NameCensus.

UK surname

Poulson

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Paul, meaning "son of Paul."

In the 1881 census there were 714 people recorded with the Poulson surname, ranking it #5,094 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 922, ranked #6,187, down from #5,094 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lavenham and Preston, Kettlebaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Barnsley and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poulson is 984 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.1%.

1881 census count

714

Ranked #5,094

Modern count

922

2016, ranked #6,187

Peak year

1911

984 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Poulson had 714 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,094 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016, ranked #6,187.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 984 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Poulson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Poulson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Poulson 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 403 #6,004
1861 historical 459 #5,654
1881 historical 714 #5,094
1891 historical 743 #5,358
1901 historical 816 #5,532
1911 historical 984 #4,603
1997 modern 901 #5,956
1998 modern 984 #5,747
1999 modern 981 #5,800
2000 modern 968 #5,846
2001 modern 944 #5,853
2002 modern 981 #5,789
2003 modern 938 #5,890
2004 modern 962 #5,785
2005 modern 938 #5,837
2006 modern 917 #5,952
2007 modern 929 #5,943
2008 modern 936 #5,946
2009 modern 953 #5,983
2010 modern 957 #6,089
2011 modern 942 #6,103
2012 modern 928 #6,106
2013 modern 940 #6,143
2014 modern 951 #6,120
2015 modern 937 #6,141
2016 modern 922 #6,187

Geography

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Where Poulsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lavenham and Preston, Kettlebaston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Barnsley, Carmarthenshire, Babergh and Inverness West Rural. 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 Lavenham Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Preston, Kettlebaston Suffolk
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 039 Wakefield
2 Barnsley 014 Barnsley
3 Carmarthenshire 002 Carmarthenshire
4 Babergh 001 Babergh
5 Inverness West Rural Highland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Poulson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Poulson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Poulson 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

Poulson is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Poulson

The surname Poulson is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name Poul, which was a diminutive form of the name Paul. The name Paul has its roots in the Latin name Paulus, meaning "small" or "humble." Poulson essentially translates to "son of Poul."

In the early records, the surname appears with various spellings, such as Paulson, Poulston, and Poultson, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal variations of the time. The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England.

One notable historical reference is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a Robert Poulson. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the lives of individuals during that period.

In the 16th century, the Poulson surname gained prominence with the birth of John Poulson (c. 1520-1573), an English churchman and author who served as the Dean of Bristol Cathedral. His writings on ecclesiastical matters were widely influential during the Reformation era.

Another notable figure was Robert Poulson (1630-1705), a merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, England. He played a significant role in the development of the local economy and left a lasting impact on the region's commercial landscape.

Moving into the 18th century, Thomas Poulson (1720-1792) was a renowned English architect and surveyor. He designed several notable buildings in and around London, including the famous St. George's Church in Bloomsbury.

In the 19th century, the Poulson surname was associated with the British textile industry. William Poulson (1812-1888), a successful mill owner from Yorkshire, made significant contributions to the development of textile manufacturing techniques and the welfare of his workers.

Another notable figure from this period was Emily Poulson (1840-1915), a pioneering English educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools and worked tirelessly to promote equal educational opportunities for girls and women.

