NameCensus.

UK surname

Sones

A surname derived from the Middle English word "sone", meaning "son".

In the 1881 census there were 194 people recorded with the Sones surname, ranking it #13,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 254, ranked #16,632, down from #13,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cookley, London parishes and Halesworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Colchester, South Holland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sones is 306 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.9%.

1881 census count

194

Ranked #13,097

Modern count

254

2016, ranked #16,632

Peak year

2000

306 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sones had 194 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016, ranked #16,632.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 278 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sones surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sones surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sones 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 161 #12,288
1861 historical 174 #13,483
1881 historical 194 #13,097
1891 historical 205 #14,649
1901 historical 263 #12,717
1911 historical 278 #12,038
1997 modern 292 #13,765
1998 modern 294 #14,060
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 306 #13,742
2001 modern 285 #14,191
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 278 #14,540
2004 modern 266 #15,075
2005 modern 251 #15,590
2006 modern 244 #16,011
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 257 #16,099
2010 modern 261 #16,294
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 256 #16,506
2014 modern 261 #16,421
2015 modern 256 #16,524
2016 modern 254 #16,632

Geography

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Where Sones' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cookley, London parishes, Halesworth, Chediston and Waltham Abbey or Holy Cross. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Colchester, South Holland, County Durham, Wealden and Norwich. 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 Cookley Suffolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Halesworth Suffolk
4 Chediston Suffolk
5 Waltham Abbey or Holy Cross Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Colchester 003 Colchester
2 South Holland 002 South Holland
3 County Durham 038 County Durham
4 Wealden 009 Wealden
5 Norwich 007 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sones

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sones

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sones 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

Sones is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sones falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sones

The surname Sones is of English origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "sunu," which means "son." This suggests that the name was initially a patronymic name, given to someone who was the son of a person with a specific name or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sones surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records from the reign of King Edward I. The name is listed as "Sone" in these rolls, indicating an early spelling variation of the modern Sones.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it is spelled as "Sones." This spelling variation suggests that the name had evolved from its earlier form and was becoming more established.

The Sones surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John Sones, a merchant who lived in London during the 15th century. He is mentioned in the records of the City of London Corporation in 1487.

Another prominent figure with the Sones surname was Sir John Sones, who was knighted by King Henry VIII in the 16th century. He served as a member of the Privy Council and played a significant role in the English Reformation.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the Sones name was Thomas Sones, a prolific writer and scholar who was born in 1608. He authored several works on theology and philosophy and was highly respected in his time.

During the 18th century, the Sones surname was found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Surrey, and Hertfordshire. One notable individual from this period was Richard Sones, a prominent landowner and businessman who lived in Kent between 1712 and 1785.

In the 19th century, the Sones surname gained further recognition with the birth of Sir Jonathan Sones (1828-1908), a renowned engineer and industrialist. He made significant contributions to the development of steam engines and was knighted for his achievements in 1892.

The Sones surname has been associated with various place names throughout its history, such as Sones End, a hamlet in the parish of Sandhurst in Kent. Additionally, the name has been spelled in various ways over the centuries, including Sone, Soones, and Soan, reflecting the linguistic evolution of the English language.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sones families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sones 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. Suffolk leads with 59 Sones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.27x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 59 26.27x
Middlesex 25 1.36x
Norfolk 25 8.82x
Essex 24 6.59x
Surrey 18 2.00x
Yorkshire 10 0.55x
Kent 8 1.27x
Durham 6 1.09x
Buckinghamshire 4 3.59x
Hampshire 3 0.79x
Lincolnshire 3 1.02x
Berkshire 1 0.72x
Hertfordshire 1 0.79x
Rutland 1 7.39x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halesworth in Suffolk leads with 23 Sones' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1446.54x.

Place Total Index
Halesworth 23 1446.54x
Great Yarmouth 15 63.88x
Carlton Colville 10 1219.51x
Waltham Holy Cross 9 264.71x
West Ham 9 11.20x
Bow London 8 34.09x
Wandsworth 8 45.07x
Limehouse London 7 34.59x
Swaffham 7 303.03x
Offham 6 2608.70x
Woking 6 110.91x
Woodford St Mary 6 1463.41x
Beccles 5 138.50x
Willesden 5 28.77x
Wingate 5 132.98x
Cookley 4 3076.92x
Leeds 4 3.88x
Shipley 4 42.19x
Wickham Market 4 430.11x
Bourn 3 126.05x
Haddenham 3 326.09x
Heigham 3 19.71x
Walpole 3 1200.00x
Wimbledon 3 29.73x
Woodbridge 3 104.53x
Basingstoke 2 45.98x
Blythburgh 2 384.62x
Chediston 2 869.57x
Abingdon St Helen 1 24.69x
Bengeo 1 68.03x
Dartford 1 15.55x
Deal 1 18.62x
Dorking 1 16.58x
Gateshead 1 2.43x
Holdenhurst 1 10.09x
Islington London 1 0.56x
Kensington London 1 0.98x
Lowestoft 1 9.43x
Paddington London 1 1.48x
Potter Newton 1 31.06x
St George In East 1 7.97x
St Marylebone London 1 1.02x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 1 11.78x
Theberton 1 263.16x
Ubbeston 1 833.33x
Uppingham 1 62.11x
Walsall Borough 1 20.70x
Wendover 1 83.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 9
Alice 8
Mary 8
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 5
Jane 4
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Anna 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Annie 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte.O. 1
Christiann 1
Christtina 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh.M. 1
Evelyne 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Floway 1
Georgeanna 1
Gertrude 1
Harrt.N. 1
Helen 1
Hephzibah 1
Hepzibah 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lily 1
Mahala 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Maryann 1
Nellie.M. 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Roseanna 1
Ruth 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Charles 7
James 5
William 5
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
George 4
Benjamin 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Thomas 2
Zila 2
Bertram 1
Chas.Edwin 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Ernest 1
Fredick 1
Fredk. 1
John.G. 1
Joseph 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Rd. 1
Youngman 1
Zachariah 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Sones surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sones surname in 1881?

In 1881, 194 people were recorded with the Sones surname. That placed it at #13,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sones surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016. That gives Sones a modern rank of #16,632.

What does the Sones surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "sone", meaning "son".

What does the Sones map show?

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