NameCensus.

UK surname

Spanswick

A locational surname denoting someone from Spanswick near Rochdale, Lancashire.

In the 1881 census there were 277 people recorded with the Spanswick surname, ranking it #10,283 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 536, ranked #9,486, up from #10,283 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lambourn, Newbury and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Bridgend and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spanswick is 556 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.5%.

1881 census count

277

Ranked #10,283

Modern count

536

2016, ranked #9,486

Peak year

2000

556 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spanswick had 277 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,283 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016, ranked #9,486.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 445 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Spanswick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spanswick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spanswick 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 221 #9,630
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 277 #10,283
1891 historical 317 #10,611
1901 historical 397 #9,521
1911 historical 445 #8,582
1997 modern 528 #8,934
1998 modern 548 #8,960
1999 modern 544 #9,055
2000 modern 556 #8,874
2001 modern 541 #8,909
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 512 #9,328
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 501 #9,436
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 508 #9,521
2009 modern 516 #9,614
2010 modern 538 #9,523
2011 modern 538 #9,444
2012 modern 533 #9,407
2013 modern 544 #9,420
2014 modern 542 #9,508
2015 modern 542 #9,436
2016 modern 536 #9,486

Geography

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Where Spanswicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lambourn, Newbury, London parishes, Burbage and Llanvrechva. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Bridgend and Torfaen. 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 Lambourn Berkshire
2 Newbury Berkshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Burbage Wiltshire
5 Llanvrechva Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 024 Wiltshire
2 Bridgend 007 Bridgend
3 Wiltshire 038 Wiltshire
4 Wiltshire 041 Wiltshire
5 Torfaen 009 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spanswick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spanswick

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Spanswick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Spanswick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Spanswick 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

Spanswick is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spanswick falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Spanswick

The surname Spanswick is believed to have originated in England, likely in the 14th or 15th century. It is thought to be derived from a place name, possibly referring to a location in Gloucestershire or Worcestershire. The name may be a combination of the Old English words "spæn," meaning "chip" or "splinter," and "wic," meaning "dwelling" or "village."

One of the earliest known records of the surname Spanswick can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the year 1327, which mention a Richard de Spondeswyke. This suggests that the name was already in use in that region by the early 14th century.

In the 16th century, the spelling variations of the surname included Spondswike, Spondeswick, and Spanswick. These variations reflect the changes in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time.

One notable individual with the surname Spanswick was Thomas Spanswick, who was born in Gloucestershire in the late 16th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1615.

Another historical figure with this surname was John Spanswick, born in Worcestershire around 1620. He was a Puritan minister and played a role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, there is a record of a Robert Spanswick, born in 1721 in Gloucestershire. He was a wealthy merchant and landowner, and his estate was mentioned in several contemporary documents.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable individual was William Spanswick, born in 1812 in Worcestershire. He was an engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of early steam engines and agricultural machinery.

Another prominent figure was Emily Spanswick, born in 1835 in Gloucestershire. She was a women's rights activist and writer, advocating for women's suffrage and education during the Victorian era.

While the surname Spanswick is not widely prevalent today, its origins can be traced back to medieval England, with a concentration in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout history, including landowners, ministers, merchants, inventors, and activists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spanswick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spanswick 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. Berkshire leads with 72 Spanswicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.97x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 72 36.97x
Wiltshire 69 30.07x
Surrey 42 3.32x
Middlesex 34 1.31x
Northamptonshire 8 3.28x
Hampshire 7 1.32x
Hertfordshire 6 3.35x
Kent 6 0.68x
Somerset 6 1.44x
Oxfordshire 4 2.50x
Midlothian 3 0.86x
Monmouthshire 2 1.07x
Suffolk 2 0.63x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Derbyshire 1 0.25x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambourn in Berkshire leads with 38 Spanswicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1968.91x.

Place Total Index
Lambourn 38 1968.91x
Burbage 27 2307.69x
Easton 13 4482.76x
Pewsey 13 769.23x
Lambeth 11 4.86x
South Savernake 11 5789.47x
Whitchurch 9 1125.00x
Northampton Priory St 8 54.64x
Richmond 8 45.15x
St Marylebone London 8 5.77x
Chaddleworth 6 1621.62x
Islington London 6 2.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 11.49x
St Albans 6 163.93x
Camberwell 5 3.02x
Deptford St Paul 5 7.32x
West Shefford 5 1162.79x
Burghclere 4 588.24x
Claverton 4 1818.18x
Clerkenwell London 4 6.53x
Croydon 4 5.70x
Hanworth 4 439.56x
Kensington London 4 2.77x
Reading St Giles 4 20.93x
East Garston 3 731.71x
Great Bedwin 3 184.05x
Newbury 3 48.08x
Newington 3 3.13x
North Leith 3 18.65x
Appleshaw 2 833.33x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.77x
Brighton 2 2.27x
Clewer 2 25.06x
Mortlake 2 35.52x
Oxford St Giles 2 26.18x
Ramsbury 2 96.15x
Sunbury 2 64.10x
Upper Llanvrechva 2 68.73x
Weston 2 62.31x
Bermondsey 1 1.29x
Brome 1 434.78x
Chatham 1 4.11x
Clapham 1 3.08x
Dunchurch 1 112.36x
Esher 1 56.50x
Eye 1 49.02x
Feltham 1 38.61x
Goring 1 108.70x
Grafton 1 1666.67x
Hackney London 1 0.69x
Lowton 1 47.85x
Midgham 1 370.37x
Northwood 1 13.21x
St Andrew Holborn 1 11.36x
Sutton On Hill 1 270.27x
Wasing 1 1428.57x
Westminster St James 1 3.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 13
Eliza 9
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 8
Caroline 7
Alice 6
Jane 6
Ann 4
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Harriet 4
Edith 3
Emily 3
Hannah 3
Emma 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Mercy 2
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Elinor 1
Elizath. 1
Elizth. 1
Emilie 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Georgianna 1
Honoria 1
Honour 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Louiesia 1
Louisa 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nora 1
Phoebe 1
Rosina 1
Sara 1
Thurza 1
Tobitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
Charles 13
George 13
John 13
James 11
Thomas 7
Henry 6
Arthur 5
David 5
Richard 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Amos 1
Bertram 1
Chas.J. 1
Ebenezer 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.C.H. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Jessee 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Valentine 1

FAQ

Spanswick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spanswick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 277 people were recorded with the Spanswick surname. That placed it at #10,283 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spanswick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 536 in 2016. That gives Spanswick a modern rank of #9,486.

What does the Spanswick surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone from Spanswick near Rochdale, Lancashire.

What does the Spanswick map show?

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