NameCensus.

UK surname

Pilkington

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely meaning "farmstead of a man called Pileca."

In the 1881 census there were 5,370 people recorded with the Pilkington surname, ranking it #829 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,409, ranked #1,239, down from #829 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Preston and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hyndburn and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pilkington is 6,750 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.7%.

1881 census count

5,370

Ranked #829

Modern count

5,409

2016, ranked #1,239

Peak year

1911

6,750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pilkington had 5,370 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #829 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,409 in 2016, ranked #1,239.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,750 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pilkington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pilkington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pilkington 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 3,207 #900
1861 historical 3,030 #952
1881 historical 5,370 #829
1891 historical 4,972 #943
1901 historical 6,234 #890
1911 historical 6,750 #772
1997 modern 5,550 #1,172
1998 modern 5,682 #1,191
1999 modern 5,710 #1,199
2000 modern 5,678 #1,199
2001 modern 5,586 #1,189
2002 modern 5,693 #1,191
2003 modern 5,537 #1,193
2004 modern 5,432 #1,221
2005 modern 5,337 #1,224
2006 modern 5,309 #1,233
2007 modern 5,336 #1,230
2008 modern 5,352 #1,234
2009 modern 5,471 #1,239
2010 modern 5,617 #1,232
2011 modern 5,534 #1,233
2012 modern 5,437 #1,233
2013 modern 5,533 #1,232
2014 modern 5,483 #1,244
2015 modern 5,418 #1,247
2016 modern 5,409 #1,239

Geography

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Where Pilkingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Preston, Blackburn, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hyndburn and Burnley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Preston Lancashire
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hyndburn 002 Hyndburn
2 Hyndburn 004 Hyndburn
3 Hyndburn 007 Hyndburn
4 Burnley 004 Burnley
5 Hyndburn 008 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pilkington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pilkington

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pilkington, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Pilkington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pilkington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pilkington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pilkington is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pilkington falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pilkington

The surname Pilkington is of English origin, deriving from a habitation name in Lancashire. It is believed to have originated from the Old English elements "pill" or "pylly", meaning a stream or brook, and "ing", meaning a meadow or enclosure. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a stream or brook in a meadow.

The earliest known record of the surname dates back to the 13th century, with a Gilbert de Pilkynton mentioned in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246. The Pilkington family was well-established in the area, particularly around the town of Bury, Lancashire.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a place called "Pilkintone" is recorded, which is believed to be the earliest known mention of the place name from which the surname derives. This place name evolved into various spellings over time, including Pylkynton, Pilkyngton, and eventually the modern Pilkington.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Pilkington was Sir John Pilkington (c. 1281-1349), a prominent English knight who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire and fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under Edward I and Edward II.

Another notable figure was James Pilkington (c. 1520-1576), an English bishop who served as the Bishop of Durham during the reign of Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the English Reformation and was a influential Protestant theologian.

Sir Thomas Pilkington (c. 1628-1691) was an English baronet and Member of Parliament for Lancashire during the reign of Charles II. He was a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and was known for his support of the monarchy.

In the literary world, Mary Pilkington (c. 1766-1839) was an Irish novelist and poet who wrote several popular works, including "The Human Heart" and "The Narrative of a Recent Journey."

Lastly, Sir Andrew Pilkington (1857-1925) was a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Blackburn and was knighted for his contributions to industry and public service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pilkington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pilkington 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. Lancashire leads with 4,120 Pilkingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.61x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4,120 6.61x
Yorkshire 243 0.47x
Middlesex 141 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 130 1.84x
Derbyshire 105 1.28x
Surrey 83 0.32x
Cheshire 53 0.46x
Lincolnshire 53 0.63x
Durham 52 0.33x
Staffordshire 46 0.26x
Leicestershire 45 0.77x
Essex 42 0.41x
Kent 33 0.18x
Gloucestershire 26 0.25x
Warwickshire 26 0.20x
Cumberland 22 0.49x
Hampshire 21 0.20x
Sussex 18 0.20x
Bedfordshire 17 0.63x
Worcestershire 13 0.19x
Oxfordshire 12 0.37x
Midlothian 11 0.16x
Angus 9 0.19x
Shropshire 9 0.20x
Isle of Man 8 0.82x
Devon 6 0.05x
Northamptonshire 6 0.12x
Northumberland 5 0.06x
Glamorgan 4 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.21x
Royal Navy 3 0.48x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.06x
Herefordshire 2 0.09x
Hertfordshire 2 0.06x
Renfrewshire 2 0.05x
Rutland 2 0.52x
Berkshire 1 0.03x
Channel Islands 1 0.06x
Denbighshire 1 0.05x
Kinross-shire 1 0.75x
Suffolk 1 0.02x
Wiltshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Accrington in Lancashire leads with 425 Pilkingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.05x.

