NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherlock

A surname derived from the Old English elements "scir," meaning bright or fair, and "lock," referring to hair.

In the 1881 census there were 2,015 people recorded with the Sherlock surname, ranking it #2,182 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,356, ranked #2,021, up from #2,182 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bebbington, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Wirral and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherlock is 3,494 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.6%.

1881 census count

2,015

Ranked #2,182

Modern count

3,356

2016, ranked #2,021

Peak year

2010

3,494 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherlock had 2,015 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,182 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,356 in 2016, ranked #2,021.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,803 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sherlock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sherlock surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sherlock 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 1,158 #2,435
1861 historical 1,273 #2,242
1881 historical 2,015 #2,182
1891 historical 2,206 #2,119
1901 historical 2,583 #2,128
1911 historical 2,803 #1,853
1997 modern 3,298 #1,953
1998 modern 3,358 #1,991
1999 modern 3,412 #1,986
2000 modern 3,411 #1,978
2001 modern 3,390 #1,949
2002 modern 3,464 #1,954
2003 modern 3,412 #1,942
2004 modern 3,337 #1,985
2005 modern 3,275 #1,989
2006 modern 3,288 #1,994
2007 modern 3,329 #1,985
2008 modern 3,336 #2,003
2009 modern 3,448 #1,978
2010 modern 3,494 #1,992
2011 modern 3,424 #2,010
2012 modern 3,390 #1,984
2013 modern 3,409 #2,012
2014 modern 3,398 #2,036
2015 modern 3,381 #2,023
2016 modern 3,356 #2,021

Geography

Back to top

Where Sherlocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bebbington, London parishes, Manchester, Liverpool and West Kirby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Wirral, Manchester and Barlanark. 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 Bebbington Cheshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 West Kirby Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 030 Salford
2 Wirral 004 Wirral
3 Wirral 023 Wirral
4 Manchester 001 Manchester
5 Barlanark Glasgow City

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sherlock

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sherlock

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sherlock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sherlock household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Sherlock 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

Sherlock is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherlock 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 Sherlock 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 Sherlock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sherlock

The surname Sherlock is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "scir" meaning "bright" and "loca" meaning "lock" or "enclosure". This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived in a bright or illuminated enclosure or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sherlock can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were a census-like survey conducted during the reign of King Edward I. The name is listed as "Shirlock" in these records, indicating an early spelling variation.

In the 14th century, the Sherlock surname appeared in various manorial records and court rolls from counties such as Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. This suggests that the name was relatively widespread across central and northern England during this time period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Sherlock. However, it does record several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the surname, such as Shirley, Sherbourne, and Sherlocks Wood.

Notable individuals with the surname Sherlock throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Sherlock (1678-1761), an English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Bangor and later the Bishop of London.

2. William Sherlock (1641-1707), an English clergyman and theologian who wrote extensively on various religious and philosophical topics.

