NameCensus.

UK surname

Shilston

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Shilston surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Watford and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shilston is 166 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.3%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

1901

166 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shilston had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Shilston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shilston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shilston 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 117 #15,456
1861 historical 102 #20,797
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 154 #18,004
1901 historical 166 #17,011
1911 historical 152 #17,712
1997 modern 144 #21,660
1998 modern 140 #22,615
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 135 #23,398
2003 modern 126 #24,146
2004 modern 125 #24,443
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 116 #26,209
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 136 #25,352
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Shilstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek, Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish and Plymouth St Charles the Martyr. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Watford, Doncaster and West Devon. 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 1
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Torbryan, Denbury, Highweek Devon
4 Kenton, Alphington, Dawlish Devon
5 Plymouth St Charles the Martyr Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
2 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge
3 Watford 001 Watford
4 Doncaster 036 Doncaster
5 West Devon 003 West Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shilston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shilston

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Shilston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Shilston household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Shilston is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shilston is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Shilston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shilston 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. Devon leads with 73 Shilstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.53x.

County Total Index
Devon 73 28.53x
Middlesex 19 1.55x
Cheshire 14 5.16x
Hampshire 13 5.16x
Surrey 6 1.00x
Somerset 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 12 Shilstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.31x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 12 24.31x
St Pancras London 12 12.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 10 50.74x
Liscard 9 184.05x
Plymouth Charles The 9 79.86x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 6 1875.00x
Bickington 5 5000.00x
Highweek 5 549.45x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 160.26x
Tedburn St Mary 5 1851.85x
Exeter St Paul 4 784.31x
West Teignmouth 4 204.08x
East Stonehouse 3 59.52x
Lambeth 3 2.80x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 3 576.92x
Paddington London 3 6.64x
St Marylebone London 3 4.57x
Wolborough 3 92.88x
Ashburton 2 163.93x
Devonport 2 68.03x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 34.13x
Puddington 2 2222.22x
Tormoham 2 18.48x
Bovey Tracey 1 112.36x
Caterham 1 37.74x
Dawlish 1 52.36x
Dunsford 1 303.03x
Ilsington 1 222.22x
Kenton 1 123.46x
Newington 1 2.20x
Portsmouth 1 17.24x
Streatham 1 10.96x
Twerton 1 49.02x
Uffculme 1 131.58x
Willesden 1 8.63x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Thomas 6
William 5
George 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Henry 2
James 2
Samuel 2
Alban 1
Albert 1
Ernest 1
Everett 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Oscar 1
Percy 1
Prince 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Saml.H. 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Walter 1
Wilm. 1

FAQ

Shilston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shilston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Shilston surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shilston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Shilston a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Shilston map show?

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