NameCensus.

UK surname

Preston

A habitational surname derived from any of the places in England named Preston, meaning "priest's town" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 14,894 people recorded with the Preston surname, ranking it #267 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19,436, ranked #308, down from #267 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Batley and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Craven, Charnwood and Alloa South and East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Preston is 20,127 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.5%.

1881 census count

14,894

Ranked #267

Modern count

19,436

2016, ranked #308

Peak year

1999

20,127 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Preston had 14,894 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #267 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 19,436 in 2016, ranked #308.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19,049 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Preston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Preston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Preston 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 9,494 #272
1861 historical 9,466 #278
1881 historical 14,894 #267
1891 historical 15,976 #263
1901 historical 18,611 #266
1911 historical 19,049 #238
1997 modern 19,058 #301
1998 modern 19,923 #300
1999 modern 20,127 #298
2000 modern 20,015 #298
2001 modern 19,506 #298
2002 modern 19,784 #300
2003 modern 19,295 #300
2004 modern 19,263 #300
2005 modern 19,090 #299
2006 modern 18,976 #301
2007 modern 19,054 #302
2008 modern 19,065 #302
2009 modern 19,528 #302
2010 modern 19,916 #305
2011 modern 19,626 #304
2012 modern 19,116 #304
2013 modern 19,547 #305
2014 modern 19,697 #305
2015 modern 19,494 #307
2016 modern 19,436 #308

Geography

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Where Prestons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Batley, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Craven, Charnwood and Alloa South and East. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Craven 001 Craven
2 Charnwood 013 Charnwood
3 Craven 003 Craven
4 Alloa South and East Clackmannanshire
5 Charnwood 014 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Preston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Preston

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

Preston 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

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

Meaning and origin of Preston

The surname Preston is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English words "preost" meaning priest and "tun" meaning town or settlement. The name refers to a town or village where a priest resided.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Prestune" and "Presteton." This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name was associated with various locations across England, such as Preston in Lancashire, Preston in Dorset, and Preston in Suffolk. The spelling variations included Preestone, Prestun, and Prestone.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Preston was William de Preston, who lived in the 13th century and served as the Sheriff of Northamptonshire in 1274.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the records of the Hundred Rolls, with individuals such as Richard de Preston and John de Preston being mentioned.

Sir Thomas Preston (1537-1598) was a notable figure in the Tudor era. He was a member of Parliament and served as the Lord President of the Council of the North during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Preston (1585-1653), a Benedictine monk and writer who published works on philosophy and theology during the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, William Preston (1742-1818) was a renowned English author and educator who played a significant role in the development of Freemasonry. He wrote several influential works on the subject, including "Illustrations of Masonry."

During the American Revolutionary War, John Preston (1744-1824) was a prominent military leader who served as a colonel in the Continental Army and fought in several key battles, including the Battle of Monmouth.

The name Preston has been associated with various notable figures throughout history, reflecting its long-standing presence and significance across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Preston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Preston 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 2,802 Prestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,802 1.62x
Yorkshire 2,712 1.88x
Middlesex 1,014 0.69x
Leicestershire 839 5.19x
Staffordshire 679 1.38x
Cheshire 554 1.72x
Surrey 523 0.74x
Warwickshire 387 1.05x
Hampshire 350 1.17x
Norfolk 304 1.35x
Gloucestershire 293 1.02x
Devon 288 0.95x
Durham 256 0.59x
Lanarkshire 250 0.53x
Lincolnshire 239 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 234 1.19x
Berkshire 222 2.03x
Kent 222 0.45x
Worcestershire 185 0.97x
Midlothian 168 0.86x
Westmorland 150 4.68x
Essex 146 0.51x
Shropshire 144 1.14x
Derbyshire 137 0.60x
Oxfordshire 130 1.44x
Hertfordshire 117 1.16x
Cambridgeshire 113 1.22x
Cumberland 111 0.88x
Northamptonshire 107 0.78x
Suffolk 104 0.59x
Northumberland 91 0.42x
Glamorgan 90 0.35x
Angus 74 0.55x
Rutland 65 6.07x
Wigtownshire 64 3.30x
Isle of Man 62 2.29x
Somerset 61 0.26x
Dorset 60 0.63x
Berwickshire 51 2.89x
Huntingdonshire 51 1.76x
Buckinghamshire 46 0.52x
Cornwall 43 0.26x
Wiltshire 41 0.32x
Sussex 38 0.15x
Bedfordshire 36 0.48x
Renfrewshire 33 0.29x
Monmouthshire 26 0.25x
Selkirkshire 24 1.82x
Peeblesshire 20 2.91x
Royal Navy 20 1.15x
Stirlingshire 19 0.35x
Denbighshire 18 0.33x
Roxburghshire 18 0.68x
Flintshire 16 0.41x
Ayrshire 13 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 12 0.57x
Clackmannanshire 10 0.83x
Brecknockshire 9 0.31x
Channel Islands 7 0.16x
Perthshire 7 0.11x
Herefordshire 6 0.10x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.18x
West Lothian 6 0.27x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.07x
Carmarthenshire 4 0.07x
Argyllshire 3 0.07x
Buteshire 3 0.34x
Fife 3 0.03x
Merionethshire 3 0.11x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.06x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.05x
Ross-shire 2 0.05x
East Lothian 1 0.05x
Kinross-shire 1 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.02x
Radnorshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Batley in Yorkshire leads with 246 Prestons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.90x.

