NameCensus.

UK surname

Stein

A toponymic surname derived from a place of residence near a stone, rock, or boulder.

In the 1881 census there were 709 people recorded with the Stein surname, ranking it #5,124 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,621, ranked #3,840, up from #5,124 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alloa, London parishes and Beath. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ14, Cowdenbeath South and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stein is 1,621 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.6%.

1881 census count

709

Ranked #5,124

Modern count

1,621

2016, ranked #3,840

Peak year

2016

1,621 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stein had 709 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,124 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016, ranked #3,840.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,123 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Stein surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stein surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stein 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 337 #6,953
1861 historical 331 #7,706
1881 historical 709 #5,124
1891 historical 778 #5,157
1901 historical 1,123 #4,317
1911 historical 764 #5,664
1997 modern 1,386 #4,172
1998 modern 1,449 #4,173
1999 modern 1,477 #4,139
2000 modern 1,460 #4,151
2001 modern 1,419 #4,177
2002 modern 1,451 #4,179
2003 modern 1,451 #4,105
2004 modern 1,430 #4,154
2005 modern 1,405 #4,177
2006 modern 1,409 #4,172
2007 modern 1,423 #4,176
2008 modern 1,483 #4,073
2009 modern 1,503 #4,113
2010 modern 1,538 #4,111
2011 modern 1,535 #4,070
2012 modern 1,525 #4,016
2013 modern 1,591 #3,935
2014 modern 1,615 #3,911
2015 modern 1,616 #3,871
2016 modern 1,621 #3,840

Geography

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Where Steins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alloa, London parishes, Beath and Alva. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ14, Cowdenbeath South, Barnet, Harrow and Hackney. 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 Alloa Clackmannan
2 London parishes London 1
3 Beath Fife
4 Alva Stirling
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ14 East Lothian
2 Cowdenbeath South Fife
3 Barnet 034 Barnet
4 Harrow 001 Harrow
5 Hackney 004 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stein

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stein

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Stein surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Stein 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Stein is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Stein 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

Stein falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stein 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Stein

The surname "STEIN" originated in Germany and its earliest recorded use dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the German word "stein," meaning "stone" or "rock," which was often used as a descriptive term for someone who lived near a prominent rock formation or a stony area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis" (1262), a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg. In this record, a person named "Henricus Stein" is mentioned, indicating the presence of the surname in medieval Germany.

During the Middle Ages, the name "STEIN" was particularly common in the regions of Saxony, Silesia, and Pomerania. It was also found in other areas of modern-day Germany, as well as in parts of Austria and Switzerland, where German settlers had established communities.

The name "STEIN" has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Johannes Stein (c. 1300-1368), a German theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Paris. Another prominent figure was Konrad von Stein (c. 1370-1439), a German statesman and diplomat who served as the Imperial Chancellor under Emperor Sigismund.

In the 16th century, the name gained further prominence with Gerhard Stein (1497-1551), a German Protestant Reformer and close associate of Martin Luther. Another notable bearer of the name was Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716), a German philosopher, mathematician, and one of the most influential thinkers of the Enlightenment era.

During the 19th century, the name "STEIN" was carried by several influential figures, including Baron vom Stein (1757-1831), a Prussian statesman who played a key role in the reforms that followed the Napoleonic Wars. Another notable figure was Edith Stein (1891-1942), a German Jewish philosopher, nun, and martyr who was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1998.

While the name "STEIN" has its origins in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration. However, its earliest recorded instances and historical significance can be traced back to the medieval and early modern periods in the German-speaking regions of Central Europe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stein families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stein 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. Lanarkshire leads with 130 Steins recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.81x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 130 5.81x
Middlesex 125 1.81x
West Lothian 59 56.65x
Fife 58 14.17x
Midlothian 45 4.86x
Perthshire 37 11.92x
Surrey 35 1.04x
Stirlingshire 34 13.33x
Clackmannanshire 30 52.52x
Yorkshire 23 0.34x
Lancashire 19 0.23x
Kent 16 0.68x
East Lothian 12 13.10x
Banffshire 11 7.67x
Durham 11 0.53x
Northumberland 11 1.07x
Renfrewshire 10 1.87x
Angus 5 0.78x
Argyllshire 5 2.60x
Warwickshire 5 0.29x
Hampshire 4 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.47x
Selkirkshire 3 4.79x
Ayrshire 2 0.39x
Essex 2 0.15x
Glamorgan 2 0.17x
Roxburghshire 2 1.60x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Channel Islands 1 0.49x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Cornwall 1 0.13x
Cumberland 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.13x
Ross-shire 1 0.53x
Royal Navy 1 1.21x
Westmorland 1 0.66x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 39 Steins recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.94x.

