NameCensus.

UK surname

Start

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "stert" meaning tail or rump.

In the 1881 census there were 694 people recorded with the Start surname, ranking it #5,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 752, ranked #7,274, down from #5,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sawley, Axmouth, Roosdown and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Kingston upon Hull and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Start is 985 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 8.4%.

1881 census count

694

Ranked #5,224

Modern count

752

2016, ranked #7,274

Peak year

1891

985 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Start had 694 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016, ranked #7,274.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 985 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Start surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Start surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Start 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 471 #5,275
1861 historical 649 #4,140
1881 historical 694 #5,224
1891 historical 985 #4,195
1901 historical 887 #5,196
1911 historical 975 #4,638
1997 modern 820 #6,414
1998 modern 839 #6,504
1999 modern 857 #6,442
2000 modern 857 #6,412
2001 modern 824 #6,501
2002 modern 820 #6,640
2003 modern 819 #6,526
2004 modern 807 #6,626
2005 modern 813 #6,523
2006 modern 810 #6,557
2007 modern 813 #6,597
2008 modern 809 #6,681
2009 modern 807 #6,837
2010 modern 797 #7,052
2011 modern 782 #7,080
2012 modern 749 #7,236
2013 modern 762 #7,246
2014 modern 779 #7,153
2015 modern 764 #7,196
2016 modern 752 #7,274

Geography

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Where Starts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sawley, Axmouth, Roosdown, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Loughborough and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Kingston upon Hull and Carmarthenshire. 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 Sawley Derbyshire
2 Axmouth, Roosdown Devon
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Loughborough Leicestershire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
2 Kingston upon Hull 031 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Uttlesford 001 Uttlesford
4 Carmarthenshire 005 Carmarthenshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 001 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Start

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Start

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Start 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

Start is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Start

The surname START is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, possibly derived from the Old English word "stært," meaning "tail" or "rump." It was likely an occupational name given to someone who worked with animals or a nickname referring to a person's physical appearance or behavior.

The earliest recorded use of the surname START can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical documents and records from that time. One notable example is the mention of a William Start in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1272.

In the late 13th century, the surname START was also found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where it appeared as "Stert." This variation in spelling was common during that period, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The surname START is believed to have originated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire, where it was most prevalent in the early days. It was also found in other parts of southern England, including Somerset and Wiltshire.

Over the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname START. One of the earliest was John Start, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Salisbury during the 15th century. Another was William Start, a member of the English Parliament who represented the borough of Heytesbury in Wiltshire in the late 16th century.

In the 17th century, a notable figure was Nathaniel Start, a Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Rendlesham in Suffolk. He was born in 1596 and is known for his written works on religious topics.

During the 18th century, Thomas Start, born in 1693, was a respected physician and medical writer who practiced in London. He published several works on various medical subjects and was a fellow of the Royal Society.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable individuals with the surname START was Sir Caleb Start, a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1785 and achieved the rank of Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, playing a significant role in several notable naval engagements.

While the surname START may not be among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, contributing to the cultural and historical tapestry of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Start families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Start 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. Middlesex leads with 108 Starts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 1.60x
Devon 97 6.88x
Essex 68 5.09x
Nottinghamshire 56 6.14x
Leicestershire 54 7.19x
Surrey 50 1.52x
Lincolnshire 38 3.51x
Cambridgeshire 27 6.30x
Sussex 26 2.28x
Lancashire 24 0.30x
Cornwall 19 2.48x
Yorkshire 18 0.27x
Kent 14 0.61x
Somerset 14 1.28x
Cheshire 11 0.74x
Derbyshire 11 1.04x
Northumberland 9 0.89x
Gloucestershire 7 0.53x
Wiltshire 7 1.17x
Worcestershire 6 0.68x
Hampshire 5 0.36x
Warwickshire 5 0.29x
Glamorgan 4 0.34x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.48x
Hertfordshire 3 0.64x
Dorset 2 0.45x
Royal Navy 2 2.48x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Durham 1 0.05x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Suffolk 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saffron Walden in Essex leads with 43 Starts recorded in 1881 and an index of 304.53x.

Place Total Index
Saffron Walden 43 304.53x
Sheepshed 32 310.98x
Nottingham St Mary 28 11.86x
Uplyme 25 1184.83x
Islington London 20 3.05x
Axmouth 16 1012.66x
Calstock 16 106.45x
Loughborough 16 46.98x
St Andrewthe Less 16 32.66x
Ruddington 15 245.10x
Coningsby 13 418.01x
Mile End Old Town 13 12.17x
Batley 10 15.69x
Chertsey 10 46.93x
Macclesfield 10 15.06x
Cramlington 9 67.62x
Beeston 8 76.34x
Burnley 8 11.83x
Byfleet 8 272.11x
Colchester St Botolph 8 70.36x
Felpham 8 610.69x
St Luke London 8 7.37x
St Pancras London 8 1.47x
Sunbury 8 98.40x
Addington 7 451.61x
Chesterton 7 52.95x
Horncastle 7 62.67x
Long Eaton 7 50.04x
St George Hanover 7 7.92x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 7 79.73x
Chittlehampton 6 172.41x
Exeter St Leonard 6 155.44x
Great Malvern 6 32.52x
Kensington London 6 1.59x
Liverpool 6 1.23x
Trowbridge 6 22.68x
Broughton In Salford 5 6.81x
Dawlish 5 47.57x
Exeter Holy Trinity 5 90.58x
Leasingham 5 581.40x
Sible Hedingham 5 111.86x
St Gilesin Fields 5 126.90x
St Nicholas Lincoln 5 48.31x
Stoke Damerel 5 5.07x
Tonbridge 5 6.00x
Battersea 4 1.61x
Birmingham 4 0.70x
Camberwell 4 0.93x
Chard 4 30.30x
Clapham 4 4.73x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.50x
Great Chesterford 4 188.68x
Hove 4 7.99x
Neath 4 16.68x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 3.68x
Ruskington 4 144.93x
Sawston 4 96.62x
South Bersted 4 41.19x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.94x
St Marylebone London 4 1.11x
Stansted Mountfitchet 4 118.34x
Tirley 4 357.14x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 2.56x
Axminster 3 45.39x
Bermondsey 3 1.49x
Chiswick 3 8.11x
Colyton 3 55.45x
Derby St Werburgh 3 4.90x
Hackney London 3 0.79x
Hampstead London 3 2.85x
Huddersfield 3 3.07x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.64x
New Sleaford 3 43.23x
Saltash 3 50.51x
Whitechapel London 3 4.50x
Frant 2 24.72x
Friern Barnet 2 13.41x
Habergham Eaves 2 2.72x
Portsea 2 0.74x
Yapton 2 155.04x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 45
John 39
George 27
Thomas 22
Charles 16
Henry 14
Joseph 12
James 11
Frederick 10
Albert 9
Alfred 9
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Richard 6
Robert 5
Stephen 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Michael 4
Alexander 3
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Allen 2
Ambrose 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Harley 2
Jas. 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Dick 1
Edmond 1
Elias 1
Emanuel 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hezekiah 1
Infant 1
Lesingham 1
Lewis 1
Milner 1
Noah 1
Obadia 1
Peter 1
Reece 1
Wm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Start surname: questions and answers

How common was the Start surname in 1881?

In 1881, 694 people were recorded with the Start surname. That placed it at #5,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Start surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 752 in 2016. That gives Start a modern rank of #7,274.

What does the Start surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "stert" meaning tail or rump.

What does the Start map show?

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