NameCensus.

UK surname

Sissons

An English surname derived from the personal name Sisonius or Sissonius, itself derived from a Greek personal name.

In the 1881 census there were 923 people recorded with the Sissons surname, ranking it #4,161 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,237, ranked #4,827, down from #4,161 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sheffield and Sculcoates. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Selby and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sissons is 1,316 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.0%.

1881 census count

923

Ranked #4,161

Modern count

1,237

2016, ranked #4,827

Peak year

1999

1,316 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sissons had 923 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,161 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016, ranked #4,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,128 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sissons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sissons surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sissons 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 545 #4,633
1861 historical 517 #5,061
1881 historical 923 #4,161
1891 historical 803 #5,014
1901 historical 1,054 #4,560
1911 historical 1,128 #4,127
1997 modern 1,270 #4,487
1998 modern 1,312 #4,529
1999 modern 1,316 #4,551
2000 modern 1,297 #4,586
2001 modern 1,295 #4,499
2002 modern 1,300 #4,571
2003 modern 1,261 #4,612
2004 modern 1,248 #4,649
2005 modern 1,217 #4,701
2006 modern 1,204 #4,757
2007 modern 1,213 #4,769
2008 modern 1,229 #4,754
2009 modern 1,254 #4,766
2010 modern 1,268 #4,812
2011 modern 1,248 #4,826
2012 modern 1,242 #4,773
2013 modern 1,263 #4,784
2014 modern 1,284 #4,731
2015 modern 1,254 #4,789
2016 modern 1,237 #4,827

Geography

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Where Sissons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sheffield, Sculcoates, Worksop and Hutton Cranswick. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Selby and Mansfield. 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 3
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Worksop Nottinghamshire
5 Hutton Cranswick Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 015 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Selby 004 Selby
4 Mansfield 009 Mansfield
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 008 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sissons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sissons

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sissons 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

Sissons is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sissons falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sissons

The surname Sissons is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Sis" or "Sisse," which itself is a diminutive form of the name "Cecilia."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Simon Sysson is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

The Sissons surname is particularly concentrated in the northern counties of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. This regional distribution suggests that the name may have originated in these areas, possibly among families with connections to the medieval textile or wool trade.

In the 13th century, the Sissons name appears in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like record of landowners and their holdings. This document provides evidence of the name's continued presence and recognition during this period.

Notable individuals with the Sissons surname include William Sissons (1714-1799), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, and Thomas Sissons (1814-1890), a prominent English industrialist and manufacturer of agricultural machinery.

Another notable figure was Sir Nicholas Sissons (1662-1726), a successful merchant and Member of Parliament for Ripon in the early 18th century. His wealth and influence contributed to the prominence of the Sissons name in Yorkshire during that era.

In the literary realm, Anne Sissons (1925-2008) was an English author and poet, best known for her autobiographical works and her contributions to the genre of nature writing.

The Sissons name has also been associated with various place names, such as Sissons Farm in Cumbria and Sissons Carr in North Yorkshire, further reinforcing its connection to the northern regions of England.

