NameCensus.

UK surname

Shrewsbury

From the English place name, derived from Old English elements meaning "shrub" and "fortified place."

In the 1881 census there were 223 people recorded with the Shrewsbury surname, ranking it #11,998 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 195, ranked #19,921, down from #11,998 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shepway, Amber Valley and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shrewsbury is 283 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.6%.

1881 census count

223

Ranked #11,998

Modern count

195

2016, ranked #19,921

Peak year

1911

283 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shrewsbury had 223 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,998 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016, ranked #19,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 283 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Shrewsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shrewsbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shrewsbury 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 223 #11,998
1891 historical 240 #13,123
1901 historical 247 #13,238
1911 historical 283 #11,883
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 213 #17,431
1999 modern 212 #17,611
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 204 #17,893
2006 modern 210 #17,718
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 205 #18,359
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 203 #19,098
2012 modern 197 #19,408
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 195 #20,036
2015 modern 191 #20,205
2016 modern 195 #19,921

Geography

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Where Shrewsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Eccles, Nottingham St Mary and Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shepway, Amber Valley, Solihull and Bolsover. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eccles Lancashire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shepway 006 Shepway
2 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley
3 Solihull 025 Solihull
4 Shepway 004 Shepway
5 Bolsover 009 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shrewsbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shrewsbury

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Shrewsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Shrewsbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shrewsbury 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

Shrewsbury 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

Shrewsbury falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shrewsbury

The surname Shrewsbury is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Shrewsbury, which is located in the county of Shropshire, England. The name of the town itself is derived from the Old English words "Scrobbesbyrig," which translates to "fortified place in the shrubland."

Shrewsbury is first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The town was an important center for trade and commerce during the Middle Ages, and this may have contributed to the spread of the surname as people moved from the area to other parts of the country.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname Shrewsbury was Sir John Shrewsbury, who lived in the 13th century and served as the Sheriff of Shropshire. Another notable person with this surname was Roger Shrewsbury, who was a member of the English Parliament in the 14th century.

In the 15th century, a family with the surname Shrewsbury owned a large estate in Staffordshire, England. This family produced several members who held prominent positions in the government and military, including Sir John Shrewsbury, who was a knight and served as the High Sheriff of Staffordshire in the late 15th century.

During the Tudor period, a Thomas Shrewsbury served as a member of the Privy Council under King Henry VIII and was involved in various diplomatic missions. He was also the keeper of the Tower of London for a time.

In the 17th century, a Sir John Talbot Shrewsbury was a member of the English Parliament and served as the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire. He was also a prominent landowner in the area and played a role in the English Civil War.

Throughout history, the surname Shrewsbury has been associated with various places and locations, such as Shrewsbury Abbey, Shrewsbury Castle, and Shrewsbury School, which was founded in the 16th century and is one of the oldest schools in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shrewsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shrewsbury 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 47 Shrewsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.03x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 47 16.03x
Surrey 28 2.64x
Kent 25 3.37x
Cambridgeshire 16 11.61x
Warwickshire 16 2.92x
Middlesex 15 0.69x
Lancashire 13 0.50x
Northamptonshire 12 5.87x
Staffordshire 9 1.23x
Sussex 9 2.45x
Derbyshire 8 2.35x
Oxfordshire 6 4.47x
Berkshire 5 3.06x
Somerset 4 1.14x
Yorkshire 3 0.14x
Northumberland 2 0.62x
Durham 1 0.15x
Essex 1 0.23x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.32x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Shropshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 17 Shrewsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.42x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 17 22.42x
Lambeth 13 6.85x
Beeston 12 356.08x
Barton Upon Irwell 11 56.61x
Edgbaston 10 58.79x
Wimblington 10 1234.57x
Folkestone 8 55.56x
Heanor 8 157.17x
Chilwell 7 897.44x
Lenton 7 101.30x
Piddington 7 1842.11x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 76.73x
Croydon 5 8.50x
Hornton 5 1351.35x
Littleport 5 190.11x
Rotherhithe 5 18.60x
Aston 4 2.65x
Beckenham 4 41.24x
Bray 4 83.33x
Tipton 4 17.79x
Toton 4 2857.14x
Brighton 3 4.05x
Hythe St Leonard 3 114.50x
Northampton All Sts 3 43.23x
Northfleet 3 45.87x
Swanscombe 3 90.09x
Walcot 3 16.09x
Camberwell 2 1.44x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.89x
Newchurch 2 9.47x
Northampton St Giles 2 25.67x
Pudsey 2 17.36x
St James Garlickhithe 2 1176.47x
St Marylebone London 2 1.72x
St Michael Queenhithe 2 1428.57x
Wolverhampton 2 3.54x
Acton 1 7.84x
Bardney 1 96.15x
Bicester Market End 1 40.49x
Birmingham 1 0.55x
Bradfield 1 116.28x
Burton Upon Trent 1 5.82x
Charlcombe 1 217.39x
Chatham 1 4.90x
Coulsdon 1 51.81x
Coventry St Michael 1 5.68x
Darlington 1 4.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 13.93x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.28x
Habberley 1 1000.00x
Hackney London 1 0.82x
Ingestre 1 1000.00x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
Milton In Gravesend 1 8.98x
Morpeth 1 26.25x
Newington 1 1.24x
Paddington London 1 1.25x
Reigate Foreign 1 8.71x
Rothbury 1 107.53x
Spitalfields London 1 6.11x
St Ives 1 44.64x
St Lawrence 1 19.61x
St Pancras London 1 0.57x
Teddington London 1 20.28x
Thorney 1 65.36x
West Bromwich 1 2.38x
Woodford 1 20.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Alice 7
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 7
Fanny 6
Annie 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Ann 3
Emma 3
Henrietta 3
Jane 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
Louise 2
Margaret 2
Rhoda 2
Sophia 2
Arabella 1
Charlotte 1
Cicely 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Gertrude 1
Hanh. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Hillaria 1
Hillaxia 1
Hilliaria 1
Isabel 1
Josephine 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Margaruite 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
May 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
William 11
Thomas 9
Joseph 7
George 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
David 2
Elmer 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Abraham 1
Alwyn 1
Ash... 1
Cheverton 1
Earnest 1
Ed. 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Howard 1
Isac 1
J. 1
James 1
Jeremiah 1
Restock 1
Tom 1
W. 1

FAQ

Shrewsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shrewsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 223 people were recorded with the Shrewsbury surname. That placed it at #11,998 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shrewsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 195 in 2016. That gives Shrewsbury a modern rank of #19,921.

What does the Shrewsbury surname mean?

From the English place name, derived from Old English elements meaning "shrub" and "fortified place."

What does the Shrewsbury map show?

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