NameCensus.

UK surname

Stamford

An English surname referring to someone from Stamford, a town in Lincolnshire.

In the 1881 census there were 613 people recorded with the Stamford surname, ranking it #5,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 438, ranked #11,028, down from #5,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Eaton Socon with Wyboston and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stamford is 773 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.5%.

1881 census count

613

Ranked #5,735

Modern count

438

2016, ranked #11,028

Peak year

1891

773 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stamford had 613 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016, ranked #11,028.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 773 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stamford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stamford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stamford 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 495 #5,049
1861 historical 615 #4,330
1881 historical 613 #5,735
1891 historical 773 #5,186
1901 historical 699 #6,295
1911 historical 598 #6,857
1997 modern 472 #9,716
1998 modern 486 #9,810
1999 modern 483 #9,932
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 471 #9,895
2002 modern 484 #9,869
2003 modern 472 #9,889
2004 modern 464 #10,060
2005 modern 470 #9,879
2006 modern 472 #9,892
2007 modern 470 #10,012
2008 modern 479 #9,964
2009 modern 504 #9,788
2010 modern 496 #10,120
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 468 #10,366
2013 modern 466 #10,556
2014 modern 450 #10,902
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 438 #11,028

Geography

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Where Stamfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Eaton Socon with Wyboston, Lambeth and Melbourn, Meldreth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, Huntingdonshire, Bolton and East Lindsey. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Eaton Socon with Wyboston Huntingdonshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Melbourn, Meldreth Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 North Lincolnshire 008 North Lincolnshire
3 Huntingdonshire 022 Huntingdonshire
4 Bolton 026 Bolton
5 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stamford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stamford

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

Stamford is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stamford falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stamford

The surname Stamford originated in England, likely during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Stamford," which is a town in Lincolnshire, England. The name "Stamford" itself is thought to come from the Old English words "stan" meaning stone and "ford" meaning a shallow crossing of a river.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Stamford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book includes entries for individuals with variations of the name, such as "de Stanforde" and "de Stamford."

In the 13th century, a man named John de Stamford was recorded as a landowner in Rutland, England. Another notable individual with this surname was Sir John Stamford, a member of the English Parliament who lived in the late 14th century.

During the 16th century, a family of Stamfords held significant landholdings and influence in Northamptonshire, England. One member of this family, Sir William Stamford (1508-1587), served as a member of Parliament and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, a clergyman named Thomas Stamford (1618-1676) became the Archdeacon of Coventry and later the Dean of York. He was a prominent figure in the Church of England during his lifetime.

Another individual of note was Sir John Stamford Raffles (1781-1826), a British colonial administrator and the founder of modern Singapore. He was born in Jamaica but took his surname from his father's birthplace of Stamford, Lincolnshire.

