NameCensus.

UK surname

Rawlinson

Derived from a place name meaning "Rawlin's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Rawlin or Ralph.

In the 1881 census there were 3,581 people recorded with the Rawlinson surname, ranking it #1,261 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,704, ranked #1,449, down from #1,261 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barrow-in-Furness, South Lakeland and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rawlinson is 5,110 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.4%.

1881 census count

3,581

Ranked #1,261

Modern count

4,704

2016, ranked #1,449

Peak year

2002

5,110 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rawlinson had 3,581 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,261 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,704 in 2016, ranked #1,449.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,645 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Rawlinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rawlinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rawlinson 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 1,736 #1,664
1861 historical 1,640 #1,742
1881 historical 3,581 #1,261
1891 historical 3,768 #1,271
1901 historical 4,645 #1,217
1911 historical 4,635 #1,118
1997 modern 4,796 #1,367
1998 modern 4,993 #1,366
1999 modern 5,061 #1,358
2000 modern 5,011 #1,359
2001 modern 4,936 #1,347
2002 modern 5,110 #1,325
2003 modern 4,914 #1,344
2004 modern 4,857 #1,361
2005 modern 4,796 #1,361
2006 modern 4,751 #1,376
2007 modern 4,772 #1,383
2008 modern 4,794 #1,388
2009 modern 4,885 #1,393
2010 modern 4,915 #1,414
2011 modern 4,832 #1,424
2012 modern 4,734 #1,420
2013 modern 4,796 #1,426
2014 modern 4,791 #1,442
2015 modern 4,732 #1,439
2016 modern 4,704 #1,449

Geography

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Where Rawlinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eccles, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barrow-in-Furness, South Lakeland and Bolton. 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 Eccles Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness
2 South Lakeland 012 South Lakeland
3 Bolton 004 Bolton
4 Barrow-in-Furness 008 Barrow-in-Furness
5 Barrow-in-Furness 006 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rawlinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rawlinson

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Rawlinson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rawlinson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Rawlinson

The surname Rawlinson has its origins in England, and it can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "raha" and "wynn," which together mean "meadow of the roe deer." This suggests that the name may have initially been a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a meadow where roe deer were found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire from 1199, where it appears as "Rawlinsonus." This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 12th or early 13th century.

The Rawlinson surname is also mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Rawlynson." This document provides valuable insights into the distribution of the name during the medieval period.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Rawlinson surname was John Rawlinson (c. 1520–1580), an English legal writer and judge. He was known for his work on the statute laws of England and served as Chief Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Thomas Rawlinson (1647–1722), an English bibliophile and collector of manuscripts. He amassed a vast collection of books, manuscripts, and antiquities, which he bequeathed to the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford upon his death.

In the 18th century, Richard Rawlinson (1690–1755) was an English clergyman, antiquarian, and topographer. He served as a canon of St. Paul's Cathedral and was known for his extensive collection of manuscripts and books, which he donated to the University of Oxford.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir Christopher Rawlinson (1809–1888) was a British civil engineer and military officer. He made significant contributions to the development of water supply and sanitation systems in India and played a crucial role in the construction of the Ganges Canal.

Lastly, Henry Creswicke Rawlinson (1810–1895) was a renowned British diplomat, soldier, and Assyrian scholar. He was instrumental in the decipherment of cuneiform inscriptions and made numerous contributions to the study of ancient Mesopotamian history and culture.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the Rawlinson surname, which has its roots in the English countryside and has been associated with various fields, including law, academia, engineering, and archaeology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rawlinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rawlinson 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 1,730 Rawlinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.19x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,730 4.19x
Middlesex 313 0.90x
Yorkshire 291 0.84x
Lincolnshire 203 3.64x
Cheshire 196 2.55x
Essex 104 1.51x
Surrey 95 0.56x
Kent 85 0.72x
Staffordshire 65 0.55x
Suffolk 41 0.97x
Westmorland 40 5.22x
Glamorgan 36 0.59x
Cambridgeshire 31 1.41x
Nottinghamshire 29 0.62x
Northamptonshire 27 0.82x
Sussex 26 0.44x
Denbighshire 24 1.82x
Gloucestershire 17 0.25x
Shropshire 17 0.56x
Devon 15 0.21x
Hampshire 13 0.18x
Buckinghamshire 12 0.57x
Leicestershire 12 0.31x
Somerset 12 0.21x
Cumberland 11 0.37x
Durham 11 0.11x
Hertfordshire 11 0.46x
Lanarkshire 9 0.08x
Oxfordshire 9 0.42x
Roxburghshire 8 1.27x
Worcestershire 8 0.18x
Herefordshire 7 0.49x
Huntingdonshire 7 1.01x
Bedfordshire 6 0.33x
Derbyshire 5 0.09x
Flintshire 5 0.53x
Norfolk 5 0.09x
Wiltshire 5 0.16x
Ayrshire 4 0.15x
Dorset 4 0.18x
Northumberland 4 0.08x
Warwickshire 4 0.05x
Berkshire 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 0.72x
Brecknockshire 2 0.29x
Isle of Man 2 0.31x
Angus 1 0.03x
Cornwall 1 0.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.13x
Rutland 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worsley in Lancashire leads with 87 Rawlinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.15x.

