NameCensus.

UK surname

Stansfield

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony field".

In the 1881 census there were 4,622 people recorded with the Stansfield surname, ranking it #966 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,545, ranked #1,910, down from #966 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Calderdale and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stansfield is 5,299 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.3%.

1881 census count

4,622

Ranked #966

Modern count

3,545

2016, ranked #1,910

Peak year

1911

5,299 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stansfield had 4,622 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #966 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,545 in 2016, ranked #1,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Stansfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stansfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stansfield 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 2,648 #1,118
1861 historical 2,646 #1,109
1881 historical 4,622 #966
1891 historical 4,629 #1,009
1901 historical 5,126 #1,096
1911 historical 5,299 #990
1997 modern 3,511 #1,844
1998 modern 3,710 #1,816
1999 modern 3,762 #1,803
2000 modern 3,768 #1,788
2001 modern 3,659 #1,800
2002 modern 3,674 #1,841
2003 modern 3,581 #1,840
2004 modern 3,581 #1,846
2005 modern 3,552 #1,843
2006 modern 3,496 #1,870
2007 modern 3,535 #1,868
2008 modern 3,533 #1,879
2009 modern 3,626 #1,874
2010 modern 3,732 #1,862
2011 modern 3,663 #1,874
2012 modern 3,564 #1,886
2013 modern 3,611 #1,897
2014 modern 3,593 #1,920
2015 modern 3,582 #1,901
2016 modern 3,545 #1,910

Geography

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Where Stansfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Calderdale and Rossendale. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Rochdale Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Calderdale 013 Calderdale
2 Calderdale 004 Calderdale
3 Calderdale 022 Calderdale
4 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
5 Rossendale 003 Rossendale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stansfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stansfield

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Stansfield 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

Stansfield is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stansfield 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 Stansfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Stansfield

The surname STANSFIELD is of English origin, derived from a place name meaning "stony field" or "rocky pasture." It is thought to have originated in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, during the medieval period.

One of the earliest known references to the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Stanefelde." This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

Over time, the name evolved into various spellings, including Stansfeild, Stansfeld, and the modern Stansfield. These variations likely reflect regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.

In the 13th century, records show a Roger de Stansfeld holding lands in Yorkshire. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the surname in use.

Notable individuals with the surname STANSFIELD include:

1. Sir James Stansfield (1820-1898), an English industrialist and politician who served as a Member of Parliament. 2. Michael Stansfield (1928-2010), an American actor best known for his roles in television series such as The Fugitive and The Untouchables. 3. Clive Stansfield (1942-1992), an English footballer who played as a defender for clubs like Arsenal and Nottingham Forest. 4. William Stansfield (1768-1838), an English cotton manufacturer and philanthropist who founded the town of Stansfield in Yorkshire. 5. Jane Stansfield (1841-1897), a British writer and feminist activist who campaigned for women's rights and education.

The surname STANSFIELD has also been associated with various place names, such as Stansfield in Yorkshire, which likely derived its name from the original Old English term "Stanfelde."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stansfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stansfield 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 2,295 Stansfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.29x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2,295 4.29x
Yorkshire 1,972 4.41x
Cheshire 84 0.84x
Surrey 55 0.25x
Middlesex 54 0.12x
Durham 31 0.23x
Derbyshire 25 0.35x
Staffordshire 15 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 13 0.21x
Hampshire 11 0.12x
Gloucestershire 9 0.10x
Sussex 9 0.12x
Lanarkshire 5 0.03x
Rutland 5 1.51x
Warwickshire 5 0.04x
Oxfordshire 4 0.14x
Berkshire 3 0.09x
Denbighshire 3 0.18x
Devon 3 0.03x
Hertfordshire 3 0.10x
Kent 3 0.02x
Westmorland 3 0.30x
Angus 2 0.05x
Berwickshire 2 0.37x
Flintshire 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.03x
Worcestershire 2 0.03x
Leicestershire 1 0.02x
Lincolnshire 1 0.01x
Northumberland 1 0.01x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stansfield in Yorkshire leads with 320 Stansfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 194.55x.

