NameCensus.

UK surname

Pollington

A surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 232 people recorded with the Pollington surname, ranking it #11,677 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 561, ranked #9,145, up from #11,677 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Rotherfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, East Devon and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pollington is 574 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 141.8%.

1881 census count

232

Ranked #11,677

Modern count

561

2016, ranked #9,145

Peak year

2004

574 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pollington had 232 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,677 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016, ranked #9,145.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 452 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pollington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pollington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pollington 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 148 #13,028
1861 historical 158 #14,644
1881 historical 232 #11,677
1891 historical 343 #9,994
1901 historical 412 #9,283
1911 historical 452 #8,476
1997 modern 548 #8,679
1998 modern 564 #8,749
1999 modern 564 #8,802
2000 modern 547 #8,990
2001 modern 531 #9,039
2002 modern 557 #8,894
2003 modern 557 #8,758
2004 modern 574 #8,601
2005 modern 548 #8,805
2006 modern 545 #8,875
2007 modern 541 #9,006
2008 modern 548 #8,993
2009 modern 554 #9,117
2010 modern 566 #9,158
2011 modern 573 #8,984
2012 modern 544 #9,245
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 568 #9,147
2015 modern 558 #9,193
2016 modern 561 #9,145

Geography

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Where Pollingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Rotherfield, South Bersted and Bognor and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, East Devon, High Peak and Mid Devon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 Rotherfield Sussex
4 South Bersted and Bognor Sussex
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 003 Fenland
2 East Devon 008 East Devon
3 High Peak 013 High Peak
4 Fenland 004 Fenland
5 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pollington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pollington

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

Pollington is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pollington falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pollington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pollington

The surname Pollington originates from the Yorkshire region of England, derived from the place name of the same spelling. This place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Pollingtone." The name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pol" meaning "pool" or "stream," and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

Pollington was a small village located in the East Riding of Yorkshire, situated along a stream or near a pool of water. The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century, with entries in various tax rolls and legal documents from the region.

One notable bearer of the Pollington surname was Sir John Pollington, a 14th-century English knight and landowner. He was born around 1320 and served in the Hundred Years' War under King Edward III. Sir John was present at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another historical figure was William Pollington, a 15th-century English clergyman and scholar. He was born in Pollington around 1440 and later became the Archdeacon of Taunton in Somerset, serving from 1492 until his death in 1508.

In the 16th century, Thomas Pollington, a merchant and alderman of York, was a prominent figure. He was born in 1520 and served as the Lord Mayor of York from 1576 to 1577. Thomas was known for his philanthropic efforts and endowed a charity school in the city.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Robert Pollington was a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I. He was born in Pollington in 1610 and was killed in battle at the Siege of York in 1644.

Another notable bearer of the Pollington name was Elizabeth Pollington, a 17th-century English Quaker and advocate for religious tolerance. She was born in 1653 and faced persecution for her beliefs, being imprisoned several times for her refusal to conform to the Church of England.

The Pollington surname has a rich history rooted in the Yorkshire region of England, with its origins dating back to the Domesday Book. Over the centuries, individuals with this surname have played various roles, from knights and clergymen to merchants and religious dissenters, contributing to the cultural and historical fabric of English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pollington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pollington 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. Sussex leads with 67 Pollingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.56x.

County Total Index
Sussex 67 17.56x
Kent 46 5.96x
Middlesex 37 1.64x
Yorkshire 15 0.67x
Norfolk 14 4.02x
Cambridgeshire 13 9.07x
Hampshire 9 1.94x
Surrey 6 0.54x
Berkshire 5 2.94x
Derbyshire 3 0.85x
Lincolnshire 3 0.83x
Warwickshire 3 0.53x
Cardiganshire 2 3.62x
Essex 2 0.45x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.64x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Northamptonshire 1 0.47x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.34x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 22 Pollingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.99x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 22 78.99x
Rotherfield 21 625.00x
Speldhurst 11 279.90x
March 9 187.50x
Hastings St Mary In The 8 98.28x
Heston 8 106.38x
Milton In Gravesend 8 69.08x
Brighton 6 7.80x
Brightside Bierlow 6 13.64x
Hunslet 6 17.16x
South Bersted 6 185.19x
Bawburgh 5 1515.15x
Bethnal Green London 5 5.09x
Broadwater 5 57.14x
Friern Barnet 5 100.40x
Southampton All Sts 5 62.81x
St Luke London 5 13.77x
Wadhurst 5 199.20x
Wimbotsham 5 1136.36x
Mayfield 4 176.99x
Petworth 4 175.44x
Stoke Newington London 4 22.69x
Birmingham 3 1.58x
Chelsea London 3 4.40x
Folkestone 3 20.03x
Heanor 3 56.60x
Kingston On Thames 3 11.33x
Lambeth 3 1.52x
Portsea 3 3.30x
Remenham 3 625.00x
Westminster St James 3 12.90x
Wisbech St Mary 3 181.82x
Cookham 2 37.74x
Frant 2 74.07x
Funtington 2 232.56x
Great Dunham 2 645.16x
Henllys 2 645.16x
Leyton 2 26.01x
Preston 2 30.03x
St Mary 2 133.33x
Bardney 1 92.59x
Castle Church 1 21.79x
East Dereham 1 22.73x
East Stonehouse 1 10.78x
Eastbourne 1 5.69x
Greenwich 1 2.78x
Hampstead London 1 2.84x
Islington London 1 0.46x
Leeds 1 0.79x
Louth 1 12.06x
Ness 1 344.83x
Newton 1 178.57x
Northfield 1 17.83x
Penshurst 1 76.92x
Peterborough 1 6.49x
Portsmouth 1 9.36x
Skegness 1 96.15x
St Marylebone London 1 0.83x
St Pancras London 1 0.55x
Watford 1 8.27x
Welney 1 125.00x
West Derby 1 1.27x
Withyam 1 61.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Emily 8
Sarah 8
Eliza 7
Alice 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Clara 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Caroline 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Martha 3
Harriett 2
Annie 1
Belle 1
Celia 1
Charlotte 1
Elisebeth 1
Fredrick 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
S.A.G. 1
Selina 1
Venetia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
George 9
John 9
James 7
Thomas 7
Charles 6
David 6
Albert 5
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Daniel 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Joseph 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Cyril 1
E. 1
G.J. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
J.W.K. 1
Jesse 1
Lowther 1
Matthew 1
Obediah 1
Owen 1
Robt. 1
Saml.T. 1
Soloman 1
Thos. 1
W.H.G. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Pollington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pollington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 232 people were recorded with the Pollington surname. That placed it at #11,677 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pollington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 561 in 2016. That gives Pollington a modern rank of #9,145.

What does the Pollington surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Pollington map show?

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