NameCensus.

UK surname

Shaw

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a servant or attendant.

In the 1881 census there were 55,020 people recorded with the Shaw surname, ranking it #49 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 72,079, ranked #57, down from #49 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees, Calderdale and Oldham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shaw is 74,366 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.0%.

1881 census count

55,020

Ranked #49

Modern count

72,079

2016, ranked #57

Peak year

2010

74,366 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shaw had 55,020 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #49 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 72,079 in 2016, ranked #57.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 65,845 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shaw 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 36,306 #50
1861 historical 39,289 #46
1881 historical 55,020 #49
1891 historical 57,998 #51
1901 historical 65,845 #51
1911 historical 64,431 #52
1997 modern 70,613 #57
1998 modern 73,627 #57
1999 modern 74,180 #57
2000 modern 73,763 #57
2001 modern 71,985 #57
2002 modern 73,523 #57
2003 modern 71,725 #57
2004 modern 71,479 #58
2005 modern 70,208 #58
2006 modern 70,039 #58
2007 modern 70,586 #58
2008 modern 71,092 #58
2009 modern 72,961 #58
2010 modern 74,366 #58
2011 modern 73,090 #58
2012 modern 71,567 #58
2013 modern 72,965 #57
2014 modern 73,233 #58
2015 modern 72,476 #57
2016 modern 72,079 #57

Geography

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Where Shaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Glasgow and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees, Calderdale and Oldham. 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 3
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 052 Kirklees
2 Calderdale 025 Calderdale
3 Kirklees 045 Kirklees
4 Oldham 030 Oldham
5 Kirklees 059 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shaw

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Shaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shaw 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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, Shaw 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

Shaw 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

Shaw falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shaw

The surname Shaw originated in England and Scotland. It is derived from the Old English word 'sceaga', meaning a small wood or thicket. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or worked in a small wooded area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shaw appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled 'Sciua'. This suggests the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest. Over time, the spelling evolved to its current form of Shaw.

During the Middle Ages, various spellings of the name emerged, such as Schagh, Schaw, Shawe, and Shagh. These variations were often used interchangeably and reflected regional dialects and scribal preferences.

The name Shaw is also associated with several place names in England, such as Shaw Hill in Wiltshire, Shaw in Berkshire, and Shaw in Lancashire. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname as people adopted the name of their place of residence or origin.

One notable figure bearing the surname Shaw was John Shaw (c. 1615-1672), an English Baptist minister and writer. He was a prominent figure in the early Baptist movement and authored several religious works.

Another historical figure was Sir John Shaw (1776-1832), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in various battles and was knighted for his service.

In Scotland, the Shaw surname is associated with the Clan Shaw, a Highland Scottish clan with roots in Aberdeenshire. One famous member of this clan was Alexander Shaw (1554-1594), a Scottish philosopher and academic who served as the principal of the University of Aberdeen.

William Shaw (1559-1637), an English clergyman and author, is also noteworthy. He served as the Dean of Bristol and wrote several religious works, including "A Practical Discourse of the Lord's Supper."