Place Total Index
Stansfield 320 194.55x
Todmorden Walsden 304 212.01x
Oldham 208 12.04x
Spotland 150 25.21x
Castleton 125 23.38x
Newchurch 116 26.49x
Langfield 96 122.76x
Wadsworth 84 115.46x
Idle 57 27.50x
Ashton Under Lyne 55 4.70x
Bradford 55 5.08x
Leeds 55 2.18x
Warley 54 41.80x
Barrowford Booth 53 89.48x
Tonge 53 47.20x
Chadderton 52 19.87x
Cononley 52 405.30x
Halifax 52 7.92x
Wardleworth 51 16.67x
Newton 49 11.88x
Ovenden 49 24.63x
Horton In Bradford 48 6.88x
Manchester 48 1.99x
Sowerby In Halifax 48 32.84x
Blatchinworth 46 37.75x
Middleton In Oldham 45 28.04x
North Meols 40 7.63x
Burnley 39 8.65x
Habergham Eaves 39 7.97x
Haworth 38 35.77x
Royton 38 23.21x
Heptonstall 37 58.99x
Wuerdle Wardle 36 22.16x
Pudsey 34 14.23x
Bingley 32 11.24x
Erringden 32 110.84x
Northowram 32 10.21x
Salford 32 2.03x
Keighley 30 6.30x
Almondbury 29 13.42x
Ardwick 29 6.01x
Skircoat 29 16.45x
Great Bolton 28 3.95x
Haughton 28 35.86x
Lower Booths 28 29.20x
Hunslet 27 3.87x
Midgley 27 56.69x
Pendleton In Salford 27 4.23x
Soothill 27 16.72x
Colne 24 15.05x
Hulme 24 2.15x
Openshaw 24 9.57x
Shipley 24 10.35x
Blackburn 23 1.62x
Chorlton On Medlock 23 2.71x
Camberwell 22 0.76x
Holbeck 22 7.43x
Huddersfield 22 3.38x
Droylsden 21 12.03x
Elland Cum Greetland 21 10.43x
Gomersal 21 10.07x
Atherton 20 10.27x
Bury 20 3.27x
Thornton In Bradford 20 13.44x
Great Little Marsden 19 7.75x
Hyde 19 6.47x
Bradford 18 7.18x
Manningham 18 3.27x
Saddleworth 17 4.93x
Wortley In Bramley 17 4.80x
Beswick 16 11.69x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 16 27.98x
Eccleshill 16 14.71x
Denton 15 12.65x
Glossop Dale 15 4.54x
Hipperholme Cum 15 7.64x
Bishopwearmouth 14 1.22x
Heap 14 4.93x
Preston 14 0.98x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 13 8.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 374
Sarah 253
Elizabeth 158
Hannah 119
Alice 98
Emma 87
Ann 86
Jane 73
Ellen 72
Martha 59
Annie 57
Betty 47
Emily 45
Margaret 38
Ada 37
Clara 35
Grace 35
Eliza 32
Edith 27
Harriet 27
Betsy 24
Susannah 24
Florence 22
Frances 20
Ruth 19
Esther 18
Fanny 18
Sally 17
Maria 16
Susan 16
Bertha 15
Agnes 12
Lucy 12
Amelia 11
Rebecca 11
Amy 10
Caroline 10
Elizth. 10
Isabella 10
Anne 9
Catherine 9
Louisa 9
Charlotte 8
Harriett 8
Jessie 8
Kate 8
Selina 8
Susy 8
Julia 7
Sophia 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 311
James 217
William 198
Thomas 123
Joseph 96
George 94
Robert 73
Samuel 54
Fred 47
Henry 46
Harry 43
Charles 42
Richard 40
Abraham 36
Arthur 35
Edward 34
Herbert 30
Alfred 28
Walter 27
Albert 24
Sam 22
Frank 21
David 18
Edwin 17
Tom 15
Moses 14
Wm. 14
Ernest 12
Frederick 12
Greenwood 11
Isaac 10
Joshua 10
Willie 10
Hartley 9
Jonathan 9
Edmund 8
Benjamin 7
Daniel 7
Joe 7
Lewis 7
Saml. 7
Thos. 7
Eli 6
Elijah 6
Barker 5
Nathan 5
Oliver 5
Reuben 5
Squire 5
Luke 4

FAQ

Stansfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stansfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,622 people were recorded with the Stansfield surname. That placed it at #966 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stansfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,545 in 2016. That gives Stansfield a modern rank of #1,910.

What does the Stansfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "stony field".

What does the Stansfield map show?

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