UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French word "esteindre" meaning "to extinguish" or "to put out".
In the 1881 census there were 218 people recorded with the Stains surname, ranking it #12,158 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #12,158 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Felstead and St John Hackney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stains is 338 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 89.0%.
1881 census count
218
Ranked #12,158
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
338 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stains surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stains 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 | 304 | #7,559 |
| 1861 | historical | 338 | #7,541 |
| 1881 | historical | 218 | #12,158 |
| 1891 | historical | 200 | #14,913 |
| 1901 | historical | 113 | #21,296 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 17 | #36,862 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 21 | #36,561 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Felstead, St John Hackney, St Marylebone and Houghton Regis. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Felstead | Essex |
| 3 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Houghton Regis | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stains 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 Stains, 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 Stains surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stains 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, Stains 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 Stains is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stains, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "STAINS" originates from England and dates back to the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stæn," meaning "stone" or "rock." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals who lived near a prominent rock formation or a stone-built structure.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, where a person named Roger atte Stane was listed. This early spelling variation, "atte Stane," further reinforces the connection to the Old English word for "stone." Additionally, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, referencing a place called "Stanes."
During the 14th century, the name was found in various historical records, including the Patent Rolls of 1347, which mention a William de la Stayne. The prefix "de la" indicates that this individual resided near or was associated with a location bearing the name "Stayne."
In the 15th century, the surname appeared in the form "Staynys" in the Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon, dated 1406. This variation further highlights the evolution of the name's spelling over time.
Notable individuals with the surname "STAINS" throughout history include:
1. Sir William Stains (c. 1450 - 1510), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in 1491. 2. Thomas Stains (c. 1520 - 1587), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire. 3. Margaret Stains (c. 1570 - 1635), an English philanthropist known for her charitable work in London during the early 17th century. 4. John Stains (c. 1630 - 1698), a prominent merchant and trader in the East India Company, who played a significant role in establishing trade routes with India. 5. Elizabeth Stains (1720 - 1795), a British writer and poet whose works were published in several literary magazines of the 18th century.
While the surname "STAINS" may have originally been associated with specific locations or landmarks, it eventually became a hereditary name passed down through generations. Over time, the name has spread across various regions, reflecting the migration patterns and historical events that shaped its evolution.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stains 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. Essex leads with 54 Stains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 54 | 12.86x |
| Middlesex | 33 | 1.55x |
| Bedfordshire | 20 | 18.16x |
| Lincolnshire | 13 | 3.82x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 1.81x |
| Surrey | 11 | 1.06x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 3.06x |
| Worcestershire | 10 | 3.60x |
| Devon | 8 | 1.81x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.10x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 1.31x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 1.07x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 2.50x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 0.96x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 1.27x |
| Somerset | 3 | 0.88x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.46x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 1.52x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 1.69x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.16x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 2.37x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.04x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.35x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 0.54x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Houghton Regis in Bedfordshire leads with 16 Stains' recorded in 1881 and an index of 909.09x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stains surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 15 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Charlott | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Althea | 1 |
| Angelina | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Carroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Elizh. | 1 |
| Elizh.Ann | 1 |
| Emilia | 1 |
| Emmeline | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gertrude | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harel | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| John | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Letitia | 1 |
| Lousia | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marianne | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maryan | 1 |
| Maryann | 1 |
| Mersey | 1 |
| Phebe | 1 |
| Rebbecca | 1 |
| Rosalie | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stains surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 18 |
| John | 13 |
| James | 11 |
| Thomas | 8 |
| George | 6 |
| Henry | 6 |
| Alfred | 4 |
| Arthur | 4 |
| Joseph | 4 |
| Harry | 3 |
| Robert | 3 |
| Benjamin | 2 |
| Charles | 2 |
| David | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Amos | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| Earnest | 1 |
| Edwd. | 1 |
| Ennos | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Job | 1 |
| Matthew | 1 |
| Samul | 1 |
| Simeon | 1 |
| Sunainnate | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
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 Stains households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 47 |
| Ag Lab | 9 |
| Feather Curler | 3 |
| Labourer | 3 |
| Mate | 3 |
| Agr Lab | 2 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 2 |
| Carpenter | 2 |
| Commercial Traveler | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Gardener | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Plaiter (Straw) | 2 |
| Plasterer | 2 |
| Shepherd | 2 |
| ... | 1 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Ag Sheperd | 1 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Boy M.S. | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Laborer | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Carpenter (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt (B) | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Bailiff | 1 |
| Farm Serv (Indoor) | 1 |
| Farmer 250 Acres Employing 8 Labs 2 Boys | 1 |
| Fishmonger & Fruiterer | 1 |
| Fitter (Gas) | 1 |
| Formerly Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Gas Labourer | 1 |
| General Dealer | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Serv (Dom) | 1 |
| Grocers Assistant | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Hat Sewer | 1 |
| Horsekeeper | 1 |
| House Mother | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 218 people were recorded with the Stains surname. That placed it at #12,158 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Stains a modern rank of #36,392.
An English surname derived from the Old French word "esteindre" meaning "to extinguish" or "to put out".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stains 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.