UK surname
A topographic surname derived from living near a stable or barn.
In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Stable surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #17,335 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Millom, Muncaster, Urswick and Egremont. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stable is 230 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.0%.
1881 census count
125
Ranked #17,335
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1861
230 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stable surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stable surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 184 | #11,120 |
| 1861 | historical | 230 | #10,611 |
| 1881 | historical | 125 | #17,335 |
| 1891 | historical | 148 | #18,506 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 38 | #34,066 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 45 | #33,526 |
| 2001 | modern | 39 | #33,923 |
| 2002 | modern | 34 | #34,634 |
| 2003 | modern | 39 | #34,296 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 43 | #34,328 |
| 2006 | modern | 43 | #34,647 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 51 | #34,439 |
| 2009 | modern | 49 | #34,728 |
| 2010 | modern | 51 | #34,773 |
| 2011 | modern | 49 | #34,868 |
| 2012 | modern | 49 | #34,873 |
| 2013 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2014 | modern | 53 | #34,753 |
| 2015 | modern | 53 | #34,726 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Millom, Muncaster, Urswick, Egremont, Dalton-in-Furness and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millom, Muncaster | Cumberland |
| 2 | Urswick | Lancashire |
| 3 | Egremont | Cumberland |
| 4 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stable surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stable, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Stable surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stable household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Stable is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stable is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stable, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stable originated in England in the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "stapol," meaning a post or pillar, which later evolved into the word "stable," referring to a building where horses and other livestock were kept. The name likely originated among those who lived near or worked in stables.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Stable surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, which mention a Robert del Stable. This suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the Stable surname appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Henry de la Stable in Oxfordshire. The use of the preposition "de la" (meaning "of the") before the surname indicates that it was often used as a locative name, referring to a person's place of residence or occupation.
The Stable surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. While the spelling may have varied slightly, such as "Estable" or "Establer," these entries likely refer to individuals with a connection to stables or related occupations.
Notable individuals with the surname Stable throughout history include:
1. Sir William Stable (c. 1340-1399), an English knight and landowner who fought in the Hundred Years' War. 2. John Stable (c. 1500-1570), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Elizabeth Stable (1585-1658), an English Puritan and one of the earliest settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. 4. Thomas Stable (1665-1719), an English architect who designed several churches and manor houses in the Baroque style. 5. James Stable (1780-1857), a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became an admiral.
The Stable surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Stable Green in Buckinghamshire and Stable Hartley in Northamptonshire, which may have derived their names from individuals bearing the Stable surname who lived or owned property in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stable surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cumberland leads with 39 Stables recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 39 | 37.16x |
| Lancashire | 28 | 1.94x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 1.39x |
| Yorkshire | 10 | 0.83x |
| Essex | 9 | 3.74x |
| Oxfordshire | 5 | 6.64x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 1.30x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.80x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.48x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.34x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 1.26x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.37x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.39x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.19x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 6.88x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Muncaster in Cumberland leads with 15 Stables recorded in 1881 and an index of 6818.18x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Muncaster | 15 | 6818.18x |
| Dalton In Furness | 9 | 161.29x |
| Woodford | 9 | 330.88x |
| Normanton | 8 | 220.39x |
| Barrow In Furness | 6 | 30.50x |
| Dunnerdale With | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Aston Cote | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Preston Quarter | 5 | 170.07x |
| Urswick | 5 | 925.93x |
| Egremont | 4 | 160.00x |
| Kensington London | 4 | 5.90x |
| Stoke Newington London | 4 | 42.11x |
| Arlecdon | 3 | 107.53x |
| Bethnal Green London | 3 | 5.66x |
| Islington London | 3 | 2.54x |
| Lamplugh | 3 | 566.04x |
| Millom | 3 | 93.17x |
| Weston | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Cleator | 2 | 45.77x |
| Whistones | 2 | 173.91x |
| Awkley | 1 | 833.33x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 2.76x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 0.98x |
| Bromfield | 1 | 625.00x |
| Cheadle | 1 | 19.46x |
| Drigg Carleton | 1 | 416.67x |
| Elstree | 1 | 357.14x |
| Eskdale Wasdale | 1 | 454.55x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 11.66x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 15.27x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 6.49x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 0.94x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.47x |
| Lowside Quarter | 1 | 769.23x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.54x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.23x |
| Patterdale | 1 | 333.33x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 5.12x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 8.05x |
| St Faith Winchester | 1 | 86.21x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.02x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 6.67x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stable surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 13 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Adele | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| F. | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Inez | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Isabelle | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Kathleen | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Leta | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| S.E. | 1 |
| Sara | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stable surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Stable households.
FAQ
In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Stable surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Stable a modern rank of #34,889.
A topographic surname derived from living near a stable or barn.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stable bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.