UK surname
A surname derived from "Stansone," a diminutive of the medieval English given name "Stanus."
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Stanson surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 13, ranked #37,278, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Sawley and Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stanson is 248 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.7%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
13
2016, ranked #37,278
Peak year
1861
248 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stanson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stanson surname density by area, 1861 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 | 59 | #22,756 |
| 1861 | historical | 248 | #9,947 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 24 | #31,365 |
| 1911 | historical | 18 | #31,542 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 20 | #35,894 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 13 | #37,278 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Sawley, Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, Deeping, Market and St John Westminster. 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 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Sawley | Derbyshire |
| 3 | Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller | Somerset |
| 4 | Deeping, Market | Lincolnshire |
| 5 | St John Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stanson 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 Stanson, 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 Stanson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stanson 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, Stanson 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 Stanson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stanson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stanson originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "stan" meaning stone and "sunu" meaning son, essentially translating to "son of the stone worker" or "son of the stonemason." This occupational surname suggests that the original bearers were involved in masonry or stonework.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Stanson can be traced back to the 13th century in various county records and tax rolls. One notable early reference is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which lists a Robert Stanson as a landowner in the village of Clent.
In the 14th century, the surname Stanson appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were financial records maintained by the Exchequer. These rolls mention a John Stanson who was a taxpayer in the city of York in 1379.
The Stanson name was also present in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which recorded a William Stanson as a resident of the village of Kinver.
A notable figure bearing the Stanson surname was Sir Thomas Stanson, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Rye in Sussex during the reign of King Henry VIII in the early 16th century. He was born around 1480 and died in 1558.
Another prominent individual with this surname was Reverend John Stanson, an English clergyman and scholar who lived in the 17th century. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1620 and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Stamford until his death in 1693.
In the 18th century, the Stanson name appeared in the parish records of St. Giles in Northamptonshire, where a family of stonemasons bearing this surname resided for several generations. One notable member was William Stanson, born in 1732, who worked on the construction of several churches and manor houses in the region.
During the 19th century, the Stanson surname was found in various parts of England, including the counties of Yorkshire, Staffordshire, and Gloucestershire. One noteworthy individual was Dr. Henry Stanson, a renowned physician born in 1825 in Leeds, who made significant contributions to the field of infectious disease research.
Throughout history, the surname Stanson has been associated with occupations related to stonework and masonry, reflecting its origins as an occupational surname derived from the Old English words for "stone" and "son."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stanson 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Stansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 2.56x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 9.24x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 4.83x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 8.92x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.59x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.37x |
| Somerset | 2 | 2.90x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.46x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.48x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 10 Stansons recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.56x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 10 | 33.56x |
| Hackney London | 8 | 33.25x |
| Wednesfield | 7 | 328.64x |
| Blackburn | 3 | 22.14x |
| Dodderhill | 3 | 1250.00x |
| Worcester St John | 2 | 298.51x |
| Allington | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 10.59x |
| Canterbury St Augustine | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Desborough | 1 | 333.33x |
| Drayton | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 18.42x |
| Horton Kirby | 1 | 434.78x |
| Poulton Cum Seacombe | 1 | 91.74x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 7.39x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 2.90x |
| Taunton St Mary | 1 | 78.74x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stanson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stanson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Stanson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Stanson surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 13 in 2016. That gives Stanson a modern rank of #37,278.
A surname derived from "Stansone," a diminutive of the medieval English given name "Stanus."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stanson 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.