NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherbourne

A locational surname originating from a place called Sherborne in Dorset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Sherbourne surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #18,026 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wilberfoss, Burton-on-Trent and Kingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, Kettering and Oxford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherbourne is 216 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.8%.

1881 census count

117

Ranked #18,026

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

2000

216 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherbourne had 117 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,026 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 180 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sherbourne surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sherbourne surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sherbourne 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 28 #28,274
1861 historical 53 #27,253
1881 historical 117 #18,026
1891 historical 97 #24,447
1901 historical 136 #19,110
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 207 #17,749
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 207 #17,821
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 206 #17,945
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 190 #20,087
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 184 #20,291
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 185 #20,739
2015 modern 179 #21,069
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Sherbournes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wilberfoss, Burton-on-Trent, Kingham, Cefnllys and Rotherfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, Kettering, Oxford and Mid Calder and Kirknewton. 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 Wilberfoss Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Kingham Oxfordshire
4 Cefnllys Radnorshire
5 Rotherfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 008 West Oxfordshire
2 West Oxfordshire 004 West Oxfordshire
3 Kettering 004 Kettering
4 Oxford 008 Oxford
5 Mid Calder and Kirknewton West Lothian

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sherbourne

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sherbourne

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sherbourne, 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 Sherbourne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sherbourne 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sherbourne 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

Sherbourne is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherbourne 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 Sherbourne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sherbourne

The surname Sherbourne is of English origin, deriving from the place name Sherborne, located in the county of Dorset. The name Sherborne is believed to have originated from the Old English words "scir" meaning bright and "burna" meaning stream, referring to the clear stream that flows through the town.

The name Sherbourne can be traced back to the 11th century, with records of individuals bearing this surname appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086. This medieval census, commissioned by William the Conqueror, listed landowners and their properties throughout England.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sherbourne was William de Sherborne, who lived in the 13th century. He was a prominent landowner and knight from Sherborne, Dorset, and his name appears in various historical records from that period.

In the 14th century, the name Sherbourne appeared in the form of "Shirburn" in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire, referring to the village of Shirburn in that county. This variation in spelling highlights the regional differences in the pronunciation and written form of the name.

Sir John Sherborne, born in 1453, was a notable figure in the Wars of the Roses, serving as a loyal supporter of the House of Lancaster. He was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield and played a significant role in the events leading up to the Tudor dynasty.

In the 16th century, Richard Sherbourne, born in 1515, was a respected scholar and clergyman. He served as the Bishop of Chichester from 1568 until his death in 1582, leaving a lasting impact on the religious landscape of the region.

Another influential individual was Edward Sherbourne, born in 1618, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and navigation, and his works were widely studied and referenced by his contemporaries.

During the 18th century, the Sherbourne family established themselves as prominent landowners and industrialists in the county of Dorset. Notable members include William Sherbourne, born in 1725, who was a successful merchant and philanthropist, known for his charitable contributions to the local community.

The surname Sherbourne has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Sherborne in Dorset, Shirburn in Oxfordshire, and Shirburn in Hampshire, reflecting the geographical spread of individuals bearing this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sherbourne families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherbourne 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 24 Sherbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 24 1.77x
Oxfordshire 15 21.29x
Middlesex 12 1.05x
Sussex 12 6.24x
Yorkshire 11 0.97x
Surrey 10 1.80x
Devon 7 2.95x
Hampshire 5 2.14x
Gloucestershire 4 1.79x
Somerset 4 2.18x
Warwickshire 4 1.39x
Suffolk 3 2.16x
Lincolnshire 2 1.10x
Staffordshire 2 0.52x
Wiltshire 1 0.99x
Worcestershire 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 9 Sherbournes recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.35x.

Place Total Index
Newington 9 21.35x
Padiham 9 275.23x
Chorley 8 105.26x
Newton On Derwent 8 10000.00x
Chawleigh 7 2692.31x
Hailey 7 1428.57x
Twickenham 7 143.15x
Sarsden 6 10000.00x
Hartfield 5 819.67x
Southampton St Michael 5 649.35x
Bedminster 4 23.18x
Chelsea London 4 11.63x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 46.57x
East Grinstead 4 147.06x
Barlby 3 1500.00x
Brockley 3 2500.00x
Preston 3 8.28x
Rotherfield 3 177.51x
Churchill 2 1000.00x
Horninglow 2 110.50x
Louth 2 47.85x
Toxteth Park 2 4.36x
Accrington 1 8.12x
Almondsbury 1 117.65x
Clapham 1 7.01x
Clifton 1 8.84x
Kensington London 1 1.58x
Littleton On Severn 1 1250.00x
Lower Mitton 1 76.34x
Maugersbury 1 476.19x
Sherston Magna 1 163.93x
Upholland 1 57.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 7
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Jane 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Kate 2
Selina 2
Agnes 1
Amanda 1
Ann 1
Eliz. 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Harriott 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Minnie 1
Zelia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Sherbourne surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherbourne surname in 1881?

In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Sherbourne surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherbourne surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Sherbourne a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Sherbourne surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Sherborne in Dorset, England.

What does the Sherbourne map show?

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