UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Scarborough in England.
In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Scarboro surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 83, ranked #32,815, down from #16,433 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Claxton, or Long Clawson and Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scarboro is 151 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.0%.
1881 census count
136
Ranked #16,433
Modern count
83
2016, ranked #32,815
Peak year
1901
151 bearers
Map years
3
1881 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Scarboro surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Scarboro surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 23 | #29,205 |
| 1861 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1881 | historical | 136 | #16,433 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 151 | #17,988 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 86 | #29,343 |
| 1999 | modern | 85 | #29,578 |
| 2000 | modern | 85 | #29,598 |
| 2001 | modern | 81 | #29,828 |
| 2002 | modern | 84 | #29,982 |
| 2003 | modern | 82 | #30,206 |
| 2004 | modern | 85 | #30,132 |
| 2005 | modern | 85 | #30,219 |
| 2006 | modern | 83 | #30,808 |
| 2007 | modern | 81 | #31,408 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 84 | #32,237 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 83 | #32,910 |
| 2015 | modern | 80 | #33,052 |
| 2016 | modern | 83 | #32,815 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Claxton, or Long Clawson, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, London parishes and Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln St Botolph | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Claxton, or Long Clawson | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Revesby, Mareham-le-Fen | Lincolnshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Scarboro surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Scarboro, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Scarboro surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Scarboro household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Scarboro is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Scarboro is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Scarboro, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Scarboro originates from England, with roots tracing back to the medieval period, specifically the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "scar" and "burg," which together translate to "the fortified place on the rock or cliff."
This name is closely tied to the town of Scarborough, a coastal town in North Yorkshire, England. The earliest recorded mention of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scardeburg" or "Scartheburg." This suggests that the surname was likely adopted by individuals who hailed from or resided in this area.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Sir Robert de Scarborough, a knight who lived in the late 12th century and served under King Richard I. He is mentioned in various historical records from that era.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Lancashire Pipe Rolls of 1332, where a John de Scardeburgh is listed as a landowner. This further solidifies the link between the surname and the town of Scarborough.
During the 16th century, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Scarburgh, Scarbrough, and Scarbrow. Notable individuals from this period include Sir John Scarborough (1532-1594), an English courtier and Member of Parliament, and Sir Charles Scarborough (1616-1694), a renowned physician who served as the principal physician to King Charles II.
In the 17th century, the name Scarboro gained prominence, particularly with the birth of Sir Edmund Scarborough (1617-1671), an English judge and Chief Baron of the Exchequer under King Charles II.
Other notable individuals with the surname Scarboro include William Scarborough (1776-1846), an American politician and jurist who served as a U.S. Representative from Virginia, and Reverend Jeremiah Scarboro (1854-1933), an American Baptist minister and educator who founded the Jeremiah Scarboro School in Tennessee.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scarboro surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lincolnshire leads with 59 Scarboros recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lincolnshire | 59 | 28.03x |
| Leicestershire | 32 | 21.92x |
| Cambridgeshire | 15 | 17.99x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 0.84x |
| Nottinghamshire | 7 | 3.94x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.38x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 1.48x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.10x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.16x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clawson in Leicestershire leads with 25 Scarboros recorded in 1881 and an index of 7352.94x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Clawson | 25 | 7352.94x |
| March | 15 | 537.63x |
| Skellingthorpe | 12 | 3636.36x |
| Old Bolingbroke | 9 | 4285.71x |
| Welton Melton | 8 | 2105.26x |
| St Botolph Lincoln | 7 | 463.58x |
| Temple Bruer | 7 | 7777.78x |
| Ashby | 5 | 757.58x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 5 | 10.89x |
| Whitechapel London | 4 | 30.82x |
| Denver | 3 | 789.47x |
| Melton Mowbray | 3 | 114.50x |
| Sutton In Marsh | 3 | 1875.00x |
| Aslockton | 2 | 1111.11x |
| Aswardby | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Barrow On Humber | 2 | 163.93x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 2 | 7.82x |
| Hawerby With Beesby | 2 | 5000.00x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 2 | 5.62x |
| Northorpe | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Spilsby | 2 | 298.51x |
| St Peterat Gowts Lincoln | 2 | 67.57x |
| Bradford | 1 | 3.17x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.23x |
| Clapham | 1 | 6.08x |
| Digby | 1 | 714.29x |
| Fosdyke | 1 | 454.55x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.35x |
| Leicester St Mary | 1 | 8.48x |
| Newton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Revesby | 1 | 384.62x |
| Wheathampstead | 1 | 95.24x |
| Wymeswold | 1 | 238.10x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Scarboro surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Emma | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Martha | 3 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Elizabeth | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Betsey | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jane | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lizzy | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Miriam | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rebekah | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Sally | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Stockie | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Scarboro surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Scarboro households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 27 |
| Ag Lab | 7 |
| Carpenter | 5 |
| Ag Laborer | 4 |
| Ag Labr | 2 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Dom Servant | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Lab | 2 |
| Shepherd | 2 |
| Ag Day Boy | 1 |
| Agl Laborer | 1 |
| Assistant Grocer | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Carpenter Wife | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cottager 19 Acres | 1 |
| Dom Servt | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Farm Servant (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer (of 6 acres) | 1 |
| Farmer 100 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer 13 Acres | 1 |
| Farmer 84 Acres 1 Man 1 Boy | 1 |
| Farmers (Son) | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Formerly Chairwoman | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lever Up 13 | 1 |
| Maltster | 1 |
| R... (Farmer) | 1 |
| Seamer (Hosy) | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Shoe Machinist | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Signal Fitters Labourer (Railway Contr) | 1 |
| Tailor (Formerly) | 1 |
| Twister (Retired) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Scarboro surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 83 in 2016. That gives Scarboro a modern rank of #32,815.
A locational surname referring to someone from the town of Scarborough in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Scarboro bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.