NameCensus.

UK surname

Sharon

Originally derived from a placename meaning "a fertile plain" in Hebrew.

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Sharon surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, Enfield and Hertsmere.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharon is 117 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 631.3%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

2015

117 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sharon had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 86 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sharon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sharon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sharon 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 86 #22,810
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 22 #32,449
1901 historical 10 #33,026
1911 historical 14 #32,045
1997 modern 63 #31,335
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 60 #32,078
2000 modern 50 #33,087
2001 modern 46 #33,311
2002 modern 49 #33,377
2003 modern 57 #32,704
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 60 #32,917
2006 modern 68 #32,441
2007 modern 72 #32,397
2008 modern 75 #32,373
2009 modern 76 #32,635
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 90 #31,564
2012 modern 93 #31,409
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Sharons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, Enfield, Hertsmere, Barnet and Harrow. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 004 Bradford
2 Enfield 010 Enfield
3 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere
4 Barnet 033 Barnet
5 Harrow 006 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sharon

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sharon

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Sharon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sharon 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sharon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sharon 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

Sharon 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 Sharon 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Sharon

The surname Sharon has its origins in the Middle Ages, tracing back to the medieval English county of Shropshire. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scir," meaning "bright" or "shining." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive moniker, possibly referring to an individual's bright or radiant appearance.

Sharon likely evolved from the place name "Sharon," a village located in the parish of Condover, Shropshire. The earliest recorded mention of this place name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scharhuen." Over time, the spelling gradually transformed into its present form.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Sharon was William de Sharon, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1202. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, documenting the collection of taxes and other revenues.

In the 14th century, the Sharon surname appeared in various spellings, including "Sharron," "Sharoun," and "Sharrone." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

A notable figure bearing the Sharon surname was Sir John Sharon, a Member of Parliament for Shropshire in the late 15th century. He was born around 1440 and served as a knight of the shire (a representative of a county in the House of Commons) during the reigns of King Edward IV and King Richard III.

Another individual of historical significance was Robert Sharon, a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played a prominent role in the affairs of the city, serving as Lord Mayor of London in 1586.

In the 17th century, the Sharon family had established itself in various parts of England, including Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. One notable member from this period was Edward Sharon, a renowned clockmaker who lived in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in the latter half of the 17th century. His clocks were highly regarded for their craftsmanship and precision.

Another noteworthy individual was John Sharon, a Puritan minister who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 1630s. He served as the pastor of the church in Fairfield, Connecticut, and played a significant role in the religious and community life of the colony.

In the 18th century, the Sharon surname continued to be found in various parts of England, as well as in the American colonies. One notable figure from this period was James Sharon, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1745 and participated in several naval battles against the American colonists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sharon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharon 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. Surrey leads with 4 Sharons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.26x.

County Total Index
Surrey 4 5.26x
Middlesex 3 1.92x
Cheshire 2 5.81x
Lancashire 2 1.08x
Norfolk 2 8.34x
Yorkshire 2 1.29x
Hampshire 1 3.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 4 Sharons recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.39x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St George Martyr 4 127.39x
Knutsford Nether 2 952.38x
Poplar London 2 68.03x
Brading 1 238.10x
Coltishall 1 2000.00x
Hackney London 1 11.43x
Liverpool 1 8.90x
Manchester 1 12.02x
Norwich St Lawrence 1 3333.33x
Routh 1 10000.00x
West Ayton 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Euphenia 2
Alice 1
Caroline 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Rebacca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
John 2
Cardam 1
Charles 1
Robert 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 Sharon households.

FAQ

Sharon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sharon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Sharon surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sharon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Sharon a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Sharon surname mean?

Originally derived from a placename meaning "a fertile plain" in Hebrew.

What does the Sharon map show?

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