NameCensus.

UK surname

Searson

Originally a locational surname derived from Searson in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Searson surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 580, ranked #8,938, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Bolsover and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Searson is 628 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.8%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

580

2016, ranked #8,938

Peak year

1999

628 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Searson had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016, ranked #8,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 594 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Searson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Searson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Searson 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 301 #8,412
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 479 #7,684
1901 historical 560 #7,432
1911 historical 594 #6,890
1997 modern 603 #8,110
1998 modern 620 #8,202
1999 modern 628 #8,179
2000 modern 594 #8,478
2001 modern 595 #8,348
2002 modern 606 #8,401
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 595 #8,403
2005 modern 576 #8,512
2006 modern 564 #8,668
2007 modern 565 #8,722
2008 modern 579 #8,636
2009 modern 607 #8,517
2010 modern 595 #8,844
2011 modern 595 #8,748
2012 modern 570 #8,932
2013 modern 593 #8,818
2014 modern 603 #8,769
2015 modern 586 #8,884
2016 modern 580 #8,938

Geography

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Where Searsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Manchester and Heanor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Bolsover, Mansfield and Amber Valley. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Heanor Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 008 Charnwood
2 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
3 Mansfield 006 Mansfield
4 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
5 Mansfield 002 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Searson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Searson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Searson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Searson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Searson 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

Searson is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Searson falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Searson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Searson

The surname Searson is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the surname Searle or Searles, which is derived from the Old English word "særl," meaning a sailor or a person of the sea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Searson can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London, where a Thomas Searson was baptized in 1591. This suggests that the name was already in use and established in the area by that time.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Searson surname appeared in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Oxfordshire. The name may have been associated with coastal or maritime communities, given its potential connection to seafaring occupations.

In the late 18th century, a notable figure bearing the Searson name was John Searson (1742-1818), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He rose through the ranks and eventually became a captain in the Royal Navy, commanding several ships throughout his career.

Another individual of note was William Searson (1835-1901), a British architect who was born in Gloucestershire. He designed several notable buildings in the area, including churches and public structures, leaving a lasting mark on the local architecture.

During the 19th century, the Searson surname also appeared in various historical records and documents, such as parish registers, census records, and military records. One notable example is the marriage record of James Searson and Mary Ann Smith, which took place in Gloucestershire in 1846.

While the Searson surname is not among the most common in England, it has been carried by several individuals throughout history, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the name's legacy. From naval officers to architects, the name has left its mark across various fields and regions of England, reflecting the diverse paths taken by those who bore it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Searson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Searson 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 121 Searsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.09x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 121 24.09x
Lincolnshire 91 15.27x
Derbyshire 71 12.17x
Middlesex 27 0.72x
Lancashire 20 0.45x
Yorkshire 20 0.54x
Leicestershire 10 2.42x
Cheshire 6 0.73x
Surrey 6 0.33x
Northamptonshire 4 1.14x
Lanarkshire 3 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.42x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Codnor Loscoe in Derbyshire leads with 45 Searsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 974.03x.

Place Total Index
Codnor Loscoe 45 974.03x
Sutton In Ashfield 45 412.84x
Nottingham St Mary 18 13.86x
St George In East 15 59.17x
Ripley 13 180.31x
Syston 11 3793.10x
Greasley 10 88.26x
Sutton St Mary St James 10 1428.57x
Tattershall 10 1639.34x
Hulme 9 9.75x
Tallington 9 2812.50x
Ecclesfield 8 29.55x
Mansfield 8 46.03x
St Pancras London 8 2.67x
Harlaxton 7 1428.57x
Holy Trinity 7 7.88x
Leicester St Margaret 7 6.95x
Pentrich 7 213.41x
Boughton 6 1578.95x
Kirton 6 3750.00x
Sale 6 59.46x
Hucknall Under 5 193.05x
Langwith 5 1041.67x
North Rauceby 5 1470.59x
Walesby 5 1388.89x
Barkstone 4 625.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 5.69x
Clapham 4 8.59x
Haydor 4 851.06x
Langtoft 4 540.54x
Ollerton 4 384.62x
Peterborough 4 15.77x
Stamford All Sts 4 119.76x
Wavertree 4 28.27x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 3.99x
Irnham 3 833.33x
Killamarsh 3 82.64x
Rutherglen 3 16.97x
Selston 3 53.48x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.24x
Bourn 2 41.58x
Broughton In Salford 2 4.95x
Heanor 2 22.94x
Lutton 2 204.08x
South Rauceby 2 408.16x
Spittlegate 2 24.27x
Stapleford 2 49.02x
Wombwell 2 18.57x
Battersea 1 0.73x
Billingborough 1 65.79x
Caythorpe 1 87.72x
Clipstone 1 263.16x
Creeton 1 1428.57x
Duffield 1 21.74x
Farnworth 1 3.78x
Great Gonerby 1 65.36x
Hougham 1 285.71x
Islington London 1 0.28x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 21.98x
Marston 1 256.41x
Melton Mowbray 1 13.46x
Northfield 1 10.83x
Nottingham St Peter 1 17.86x
Nottingham Standard 1 78.13x
Osbournby 1 158.73x
Paddington London 1 0.73x
Radford 1 3.92x
Silk Willoughby 1 277.78x
Stamford St George 1 37.31x
Stamford St Mary 1 83.33x
Thurlby Obthorpe 1 125.00x
Trowbridge 1 6.86x
Tugby 1 227.27x
Waltham On The Wolds 1 131.58x
Wandsworth 1 2.79x
Wisbech St Peter 1 8.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Hannah 10
Ann 9
Alice 7
Annie 7
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Jane 5
Caroline 4
Maria 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lilly 2
Maggie 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Constance 1
Elizh. 1
Emmaly 1
Esther 1
Fannie 1
Florence 1
Hanah 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
James 1
Julia 1
Lizzie 1
Margh. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
George 18
William 18
Thomas 13
James 11
Joseph 10
Henry 8
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Walter 6
Charles 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Fred 4
Frederick 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Benj. 1
Charlotte 1
Chas.R. 1
Clayton 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Ernest 1
Everett 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Jesse 1
Job 1
Laurence 1
Levi 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Luther 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Reuben 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Searson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Searson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Searson surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Searson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016. That gives Searson a modern rank of #8,938.

What does the Searson surname mean?

Originally a locational surname derived from Searson in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Searson map show?

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