NameCensus.

UK surname

Schlesinger

A German and Jewish surname derived from the city of Schlesien or Silesia, meaning "a person from Silesia."

In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Schlesinger surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #24,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Bloomsbury, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schlesinger is 192 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 200.0%.

1881 census count

64

Ranked #24,561

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2016

192 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Schlesinger had 64 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Schlesinger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Schlesinger surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Schlesinger 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 25 #28,853
1861 historical 41 #28,839
1881 historical 64 #24,561
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 98 #23,119
1911 historical 104 #22,209
1997 modern 143 #21,761
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 150 #21,826
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 156 #20,974
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 139 #22,891
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 145 #22,420
2007 modern 139 #23,377
2008 modern 146 #22,822
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 162 #22,078
2013 modern 180 #20,954
2014 modern 189 #20,441
2015 modern 189 #20,345
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Schlesingers are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Hackney. 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 St George Bloomsbury London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 003 Hackney
2 Hackney 001 Hackney
3 Hackney 004 Hackney
4 Hackney 006 Hackney
5 Hackney 008 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Schlesinger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Schlesinger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schlesinger, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Schlesinger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Schlesinger 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Schlesinger 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

Schlesinger 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

Schlesinger falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Schlesinger 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Schlesinger

The surname Schlesinger originated in the German states, particularly in areas like Silesia, Bavaria, and Saxony. It is derived from the Old German word "Slesje," meaning a person from Silesia, and the suffix "-inger," indicating a place of origin or residence.

The earliest known record of the Schlesinger name dates back to the 13th century. In 1274, a document from the city of Nuremberg mentioned a certain "Henricus Slesinger." Later records from the 14th and 15th centuries include references to individuals with variations of the name, such as "Slesinger," "Schlessinger," and "Schlesinger."

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Johann Schlesinger (1768-1840), a German astronomer and mathematician. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

Another prominent Schlesinger was Max Schlesinger (1865-1923), a German theoretical physicist and mathematician. He is best known for his work on the foundations of electromagnetism and his contributions to the development of the theory of relativity.

In the realm of music, Walter Schlesinger (1908-1984) was a renowned Austrian-American pianist and music educator. He taught at the University of Southern California and served as the director of the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.

The Schlesinger name can also be found in the literary world. Arthur Meier Schlesinger (1888-1965) was an American historian and writer, known for his works on the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal era.

Lastly, Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (1917-2007), the son of Arthur Meier Schlesinger, was a prominent American historian and social critic. He won the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of President Andrew Jackson and served as a special assistant to President John F. Kennedy.

While the Schlesinger surname has its roots in German-speaking regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and diaspora. The name has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, including science, academia, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Schlesinger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schlesinger 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 25 Schlesingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 4.00x
Lancashire 19 2.56x
Surrey 12 3.94x
Northumberland 3 3.23x
Yorkshire 2 0.32x
Hampshire 1 0.78x
Kent 1 0.47x
Sussex 1 0.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 9 Schlesingers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.57x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 9 22.57x
Liverpool 7 15.56x
Rusholme 7 353.54x
St Pancras London 7 13.93x
Kensington London 5 14.41x
Shoreditch London 5 18.48x
Withington 4 167.36x
Islington London 3 4.96x
Kingston On Thames 3 41.04x
St George Bloomsbury 3 83.80x
Manningham 2 26.25x
Hastings St Mary 1 38.17x
Jesmond 1 76.34x
Manchester 1 3.00x
Morpeth 1 91.74x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 20.79x
Paddington London 1 4.36x
Speldhurst 1 92.59x
St Marylebone London 1 3.00x
Stratfield Turgis 1 2500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Florence 2
Henrietta 2
Rebecca 2
Regina 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Bella 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Claude 1
Dorothy 1
E.C.K. 1
Emma 1
Eugenie 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Marguerite 1
Mary 1
Nora 1
Rosine 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Harry 2
Maurice 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Adolph 1
Andrew 1
Antoni 1
Augustus 1
Bernhard 1
Davis 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Gustav 1
Henry 1
Hormasser 1
Hyman 1
Joseph 1
Lenord 1
Leon 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Mayn 1
Robert 1
Theodor 1
Willie 1

Top occupations

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 Schlesinger households.

FAQ

Schlesinger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Schlesinger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Schlesinger surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Schlesinger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Schlesinger a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Schlesinger surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname derived from the city of Schlesien or Silesia, meaning "a person from Silesia."

What does the Schlesinger map show?

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