Place Total Index
Batley 246 17.90x
Blackburn 196 4.25x
Leicester St Margaret 166 4.21x
Aston 156 1.54x
Lambeth 156 1.23x
Liverpool 141 1.34x
Birmingham 136 1.11x
Preston 130 2.81x
Salford 118 2.32x
Leeds 106 1.30x
St Pancras London 100 0.85x
Islington London 98 0.69x
Govan 97 0.83x
Bradford 96 2.74x
Heckmondwike 93 20.00x
West Derby 88 1.74x
West Ham 79 1.24x
Wolverhampton 76 2.01x
Camberwell 75 0.80x
Bethnal Green London 74 1.17x
Christchurch 74 11.41x
Gomersal 73 10.82x
Leicester St Mary 72 5.51x
Bingley 70 7.60x
Kensington London 69 0.85x
Dalton In Furness 64 9.58x
Dewsbury 61 4.11x
Soothill 60 11.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 58 0.74x
Dundee 57 1.13x
Keighley 57 3.70x
Toxteth Park 57 0.97x
Prescot 56 17.88x
Skipton 56 12.31x
St Marylebone London 56 0.72x
Haworth 55 16.00x
Hackney London 53 0.65x
Nottingham St Mary 53 1.04x
Bermondsey 52 1.20x
Colne 52 10.08x
Barony 50 0.42x
Yeadon 50 15.31x
Habergham Eaves 49 3.10x
Portsea 49 0.84x
Woodhouse 49 76.16x
Everton 48 0.87x
Hulme 48 1.33x
Oldbury 48 5.12x
Stockport 48 2.90x
Stoke Upon Trent 48 0.92x
Deptford St Paul 47 1.22x
St George Hanover 47 2.47x
Lancaster 46 4.46x
Manchester 46 0.59x
Oswaldtwistle 44 7.19x
Kendal 43 7.32x
Meltham 43 19.12x
Battersea 42 0.78x
Birkenhead 42 1.64x
Burntwood Edial 42 13.35x
Sileby 41 40.18x
Kings Norton 40 2.34x
Oldham 40 0.72x
Stoneykirk 40 28.87x
Great Yarmouth 39 2.10x
Shipley 39 5.20x
Stone 39 6.19x
Ashton Under Lyne 37 0.98x
Over Darwen 37 2.68x
Pemberton 37 5.36x
Pendleton In Salford 37 1.79x
Redcar 37 32.25x
Willenhall 36 3.90x
Burnley 35 2.40x
Chelsea London 35 0.80x
Hampstead London 35 1.54x
Idle 34 5.07x
Newington 34 0.63x
Childer Thornton 33 106.38x
Middlesbrough 33 1.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 977
Elizabeth 621
Sarah 534
Jane 304
Ann 299
Annie 238
Alice 231
Emma 219
Ellen 217
Margaret 204
Eliza 194
Hannah 159
Martha 141
Emily 122
Louisa 87
Edith 84
Harriet 83
Florence 82
Charlotte 77
Ada 72
Agnes 72
Catherine 68
Lucy 67
Maria 67
Fanny 65
Isabella 65
Clara 62
Caroline 56
Anne 52
Frances 52
Kate 52
Amelia 46
Susan 46
Rebecca 43
Harriett 38
Amy 36
Rose 36
Esther 35
Julia 30
Lydia 30
Elizth. 29
Sophia 27
Eleanor 26
Jessie 25
Ethel 24
Ruth 23
Susannah 21
Maud 20
Selina 20
Beatrice 18

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 924
William 901
Thomas 489
George 441
James 438
Joseph 295
Charles 267
Henry 246
Robert 207
Edward 144
Samuel 142
Arthur 136
Alfred 131
Richard 127
Frederick 96
Walter 85
Albert 81
Harry 71
Herbert 59
Frank 50
David 49
Ernest 49
Benjamin 48
Wm. 48
Thos. 41
Francis 39
Edwin 32
Fred 30
Stephen 29
Daniel 26
Isaac 23
Tom 23
Christopher 20
Peter 17
Abraham 16
Sam 16
Chas. 15
Harold 15
Job 15
Percy 15
Fredrick 13
Sidney 13
Willie 13
Fredk. 12
Jonathan 12
Matthew 12
Philip 12
Edgar 11
Elijah 11
Geo. 11

FAQ

Preston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Preston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 14,894 people were recorded with the Preston surname. That placed it at #267 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Preston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 19,436 in 2016. That gives Preston a modern rank of #308.

What does the Preston surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from any of the places in England named Preston, meaning "priest's town" in Old English.

What does the Preston map show?

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