The Stamford surname has also been associated with various place names over the centuries, such as Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire, which was the site of a famous battle in 1066, and Stamford Hill in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stamford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stamford 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. Yorkshire leads with 106 Stamfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 106 1.79x
Middlesex 92 1.54x
Surrey 60 2.06x
Cambridgeshire 57 15.03x
Kent 52 2.54x
Lancashire 40 0.56x
Staffordshire 26 1.29x
Lincolnshire 24 2.51x
Bedfordshire 21 6.77x
Durham 15 0.84x
Hertfordshire 14 3.39x
Norfolk 12 1.30x
Derbyshire 10 1.07x
Northamptonshire 10 1.78x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.99x
Dunbartonshire 7 4.35x
Essex 7 0.59x
Suffolk 7 0.96x
Warwickshire 7 0.46x
Angus 6 1.08x
Sussex 6 0.59x
Hampshire 5 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 4 3.36x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.58x
Shropshire 3 0.58x
Devon 2 0.16x
Dorset 2 0.51x
Worcestershire 2 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.28x
Cardiganshire 1 0.68x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 1.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 20 Stamfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.08x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 20 11.08x
Eaton Socon 16 328.54x
Tonbridge 15 20.35x
Melbourn 14 378.38x
Sculcoates 13 13.82x
Sedgley 13 17.31x
St Marylebone London 13 4.07x
Bassingbourn 12 215.44x
Lambeth 12 2.30x
Holy Trinity 11 7.71x
Croydon 10 6.17x
Islington London 10 1.72x
Lewisham 10 9.18x
Lockngtn In Kilnwck 10 952.38x
Aldbrough In Skirlaugh 9 825.69x
Paddington London 9 4.09x
Brightside Bierlow 8 6.87x
Chesterton 8 68.38x
Hackney London 8 2.38x
Sevenoaks 8 48.28x
Stranton 8 13.34x
Beccles 7 59.63x
Bermondsey 7 3.93x
Camberwell 7 1.83x
Oldham 7 3.05x
Beverley St Mary 6 69.20x
Brotton 6 77.42x
Kirkintilloch 6 27.43x
Southwark Christchurch 6 21.38x
St Vigeans 6 20.03x
West Ham 6 2.30x
Battersea 5 2.27x
Beddington 5 44.29x
Beverley St Martin 5 50.45x
Birmingham 5 0.99x
Clarborough 5 82.78x
Derby St Werburgh 5 9.24x
Kettering 5 21.94x
Kirkdale 5 4.18x
Liverton 5 364.96x
Plumstead 5 7.34x
Shoreditch London 5 1.93x
South Ferriby 5 328.95x
South Walsham St Lawrence 5 1063.83x
St Albans St Michael 5 108.46x
St George Hanover 5 6.40x
Tipton 5 8.08x
Woolwich 5 6.62x
Wrawby 5 193.05x
Barrow On Humber 4 71.94x
Broadwater 4 17.27x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.54x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 4 24.18x
Gateshead 4 3.00x
Hedon 4 201.01x
Leeds 4 1.19x
Luton 4 7.45x
Newington 4 1.81x
Northampton St Giles 4 18.64x
Over Darwen 4 7.05x
Royston 4 113.64x
Skidby 4 540.54x
Southcoates 4 12.14x
Sutton 4 59.17x
Therfield 4 165.98x
Toxteth Park 4 1.66x
Aldbrough 3 857.14x
Banham 3 127.66x
Hindley 3 9.90x
Holme 3 2000.00x
Manchester 3 0.94x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.44x
Oswestry Rural 3 37.83x
Pembroke St Michael 3 108.70x
St Marythe Less 3 129.87x
St Pancras London 3 0.62x
Tibshelf 3 65.22x
Wimpole 3 410.96x
Windle 3 7.50x
Wolverhampton 3 1.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 44
Elizabeth 27
Sarah 17
Emily 13
Hannah 11
Annie 9
Eliza 9
Margaret 9
Jane 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Charlotte 7
Ellen 7
Harriet 7
Martha 7
Emma 6
Frances 6
Louisa 6
Ada 5
Catherine 5
Kate 5
Minnie 5
Amelia 4
Rachel 4
Rebecca 4
Caroline 3
Eleanor 3
Fanny 3
Helen 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Amy 2
Augusta 2
Barbara 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Jessie 2
Kezia 2
Lucy 2
Maryan 2
Nelly 2
Rose 2
Rosehanna 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Elizabith 1
Elizh. 1
Elsie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 22
George 19
James 19
Joseph 13
Charles 12
Henry 11
Edward 10
Thomas 10
Arthur 8
Alfred 7
David 6
Robert 6
Frederick 5
Herbert 5
Walter 4
Fredrick 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Caleb 2
Chas. 2
Cornelius 2
Ernest 2
Frederic 2
Isaac 2
Thos. 2
Amy 1
Bernard 1
Clarence 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.H. 1
Geo 1
Gilbert 1
Harriet 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Alex. 1
Jeremy 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Oscar 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Willoughby 1

FAQ

Stamford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stamford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 613 people were recorded with the Stamford surname. That placed it at #5,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stamford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 438 in 2016. That gives Stamford a modern rank of #11,028.

What does the Stamford surname mean?

An English surname referring to someone from Stamford, a town in Lincolnshire.

What does the Stamford map show?

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