NameCensus.

UK surname

Solloway

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "sol" meaning muddy and "weg" meaning path or way.

In the 1881 census there were 246 people recorded with the Solloway surname, ranking it #11,201 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 204, ranked #19,320, down from #11,201 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Ebbe, Bedwelty and Dalton-in-Furness. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Croydon and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Solloway is 305 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.1%.

1881 census count

246

Ranked #11,201

Modern count

204

2016, ranked #19,320

Peak year

1911

305 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Solloway had 246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,201 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016, ranked #19,320.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 305 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Solloway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Solloway surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Solloway 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 246 #11,201
1891 historical 233 #13,392
1901 historical 266 #12,617
1911 historical 305 #11,307
1997 modern 228 #16,211
1998 modern 237 #16,272
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 226 #16,840
2001 modern 220 #16,914
2002 modern 215 #17,487
2003 modern 225 #16,808
2004 modern 228 #16,723
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 206 #18,300
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 214 #18,436
2012 modern 204 #18,973
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 205 #19,269
2016 modern 204 #19,320

Geography

Back to top

Where Solloways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Ebbe, Bedwelty, Dalton-in-Furness, New Windsor, Clewer and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Croydon, Test Valley, Lewisham and South Oxfordshire. 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 Ebbe Oxfordshire
2 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
3 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
4 New Windsor, Clewer Berkshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 005 Wychavon
2 Croydon 027 Croydon
3 Test Valley 013 Test Valley
4 Lewisham 025 Lewisham
5 South Oxfordshire 009 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Solloway

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Solloway

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Solloway surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Solloway 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Solloway is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Solloway is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Solloway

The surname Solloway is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English words "solu" meaning muddy or marshy, and "weg" meaning road or way. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a muddy or marshy road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Solloway can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, records show a family of Solloways residing in the village of Solloway, located in the county of Herefordshire in the West Midlands region of England. This may indicate that the name was originally a locational surname, derived from the name of this particular village.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several notable individuals with the surname Solloway are mentioned in historical records. One such person was John Solloway (1545-1621), a respected merchant and landowner in the city of Bristol. Another was Elizabeth Solloway (1587-1663), who was accused of witchcraft during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts.

In the 18th century, the name Solloway appears to have been particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable individual from this period was William Solloway (1721-1797), a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded a school for underprivileged children in the town of Halifax.

As the British Empire expanded during the 19th century, many individuals with the surname Solloway emigrated to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other British colonies. One such individual was James Solloway (1832-1899), a wealthy industrialist who established a successful manufacturing company in the city of Toronto, Canada.

Throughout its history, the surname Solloway has undergone various spelling variations, including Solway, Solawe, and Solewaie. Despite these variations, the name has retained its distinct roots and continues to be found in various regions around the world today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Solloway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Solloway 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 47 Solloways recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 47 1.65x
Oxfordshire 36 24.29x
Worcestershire 34 10.85x
Staffordshire 24 2.96x
Middlesex 22 0.92x
Berkshire 17 9.44x
Surrey 12 1.03x
Nottinghamshire 11 3.40x
Warwickshire 9 1.49x
Devon 8 1.60x
Cheshire 7 1.32x
Derbyshire 4 1.06x
Lincolnshire 4 1.04x
Huntingdonshire 3 6.30x
Bedfordshire 2 1.61x
Kent 2 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.64x
Gloucestershire 1 0.21x
Leicestershire 1 0.38x
Yorkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eccleston In Chorley in Lancashire leads with 35 Solloways recorded in 1881 and an index of 4729.73x.

Place Total Index
Eccleston In Chorley 35 4729.73x
Cowley 11 237.58x
Headington 10 434.78x
Oxford St Ebbe 10 229.36x
Astley 9 1363.64x
Aston 9 5.40x
Barrow In Furness 8 20.66x
Blockley 7 395.48x
Finchley 7 76.09x
Kidderminster Borough 7 38.17x
New Windsor 7 115.51x
Radford 7 42.61x
Stockport 7 25.68x
Branstone 6 740.74x
Camberwell 6 3.91x
Islington London 6 2.58x
Stoke Newington London 6 32.10x
Wytham 6 3750.00x
Farewell Chorley 5 2777.78x
Newton Abbot St Mary 5 119.33x
Battersea 4 4.53x
Droitwich St Andrew 4 506.33x
Nottingham St Mary 4 4.78x
Sedgley 4 13.29x
Adlington 3 112.36x
Bromsgrove 3 28.44x
Burton Pedwardine 3 1764.71x
Clewer 3 40.65x
Derby St Alkmund 3 26.64x
Hail Weston 3 1034.48x
Holywell 3 434.78x
Rock 3 240.00x
Ampthill 2 108.11x
Burton Upon Trent 2 10.55x
Deptford St Paul 2 3.17x
Newington 2 2.26x
Tavistock 2 35.15x
Trysull 2 425.53x
Walsall Foreign 2 4.78x
Bristol St Stephen 1 81.97x
Derby St Werburgh 1 4.61x
Halifax 1 2.86x
Hundleby 1 192.31x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.65x
Lichfield St Michael 1 39.37x
Littlemore 1 243.90x
Liverpool 1 0.58x
Longdon 1 89.29x
Martley 1 111.11x
Melbury Sampford 1 1666.67x
Old Windsor 1 48.08x
Oxford St Giles 1 14.14x
Paddington London 1 1.13x
Ratcliffe London 1 7.55x
St George Hanover 1 3.19x
Tipton 1 4.03x
Tormoham 1 4.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 12
Thomas 11
George 7
James 6
Major 5
Albert 4
Charles 4
Henry 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Fredk. 3
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Isiah 2
Johnson 2
Wm. 2
Alice 1
B. 1
Daniel 1
Eden 1
Edgar 1
Enos 1
F. 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Louis 1
Owen 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Solloway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Solloway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 246 people were recorded with the Solloway surname. That placed it at #11,201 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Solloway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 204 in 2016. That gives Solloway a modern rank of #19,320.

What does the Solloway surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "sol" meaning muddy and "weg" meaning path or way.

What does the Solloway map show?

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