Place Total Index
Old Monkland 39 43.94x
Bathgate 30 132.68x
Beath 28 216.38x
Whitechapel London 28 41.07x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 24 6.44x
Barony 23 4.06x
Alva 20 164.34x
Lambeth 17 2.82x
Lesmahagow 17 71.85x
Carluke 16 78.78x
Alloa 15 54.15x
Kensington London 13 3.38x
Carnwath 12 86.77x
Livingstone 12 338.03x
Dunfermline 11 17.47x
St Botolph Aldgate 11 116.53x
Banff 10 80.26x
Glasgow 10 2.52x
West Greenock 10 10.40x
Clackmannan 9 83.33x
Dysart 9 32.64x
Spitalfields London 9 17.30x
Stranton 9 12.99x
Kilspindie 8 487.80x
Kinnoull 8 98.04x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.33x
New Monkland 7 10.59x
Spott 7 510.95x
Wallsend 7 21.45x
West Calder 7 38.34x
Hackney London 6 1.55x
Kirknewton 6 225.56x
Stirling 6 18.66x
Tibbermore 6 134.83x
Tillicoultry 6 47.21x
Brotton 5 55.93x
Burntisland 5 43.67x
Camberwell 5 1.13x
Cheetham 5 8.17x
Govan 5 0.90x
Kirkliston 5 82.37x
Methven 5 109.89x
Mile End New Town 5 52.97x
Sibertswold 5 403.23x
St Pancras London 5 0.90x
Carriden 4 84.75x
Dalmeny 4 100.50x
Dundee 4 1.67x
Islington London 4 0.60x
Larbert 4 26.23x
Linlithgow 4 29.94x
Liverpool 4 0.80x
Morley 4 11.23x
Prestonpans 4 65.15x
Sculcoates 4 3.68x
Snydale 4 281.69x
St George Hanover 4 4.43x
St Marylebone London 4 1.08x
Wemyss 4 23.09x
Aberdeen Old Machar 3 2.24x
Alverstoke 3 5.85x
Aston 3 0.62x
Chelsea London 3 1.44x
Chiswick 3 7.94x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.65x
Duddingston 3 16.13x
Everton 3 1.15x
Falkirk 3 5.02x
Galashiels 3 12.97x
Kildalton Oa 3 1000.00x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.75x
Milton In Gravesend 3 8.48x
Paddington London 3 1.18x
Pirbright 3 175.44x
Southwark St John 3 14.18x
Battersea 2 0.79x
Gateshead 2 1.30x
Hornsey 2 2.29x
Kinfauns 2 141.84x
St Anne Soho London 2 5.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 6
Catherine 5
Emily 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Dorothy 2
Eliza 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Sarah 2
Agness 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Beta 1
Carolina 1
Clotilde 1
E.C. 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Eugenie 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Friderike 1
Friederika 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Ida 1
Isabella 1
Jannett 1
Jeanet 1
Jessey 1
Johanna 1
Yetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
William 7
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
James 5
Thomas 5
David 4
Jacob 4
Robert 4
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Isaac 2
Sidney 2
Simon 2
Walter 2
Ar. 1
Bernard 1
Broady 1
C.J. 1
Carl 1
Cecil 1
Ferdinand 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Godfrey 1
Hendrich 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jeffries 1
Joshua 1
Konrad 1
Leon 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Ludwig 1
Malcolm 1
Mark 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Wynand 1

FAQ

Stein surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stein surname in 1881?

In 1881, 709 people were recorded with the Stein surname. That placed it at #5,124 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stein surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,621 in 2016. That gives Stein a modern rank of #3,840.

What does the Stein surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from a place of residence near a stone, rock, or boulder.

What does the Stein map show?

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