NameCensus.

UK surname

Share

An English surname derived from an occupation related to cutting or dividing shares or portions.

In the 1881 census there were 260 people recorded with the Share surname, ranking it #10,781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, down from #10,781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Share is 492 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.4%.

1881 census count

260

Ranked #10,781

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2010

492 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Share had 260 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 485 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Share surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Share surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Share 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 451 #5,746
1881 historical 260 #10,781
1891 historical 485 #7,607
1901 historical 429 #9,018
1911 historical 437 #8,698
1997 modern 460 #9,907
1998 modern 473 #10,018
1999 modern 485 #9,900
2000 modern 478 #9,969
2001 modern 470 #9,906
2002 modern 471 #10,076
2003 modern 453 #10,241
2004 modern 457 #10,168
2005 modern 449 #10,230
2006 modern 449 #10,255
2007 modern 467 #10,053
2008 modern 470 #10,102
2009 modern 488 #10,048
2010 modern 492 #10,178
2011 modern 468 #10,460
2012 modern 445 #10,753
2013 modern 450 #10,831
2014 modern 448 #10,946
2015 modern 448 #10,854
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Shares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Dudley, London parishes and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley, East Riding of Yorkshire and Cornwall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Sedgley Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 008 Dudley
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 026 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Dudley 020 Dudley
4 Dudley 001 Dudley
5 Cornwall 065 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Share

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Share

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Share surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Share household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Share is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Share is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Share falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Share is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Share

The surname SHARE is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "scir" meaning "bright" or "clear." It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century, in the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the West Midlands region of England.

The earliest recorded instances of the name SHARE can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Walter le Scher. The name is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, listing a Hugo le Scher.

In the 14th century, the name SHARE appeared in various forms, such as Schare, Shere, and Shyre, reflecting the regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable example is John Shere, a Member of Parliament for Worcester in 1388.

During the 15th century, the name SHARE became more widely distributed across England. In 1428, a Robert Shyre is recorded as a resident of Middlesex. The Paston Letters, a collection of correspondences from the 15th century, also mentions a John Share.

In the 16th century, the name SHARE gained more prominence, with several individuals bearing the name achieving notable positions. One such person was Sir Ralph Share, a diplomat and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon in 1553.

Another notable figure from this period was John Share, a Protestant reformer and clergyman born in Lincolnshire in 1527. He was appointed the Bishop of Winchester in 1581 and played a significant role in the religious reforms during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the SHARE surname continued to be found across various parts of England. One notable bearer of the name was William Share, a merchant and trader who was born in Bristol in 1612 and became involved in the colonization of Virginia.

Moving into the 18th century, the SHARE surname began to spread beyond England. In 1733, a John Share was recorded as a landowner in County Down, Ireland. Additionally, the name appeared in Scotland, with a James Share listed as a merchant in Edinburgh in 1765.

The 19th century saw the SHARE surname flourish across different parts of the world, as many individuals with this name immigrated to various countries. One notable figure from this period was John Share, a British army officer who served in the Crimean War and was born in 1813.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Share families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Share 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. Staffordshire leads with 54 Shares recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.41x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 54 6.41x
Worcestershire 52 15.95x
Middlesex 36 1.44x
Sussex 13 3.09x
Kent 11 1.29x
Warwickshire 10 1.59x
Leicestershire 9 3.25x
Yorkshire 9 0.36x
Cornwall 8 2.83x
Devon 8 1.54x
Lancashire 8 0.27x
Durham 6 0.81x
Gloucestershire 5 1.02x
Hampshire 4 0.78x
Surrey 4 0.33x
Northamptonshire 3 1.28x
Shropshire 3 1.39x
Cumberland 2 0.93x
Denbighshire 2 2.12x
Lincolnshire 2 0.50x
Royal Navy 2 6.72x
Wiltshire 2 0.91x
Dorset 1 0.61x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.30x
Somerset 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 37 Shares recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.34x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 37 93.34x
Kingswinford 20 65.34x
Tipton 17 65.87x
Wednesbury 11 52.21x
Chatham 10 42.66x
Lower Mitton 10 348.43x
North Kilworth 9 2368.42x
Falmouth 8 79.92x
Willesden 8 33.98x
Aston 7 4.04x
Rudgwick 7 729.17x
St Anne Soho London 7 49.09x
Stoke Damerel 6 16.49x
Preston 5 68.03x
Sunderland 5 38.11x
Hackney London 4 2.86x
Holbeck 4 24.41x
Kings Norton 4 13.68x
Morton In Keighley 4 206.19x
Spotland 4 12.14x
Birmingham 3 1.43x
Northampton St Giles 3 33.52x
Sedgley 3 9.58x
St George Hanover 3 9.20x
Trentham 3 41.84x
Westbury On Trym 3 18.08x
Bromley London 2 3.64x
Chiswick 2 14.65x
Fittleton 2 666.67x
Holdenhurst 2 14.89x
Oldham 2 2.09x
Royal Navy 2 7.86x
Ruabon 2 15.42x
St Pancras London 2 1.00x
Tattershall 2 487.80x
West Derby 2 2.31x
Workington 2 16.25x
Adlestrop 1 714.29x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.92x
Brighton 1 1.18x
Camberwell 1 0.63x
Christchurch 1 9.01x
Cleobury Mortimer 1 73.53x
Dursley 1 49.75x
Eaton 1 256.41x
Egham 1 13.39x
Enfield 1 6.11x
Great Malvern 1 14.71x
Hammersmith London 1 1.63x
Hampstead London 1 2.57x
Kensington London 1 0.72x
Lambeth 1 0.46x
Limehouse London 1 3.65x
Manningham 1 3.28x
Newington 1 1.08x
Norton 1 36.63x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.15x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.50x
Portsea 1 1.00x
Rochester St Nicholas 1 37.74x
Sherborne 1 20.70x
Shoreditch London 1 0.92x
Silvington 1 2500.00x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.69x
Stanton Prior 1 1111.11x
West Teignmouth 1 25.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 8
Maria 7
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Louisa 6
Ann 5
Jane 5
Emily 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Annie 2
Betsy 2
Constance 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Charline 1
Charlotte 1
Clarissa 1
Edith 1
Elevyn 1
Elisabeth 1
Elise 1
Elizth. 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Hangel 1
Helen 1
Hellen 1
Katharine 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Mary.H. 1
Mina 1
Nancy 1
Nelly 1
Pamela 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
James 10
John 10
Joseph 8
Samuel 8
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Charles 4
Robert 4
Edwin 3
George 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Philip 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
A. 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Fred.W. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Hamnet 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Holditch 1
Infant 1
Isaiah 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Offley 1
Ormsby 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Terah 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Share surname: questions and answers

How common was the Share surname in 1881?

In 1881, 260 people were recorded with the Share surname. That placed it at #10,781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Share surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Share a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Share surname mean?

An English surname derived from an occupation related to cutting or dividing shares or portions.

What does the Share map show?

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