While the Sissons surname may have evolved from humble beginnings, it has left an indelible mark on the history and cultural fabric of England, particularly in the northern counties where its roots lie deepest.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sissons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sissons 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 500 Sissons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.60x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 500 5.60x
Nottinghamshire 136 11.19x
Lincolnshire 76 5.27x
Surrey 43 0.98x
Middlesex 40 0.44x
Lancashire 32 0.30x
Derbyshire 23 1.63x
Kent 19 0.62x
Norfolk 10 0.72x
Essex 6 0.34x
Northumberland 6 0.45x
Gloucestershire 5 0.28x
Shropshire 5 0.64x
Worcestershire 4 0.34x
Durham 3 0.11x
Herefordshire 3 0.81x
Leicestershire 3 0.30x
Berkshire 2 0.30x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Cumberland 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 51 Sissons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.11x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 51 10.11x
Sculcoates 46 32.48x
Sheffield 46 16.18x
Hutton Cranswick 45 1196.81x
Mansfield 25 59.47x
Worksop 25 69.39x
Gainsborough 24 70.63x
Ecclesall Bierlow 23 12.66x
Holy Trinity 19 8.84x
Wales 15 212.46x
Epworth 13 193.45x
Mansfield Woodhouse 13 160.89x
Hunslet 12 8.62x
Nottingham St Mary 12 3.82x
Manchester 11 2.29x
St Pancras London 11 1.52x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 12.02x
Carlton In Lindrick 10 309.60x
Ilkeston 10 25.28x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 10 44.39x
Newington 10 3.00x
Basford 9 16.07x
Camberwell 9 1.56x
Limehouse London 9 9.10x
Beswick 8 1052.63x
Leconfield Arram 8 808.08x
Ordsall 8 86.02x
Radford 8 12.96x
Sherburn 8 108.99x
South Milford 8 245.40x
Barmby On Moor 7 518.52x
Deptford St Nicholas 7 28.69x
Huddersfield 7 5.38x
Huggate 7 411.76x
Kimberworth 7 14.12x
Plumstead 7 6.83x
Richmond 7 11.37x
Staveley 7 27.94x
Brandesburton 6 256.41x
Costessey 6 201.34x
Longbenton 6 10.56x
Nether Hallam 6 4.97x
Scarborough 6 7.39x
Skirbeck Quarter 6 228.14x
Spotland 6 5.05x
Swinton In Rotherham 6 25.40x
York St Sampson 6 314.14x
Arnold 5 28.20x
Brightside Bierlow 5 2.85x
Chapel Allerton 5 37.40x
Edwinstowe 5 173.61x
Gilberdike Bishopsoil 5 393.70x
Great Little Preston 5 195.31x
Pocklington 5 59.31x
Preston 5 1.75x
Putney 5 12.17x
Towton 5 1724.14x
Warthill Copyhold 5 847.46x
West Ham 5 1.27x
Acton Burnell 4 396.04x
Eckington 4 11.67x
Hessle In Sculcoates 4 50.70x
Holbeck 4 6.76x
Horncastle 4 26.90x
Huntington 4 220.99x
Islington London 4 0.46x
Lambeth 4 0.51x
Nunnington 4 322.58x
Snitterby 4 470.59x
Cheetham 3 3.76x
Crossgate 3 25.60x
Dudley 3 2.10x
Elksley 3 294.12x
Leven 3 114.50x
Rotherham 3 5.96x
St Mary 3 50.25x
Stroud 3 8.72x
Sutton In Ashfield 3 11.38x
Tupsley 3 95.54x
Wilberfoss 3 234.38x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 69
Sarah 43
Elizabeth 31
Ann 28
Jane 27
Emma 22
Annie 13
Alice 12
Eliza 12
Hannah 12
Ada 10
Margaret 9
Emily 8
Ellen 7
Frances 7
Martha 7
Catherine 6
Edith 6
Fanny 6
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Caroline 5
Kate 5
Lucy 5
Louisa 4
Matilda 4
Lucinda 3
Mabel 3
Susan 3
Bertha 2
Clara 2
Eunice 2
Florance 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Hilda 2
Lavinia 2
Nancy 2
Norah 2
Sabina 2
Susannah 2
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Elizabeh 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ella 1
Hellen 1
W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 50
George 46
Thomas 33
Henry 24
Charles 22
Robert 22
Joseph 18
Richard 14
Arthur 13
James 11
Wm. 9
Harry 8
Walter 8
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Samuel 6
Alfred 5
Ernest 5
Harold 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Christopher 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Saml. 3
Tom 3
Clement 2
E. 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Joe 2
Matthew 2
Robinson 2
Wilfred 2
Adam 1
Chas. 1
Enoch 1
F. 1
Frances 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Isaiah 1
Isiah 1
Jerimiah 1
Jno. 1
Zephaniah 1

FAQ

Sissons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sissons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 923 people were recorded with the Sissons surname. That placed it at #4,161 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sissons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,237 in 2016. That gives Sissons a modern rank of #4,827.

What does the Sissons surname mean?

An English surname derived from the personal name Sisonius or Sissonius, itself derived from a Greek personal name.

What does the Sissons map show?

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