NameCensus.

UK surname

Standish

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony park" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 583 people recorded with the Standish surname, ranking it #5,986 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 746, ranked #7,323, down from #5,986 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Walton-on-the-Hill. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Liverpool and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Standish is 815 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.0%.

1881 census count

583

Ranked #5,986

Modern count

746

2016, ranked #7,323

Peak year

2010

815 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Standish had 583 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,986 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016, ranked #7,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 739 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Standish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Standish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Standish 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 398 #6,441
1881 historical 583 #5,986
1891 historical 613 #6,279
1901 historical 680 #6,417
1911 historical 739 #5,802
1997 modern 755 #6,853
1998 modern 782 #6,884
1999 modern 797 #6,815
2000 modern 759 #7,038
2001 modern 748 #7,001
2002 modern 774 #6,959
2003 modern 769 #6,869
2004 modern 757 #6,972
2005 modern 752 #6,941
2006 modern 755 #6,951
2007 modern 751 #7,054
2008 modern 766 #6,986
2009 modern 791 #6,961
2010 modern 815 #6,912
2011 modern 803 #6,927
2012 modern 776 #7,033
2013 modern 785 #7,077
2014 modern 785 #7,115
2015 modern 764 #7,196
2016 modern 746 #7,323

Geography

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Where Standishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Walton-on-the-Hill and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Liverpool, Barnsley and North Lincolnshire. 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 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Walton-on-the-Hill Lancashire
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 004 Doncaster
2 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
3 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
4 Barnsley 008 Barnsley
5 North Lincolnshire 014 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Standish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Standish

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Standish is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Standish is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Standish falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Standish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Standish

The surname Standish has its roots in England, originating from the village of Standish near Wigan in Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "stan" meaning stone and "disc" meaning a flat circular surface, referring to a stone disc or millstone.

The earliest recorded occurrence of the name Standish can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Stanedis". This suggests that the name was already well-established in the area by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Ralph de Standish, who lived in the 13th century and was recorded as holding lands in Standish during the reign of King John (1199-1216).

In the 14th century, the Standish family rose to prominence, with Sir Ralph de Standish serving as a knight and member of Parliament during the reigns of Edward III and Richard II. His son, also named Ralph, was knighted for his military service and served as the Sheriff of Lancashire in 1395.

Another notable figure from the Standish family was Miles Standish (c. 1584-1656), a military officer who was hired by the Pilgrims to serve as the military leader of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. He played a crucial role in the colony's survival and defense against potential threats.

In the 17th century, the Standish name spread beyond Lancashire, with branches of the family settling in other parts of England and even venturing to Ireland. One such individual was Thomas Standish (1615-1693), a Royalist officer who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War.

The Standish surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Standish Hall, an historic manor house in Wigan, and Standish Lower Ground, a former area of Manchester.

Other notable individuals bearing the Standish name include Frank Hall Standish (1799-1835), an English painter known for his landscape works, and David Standish (1959-), a British composer and musician.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Standish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Standish 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. Lancashire leads with 311 Standishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.60x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 311 4.60x
Yorkshire 77 1.36x
Middlesex 47 0.83x
Surrey 25 0.90x
Durham 13 0.77x
Essex 13 1.16x
Worcestershire 13 1.75x
Hampshire 11 0.94x
Staffordshire 10 0.52x
Cheshire 9 0.72x
Kent 9 0.46x
Warwickshire 8 0.56x
Oxfordshire 6 1.71x
Berkshire 5 1.17x
Derbyshire 4 0.45x
Wiltshire 4 0.79x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.87x
Devon 3 0.25x
Lincolnshire 3 0.33x
Gloucestershire 2 0.18x
Glamorgan 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.43x
Northamptonshire 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.20x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Sussex 1 0.10x
Westmorland 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Everton in Lancashire leads with 26 Standishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.07x.

