NameCensus.

UK surname

Scholfield

A locational surname originating from Scholefield in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 762 people recorded with the Scholfield surname, ranking it #4,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #4,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale, Dover and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scholfield is 1,024 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.5%.

1881 census count

762

Ranked #4,843

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

1861

1,024 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scholfield had 762 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,024 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Scholfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scholfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scholfield 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 984 #2,837
1861 historical 1,024 #2,737
1881 historical 762 #4,843
1891 historical 883 #4,664
1901 historical 689 #6,361
1911 historical 591 #6,921
1997 modern 424 #10,531
1998 modern 420 #10,973
1999 modern 400 #11,439
2000 modern 386 #11,718
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 389 #11,667
2003 modern 387 #11,523
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 359 #12,143
2006 modern 368 #11,990
2007 modern 368 #12,125
2008 modern 381 #11,918
2009 modern 398 #11,768
2010 modern 413 #11,690
2011 modern 402 #11,828
2012 modern 357 #12,757
2013 modern 377 #12,449
2014 modern 361 #12,979
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Scholfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale, Dover, Waveney, Sefton and Doncaster. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
2 Dover 009 Dover
3 Waveney 013 Waveney
4 Sefton 012 Sefton
5 Doncaster 020 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scholfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scholfield

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Scholfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Scholfield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Scholfield 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

Scholfield is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scholfield falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Scholfield 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 Scholfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Scholfield

The surname Scholfield is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "sceol" meaning school and "feld" meaning field. It is believed to have originated in the 13th century as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived near a school or a field used for teaching purposes.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, where it appears as "Henricus de Scholfeld". This indicates that the name was already established in the county of Lincolnshire during that time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several references to places with similar names, such as "Scolefella" in Nottinghamshire and "Sculesfeld" in Warwickshire, which may have been the origin of some Scholfield families.

During the medieval period, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Scholefelde, Scholefeld, and Scolfield, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation at the time.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir John Scholfield (c. 1500 - 1564), who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1562-1563. He was a prominent merchant and benefactor, founding the Free Grammar School in Coventry, which still exists today.

Another notable Scholfield was William Scholfield (1587-1653), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Hereford from 1629 until his death. He was known for his work on biblical commentary and his involvement in the translation of the King James Bible.

In the 17th century, the Scholfield family had a strong presence in Lancashire, with several members holding prominent positions. One such individual was Richard Scholfield (1617-1689), who served as the Mayor of Preston in 1670.

During the 18th century, the surname spread across various parts of England, with families recorded in places like Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. One notable bearer was Thomas Scholfield (1789-1853), a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester.

The 19th century saw the Scholfield name gain further prominence, with individuals like William Scholfield (1809-1891), a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and railway technology.

Throughout its history, the Scholfield surname has been associated with various professions, including education, clergy, commerce, industry, and engineering, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scholfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scholfield 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 335 Scholfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.80x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 335 3.80x
Yorkshire 313 4.25x
Middlesex 30 0.40x
Surrey 22 0.61x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.00x
Derbyshire 9 0.77x
Durham 9 0.41x
Cheshire 8 0.49x
Worcestershire 7 0.72x
Staffordshire 6 0.24x
Lincolnshire 4 0.34x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Oxfordshire 2 0.44x
Warwickshire 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.26x
Northumberland 1 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stansfield in Yorkshire leads with 58 Scholfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 213.94x.

Place Total Index
Stansfield 58 213.94x
Spotland 47 47.93x
Langfield 37 287.04x
Todmorden Walsden 34 143.88x
Castleton 27 30.65x
Colne 19 72.30x
Ashton Under Lyne 16 8.30x
Brightside Bierlow 16 11.08x
Prestwich 16 72.73x
Wigan 16 12.98x
Manchester 15 3.78x
Bradfield 14 49.30x
Cliviger 14 281.69x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 11 59.20x
Liverpool 11 2.05x
Newark Upon Trent 10 27.77x
Oldham 10 3.51x
Saddleworth 10 17.60x
Burnley 9 12.12x
Great Ouseburn 9 708.66x
Halifax 9 8.32x
Batley 8 11.43x
Emley 8 243.16x
Hammersmith London 8 4.37x
Layton With Warbreck 8 24.71x
Newton 8 11.77x
Reedley Hallows 8 470.59x
Warley 8 37.58x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 10.20x
Bowling 7 9.59x
Huddersfield 7 6.52x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 23.82x
Blackburn 6 2.56x
Chelsea London 6 2.68x
Habergham Eaves 6 7.44x
Hopwood 6 52.04x
Islington London 6 0.83x
Worsbrough 6 27.80x
Bermondsey 5 2.26x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.55x
Glossop Dale 5 9.17x
Hunslet 5 4.35x
Liversedge 5 15.25x
Middlesbrough 5 5.21x
Mirfield 5 12.36x
Pendleton In Salford 5 4.76x
Purston Jaglin 5 277.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.34x
Birkenhead 4 3.06x
Byers Green 4 64.10x
Chorley 4 8.08x
Crowle 4 55.33x
Erringden 4 84.03x
Garston 4 15.37x
Gateshead 4 2.42x
Great Little Marsden 4 9.90x
Great Malvern 4 19.75x
Hessle In Sculcoates 4 61.54x
Horton In Bradford 4 3.48x
Lambeth 4 0.62x
Little Bolton 4 3.53x
Middleton In Pickering 4 547.95x
North Bierley 4 10.06x
Rotherhithe 4 4.36x
Wavertree 4 14.17x
Battersea 3 1.10x
Chapel En Le Frith 3 28.22x
Crumpsall 3 14.43x
Holme On Spalding Moor 3 62.11x
Idle 3 8.78x
Ingoldsby 3 322.58x
Kidderminster Borough 3 5.28x
Limehouse London 3 3.68x
Manningham 3 3.31x
Newchurch 3 4.16x
Salford 3 1.16x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 3 109.89x
Skelton In Howden 3 508.47x
Stainland Cum Old 3 23.81x
West Derby 3 1.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Sarah 40
Elizabeth 31
Hannah 19
Margaret 18
Ann 16
Emma 16
Annie 14
Alice 12
Jane 12
Betty 11
Ellen 11
Martha 10
Ada 6
Clara 6
Eliza 6
Fanny 6
Anne 4
Elizth. 4
Nancy 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Florence 3
Grace 3
Harriet 3
Helen 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Minnie 3
Ruth 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Rosetta 2
Susannah 2
Thirza 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizh. 1
Emil 1
Emily 1
J.A. 1
Janet 1
Thyme 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 44
William 38
James 35
Thomas 23
Charles 14
Henry 14
George 13
Joseph 10
Walter 10
Arthur 9
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Harry 7
Albert 6
Edward 6
Edmund 5
Alfred 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Wm. 4
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Andrew 2
Barker 2
Edwin 2
Ellis 2
Isaac 2
Joshua 2
Philip 2
Reuben 2
Richard 2
Sam 2
Silas 2
Whittaker 2
Chas. 1
Crossley 1
Eastwood 1
F. 1
Farrington 1
Fielding 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Godfrey 1
Hamlet 1
Jno.A. 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Jonas 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Scholfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scholfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 762 people were recorded with the Scholfield surname. That placed it at #4,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scholfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Scholfield a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Scholfield surname mean?

A locational surname originating from Scholefield in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Scholfield map show?

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