NameCensus.

UK surname

Stanworth

A locational surname denoting someone from a place called Stanworth, perhaps from stony or rocky enclosure.

In the 1881 census there were 477 people recorded with the Stanworth surname, ranking it #7,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 733, ranked #7,430, down from #7,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors and Shiffnal. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stanworth is 781 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.7%.

1881 census count

477

Ranked #7,014

Modern count

733

2016, ranked #7,430

Peak year

1911

781 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stanworth had 477 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016, ranked #7,430.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 781 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stanworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stanworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stanworth 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 268 #8,326
1861 historical 237 #10,359
1881 historical 477 #7,014
1891 historical 564 #6,733
1901 historical 688 #6,370
1911 historical 781 #5,568
1997 modern 692 #7,314
1998 modern 722 #7,299
1999 modern 729 #7,299
2000 modern 740 #7,183
2001 modern 727 #7,146
2002 modern 741 #7,174
2003 modern 732 #7,137
2004 modern 729 #7,166
2005 modern 717 #7,188
2006 modern 698 #7,366
2007 modern 696 #7,455
2008 modern 718 #7,335
2009 modern 743 #7,305
2010 modern 761 #7,311
2011 modern 743 #7,365
2012 modern 735 #7,344
2013 modern 748 #7,361
2014 modern 733 #7,519
2015 modern 718 #7,573
2016 modern 733 #7,430

Geography

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Where Stanworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors, Shiffnal and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle and Burnley. 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 Wellington, Wrockwardine, Eyton-on-the-Moors, Preston-on-the-Moors Shropshire
3 Shiffnal Shropshire
4 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 008 Pendle
2 Burnley 002 Burnley
3 Pendle 013 Pendle
4 Burnley 010 Burnley
5 Pendle 010 Pendle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stanworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stanworth

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Stanworth is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stanworth is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stanworth 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 Stanworth 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 Stanworth, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Stanworth

The surname Stanworth is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the region of Lancashire, where it was derived from the Old English words "stan" meaning "stone" and "worth" meaning "enclosed settlement" or "farm." This combination suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement or farmstead located near a prominent stone feature or quarry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stanworth can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documents a landowner named Steinulf de Staneuurde in the county of Lancashire. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the modern form emerging later.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Stanworth family held lands and properties in the townships of Clitheroe and Pendleton, both located in Lancashire. Records from this period mention individuals such as Adam de Stanworth (c. 1250) and Richard de Stanworth (c. 1320), who were prominent landowners and members of the local gentry.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the Stanworth name was Robert Stanworth (c. 1510-1585), a Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for his religious beliefs. His steadfast adherence to his faith has made him a revered figure among some Catholic communities.

Another notable individual was Sir Samuel Stanworth (1669-1741), a successful merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1732. He was also a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers, one of the oldest livery companies in the City of London.

Moving into the 18th century, we find John Stanworth (1742-1818), a prominent industrialist and businessman who played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in Lancashire. His innovative approaches to manufacturing and business practices contributed to the region's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout its history, the Stanworth surname has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, with many families continuing to reside in these areas. While the name has dispersed to other parts of the country and beyond, its roots remain firmly established in the northern regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stanworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stanworth 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 286 Stanworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.18x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 286 5.18x
Shropshire 81 20.15x
Staffordshire 45 2.87x
Yorkshire 43 0.93x
Derbyshire 7 0.96x
Durham 6 0.43x
Middlesex 5 0.11x
Warwickshire 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.10x
Kent 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burnley in Lancashire leads with 64 Stanworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.63x.

Place Total Index
Burnley 64 137.63x
Worsthorne Cum 50 2840.91x
Spotland 38 61.91x
Briercliffe Cum 35 1912.57x
Shifnal 27 247.48x
Habergham Eaves 25 49.54x
Higham With West Close 23 1916.67x
Great Little Marsden 20 79.08x
Kingswinford 20 35.07x
Wellington 17 75.25x
Lilleshall 16 260.59x
Wrockwardine 15 169.68x
Thornton In Bradford 11 71.66x
Burslem 10 22.23x
Goldshaw Booth 10 1754.39x
Bowling 9 19.71x
Huntwick Cum Nostell 9 978.26x
Reedley Hallows 9 841.12x
Rugeley 8 70.98x
Whittington 7 69.44x
Brandon Byshottles 6 34.60x
Whalley 6 74.53x
Keighley 5 10.17x
Warley 5 37.51x
Wolverhampton 4 3.31x
Pudsey 3 12.17x
Colne 2 12.16x
Eyton Upon Wild Moors 2 289.86x
Harborne 2 3.97x
Ince In Makerfield 2 7.79x
Padiham 2 14.99x
Wombridge 2 40.32x
Aston 1 0.31x
Birmingham 1 0.26x
Bowdon 1 24.51x
Darenth 1 40.82x
Edgmond 1 22.62x
Hackney London 1 0.38x
Haworth 1 9.12x
Islington London 1 0.22x
Kensington London 1 0.39x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 6.31x
Spitalfields London 1 2.86x
St Pancras London 1 0.27x
West Bromwich 1 1.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 18
Ann 12
Martha 12
Ellen 11
Jane 11
Emma 9
Margaret 9
Annie 8
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Emily 4
Caroline 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Betty 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Dinah 2
Eleanor 2
Levina 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Asenath 1
Charlotte 1
Effie 1
Eliz. 1
Eliz.Ann 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hilda 1
Janet 1
Katherine 1
Leah 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Margarette 1
Margeret 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Vielilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
James 26
William 21
Thomas 20
Joseph 11
Henry 10
Richard 9
Charles 8
Levi 7
Samuel 7
George 6
Albert 5
Edward 4
Abel 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Emanuel 3
Emmanuel 3
Martin 3
Adam 2
Ben 2
Earnest 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Hartley 2
Jabez 2
Moses 2
Stephen 2
Alfred 1
Atkinson 1
Bengeman 1
Benjiman 1
Edmund 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Joe 1
Johnson 1
Jonah 1
Lewis 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Matthias 1
Morrise 1
Wm.Thomas 1

FAQ

Stanworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stanworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 477 people were recorded with the Stanworth surname. That placed it at #7,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stanworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 733 in 2016. That gives Stanworth a modern rank of #7,430.

What does the Stanworth surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone from a place called Stanworth, perhaps from stony or rocky enclosure.

What does the Stanworth map show?

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