NameCensus.

UK surname

Stain

Surname possibly derived from the Old English word "stān" meaning stone or rock.

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Stain surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 186, ranked #20,575, down from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Skegby, Hampton-in-Arden and Darlaston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Walsall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stain is 212 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.2%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

186

2016, ranked #20,575

Peak year

1998

212 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stain had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016, ranked #20,575.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 188 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Stain surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stain surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stain 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 186 #15,740
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1911 historical 182 #15,859
1997 modern 209 #17,157
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 211 #17,662
2000 modern 203 #18,043
2001 modern 195 #18,215
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 188 #18,810
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 193 #18,572
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 185 #19,402
2008 modern 178 #20,094
2009 modern 188 #19,797
2010 modern 187 #20,309
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 177 #21,170
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 186 #20,575

Geography

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Where Stains are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Skegby, Hampton-in-Arden, Darlaston, Arley and Market Bosworth (Market Bosworth), Shackerstone, Congerston, Nailstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Walsall and Ashfield. 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 Skegby Nottinghamshire
2 Hampton-in-Arden Warwickshire
3 Darlaston Staffordshire
4 Arley Warwickshire
5 Market Bosworth (Market Bosworth), Shackerstone, Congerston, Nailstone Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Warwickshire 007 North Warwickshire
2 Nuneaton and Bedworth 004 Nuneaton and Bedworth
3 North Warwickshire 005 North Warwickshire
4 Walsall 036 Walsall
5 Ashfield 004 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stain

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stain

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stain, 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 Stain surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Stain 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Stain is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Stain 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

Stain falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stain is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stain

The surname STAIN is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "stæn," which means "stone." It is believed that the surname was initially given to someone who lived near a prominent stone or rocky area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname STAIN can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from the year 1273, where a person named William de la Stane is mentioned. This early spelling variation, "de la Stane," suggests that the name was initially used as a locational surname, referring to someone from a place called "Stane" or a similar-sounding name.

In the 14th century, the surname STAIN appeared in various historical records, such as the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, where a Robert Stane is listed. This spelling variation, "Stane," is closer to the modern form of the surname.

One notable historical figure with the surname STAIN was Sir John Stain, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1778 and played a significant role in several naval battles against the French, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

Another prominent individual with the STAIN surname was James Stain, a Scottish writer and poet who lived in the 18th century. He was born in 1720 and is best known for his collection of poems titled "The Seasons," which was published in 1756.

In the 19th century, the surname STAIN was associated with several notable figures in various fields. One such individual was Thomas Stain, an English architect born in 1830, who designed several churches and public buildings in London and other parts of England.

Another noteworthy figure from the 19th century was Mary Stain, an American educator and activist born in 1845. She played a significant role in promoting women's education and advocating for women's rights during her lifetime.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was George Stain, a British explorer and adventurer who was born in 1885. He is best known for his expeditions to the Arctic regions and his contributions to the field of polar exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stain families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stain 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. Leicestershire leads with 37 Stains recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.81x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 37 27.81x
Warwickshire 32 10.58x
Middlesex 25 2.08x
Derbyshire 12 6.39x
Staffordshire 5 1.23x
Surrey 4 0.68x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Berkshire 1 1.11x
Essex 1 0.42x
Lincolnshire 1 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.62x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.62x
Yorkshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Arley in Warwickshire leads with 9 Stains recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Arley 9 10000.00x
Nuneaton 9 256.41x
Blackwell 8 869.57x
Hackney London 6 8.92x
Lutterworth 6 740.74x
Nailstone 6 2000.00x
Theddingworth 6 6000.00x
Islington London 5 4.30x
Darlaston 4 71.43x
Husbands Bosworth 4 1176.47x
Leicester St Margaret 4 12.33x
Meriden 4 1176.47x
Paddington London 4 9.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 16.57x
Syston 4 320.00x
Chilvers Coton 3 241.94x
Great Bowden 3 247.93x
Shoreditch London 3 5.77x
St George Bloomsbury 3 43.60x
Aston 2 2.40x
Barlestone 2 689.66x
Chelsea London 2 5.53x
Derby St Peter 2 33.44x
Kirkdale 2 8.35x
Loughborough 2 33.11x
Solihull 2 91.74x
South Normanton 2 151.52x
Warwick St Mary 2 76.05x
Aldbrough In Richmond 1 625.00x
Coventry Holy Trinity 1 11.07x
Grays Thurrock 1 45.45x
Great Grimsby 1 8.21x
Kensington London 1 1.50x
Newbury 1 34.72x
Nottingham St Mary 1 2.39x
St Pancras London 1 1.04x
Tenby St Mary In 1 51.55x
Tipton 1 8.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 11
Thomas 9
George 5
Joseph 4
Albert 3
Charles 2
Corbett 2
Henry 2
Isaac 2
James 2
Tom 2
Arthur 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jermiah 1
Sam 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Stain surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stain surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Stain surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stain surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 186 in 2016. That gives Stain a modern rank of #20,575.

What does the Stain surname mean?

Surname possibly derived from the Old English word "stān" meaning stone or rock.

What does the Stain map show?

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