NameCensus.

UK surname

Southway

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Southway surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Upton Noble. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Southway is 154 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.1%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2010

154 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Southway had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 123 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Southway surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Southway surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Southway 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 131 #22,927
1998 modern 138 #22,814
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 136 #23,155
2001 modern 132 #23,230
2002 modern 138 #23,094
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 138 #22,999
2006 modern 143 #22,619
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 142 #24,148
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 139 #24,956
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Southways are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Upton Noble, Clifton and Evercreech. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Somerset and Bristol. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Upton Noble Somerset
4 Clifton Gloucestershire
5 Evercreech Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 010 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
4 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
5 Bristol 029 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Southway

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Southway

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Southway is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Southway is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Southway families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Southway 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. Gloucestershire leads with 35 Southways recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.73x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 35 24.73x
Somerset 22 18.94x
Hampshire 7 4.73x
Glamorgan 5 3.98x
Staffordshire 2 0.82x
Wiltshire 2 3.13x
Sussex 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Clifton in Gloucestershire leads with 35 Southways recorded in 1881 and an index of 489.51x.

Place Total Index
Clifton 35 489.51x
Stoke Lane 13 7647.06x
Upton Noble 7 14000.00x
Widley 6 2307.69x
Ystradyfodwg 5 45.37x
Chippenham 2 149.25x
Hammerwich 2 571.43x
Binegar 1 1428.57x
Keinton Mandeville 1 769.23x
Portsea 1 3.45x
Seaford 1 243.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Mary 6
Emily 3
Sarah 3
Eliza 2
Isabella 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Elizbth. 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Southway households.

FAQ

Southway surname: questions and answers

How common was the Southway surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Southway surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Southway surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Southway a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Southway map show?

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