John Shaw (1776-1832), a British architect, is known for his work on several prominent buildings in London, including the Church of St. Dunstan-in-the-West and the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Shaw, reflecting its long-standing presence in England, Scotland, and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shaw 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. Yorkshire leads with 13,698 Shaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.58x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 13,698 2.58x
Lancashire 11,616 1.82x
Staffordshire 3,065 1.69x
Cheshire 2,628 2.22x
Middlesex 2,295 0.43x
Derbyshire 2,273 2.71x
Lanarkshire 1,860 1.07x
Nottinghamshire 1,779 2.46x
Warwickshire 1,267 0.94x
Durham 1,216 0.76x
Surrey 1,197 0.46x
Lincolnshire 912 1.06x
Worcestershire 766 1.09x
Leicestershire 624 1.05x
Kent 606 0.33x
Midlothian 595 0.83x
Inverness-shire 550 3.43x
Ayrshire 513 1.28x
Renfrewshire 469 1.13x
Northamptonshire 403 0.80x
Sussex 401 0.44x
Stirlingshire 327 1.65x
Northumberland 304 0.38x
Hampshire 293 0.27x
Argyllshire 276 1.85x
Cumberland 255 0.55x
Shropshire 248 0.53x
Westmorland 234 1.98x
Essex 223 0.21x
Angus 220 0.44x
Aberdeenshire 217 0.44x
Perthshire 214 0.89x
Cambridgeshire 209 0.61x
Norfolk 206 0.25x
Gloucestershire 204 0.19x
Berkshire 182 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 173 1.20x
Hertfordshire 146 0.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 141 1.82x
Devon 128 0.11x
Fife 127 0.40x
Bedfordshire 100 0.36x
Monmouthshire 100 0.26x
Buteshire 97 2.98x
Buckinghamshire 94 0.29x
Oxfordshire 93 0.28x
Somerset 93 0.11x
Wigtownshire 93 1.31x
West Lothian 92 1.14x
Glamorgan 91 0.10x
Banffshire 77 0.69x
Suffolk 76 0.12x
Herefordshire 67 0.30x
East Lothian 64 0.90x
Morayshire 64 0.77x
Flintshire 61 0.42x
Dumfriesshire 59 0.50x
Channel Islands 55 0.35x
Ross-shire 53 0.36x
Denbighshire 51 0.25x
Cornwall 50 0.08x
Kincardineshire 42 0.64x
Nairnshire 38 2.32x
Wiltshire 37 0.08x
Berwickshire 30 0.46x
Roxburghshire 27 0.28x
Clackmannanshire 26 0.59x
Dorset 24 0.07x
Royal Navy 24 0.38x
Caernarfonshire 21 0.10x
Caithness 17 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 16 0.15x
Isle of Man 16 0.16x
Rutland 15 0.38x
Cardiganshire 14 0.11x
Peeblesshire 13 0.52x
Montgomeryshire 12 0.10x
Selkirkshire 12 0.25x
Carmarthenshire 10 0.04x
Sutherland 9 0.22x
Orkney 6 0.10x
Brecknockshire 5 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.02x
Anglesey 1 0.01x
Kinross-shire 1 0.07x
Radnorshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 909 Shaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 909 4.42x
Ashton Under Lyne 761 5.47x
Saddleworth 701 17.09x
Huddersfield 676 8.73x
Leeds 556 1.85x
Barony 530 1.21x
Stoke Upon Trent 496 2.58x
Sheffield 486 2.87x
Birmingham 478 1.06x
Aston 435 1.17x
Govan 431 1.00x
Nottingham St Mary 424 2.27x
Salford 403 2.15x
Manchester 392 1.37x
Blackburn 381 2.25x
Liverpool 381 0.99x
Almondbury 348 13.53x
Everton 314 1.55x
Toxteth Park 284 1.32x
Hulme 283 2.13x
Dudley 273 3.20x
Ecclesall Bierlow 273 2.52x
Glasgow 272 0.88x
Dukinfield 266 4.86x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 250 0.86x
St Pancras London 247 0.57x
West Derby 247 1.33x
Halifax 231 2.96x
Brightside Bierlow 226 2.17x
Islington London 225 0.43x
Linthwaite 225 20.13x
Lockwood 220 11.50x
Pendleton In Salford 211 2.78x
Rowley Regis 205 4.06x
Warrington 204 2.70x
Elland Cum Greetland 202 8.43x
Lambeth 200 0.43x
Preston 192 1.13x
Barton Upon Irwell 190 3.96x
Kingswinford 190 2.89x
Bradford 188 1.46x
Golcar 187 13.30x
Chorlton On Medlock 185 1.83x
Nether Hallam 183 2.54x
Camberwell 178 0.52x
Burslem 177 3.41x
Ilkeston 175 7.43x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 171 12.75x
Slaithwaite 171 30.89x
Hunslet 170 2.05x
Holy Trinity 167 1.31x
Glossop Dale 165 4.19x
Bury 164 2.25x
West Bromwich 163 1.57x
Sculcoates 160 1.90x
Ashton In Makerfield 157 8.66x
Swinton In Rotherham 157 11.17x
Leicester St Margaret 154 1.06x
Inverness 148 3.67x
Hackney London 147 0.49x
Dewsbury 146 2.68x
Great Bolton 145 1.72x
Runcorn 143 5.24x
Barrow In Furness 140 1.62x
Gorton 139 2.32x
Basford 138 4.14x
Hyde 138 3.95x
Stainland Cum Old 138 15.16x
Longwood 136 15.87x
Kilsyth 135 10.70x
Bradfield 134 6.54x
Barnsley 130 2.37x
Newton 130 2.65x
Wolstanton 130 2.36x
Ardwick 128 2.23x
Northowram 128 3.43x
Sutton In Ashfield 126 8.03x
Manningham 124 1.89x
Derby St Werburgh 121 2.49x
Scarborough 120 2.48x
Hipperholme Cum 119 5.09x
Wigan 117 1.31x
Skircoat 116 5.53x
Bowling 114 2.16x
Wolverhampton 114 0.82x
Stayley 112 8.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3,586
Sarah 2,125
Elizabeth 1,905
Ann 1,134
Jane 937
Hannah 765
Ellen 732
Annie 724
Alice 722
Emma 676
Eliza 674
Martha 609
Margaret 540
Emily 447
Harriet 339
Ada 283
Maria 280
Edith 268
Clara 258
Fanny 242
Charlotte 211
Louisa 211
Frances 194
Florence 192
Agnes 190
Lucy 190
Catherine 183
Isabella 160
Caroline 157
Kate 153
Anne 143
Esther 138
Harriett 137
Betty 113
Ruth 111
Susan 109
Amelia 100
Betsy 100
Susannah 98
Rebecca 97
Elizth. 96
Eleanor 94
Gertrude 90
Nancy 89
Amy 88
Rose 88
Matilda 85
Sophia 85
Minnie 81
Lydia 76

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 3,168
William 2,777
Thomas 1,656
James 1,647
George 1,538
Joseph 1,218
Henry 830
Charles 743
Robert 555
Samuel 533
Arthur 474
Alfred 442
Edward 398
Richard 347
Walter 307
Frederick 303
Albert 299
Harry 297
Herbert 262
David 227
Fred 210
Frank 192
Edwin 171
Benjamin 161
Wm. 147
Ernest 134
Francis 134
Tom 111
Peter 103
Thos. 96
Isaac 86
Joshua 76
Jonathan 70
Abraham 69
Joe 69
Geo. 68
Hugh 64
Ralph 61
Matthew 59
Daniel 58
Fredrick 58
Stephen 56
Alexander 53
Eli 52
Sam 52
Mark 50
Percy 46
Edmund 42
Fredk. 39
Willie 38

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 Shaw households.

FAQ

Shaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 55,020 people were recorded with the Shaw surname. That placed it at #49 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 72,079 in 2016. That gives Shaw a modern rank of #57.

What does the Shaw surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who worked as a servant or attendant.

What does the Shaw map show?

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