Place Total Index
Worsley 87 34.15x
Liverpool 70 2.79x
Burnley 63 18.10x
Preston 60 5.43x
Horwich 55 121.98x
Manchester 49 2.64x
West Derby 48 3.97x
Islington London 46 1.36x
Salford 46 3.78x
Blackburn 37 3.36x
Everton 37 2.81x
Runcorn 37 20.87x
Toxteth Park 35 2.50x
Lancaster 33 13.42x
Little Bolton 33 6.21x
Stockport 33 8.34x
Blackrod 32 62.29x
St Marylebone London 31 1.67x
Hulme 28 3.24x
Kirkby 28 167.36x
Inworth 27 354.33x
Over Darwen 27 8.18x
Barrow In Furness 26 4.62x
Stoke Upon Trent 26 2.09x
Widnes 26 8.72x
Leeds 25 1.28x
St George Hanover 24 5.28x
St Pancras London 23 0.82x
Bury 22 4.66x
Kensington London 21 1.08x
Atherton 20 13.29x
Dalton In Furness 20 12.53x
Eccleston In Prescot 20 9.64x
Paddington London 20 1.56x
Poslingford 20 469.48x
Wolstanton 20 5.60x
Ardwick 19 5.10x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 19 43.02x
Heckington 19 89.66x
Ulverston 19 15.78x
Barton Upon Irwell 18 5.78x
Chatham 18 5.51x
Droylsden 18 13.35x
Kirkdale 18 2.59x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 18 15.13x
Upper Holker 18 184.80x
Habergham Eaves 17 4.50x
Knowsley 17 113.86x
Macclesfield 17 4.97x
Peterborough 17 7.17x
Aspull 16 16.46x
Farnworth 16 6.46x
Silverdale 16 274.44x
Tottenham 16 2.88x
Elton 15 10.50x
Lytham 15 23.77x
Newmarket St Mary 15 46.07x
Battersea 14 1.09x
Catterall 14 191.52x
Limehouse London 14 3.66x
Pendleton In Salford 14 2.84x
Barnacre With Bonds 13 119.05x
Chelsea London 13 1.24x
Huddersfield 13 2.59x
Much Woolton 13 23.18x
Ropsley 13 168.18x
Skerton 13 38.30x
Wavertree 13 9.83x
Wigan 13 2.25x
Bermondsey 12 1.16x
Cheltenham 12 2.28x
Garston 12 9.84x
Halton 12 69.93x
Haughton 12 19.90x
Hipperholme Cum 12 7.91x
Holy Trinity 12 1.45x
Merthyr Tydfil 12 2.06x
Moss Side 12 5.52x
Oldham 12 0.90x
Worksop 12 8.62x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 279
Elizabeth 163
Sarah 145
Margaret 78
Ann 77
Jane 75
Alice 71
Eliza 60
Ellen 58
Annie 56
Emma 46
Hannah 35
Martha 31
Emily 28
Charlotte 23
Maria 21
Esther 17
Fanny 17
Catherine 16
Eleanor 16
Harriet 16
Louisa 16
Agnes 15
Clara 15
Isabella 14
Kate 14
Caroline 12
Edith 12
Ada 11
Florence 11
Harriett 10
Amelia 8
Anne 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Grace 8
Jessie 8
Matilda 8
Rachel 8
Rebecca 8
Rose 8
Betsy 7
Frances 7
Georgina 7
Lucy 7
Ruth 7
Susannah 7
Minnie 6
Betty 5
Priscilla 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 237
William 200
Thomas 140
James 134
George 87
Robert 68
Henry 61
Joseph 52
Charles 51
Edward 44
Richard 43
Samuel 41
Alfred 33
Arthur 27
Walter 25
Harry 23
Frederick 20
David 18
Albert 16
Frank 16
Ernest 13
Wm. 12
Fred 10
Peter 10
Thos. 9
Benjamin 8
Isaac 8
Alexander 7
Edwin 7
Francis 7
Tom 7
Geo. 6
Jas. 6
Saml. 6
Herbert 5
Hugh 5
Mark 5
Paul 5
Philip 5
Abraham 4
Booth 4
Christopher 4
Earnest 4
Fredrick 4
Jno. 4
Jonathan 4
Joshua 4
Mathew 4
Matthew 4
Robt. 4

FAQ

Rawlinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rawlinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,581 people were recorded with the Rawlinson surname. That placed it at #1,261 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rawlinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,704 in 2016. That gives Rawlinson a modern rank of #1,449.

What does the Rawlinson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Rawlin's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Rawlin or Ralph.

What does the Rawlinson map show?

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