NameCensus.

UK surname

Sides

An English occupational surname for someone who lived beside a prominent natural or man-made feature, such as a wood or road.

In the 1881 census there were 266 people recorded with the Sides surname, ranking it #10,589 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 372, ranked #12,539, down from #10,589 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Giles, Toxteth Park and Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, Doncaster and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sides is 393 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

266

Ranked #10,589

Modern count

372

2016, ranked #12,539

Peak year

2002

393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sides had 266 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,589 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016, ranked #12,539.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 364 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Sides surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sides surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sides 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 266 #10,589
1891 historical 325 #10,426
1901 historical 320 #11,142
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 363 #11,849
1998 modern 389 #11,594
1999 modern 379 #11,922
2000 modern 389 #11,645
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 393 #11,587
2003 modern 383 #11,614
2004 modern 380 #11,717
2005 modern 379 #11,662
2006 modern 380 #11,666
2007 modern 375 #11,955
2008 modern 366 #12,285
2009 modern 374 #12,343
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 369 #12,745
2015 modern 364 #12,768
2016 modern 372 #12,539

Geography

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Where Sides' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Giles, Toxteth Park, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton), Llansilin and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, Doncaster and Flintshire. 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 Oxford City: St Giles Oxfordshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Llansilin Shropshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 008 Wrexham
2 Wrexham 003 Wrexham
3 Doncaster 034 Doncaster
4 Doncaster 033 Doncaster
5 Flintshire 020 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sides

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sides

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Sides surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sides 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sides 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

Sides 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

Sides falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sides is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sides

The surname "SIDES" is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "side," which referred to a slope or the side of a hill. The name was likely initially given as a topographic name to someone who lived near or on the side of a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sydde." This entry suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records with spellings such as "Syde," "Sydes," and "Siddes." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling during that era.

The surname "SIDES" is also associated with several place names in England, such as Sideford in Devonshire and Sidbury in Shropshire. These place names may have contributed to the development of the surname in their respective regions.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Sides (1490-1556), a prominent English landowner and member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another was William Sides (1570-1635), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and religion.

In the 17th century, the surname "SIDES" appears in various records, including those of John Sides (1620-1695), a successful merchant and landowner in London, and Richard Sides (1645-1712), a prominent lawyer and judge in Lincolnshire.

Moving into the 18th century, we find John Sides (1718-1788), a renowned English artist and engraver who was appointed Engraver to the King in 1765. His works included portraits of notable figures such as Samuel Johnson and Joshua Reynolds.

Another significant bearer of the name was Sir William Sides (1760-1842), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his distinguished service in 1815.

Throughout the centuries, the surname "SIDES" has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, clergymen, artists, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sides families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sides 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. Shropshire leads with 68 Sides' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.33x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 68 30.33x
Yorkshire 42 1.63x
Durham 33 4.27x
Lancashire 31 1.01x
Montgomeryshire 19 31.95x
Oxfordshire 12 7.49x
Staffordshire 11 1.26x
Cumberland 10 4.48x
Middlesex 7 0.27x
Essex 6 1.17x
Denbighshire 5 5.10x
Warwickshire 5 0.76x
Leicestershire 4 1.39x
Monmouthshire 4 2.13x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.91x
Derbyshire 2 0.49x
Worcestershire 2 0.59x
Devon 1 0.19x
Flintshire 1 1.43x
Surrey 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oswestry Rural in Shropshire leads with 19 Sides' recorded in 1881 and an index of 553.94x.

Place Total Index
Oswestry Rural 19 553.94x
Oxford St Giles 12 157.07x
Toxteth Park 12 11.51x
Llansilin 11 674.85x
Rotherham 10 68.97x
Sheffield 9 10.99x
Bettws 8 1568.63x
St Martin 8 318.73x
Berrington 7 795.45x
Cannock 7 45.81x
Pelton 7 190.74x
Cornforth 6 264.32x
Featherstone 6 207.61x
Greasbrough 6 176.47x
Great Burstead 6 322.58x
Llandysilio 6 1111.11x
Oswestry Town 6 83.57x
Thornley 6 215.05x
Birmingham 5 2.29x
Newton In Makerfield 5 53.02x
W Felton 5 526.32x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 59.97x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 16.36x
Darlington 4 13.42x
Droylsden 4 39.84x
Lilleshall 4 116.62x
Openshaw 4 27.74x
St Marylebone London 4 2.89x
Eyton Royton 3 1111.11x
Scarborough 3 12.84x
Trevethin 3 16.94x
Bangor 2 19.76x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.78x
Brandon Byshottles 2 20.68x
Brotton 2 59.52x
Chetwynd 2 277.78x
Kings Norton 2 6.58x
Llanrhaiadr Ym Mochnant 2 104.17x
Ruabon 2 14.84x
Tunstall 2 52.08x
West Bromwich 2 3.99x
Whitehaven 2 16.79x
Alberbury 1 188.68x
Ashover 1 49.51x
Bowling 1 3.93x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.98x
Christchurch 1 17.24x
Cockermouth 1 21.28x
Dawley 1 12.25x
Devonport 1 16.10x
Deythur 1 256.41x
Eggington 1 277.78x
Elvet 1 17.95x
Hammersmith London 1 1.56x
Harrington 1 37.04x
Hawarden Saltney 1 102.04x
Hayton Mealo 1 384.62x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.49x
Keswick 1 34.97x
Kimberworth 1 7.01x
Lambeth 1 0.44x
Llanllwchaiarn 1 38.76x
Low Ireby 1 357.14x
Monkwearmouth 1 13.53x
Newtown 1 26.32x
Rawmarsh 1 11.01x
Selattyn 1 98.04x
Shoreditch London 1 0.89x
Southwick 1 13.68x
St Andrew Holborn 1 11.36x
Tipton 1 3.73x
Torpenhow Whitrigg 1 400.00x
Usworth 1 24.39x
Whittington 1 53.19x
Whitworth 1 17.70x
Wolsingham 1 14.20x
Wolstanton Thursfield 1 94.34x
Workington 1 7.82x
Wrockwardine 1 20.28x
Wythop 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 15
Jane 13
Elizabeth 12
Martha 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Margaret 5
Ann 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Constance 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hanah 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Agness 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Edith 1
Effie 1
Gertrude 1
Hilda 1
Jessie 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Maneso 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Ruth 1
Sinah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
Thomas 15
William 14
Edward 6
Robert 6
George 5
Samuel 5
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Fredrick 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Arthur 2
Charles 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Archibald 1
Archie 1
Benjamin 1
Chas.Edwin 1
Chas.Fred 1
Chas.Percival 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Gerard 1
Henery 1
Jno.Hy. 1
Job 1
Johnson 1
Montague 1
Oswald 1
Ralph 1
Richrd 1
Sidney 1
Thos.Jeffries 1
Thos.Richd. 1
Timothy 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Sides surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sides surname in 1881?

In 1881, 266 people were recorded with the Sides surname. That placed it at #10,589 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sides surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 372 in 2016. That gives Sides a modern rank of #12,539.

What does the Sides surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who lived beside a prominent natural or man-made feature, such as a wood or road.

What does the Sides map show?

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