Place Total Index
Accrington 425 75.05x
Preston 153 9.18x
Over Darwen 145 29.14x
Blackburn 127 7.66x
Clayton Le Moors 124 102.61x
Wigan 122 14.02x
Tottington Lower End 117 39.53x
Haslingden 115 44.59x
Little Bolton 110 13.74x
Aspull 108 73.72x
Great Bolton 92 11.15x
Habergham Eaves 81 14.23x
Manchester 74 2.64x
Windle 66 18.83x
Huncoat 54 323.16x
Chorley 53 15.16x
Church 51 57.99x
Scarisbrick 49 67.77x
Tonge With Haulgh 45 37.11x
Newchurch 44 8.64x
Bury 43 6.04x
Hindley 42 15.82x
Salford 42 2.29x
Ince In Makerfield 37 12.77x
Padiham 37 24.59x
Westhoughton 37 22.26x
Camberwell 36 1.07x
Chorlton On Medlock 33 3.34x
Halliwell 33 14.56x
Burnley 32 6.10x
Bradford 31 10.63x
Liverpool 31 0.82x
Oldham 31 1.54x
Oswaldtwistle 30 13.63x
West Derby 30 1.65x
Coppull 29 87.38x
Elton 29 13.48x
Castleton 28 4.50x
Holbeck 28 8.13x
Nottingham St Mary 28 1.53x
Standish With Langtree 28 36.50x
Heap 27 8.17x
Great Harwood 26 23.09x
Leyland 25 23.07x
Spotland 25 3.61x
Altham 24 338.03x
Newton 24 5.00x
Rumworth 24 26.96x
Withnell 24 62.79x
Greasley 23 14.41x
Lancaster 23 6.21x
Birmingham 22 0.50x
Everton 22 1.11x
Chesterfield 21 6.82x
Haydock 21 19.57x
Radcliffe 21 6.99x
Walmersley Cum 21 21.10x
Aughton 19 30.80x
Hulme 19 1.46x
Islington London 19 0.37x
Lathom 19 25.26x
Pendleton In Salford 19 2.56x
Bedford 18 13.82x
Leeds 18 0.61x
Morley 18 6.66x
Openshaw 18 6.17x
Sharples 18 26.64x
Tottington Higher End 18 25.39x
Adlington 17 29.15x
Great Lever 17 25.72x
Huyton With Roby 17 23.29x
Lower Booths 17 15.23x
Bickerstaffe 16 39.24x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 3.23x
Chadderton 16 5.25x
Ealing 16 3.41x
Eccleston In Prescot 16 5.12x
Farnworth 16 4.29x
Fazakerley 16 165.46x
West Ham 16 0.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 474
Elizabeth 217
Sarah 207
Alice 157
Ann 135
Jane 133
Ellen 131
Margaret 120
Martha 61
Hannah 57
Annie 45
Emma 45
Eliza 40
Emily 40
Catherine 37
Nancy 35
Isabella 28
Ada 27
Betsy 27
Clara 25
Harriet 23
Edith 22
Maria 22
Agnes 21
Betty 21
Elizth. 19
Louisa 19
Lucy 19
Florence 18
Anne 16
Charlotte 16
Esther 16
Amelia 15
Fanny 14
Susannah 14
Harriett 12
Frances 11
Bertha 10
Rachel 10
Ruth 10
Margt. 9
Matilda 9
Rebecca 9
Bridget 8
Dorothy 8
Grace 8
Kate 7
Margret 7
Susan 7
Ethel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 396
William 298
James 274
Thomas 233
George 132
Joseph 106
Richard 94
Henry 81
Edward 61
Robert 59
Samuel 57
Charles 37
Alfred 35
Arthur 33
Thos. 28
Walter 27
Peter 20
Wm. 19
Albert 18
Frederick 16
Abraham 15
Herbert 15
Ernest 14
Fred 13
Hugh 13
Edwin 12
Frank 12
Jas. 12
Benjamin 11
Edmund 11
Francis 10
Richd. 10
Ralph 9
Harry 8
Isaac 8
Jonathan 8
Alexander 7
Evan 7
Matthew 7
Joshua 6
Leonard 6
Daniel 5
David 5
Eli 5
Mark 5
Moses 5
Tom 5
Levi 4
Lionel 4
Miles 4

FAQ

Pilkington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pilkington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,370 people were recorded with the Pilkington surname. That placed it at #829 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pilkington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,409 in 2016. That gives Pilkington a modern rank of #1,239.

What does the Pilkington surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Lancashire, England, likely meaning "farmstead of a man called Pileca."

What does the Pilkington map show?

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