104 #30,317

Geography

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Where Penstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Ealing, North Lincolnshire, Crawley and Lambeth. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 020 Neath Port Talbot
2 Ealing 003 Ealing
3 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
4 Crawley 006 Crawley
5 Lambeth 033 Lambeth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Penston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Penston

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Penston is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Penston 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

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

1881 census detail

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Penston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Penston 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. Surrey leads with 27 Penstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.21x.

County Total Index
Surrey 27 14.21x
Middlesex 4 1.03x
Warwickshire 3 3.05x
Renfrewshire 2 6.62x
Anglesey 1 14.47x
East Lothian 1 19.34x
Lancashire 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 1.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 12 Penstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.28x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 12 35.28x
Bermondsey 6 51.68x
Newington 6 41.64x
St George Hanover 4 78.59x
Birmingham 3 9.15x
West Greenock 2 36.83x
Athelstaneford 1 1000.00x
Battersea 1 6.97x
Epsom 1 107.53x
Holyhead 1 77.52x
Slaugham 1 476.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 12.74x
Walton On Hill 1 39.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Amy 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lousa 1
Martha 1
Miriam 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3
William 3
Edward 2
George 2
Joseph 2
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Frances 1
Frederick 1
Frederk. 1
Geo.R. 1
Henry 1
James 1

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 Penston households.

FAQ

Penston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Penston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Penston surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Penston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 104 in 2016. That gives Penston a modern rank of #30,317.

What does the Penston map show?

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