NameCensus.

UK surname

Scarth

An English habitational surname derived from places named Scarth, meaning a steep bank or rocky cliff.

In the 1881 census there were 525 people recorded with the Scarth surname, ranking it #6,524 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 649, ranked #8,190, down from #6,524 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Evie and Rendall and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scarth is 709 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

525

Ranked #6,524

Modern count

649

2016, ranked #8,190

Peak year

1911

709 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scarth had 525 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,524 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016, ranked #8,190.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 709 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scarth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scarth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scarth 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 404 #5,991
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 525 #6,524
1891 historical 543 #6,951
1901 historical 703 #6,266
1911 historical 709 #6,014
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 679 #7,657
1999 modern 667 #7,789
2000 modern 669 #7,758
2001 modern 669 #7,626
2002 modern 683 #7,656
2003 modern 627 #8,040
2004 modern 626 #8,077
2005 modern 626 #8,008
2006 modern 635 #7,950
2007 modern 646 #7,901
2008 modern 646 #7,952
2009 modern 674 #7,871
2010 modern 679 #7,965
2011 modern 673 #7,937
2012 modern 645 #8,120
2013 modern 661 #8,105
2014 modern 657 #8,185
2015 modern 655 #8,145
2016 modern 649 #8,190

Geography

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Where Scarths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Evie and Rendall, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Stockton-on-Tees and Northumberland. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Evie and Rendall Orkney
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 002 Scarborough
2 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees
3 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
4 Stockton-on-Tees 002 Stockton-on-Tees
5 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scarth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scarth

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

Scarth 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

Scarth 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 Scarth is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Scarth

The surname SCARTH is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the early medieval period. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English word "scear," which means "a share or portion of land." This suggests that the name may have been initially adopted by someone who held a significant portion of land or property.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SCARTH date back to the 13th century, with mentions found in various historical records and manuscripts from that era. One notable reference is in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire, compiled in 1273, which lists a person named William Scarth as a landowner in the county.

During the 14th century, the name SCARTH appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Durham. This is evidenced by entries in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332, which document individuals with the surname residing in these regions.

In the late 15th century, the name SCARTH is associated with the village of Scarthingwell, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is believed that this place name may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

Notable individuals with the surname SCARTH throughout history include:

1. John Scarth (c. 1530-1592), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge.

2. Thomas Scarth (1628-1694), a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon in the late 17th century.

3. Sarah Scarth (1794-1873), a British philanthropist and social reformer who advocated for the education of women and the abolition of slavery.

4. William Bayly Scarth (1837-1909), a British civil engineer and surveyor who contributed to the construction of several notable railways in India during the 19th century.

5. Henry Scarth (1849-1923), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the North of England, including the St. John's Church in Darlington.

While the surname SCARTH may have originated from a specific geographical location or land ownership, it has since spread across various regions and countries, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scarth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scarth 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. Yorkshire leads with 342 Scarths recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.73x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 342 6.73x
Durham 74 4.85x
Orkney 42 74.40x
Middlesex 13 0.25x
Northumberland 10 1.31x
Lancashire 8 0.13x
Surrey 7 0.28x
Midlothian 6 0.87x
Sussex 6 0.69x
Somerset 4 0.48x
Angus 2 0.42x
Cumberland 2 0.45x
Herefordshire 2 0.95x
Shropshire 2 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.73x
Gloucestershire 1 0.10x
Lanarkshire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.27x
Perthshire 1 0.43x
Royal Navy 1 1.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Morley in Yorkshire leads with 92 Scarths recorded in 1881 and an index of 348.09x.

Place Total Index
Morley 92 348.09x
Stockton On Tees 27 36.69x
Leeds 26 9.06x
Evie Rendall 17 714.29x
Pudsey 17 62.55x
Holbeck 15 44.54x
Birsay Harray 11 268.29x
York St Margaret 11 349.21x
Carlton In Stokesley 10 2272.73x
Pickering 10 156.25x
Danby 9 439.02x
Hinderwell 9 207.37x
Lythe 9 443.35x
Pittington 9 209.79x
West Rounton 9 2368.42x
Danby Commondale 8 1428.57x
Headingley Cum Burley 8 24.44x
Westoe 8 9.25x
Chirton 7 40.51x
Egton 7 313.90x
Islington London 6 1.21x
Sandwick 6 283.02x
Dewsbury 5 9.59x
Drighlington 5 67.48x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 1.81x
Goathland 5 555.56x
Guisbrough 5 45.00x
Kirkleatham 5 72.78x
Southwick 5 34.58x
Thorpe In Wakefield 5 4166.67x
East Ardsley 4 90.91x
Gateshead 4 3.50x
Hampstead London 4 5.01x
Kirkwall St Ola 4 47.34x
Lofthouse 4 52.70x
Masham 4 212.77x
Merrington 4 136.05x
Petworth 4 77.37x
Redcar 4 99.26x
Stanghow 4 195.12x
West Ardsley 4 65.36x
Wrington 4 144.40x
Birtley 3 48.15x
Bishopwearmouth 3 2.29x
Firth Stenness 3 123.97x
Fylingdales 3 118.58x
Hunslet 3 3.78x
Ilkley 3 36.10x
Soothill 3 16.33x
St Botolph Aldersgate 3 51.02x
Tottington Lower End 3 10.37x
Walton On Hill 3 9.10x
Wortley In Bramley 3 7.45x
York St Maurice 3 31.35x
Amberley 2 156.25x
Armley 2 8.92x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 2 11.50x
Bransdale West Side 2 588.24x
Crossgate 2 29.99x
Durham St Nicholas 2 53.33x
Ellerby In Whitby 2 1333.33x
Lambeth 2 0.45x
Lintrathen 2 176.99x
Middlesbrough 2 3.02x
Normanby In 2 14.72x
South Kilvington 2 434.78x
Staindrop 2 86.21x
Streatham 2 5.25x
Tynemouth 2 4.89x
Wakefield 2 5.12x
Wetheral 2 34.19x
Whitchurch 2 155.04x
Cheltenham 1 1.29x
Dumbarton 1 5.21x
Llanwenarth Ultra 1 36.90x
Northallerton 1 15.41x
Shildon 1 8.15x
Shrewsbury St Julian 1 9.12x
St Giles 1 10.49x
Tudhoe 1 7.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 19
Hannah 16
Jane 16
Ann 14
Annie 9
Margaret 9
Emma 7
Isabella 6
Ellen 5
Catherine 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Eleanor 3
Emily 3
Lizzie 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Catharine 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Kate 2
Minnie 2
Blanche 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eliz 1
Eliz. 1
Elizoboth 1
Emilece 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Isabelle 1
Joanna 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Marian 1
Medd 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 35
Thomas 15
George 12
Joseph 11
James 8
Robert 8
Isaac 7
Samuel 7
Alfred 6
Walter 5
Charles 4
David 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Henry 4
Richard 3
Robt. 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Cecil 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Tom 2
Arncliffe 1
Austin 1
Ben 1
Benjm. 1
Bill 1
Charley 1
Charlie 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Elliott 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Joe 1
Michael 1
Midd 1
P.Frederick 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Pillans 1
Ralph 1
Robt.Wm. 1
Sam 1

FAQ

Scarth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scarth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 525 people were recorded with the Scarth surname. That placed it at #6,524 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scarth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 649 in 2016. That gives Scarth a modern rank of #8,190.

What does the Scarth surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from places named Scarth, meaning a steep bank or rocky cliff.

What does the Scarth map show?

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