NameCensus.

UK surname

Pogson

Derived from the Old English word "pog," meaning a goblin or mischievous sprite.

In the 1881 census there were 1,137 people recorded with the Pogson surname, ranking it #3,519 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 847, ranked #6,598, down from #3,519 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Almondbury, Rochdale and Huddersfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pogson is 1,474 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.5%.

1881 census count

1,137

Ranked #3,519

Modern count

847

2016, ranked #6,598

Peak year

1911

1,474 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pogson had 1,137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,519 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016, ranked #6,598.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,474 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pogson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pogson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pogson 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 682 #3,812
1861 historical 683 #3,941
1881 historical 1,137 #3,519
1891 historical 1,216 #3,534
1901 historical 1,380 #3,642
1911 historical 1,474 #3,268
1997 modern 947 #5,735
1998 modern 984 #5,747
1999 modern 978 #5,807
2000 modern 935 #6,012
2001 modern 917 #5,993
2002 modern 899 #6,203
2003 modern 863 #6,279
2004 modern 867 #6,261
2005 modern 856 #6,280
2006 modern 857 #6,276
2007 modern 866 #6,287
2008 modern 850 #6,424
2009 modern 864 #6,490
2010 modern 862 #6,618
2011 modern 852 #6,602
2012 modern 857 #6,489
2013 modern 869 #6,520
2014 modern 866 #6,569
2015 modern 855 #6,569
2016 modern 847 #6,598

Geography

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Where Pogsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Almondbury, Rochdale, Huddersfield, Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) 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 Kirklees and Bradford. 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 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 049 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 055 Kirklees
3 Bradford 052 Bradford
4 Kirklees 053 Kirklees
5 Kirklees 045 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pogson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pogson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pogson, 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 Pogson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pogson 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, Pogson 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

Pogson is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pogson 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 Pogson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pogson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pogson

The surname Pogson originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pog" meaning a small bag or sack, and "son" meaning son or descendant. This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who worked as a sack maker or carried sacks for a living.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Pogson appears in the Feet of Fines record from Suffolk, England, dating back to 1273. This document mentions a Richard Poggesone, indicating that the surname was already in use at that time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to various places with names similar to Pogson, such as Poggesleye and Poggeshale. These place names may have influenced or been influenced by the surname, as it was common for people to adopt surnames based on the locations they were from or associated with.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Pogson was Thomas Pogson, who lived in the 15th century. He was a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, England, and his name appears in various records from that period.

In the 16th century, John Pogson (1532-1608) was a prominent English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, and was known for his scholarly works.

During the 17th century, Richard Pogson (1628-1696) was a notable English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and was involved in the construction of some of the earliest telescopes.

In the 18th century, William Pogson (1742-1817) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for Northampton. He played an active role in local and national politics during his lifetime.

Another notable figure was Norman Robert Pogson (1829-1891), an English astronomer who developed the Pogson scale for measuring the brightness of celestial objects. This scale is still used in astronomy today.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Pogson who have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields, including academia, science, politics, and commerce.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pogson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pogson 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 628 Pogsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 628 5.71x
Lincolnshire 162 9.14x
Lancashire 132 1.00x
Middlesex 54 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 54 3.61x
Cheshire 33 1.35x
Cumberland 16 1.68x
Herefordshire 12 2.64x
Cambridgeshire 10 1.42x
Derbyshire 6 0.35x
Leicestershire 6 0.49x
Kent 5 0.13x
Northumberland 5 0.30x
Warwickshire 4 0.14x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 1.25x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.15x
Isle of Man 1 0.49x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Meltham in Yorkshire leads with 106 Pogsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 620.25x.

Place Total Index
Meltham 106 620.25x
Horncastle 64 349.73x
Lingards 45 1355.42x
Saddleworth 44 51.90x
Huddersfield 41 25.61x
Oldham 38 8.95x
Slaithwaite 38 332.17x
Lockwood 36 91.05x
Golcar 33 113.56x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 32 115.44x
Longwood 24 135.52x
Worksop 23 51.87x
Leeds 19 3.06x
Almondbury 16 30.11x
Hackney London 15 2.41x
Hereford All Sts 12 57.58x
Blatchinworth 11 36.70x
Dukinfield 11 9.72x
Castleton 10 7.61x
Rastrick 10 32.75x
Rishworth 10 236.97x
Tong 10 47.10x
West Keal 10 714.29x
Wisbech St Peter 10 28.38x
Batley 9 8.62x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.87x
Caldewgate 9 17.20x
East Layton 9 1525.42x
Heaton Norris 9 12.01x
Hunslet 9 5.25x
Morley 9 15.75x
Salford 9 2.33x
Marsden In Almondbury 8 80.00x
Northowram 8 10.38x
Skirbeck 8 80.48x
Acton 7 10.77x
Blidworth Lyndhurst 7 760.87x
Chiswick 7 11.55x
Horton In Bradford 7 4.08x
Islington London 7 0.65x
Newton 7 6.90x
Penrith 7 19.84x
Royton 7 17.39x
St Peterin Eastgate 7 127.50x
Stockport 7 5.56x
Barkisland 6 75.19x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 24.37x
Doncaster 6 7.47x
Honley 6 31.19x
Lofthouse 6 36.56x
Marsden In Huddersfield 6 230.77x
Scunthorpe 6 75.19x
Upperthong 6 64.17x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 1.74x
Basford 5 7.26x
Belvoir 5 925.93x
Blidworth 5 257.73x
Brinnington 5 21.86x
Butterworth 5 15.59x
Clee With Weelsby 5 12.88x
Erringden 5 70.42x
Gorton 5 4.04x
Halifax 5 3.10x
Horsforth 5 20.75x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 5.85x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.29x
Sheffield 5 1.43x
St Nicholas Lincoln 5 29.50x
Swinton In Rotherham 5 17.21x
Thurlstone 5 46.13x
Ashby 4 72.07x
Aston 4 0.52x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 4.04x
Holy Trinity 4 1.51x
Leake 4 49.26x
Lusby 4 1111.11x
Pilsworth 4 138.41x
Seacroft 4 76.78x
Stickford 4 216.22x
Welbourn 4 189.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 77
Sarah 71
Elizabeth 38
Hannah 38
Ann 23
Emma 23
Alice 18
Clara 17
Martha 17
Eliza 16
Annie 14
Ellen 14
Jane 13
Edith 9
Emily 8
Harriet 7
Lucy 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Florence 5
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Lydia 4
Miriam 4
Agnes 3
Charlotte 3
Gertrude 3
Grace 3
Jemima 3
Matilda 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Susan 3
Susannah 3
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Betty 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Han. 2
Isabella 2
Leah 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
Nancy 2
Selina 2
Susanah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 80
William 45
Joseph 38
James 35
George 33
Albert 23
Thomas 23
Charles 18
Fred 16
Henry 16
Arthur 13
Harry 11
Joe 11
Samuel 11
Alfred 8
Ernest 8
Frederick 8
Robert 8
Daniel 6
David 6
Herbert 6
Benjamin 5
Francis 5
Peter 5
Walter 5
Wm. 5
Abraham 4
Frank 4
Geo. 4
Lewis 4
Willie 4
Edward 3
Sam 3
Wilson 3
Allen 2
Augustus 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Ephraim 2
Infant 2
Joel 2
Jonathan 2
Norman 2
Oliver 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Simeon 2
Ben 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Pogson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pogson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,137 people were recorded with the Pogson surname. That placed it at #3,519 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pogson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 847 in 2016. That gives Pogson a modern rank of #6,598.

What does the Pogson surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "pog," meaning a goblin or mischievous sprite.

What does the Pogson map show?

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