3. Robert Sherlock (fl. 1550-1580), an English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

4. John Sherlock (1676-1728), an English playwright and poet who is best known for his satires and humorous works.

5. James Sherlock (1796-1868), an English artist and engraver who specialized in landscapes and architectural subjects.

While the surname Sherlock has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and the establishment of new communities. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the early settlements of central and northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sherlock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherlock 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 447 Sherlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.91x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 447 1.91x
Surrey 313 3.26x
Cheshire 231 5.32x
Middlesex 203 1.03x
Sussex 161 4.85x
Staffordshire 87 1.31x
Warwickshire 63 1.27x
Kent 56 0.83x
Derbyshire 52 1.69x
Hampshire 52 1.29x
Yorkshire 50 0.26x
Durham 35 0.60x
Lanarkshire 34 0.53x
Worcestershire 28 1.09x
Cumberland 20 1.18x
Essex 18 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 15 0.57x
Glamorgan 14 0.41x
Oxfordshire 12 0.99x
Wiltshire 11 0.63x
Devon 10 0.24x
Northamptonshire 9 0.49x
Pembrokeshire 9 1.44x
Somerset 9 0.28x
Bedfordshire 8 0.79x
Carmarthenshire 8 0.96x
Northumberland 8 0.27x
Dorset 7 0.54x
Isle of Man 7 1.92x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 2.11x
Cornwall 4 0.18x
Flintshire 4 0.76x
Lincolnshire 4 0.13x
Royal Navy 4 1.71x
Hertfordshire 3 0.22x
Berkshire 2 0.14x
Gloucestershire 2 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.51x
Midlothian 2 0.08x
Anglesey 1 0.29x
Channel Islands 1 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.13x
Monmouthshire 1 0.07x
Selkirkshire 1 0.56x
Stirlingshire 1 0.14x
Westmorland 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 59 Sherlocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.04x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 59 17.04x
Liverpool 46 3.24x
Hoose 44 540.54x
Shere 40 345.42x
Tranmere 39 24.43x
Aston 32 2.34x
Salford 32 4.66x
Islington London 31 1.63x
Lambeth 31 1.81x
Dorking 28 43.50x
Manchester 26 2.48x
Battersea 25 3.45x
Birmingham 24 1.45x
Stoke Upon Trent 24 3.41x
Barton Upon Irwell 23 13.09x
Warrington 22 7.95x
Horsted Keynes 21 271.67x
Woking 20 34.61x
St Pancras London 19 1.20x
Stretford 18 14.01x
Croydon 17 3.19x
Hulme 17 3.49x
Everton 16 2.15x
Fletching 16 107.82x
Newington 16 2.20x
Wonersh 16 133.78x
Govan 15 0.95x
Great Bolton 15 4.85x
Pendleton In Salford 15 5.39x
Portsea 15 1.90x
Harborne 14 6.58x
Horsley 13 70.16x
Toxteth Park 13 1.64x
Caldewgate 12 12.93x
Cowley 12 31.65x
Nottingham St Mary 12 1.75x
Paddington London 12 1.66x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.37x
Cromford 11 151.72x
Kings Norton 11 4.77x
Preston 11 1.76x
Ratcliffe London 11 10.12x
Wolverhampton 11 2.15x
Glasgow 10 0.89x
Leeds 10 0.91x
Liscard 10 12.78x
Mile End Old Town 10 3.22x
Ormskirk 10 22.39x
Reigate Foreign 10 9.63x
Shoreditch London 10 1.17x
Westminster St John 10 4.17x
Bootle Cum Linacre 9 4.85x
Brighton 9 1.34x
Broughton In Salford 9 4.22x
Chesterfield 9 7.79x
Keighley 9 4.33x
Kirkdale 9 2.29x
Nutfield 9 124.14x
Teddington London 9 20.19x
West Derby 9 1.32x
Wolstanton Oldcott 9 37.41x
Adlington 8 36.60x
Beddingham 8 264.90x
Bury 8 3.00x
Cardiff St Mary 8 4.24x
Godalming 8 13.26x
Llanelly 8 4.28x
Luton 8 4.54x
Newton In Makerfield 8 11.19x
Romford 8 13.03x
South Mimms 8 29.65x
Steep 8 198.02x
Tonbridge 8 3.30x
Whalley 8 23.51x
Windle 8 6.09x
Withington 8 10.64x
Wolsingham 8 15.00x
Harrow On The Hill 7 17.81x
Oldham 7 0.93x
Portland 7 10.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 160
Elizabeth 79
Sarah 63
Ellen 41
Jane 34
Ann 32
Alice 30
Annie 29
Emily 27
Margaret 27
Emma 26
Eliza 23
Hannah 17
Catherine 16
Martha 15
Charlotte 14
Kate 14
Louisa 12
Maria 12
Caroline 10
Bridget 9
Edith 9
Sophia 9
Fanny 8
Harriet 8
Harriett 8
Ada 7
Anne 7
Frances 7
Rose 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Eleanor 5
Florence 5
Jessie 5
Julia 5
Matilda 5
Laura 4
Lucy 4
Minnie 4
Rhoda 4
Susan 4
Amy 3
Anna 3
Grace 3
Helena 3
Lilly 3
Maud 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 113
John 106
Thomas 97
James 65
George 58
Henry 42
Joseph 39
Edward 25
Charles 22
Robert 20
Richard 19
Samuel 17
Frederick 16
Peter 15
Arthur 14
Albert 12
Patrick 12
Alfred 11
Frank 11
Harry 11
Walter 11
Stephen 10
Michael 9
Francis 7
Sidney 7
Edwin 6
Wm. 6
Alexander 5
David 5
Jesse 4
Jno. 4
Mark 4
Martin 4
Matthew 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Edgar 3
Herbert 3
Hugh 3
Isaac 3
Timothy 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Daniel 2
Denis 2
Mathew 2
Phineas 2

FAQ

Sherlock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherlock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,015 people were recorded with the Sherlock surname. That placed it at #2,182 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherlock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,356 in 2016. That gives Sherlock a modern rank of #2,021.

What does the Sherlock surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English elements "scir," meaning bright or fair, and "lock," referring to hair.

What does the Sherlock map show?

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