NameCensus.

UK surname

Sorsby

An English locational surname derived from settlements in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Sorsby surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 279, ranked #15,534, up from #15,891 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Ecclesfield and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sorsby is 313 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.8%.

1881 census count

144

Ranked #15,891

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

1997

313 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sorsby had 144 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,891 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 214 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Sorsby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sorsby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sorsby 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 70 #21,020
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 144 #15,891
1891 historical 153 #18,078
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 214 #14,333
1997 modern 313 #13,158
1998 modern 299 #13,908
1999 modern 295 #14,108
2000 modern 299 #13,937
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 295 #14,146
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 271 #14,883
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 274 #14,769
2007 modern 279 #14,732
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 286 #14,910
2010 modern 285 #15,276
2011 modern 276 #15,471
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 282 #15,441
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 270 #15,911
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

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Where Sorsbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough, Ecclesfield, Sheffield and Rotherham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield and Rotherham. 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 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Ecclesfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rotherham Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 076 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 003 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 045 Sheffield
4 Sheffield 072 Sheffield
5 Rotherham 030 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sorsby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sorsby

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Sorsby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sorsby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Sorsby 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

Sorsby 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

Sorsby falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sorsby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sorsby

The surname SORSBY is of English origin, originating in the county of Yorkshire during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the village of Sowerby in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which itself was named after the Old English words "sowr" meaning sour or bitter, and "by" meaning a farmstead or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sourebi" and "Sourebia". This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Soureby and a William de Soureby, both likely hailing from the village of Sowerby. By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved to something closer to its modern form, with mentions of a John Soresby and a Thomas Soresby.

A notable bearer of the name was Sir Ralph Soresby (c.1490-1559), who served as Lord Mayor of York and was a prominent figure in the city during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was Richard Sorsby (1659-1723), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

In the 18th century, the name was borne by William Sampson Sorsby (1737-1796), an English banker and businessman who founded the Sorsby Bank in Yorkshire. The following century saw the birth of Frederick Sorsby (1853-1936), a renowned English ophthalmologist who made significant contributions to the study of eye diseases.

One of the most famous bearers of the surname was Sir Arnold Sorsby (1900-1980), a pioneering British ophthalmologist and geneticist who helped establish the field of ophthalmic genetics. His research on eye disorders and their hereditary aspects was groundbreaking.

Throughout its history, the SORSBY surname has maintained its strongest presence in Yorkshire, where it originated, and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from businessmen and clergymen to renowned medical professionals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sorsby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sorsby 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 134 Sorsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 134 9.76x
Nottinghamshire 5 2.68x
Leicestershire 1 0.65x
Midlothian 1 0.54x
Norfolk 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesfield in Yorkshire leads with 40 Sorsbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 397.61x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesfield 40 397.61x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 18 140.73x
Sheffield 18 41.20x
Brightside Bierlow 13 48.29x
Kimberworth 12 157.48x
Nether Hallam 7 37.70x
Worsbrough 7 174.13x
Hoyland Nether 6 178.04x
Doncaster 5 49.85x
Blyth 4 1379.31x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 10.75x
Wath On Dearne 3 109.49x
Barnsley 1 7.06x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 25.97x
Lenton 1 22.73x
Norwich St Saviour 1 133.33x
Wartnaby 1 1250.00x
Whiston 1 151.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 7
Joseph 6
Charles 5
George 5
Thomas 4
James 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Henry 2
Westall 2
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Chas.J. 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Jeremiah 1
Percy 1
Sam 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Wm.B.D.J. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Sorsby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sorsby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Sorsby surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sorsby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Sorsby a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Sorsby surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from settlements in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

What does the Sorsby map show?

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