Place Total Index
Everton 26 12.07x
Toxteth Park 25 10.92x
Great Bolton 23 25.69x
Widnes 20 41.02x
Wheelton 19 629.14x
Haydock 16 137.34x
Ince In Makerfield 15 47.69x
West Ham 13 5.24x
Wigan 13 13.76x
Brightside Bierlow 12 10.84x
Islington London 10 1.81x
Lambeth 10 2.01x
St Marylebone London 10 3.29x
Sutton 10 44.11x
Whiston 10 189.75x
Windle 10 26.30x
Bingley 9 25.03x
Camberwell 9 2.47x
Chorley 9 23.73x
Hammersmith London 8 5.70x
Kidderminster Borough 8 18.37x
Little Bolton 8 9.20x
Newton 8 15.36x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 6.10x
Gorton 7 11.02x
Huyton With Roby 7 88.38x
Leeds 7 2.20x
Rowley Regis 7 13.06x
West Derby 7 3.54x
Wortley In Bramley 7 15.66x
Clifford Cum Boston 6 118.11x
Cocken 6 566.04x
Leyland 6 51.02x
Liverpool 6 1.46x
Manchester 6 1.97x
Stockport 6 9.27x
Usworth 6 66.67x
Battersea 5 2.39x
Brockenhurst 5 247.52x
Castleford 5 24.32x
Milton In Gravesend 5 17.15x
Nettlebed 5 387.60x
Whittle Le Woods 5 223.21x
Willesden 5 9.31x
Blackburn 4 2.22x
Earley 4 56.18x
Farnworth 4 9.88x
Huddersfield 4 4.86x
Norton 4 54.42x
Penketh 4 164.61x
Swindon 4 10.24x
Turton 4 36.13x
Aston 3 0.76x
Hackney London 3 0.94x
Hoyland Nether 3 21.66x
Hulme 3 2.13x
North Meols 3 4.53x
Ratcliffe London 3 9.54x
Salford 3 1.51x
Sheffield 3 1.67x
St Nicholas Lincoln 3 34.44x
Tottington Lower End 3 9.34x
Westleigh 3 19.54x
Westminster St James 3 5.12x
Wetherby 3 81.52x
Wolstanton 3 5.14x
Wycombe 3 11.69x
Ashburton 2 35.27x
Bradfield 2 9.19x
Cheltenham 2 2.32x
Dudley 2 2.21x
Hindley 2 6.94x
Lytham 2 19.38x
Oldham 2 0.92x
Owslebury 2 120.48x
Rotherham 2 6.29x
Royton 2 9.67x
St George Hanover 2 2.69x
Warrington 2 2.50x
Warwick St Nicholas 2 18.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 37
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 20
Ellen 18
Jane 15
Ann 12
Margaret 12
Martha 10
Alice 9
Emma 9
Emily 7
Eliza 6
Hannah 6
Amelia 5
Charlotte 5
Maria 5
Annie 4
Elizth. 4
Fanny 4
Harriet 4
Margt. 4
Nancy 4
Rebecca 4
Catherine 3
Lucy 3
Nellie 3
Rosina 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Hester 2
Isabella 2
Louisa 2
Louise 2
Matilda 2
Mgt. 2
Rose 2
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Betty 1
Eliz. 1
Faney 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
M. 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 41
William 39
Thomas 20
Joseph 17
James 15
Henry 14
Charles 11
Edward 10
George 8
Peter 7
Richard 7
Arthur 5
Francis 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Lawrence 2
Miles 2
Ralph 2
Rd. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alixander 1
Ann 1
Bernard 1
Clement 1
Daniel 1
Derby 1
Ed. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Floyd 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G. 1
Geoffrey 1
Hy. 1
Hy.Jos. 1
Jas. 1
Johnson 1
Nathaniel 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Richd.W. 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1

FAQ

Standish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Standish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 583 people were recorded with the Standish surname. That placed it at #5,986 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Standish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 746 in 2016. That gives Standish a modern rank of #7,323.

What does the Standish surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony park" in Old English.

What does the Standish map show?

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