NameCensus.

UK surname

Sixsmith

An English surname derived from a craft related to weaving or tailoring.

In the 1881 census there were 500 people recorded with the Sixsmith surname, ranking it #6,776 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 578, ranked #8,965, down from #6,776 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Wigan and Dean. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Northumberland and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sixsmith is 646 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.6%.

1881 census count

500

Ranked #6,776

Modern count

578

2016, ranked #8,965

Peak year

1911

646 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sixsmith had 500 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,776 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016, ranked #8,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 646 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Sixsmith surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sixsmith surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sixsmith 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 265 #8,395
1861 historical 280 #8,953
1881 historical 500 #6,776
1891 historical 510 #7,307
1901 historical 571 #7,341
1911 historical 646 #6,476
1997 modern 629 #7,868
1998 modern 618 #8,221
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 633 #8,101
2001 modern 621 #8,078
2002 modern 637 #8,090
2003 modern 618 #8,139
2004 modern 610 #8,246
2005 modern 571 #8,571
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 588 #8,486
2008 modern 585 #8,584
2009 modern 592 #8,681
2010 modern 593 #8,862
2011 modern 589 #8,814
2012 modern 570 #8,932
2013 modern 580 #8,955
2014 modern 594 #8,872
2015 modern 587 #8,875
2016 modern 578 #8,965

Geography

Back to top

Where Sixsmiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Wigan, Dean, Childwall and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Northumberland, Salford, Barnsley and West Lancashire. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Dean Lancashire
4 Childwall Lancashire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 024 Wigan
2 Northumberland 029 Northumberland
3 Salford 017 Salford
4 Barnsley 023 Barnsley
5 West Lancashire 015 West Lancashire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sixsmith

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sixsmith

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sixsmith, 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 Sixsmith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sixsmith 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, Sixsmith 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

Sixsmith is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sixsmith 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 Sixsmith 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 Sixsmith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sixsmith

The surname Sixsmith has its roots in England, originating as an occupational name during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "siex" meaning six and "smið" meaning smith, referring to a smith who worked with a specific type of iron tool or implement that had six points or prongs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a Robert Sixsmith is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already established in the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Sexsmith and Syxsmyth, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation common during that era. The Sixsmith family seems to have had a presence in various parts of England, including Warwickshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.

The Domesday Book, a renowned medieval survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Sixsmith. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the name, such as Sixhills in Lincolnshire and Sixpenny Handley in Dorset.

Notable individuals with the surname Sixsmith include:

1. John Sixsmith (born circa 1555), a prominent English politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Thetford from 1597 to 1601. 2. Elizabeth Sixsmith (1579-1645), an English religious writer and translator known for her works on the Puritan faith. 3. Thomas Sixsmith (1631-1692), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological treatises. 4. William Sixsmith (1790-1857), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Michael's in Stockwell. 5. Charles Sixsmith (1895-1978), a British historian and author who wrote extensively on the history of Yorkshire and the English countryside.

While the surname Sixsmith is not among the most common in England, it has persisted over centuries and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, authors, clergy, and architects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sixsmith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sixsmith 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. Lancashire leads with 410 Sixsmiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.07x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 410 7.07x
Yorkshire 25 0.52x
Gloucestershire 22 2.30x
Staffordshire 12 0.73x
Cheshire 11 1.02x
Durham 9 0.62x
Devon 7 0.69x
Warwickshire 2 0.16x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 1.72x
Suffolk 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tyldesley Cum Shakerley in Lancashire leads with 32 Sixsmiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.73x.

Place Total Index
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 32 191.73x
West Derby 27 15.91x
Ashton In Makerfield 26 157.48x
Farnworth 22 63.31x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 20 22.16x
Upholland 19 255.72x
Little Hulton 18 187.50x
Oldham 18 9.62x
Wavertree 17 91.59x
Little Lever 15 202.16x
Warrington 14 20.36x
Worsley 13 36.36x
Sutton 12 61.70x
Eccleston In Prescot 11 37.79x
Great Lever 11 178.86x
Prescot 10 95.33x
Adlington 9 165.75x
Everton 9 4.87x
Over Hulton 9 545.45x
Ince In Makerfield 8 29.65x
Salford 8 4.69x
Wigan 8 9.87x
Whitwood 7 101.74x
Wortley In Bramley 7 18.25x
Aspull 6 43.99x
Birkenhead 6 6.98x
Helmington Row 6 88.63x
Little Bolton 6 8.05x
Prestwich 6 41.47x
Royton 6 33.82x
Stoke Damerel 6 8.43x
Wednesbury 6 14.55x
Elton 5 24.95x
Great Bolton 5 6.51x
Great Harwood 5 47.71x
Heeley 5 33.97x
Kirkdale 5 5.13x
Latchford 5 69.74x
Lostock 5 381.68x
Radcliffe 5 17.89x
Manchester 4 1.53x
Middle Hulton 4 116.62x
Toxteth Park 4 2.04x
Ardwick 3 5.74x
Beswick 3 20.23x
Esh 3 28.36x
Hunslet 3 3.97x
Liverpool 3 0.85x
Wolstanton 3 5.99x
Bristol St Stephen 2 80.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 2.17x
Leeds 2 0.73x
Newton 2 4.47x
Rumworth 2 24.13x
Accrington 1 1.90x
Allerton 1 71.94x
Ashwater 1 69.44x
Aston 1 0.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 2.22x
Birkdale 1 6.82x
Birmingham 1 0.24x
Birtle Cum Bamford 1 26.46x
Bobbington 1 147.06x
Breightmet 1 39.22x
Darcy Lever 1 29.94x
Halliwell 1 4.74x
Handsworth 1 2.46x
Harborne 1 1.89x
Hulme 1 0.83x
Otley 1 94.34x
Over Darwen 1 2.16x
Pendleton In Salford 1 1.45x
Royal Navy 1 2.01x
Shoreditch London 1 0.47x
Tonge With Haulgh 1 8.86x
Walton On Hill 1 3.18x
Whiston 1 22.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 27
Ellen 19
Sarah 18
Alice 15
Hannah 11
Ann 9
Jane 9
Margaret 8
Martha 6
Maria 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Esther 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Nancy 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Betsy 2
Betty 2
Clara 2
Margret 2
Margt. 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Beryl 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Emelia 1
Emilea 1
Ester 1
Eunice 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Margt.Ann 1
Matilda 1
Mazo 1
Mgt. 1
Minnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 38
Thomas 31
William 31
James 26
George 14
Joseph 10
Samuel 10
Henry 9
Albert 7
Daniel 7
Peter 5
Richard 5
Robert 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Wright 3
Andrew 2
David 2
Edward 2
Geoe. 2
Herbert 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Aaron 1
Alexander 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Jabez.E. 1
Joe 1
Jos. 1
Jos.Wm. 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Livesey 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Rodger 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Sixsmith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sixsmith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 500 people were recorded with the Sixsmith surname. That placed it at #6,776 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sixsmith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 578 in 2016. That gives Sixsmith a modern rank of #8,965.

What does the Sixsmith surname mean?

An English surname derived from a craft related to weaving or tailoring.

What does the Sixsmith map show?

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