NameCensus.

UK surname

Side

From Old English, literally meaning a slope or hill by a field.

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Side surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Sutton, Newbottle and Tingewick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, Sevenoaks and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Side is 214 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.2%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

1998

214 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Side had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 192 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Side surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Side surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Side 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 155 #17,920
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 192 #15,342
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 167 #20,719
2008 modern 176 #20,224
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 171 #21,303
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 182 #20,958
2015 modern 183 #20,786
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Sides are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Sutton, Newbottle, Tingewick and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, Sevenoaks, Medway, Thurrock and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 3
3 King's Sutton, Newbottle Northamptonshire
4 Tingewick Buckinghamshire
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 001 Aylesbury Vale
2 Sevenoaks 012 Sevenoaks
3 Medway 036 Medway
4 Thurrock 001 Thurrock
5 Torridge 007 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Side

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Side

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Side 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

Side is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Side falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Side

The surname SIDE originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, which spanned from the 5th to the 11th centuries. It is derived from the Old English word "side," meaning a slope or a hillside. The name likely referred to someone who lived on or near a hillside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SIDE can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of lands and landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Siward Side in Oxfordshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Atte Side, de la Side, and atte Syde, reflecting the locational nature of the surname. These variations indicate that the name referred to someone living near a hillside or on a particular slope.

One notable historical figure with the surname SIDE was Sir John Side (c. 1550-1610), an English judge and Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King James I. He was known for his involvement in several significant legal cases of the time.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Side (1681-1748), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Newark-upon-Trent. He played an active role in the political affairs of his time and was a supporter of the Whig party.

In the literary world, the name SIDE is associated with Samuel Tregelles Side (1816-1871), an English Biblical scholar and textual critic. He made significant contributions to the study of the Greek New Testament and is known for his work on the Codex Sinaiticus, one of the earliest surviving manuscripts of the Bible.

The surname SIDE also has connections to places like Sidbury, a village in Devon, England, which likely originated from the Old English words "sid" (wide) and "burg" (fortified place), suggesting a possible link between the surname and the location.

Another notable figure was Sir Frederick Side (1833-1905), a British military officer who served in the Indian Army and was involved in several campaigns, including the Second Anglo-Afghan War and the Second Anglo-Burmese War.

While the surname SIDE may have evolved over time and been influenced by various factors, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period, reflecting the geographical and locational significance of the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Side families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Side 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. Middlesex leads with 19 Sides recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 19 1.79x
Surrey 14 2.70x
Buckinghamshire 11 17.12x
Northamptonshire 11 11.00x
Cumberland 8 8.74x
Yorkshire 8 0.76x
Warwickshire 6 2.24x
Kent 5 1.38x
Lancashire 5 0.40x
Northumberland 5 3.16x
Oxfordshire 5 7.62x
Durham 3 0.95x
Staffordshire 3 0.84x
Gloucestershire 2 0.96x
Bedfordshire 1 1.82x
Essex 1 0.48x
Flintshire 1 3.50x
Shropshire 1 1.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 12 Sides recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.65x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 12 11.65x
Tingewick 11 3793.10x
Arlecdon 8 329.22x
Aston 6 8.13x
Hammersmith London 6 22.91x
Rawmarsh 6 161.29x
Southwark St Saviour 6 109.89x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 49.90x
Hardingstone 5 526.32x
Hedley Woodside 5 3125.00x
Banbury 4 305.34x
Camberwell 4 5.89x
Deptford St Paul 4 14.30x
Kingswinford 3 23.02x
Newbottle 3 1578.95x
Bristol St Paul In 2 36.04x
Kings Sutton 2 454.55x
Newington 2 5.09x
Stockley 2 500.00x
Ebchester 1 204.08x
Eversholt 1 357.14x
Gayton 1 476.19x
Hardwick 1 1666.67x
Lambeth 1 1.08x
Newburgh 1 2000.00x
Oswestry Town 1 34.01x
Penge 1 14.73x
Rhuddlan 1 39.68x
St Martin In Fields 1 15.72x
Tonbridge 1 7.65x
West Ham 1 2.16x
York Holy Trinity 1 109.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 5
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Jane 3
Ann 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Rosa 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Pamela 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Tryphasia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 7
James 4
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
George 2
A.W.G. 1
Alfd. 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.W. 1
Henry 1
Jesse 1
Jos 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Richard 1
Walter 1
Wm.U. 1

FAQ

Side surname: questions and answers

How common was the Side surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Side surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Side surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Side a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Side surname mean?

From Old English, literally meaning a slope or hill by a field.

What does the Side map show?

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