NameCensus.

UK surname

Southward

A locational surname referring to someone from the southern region.

In the 1881 census there were 610 people recorded with the Southward surname, ranking it #5,754 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 827, ranked #6,723, down from #5,754 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Bees, Millom, Muncaster and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Barrow-in-Furness and Wyre.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Southward is 900 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.6%.

1881 census count

610

Ranked #5,754

Modern count

827

2016, ranked #6,723

Peak year

1997

900 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Southward had 610 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,754 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 827 in 2016, ranked #6,723.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 794 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Southward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Southward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Southward 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 446 #5,521
1861 historical 444 #5,826
1881 historical 610 #5,754
1891 historical 588 #6,497
1901 historical 705 #6,248
1911 historical 794 #5,500
1997 modern 900 #5,963
1998 modern 879 #6,281
1999 modern 874 #6,351
2000 modern 878 #6,294
2001 modern 858 #6,293
2002 modern 869 #6,360
2003 modern 839 #6,405
2004 modern 842 #6,394
2005 modern 824 #6,454
2006 modern 833 #6,404
2007 modern 822 #6,545
2008 modern 822 #6,589
2009 modern 849 #6,570
2010 modern 862 #6,618
2011 modern 829 #6,743
2012 modern 818 #6,711
2013 modern 811 #6,866
2014 modern 836 #6,746
2015 modern 831 #6,716
2016 modern 827 #6,723

Geography

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Where Southwards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Bees, Millom, Muncaster, Manchester, Egremont and St John Beckermet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Barrow-in-Furness and Wyre. 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 St Bees Cumberland
2 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Egremont Cumberland
5 St John Beckermet Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Wyre 007 Wyre
5 Copeland 006 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Southward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Southward

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Southward 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

Southward is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Southward falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Southward is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Southward

Southward is an English locational surname derived from the Old English words 'sūth' meaning south and 'werd' meaning 'dweller or homestead'. It refers to someone who lived in the southern part of a village, town or area. The name can be traced back to the 12th century in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several references to places with the prefix 'Suth' or 'Suth-', indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Southward appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1191, where a William Sutheward is mentioned. Another early reference is found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1230, which mentions a John Southward.

During the 13th century, the surname was also found in various spellings, such as Suthward, Suthwarde, and Suthewarde, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling at that time.

Notable individuals with the surname Southward include John Southward (c. 1592-1654), an English clergyman and controversialist who served as the Rector of Merton College, Oxford. Another notable figure was Thomas Southward (c. 1601-1676), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Honiton in 1654.

In the 17th century, the name was also associated with the town of Southwark in Surrey, which was known as Suthwearce in Old English. This may have contributed to the popularity of the surname in that region.

Other notable individuals with the Southward surname include William Southward (c. 1618-1702), an English merchant and landowner in Virginia, and John Southward (1840-1904), an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club.

Overall, the surname Southward has a long and rich history in England, dating back to the 12th century and reflecting the geographic origins of its bearers in the southern parts of various regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Southward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Southward 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 275 Southwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.79x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 275 3.79x
Cumberland 248 47.10x
Yorkshire 27 0.45x
Isle of Man 17 14.97x
Cheshire 16 1.19x
Durham 9 0.49x
Westmorland 9 6.70x
Leicestershire 6 0.88x
Derbyshire 5 0.52x
Shropshire 5 0.95x
Hertfordshire 4 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.49x
Devon 1 0.08x
Surrey 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Windle in Lancashire leads with 40 Southwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.94x.

Place Total Index
Windle 40 97.94x
Out Rawcliffe 22 1271.68x
Bootle 21 1235.29x
Egremont 21 167.20x
Bootle Cum Linacre 16 27.76x
Barrow In Furness 15 15.20x
Distington 15 553.51x
Hensingham 15 348.84x
Birker Austhwaite 13 5909.09x
Eccleston In Prescot 13 35.68x
Lowside Quarter 13 1969.70x
Toxteth Park 13 5.29x
Ulpha 13 2096.77x
Cleator 12 54.74x
Kirkby Ireleth 12 331.49x
Preston Quarter 12 81.30x
Lezayre 11 215.69x
Eskdale Wasdale 10 892.86x
Waberthwaite 10 2439.02x
Arlecdon 9 64.29x
Broom 9 596.03x
Gosforth 9 350.19x
Muncaster 9 803.57x
Rottington 9 6428.57x
Everton 8 3.46x
Lamplugh 8 303.03x
Leeds 8 2.34x
Barnacre With Bonds 7 364.58x
Litherland 7 46.14x
Liverpool 7 1.59x
Pilling 7 205.28x
Sutton 7 28.76x
Thornton In Bradford 7 34.69x
Ulverston 7 33.11x
Ashton On Mersey 6 85.96x
Catterall 6 468.75x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 5.20x
Dean 6 346.82x
Keswick 6 89.15x
Leicester St Mary 6 10.95x
Melling 6 357.14x
Mirfield 6 18.03x
Stretford 6 15.03x
Appleby St Michael 5 165.56x
High Bolton 5 877.19x
Parr 5 19.26x
Rastrick 5 29.71x
Thornton In Fylde 5 31.49x
Tranmere 5 10.08x
West Derby 5 2.35x
Beckermet St Bridget 4 287.77x
Bishop Stortford 4 28.41x
Bulwell 4 22.32x
Graystoke 4 425.53x
Great Bolton 4 4.16x
Haile 4 655.74x
Kirkby Lonsdale 4 110.19x
Kirkdale 4 3.28x
Millom 4 24.78x
Moss Side 4 10.47x
Workington 4 13.27x
Worsley 4 8.94x
Birkenhead 3 2.79x
Bitterley 3 143.54x
Dalton In Furness 3 10.71x
Dalton In Wigan 3 288.46x
Harrington 3 47.17x
Huyton With Roby 3 35.29x
Manchester 3 0.92x
Oldham 3 1.28x
Onchan 3 9.17x
Seaton 3 48.86x
Wavertree 3 12.91x
West Broughton 3 122.45x
Wigton 3 38.02x
Cainham 2 81.63x
Claife 2 172.41x
Hulme 2 1.32x
Killamarsh 2 33.56x
Lonan 2 29.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 29
Jane 23
Margaret 22
Hannah 17
Ann 16
Ellen 10
Eleanor 7
Isabella 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Agnes 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Martha 4
Anne 3
Barbara 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Margt. 2
Rachael 2
Beatrice 1
Bettrice 1
Caroline 1
Cath. 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elly 1
Isaballa 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
M.E. 1
Maggie 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 48
Joseph 24
James 23
Thomas 19
Richard 13
Isaac 12
Henry 9
Robert 9
George 8
Edward 6
Samuel 6
Abraham 4
Charles 4
Richd. 4
Ambrose 3
Arthur 3
Nicholas 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
W.J. 2
Anthony 1
Braithwaite 1
Cromwell 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ferdinando 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Hamilton 1
Harry 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Joshua 1
Lancelot 1
Levi 1
Mary 1
Michael 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Wm.Porter 1

FAQ

Southward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Southward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 610 people were recorded with the Southward surname. That placed it at #5,754 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Southward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 827 in 2016. That gives Southward a modern rank of #6,723.

What does the Southward surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from the southern region.

What does the Southward map show?

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