NameCensus.

UK surname

Posner

Derived from a Polish place name, likely referring to a town, village, or other local feature.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Posner surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 311, ranked #14,376, up from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Harrow and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Posner is 382 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 284.0%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

311

2016, ranked #14,376

Peak year

1998

382 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Posner had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016, ranked #14,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Posner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Posner surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Posner 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 101 #23,870
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 373 #11,600
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 378 #11,935
2000 modern 368 #12,130
2001 modern 348 #12,419
2002 modern 363 #12,296
2003 modern 353 #12,345
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 350 #12,359
2006 modern 347 #12,515
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 333 #13,175
2009 modern 341 #13,214
2010 modern 349 #13,280
2011 modern 346 #13,192
2012 modern 329 #13,593
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 324 #14,058
2015 modern 323 #13,991
2016 modern 311 #14,376

Geography

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Where Posners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Harrow, Camden and Hertsmere. 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 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 016 Barnet
2 Harrow 001 Harrow
3 Camden 014 Camden
4 Harrow 003 Harrow
5 Hertsmere 012 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Posner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Posner

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Posner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Posner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Posner 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

Posner is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Posner falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Posner 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Posner

The surname Posner is of German origin, derived from the word "Posauner" which means "trumpeter" in German. This occupational surname was likely first given to someone who played the trumpet or other brass instruments.

The name Posner can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas of Bavaria and Saxony. It is believed that the name first appeared in written records and documents around this time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Posner was found in the 14th century Nuremberg Codex, a collection of legal documents and records from the city of Nuremberg. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the late Middle Ages.

In the 16th century, there are records of a family named Posner living in the town of Zwickau, in the present-day state of Saxony. One notable member of this family was Johann Posner, a Protestant reformer and theologian who lived from 1528 to 1597.

Another early bearer of the Posner name was Hans Posner, a German composer and organist who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He is known for his contributions to the development of the organ music tradition in Germany.

In the 18th century, the Posner name appears in various records and documents from different parts of Germany, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Prussia. One notable individual from this time period was Johann Friedrich Posner, a German philosopher and writer who lived from 1767 to 1836.

As the name spread throughout Germany and Europe, it also underwent various spelling variations, such as Posener, Posnehr, and Posnair. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and local pronunciation.

Throughout history, the Posner surname has been associated with individuals from various professions, including musicians, composers, philosophers, and writers. Some other notable figures with the Posner name include Richard Posner, an American legal scholar and judge born in 1939, and Eric Posner, an American legal theorist and professor, born in 1965.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Posner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Posner 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. Middlesex leads with 63 Posners recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 63 7.97x
Lancashire 10 1.07x
Lanarkshire 5 1.96x
Hampshire 2 1.24x
Cheshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 22 Posners recorded in 1881 and an index of 282.41x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 22 282.41x
Kensington London 11 25.05x
Manchester 7 16.61x
Mile End New Town 7 648.15x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 7 625.00x
St George In East 7 130.35x
Bethnal Green London 5 14.57x
Govan 5 7.91x
Spitalfields London 4 67.34x
Broughton In Salford 3 35.01x
Dukinfield 1 12.41x
Freshwater 1 135.14x
Southampton All Sts 1 35.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Betsy 3
Esther 3
Bertha 2
Fanny 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Annah 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Elizabeth 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Hada 1
Hannah 1
Jenney 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Maria 1
Mariana 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Nancy 1
Pauline 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jacob 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Joseph 2
Morris 2
William 2
Aaron 1
Adolph 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Edward 1
Gustave 1
Harvey 1
Hill 1
Hyman 1
John 1
Leo 1
Lewis 1
Marks 1
Moss 1
Nathan 1
Solomon 1
Therdor 1
Thomas 1
Wolff 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 Posner households.

FAQ

Posner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Posner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Posner surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Posner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 311 in 2016. That gives Posner a modern rank of #14,376.

What does the Posner surname mean?

Derived from a Polish place name, likely referring to a town, village, or other local feature.

What does the Posner map show?

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