NameCensus.

UK surname

Silson

In the 1881 census there were 176 people recorded with the Silson surname, ranking it #13,930 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 141, ranked #24,753, down from #13,930 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leeds, Ruskington, Haverholme Priory, Anwick and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Calderdale and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silson is 235 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 19.9%.

1881 census count

176

Ranked #13,930

Modern count

141

2016, ranked #24,753

Peak year

1911

235 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silson had 176 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,930 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016, ranked #24,753.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 235 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Silson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silson 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 176 #13,930
1891 historical 212 #14,318
1901 historical 191 #15,579
1911 historical 235 #13,484
1997 modern 134 #22,608
1998 modern 145 #22,139
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 153 #21,520
2001 modern 146 #21,857
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 145 #22,172
2004 modern 153 #21,528
2005 modern 151 #21,667
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 154 #22,536
2010 modern 159 #22,577
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 158 #22,460
2013 modern 147 #23,977
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 150 #23,718
2016 modern 141 #24,753

Geography

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Where Silsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leeds, Ruskington, Haverholme Priory, Anwick, Bradford and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Calderdale and Bradford. 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 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Ruskington, Haverholme Priory, Anwick Lincolnshire
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 011 West Lindsey
2 Calderdale 003 Calderdale
3 Bradford 001 Bradford
4 Bradford 036 Bradford
5 Bradford 047 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Silson, 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 Silson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Silson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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, Silson 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

Silson 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

Silson 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 Silson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Silson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silson 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. Yorkshire leads with 142 Silsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.30x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 142 8.30x
Lincolnshire 18 6.52x
Surrey 6 0.71x
Lancashire 5 0.24x
Warwickshire 4 0.92x
Leicestershire 1 0.52x
Middlesex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsforth in Yorkshire leads with 27 Silsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 720.00x.

Place Total Index
Horsforth 27 720.00x
Allerton 19 871.56x
Bradford 18 43.46x
Manningham 18 85.39x
Horton In Bradford 17 63.62x
Ruskington 11 1571.43x
Barnes 6 168.54x
Bradford Girlington 6 789.47x
Holy Trinity 6 14.58x
Idle 6 75.66x
Droylsden 5 74.85x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 45.41x
Heaton 5 271.74x
Leeds 5 5.18x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 30.77x
Kirton 4 360.36x
Rothwell 3 86.71x
Armley 2 26.49x
Kirkby La Thorpe 2 1333.33x
Thornton In Bradford 2 35.09x
Bowling 1 5.90x
Chelsea London 1 1.92x
New Sleaford 1 56.50x
Pool 1 294.12x
Rothley 1 161.29x
Yeadon 1 25.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 11
Benjamin 5
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Charles 4
George 4
Henry 3
James 3
Jonathan 3
David 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Bottomley 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Joe 1
Manks 1
Mary 1
Moses 1
Naylor 1
Noble 1
Owen 1
Rhodes 1
Saml. 1
Squire 1
Walker 1
Walter 1
Wesley 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Silson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 176 people were recorded with the Silson surname. That placed it at #13,930 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 141 in 2016. That gives Silson a modern rank of #24,753.

What does the Silson map show?

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