While the Poulson surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and various historical events. The name continues to hold significance as a representation of its English heritage and the individuals who have carried it throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Poulson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poulson 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 116 Poulsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.66x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 116 1.66x
Staffordshire 115 4.88x
Yorkshire 86 1.24x
Suffolk 62 7.30x
Lancashire 59 0.71x
Surrey 38 1.12x
Essex 28 2.03x
Cheshire 24 1.56x
Nottinghamshire 24 2.55x
Warwickshire 24 1.36x
Derbyshire 18 1.65x
Durham 17 0.82x
Gloucestershire 13 0.95x
Shropshire 11 1.83x
Monmouthshire 9 1.79x
Montgomeryshire 9 5.63x
Northumberland 9 0.87x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.90x
Worcestershire 8 0.88x
Somerset 6 0.53x
Cornwall 5 0.63x
Wiltshire 5 0.81x
Glamorgan 4 0.33x
Hampshire 4 0.28x
Kent 4 0.17x
Hertfordshire 3 0.62x
Lincolnshire 2 0.18x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.15x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 41 Poulsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.42x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 41 16.42x
Preston 30 4166.67x
Lavenham 28 630.63x
Bromley London 18 11.73x
St Pancras London 18 3.21x
Monks Coppenhall 17 29.26x
Burslem 15 22.24x
Nottingham St Mary 15 6.17x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 14 21.74x
Birmingham 12 2.05x
Chelsea London 11 5.23x
Newington 11 4.27x
Poplar London 11 8.36x
Bethnal Green London 10 3.30x
Camberwell 10 2.24x
Holy Trinity 10 6.02x
Mexborough 10 72.89x
Whitwood 10 101.83x
Wigan 10 8.65x
Garston 9 36.84x
Newcastle Under Lyme 9 21.60x
Newton In Makerfield 9 35.52x
Widnes 9 15.08x
Aberystruth 8 18.00x
Castle Church 8 56.54x
Castleford 8 31.78x
Gloucester Barton St 8 99.75x
Knottingley 8 65.84x
Lambeth 8 1.32x
Sculcoates 8 7.30x
Aston 7 1.45x
Kings Norton 7 8.57x
Paddington London 7 2.73x
Shadforth 7 173.70x
Waltham Holy Cross 7 54.39x
Calverton 6 458.02x
Cheetham 6 9.72x
Chirton 6 25.55x
Leek Lowe 6 19.16x
Little Bolton 6 5.64x
Mucklestone 6 265.49x
Newington 6 31.53x
Stone 6 19.93x
West Ham 6 1.97x
Wolstanton 6 8.39x
Woore 6 377.36x
Batheaston 5 130.21x
Keele 5 200.00x
Leighton 5 537.63x
Leyton Low 5 17.86x
Mile End Old Town 5 4.54x
Normanton 5 54.23x
Shoreditch London 5 1.65x
St George Hanover 5 5.49x
St Giles In Fields 5 20.78x
Thornley 5 66.58x
Upper Penn 5 84.75x
Westoe 5 4.25x
Ardleigh 4 104.71x
Bermondsey 4 1.93x
Cockfield 4 179.37x
Duffield 4 46.46x
Great Bromley 4 231.21x
Keyworth 4 186.92x
Normanton 4 19.26x
Otley 4 23.84x
Basford 3 6.92x
Derby St Werburgh 3 4.76x
Hammersmith London 3 1.75x
Hertford St Andrew 3 50.51x
Leckhampton 3 35.59x
Liverpool 3 0.60x
Llantrisant 3 9.80x
Padstow 3 57.14x
Slaughterford 3 652.17x
Swynnerton 3 161.29x
Wallsend 3 9.12x
Warwick St Mary 3 19.65x
Wrockwardine 3 22.64x
Prestbury 2 59.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 28
Sarah 27
Eliza 22
Ann 20
Hannah 16
Emily 14
Ellen 12
Caroline 9
Emma 8
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Alice 6
Anne 6
Annie 6
Jane 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Florence 5
Matilda 5
Charlotte 4
Esther 4
Fanny 4
Margaret 4
Edith 3
Eliz. 3
Elizth. 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Amelia 2
Flora 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Rachel 2
Sarrah 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Blanche 1
Bridget 1
Ellenor 1
Ellin 1
Elliona 1
Isabell 1
Willielmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 45
William 38
James 25
George 22
Henry 22
Thomas 19
Joseph 13
Arthur 12
Charles 10
Harry 9
Samuel 8
Edward 7
Andrew 6
Edwin 6
Robert 6
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Amos 4
Richard 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Christopher 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Fredrick 3
Robt. 3
Ambrose 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Frederic 2
Jonathan 2
Percy 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alxander 1
Arther 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
Fred 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Hans 1
Herbert 1
L. 1
Leadbitter 1
Leonard 1
Matthew 1
Paul 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Poulson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Poulson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 714 people were recorded with the Poulson surname. That placed it at #5,094 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Poulson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 922 in 2016. That gives Poulson a modern rank of #6,187.

What does the Poulson surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the personal name Paul, meaning "son of Paul."

What does the Poulson map show?

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