NameCensus.

UK surname

Stelling

A surname derived from the Dutch word meaning "scaffold" or "platform."

In the 1881 census there were 229 people recorded with the Stelling surname, ranking it #11,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, up from #11,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, County Durham and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stelling is 447 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 83.0%.

1881 census count

229

Ranked #11,784

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

2000

447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stelling had 229 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 399 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Stelling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stelling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stelling 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 137 #16,465
1881 historical 229 #11,784
1891 historical 289 #11,425
1901 historical 340 #10,647
1911 historical 399 #9,298
1997 modern 426 #10,490
1998 modern 441 #10,560
1999 modern 440 #10,648
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 440 #10,434
2002 modern 442 #10,605
2003 modern 439 #10,487
2004 modern 426 #10,768
2005 modern 425 #10,667
2006 modern 410 #11,015
2007 modern 398 #11,411
2008 modern 399 #11,494
2009 modern 397 #11,793
2010 modern 414 #11,673
2011 modern 416 #11,492
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 418 #11,533
2014 modern 425 #11,432
2015 modern 420 #11,458
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Stellings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead and Stranton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, County Durham and Hambleton. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Stranton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 004 Harrogate
2 Harrogate 001 Harrogate
3 County Durham 064 County Durham
4 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
5 County Durham 014 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stelling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stelling

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Stelling is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Stelling 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

Stelling falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stelling 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 Stelling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Stelling

The surname Stelling is of Dutch origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Dutch word "stelling," which means a dock, pier, or landing stage. This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who lived or worked near such structures.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Stelling can be found in the Dutch town of Leiden, where a person named Jan Stelling was mentioned in a church record from 1587. Another early reference comes from the town of Haarlem, where a man named Pieter Stelling was listed in a tax register in 1612.

The Stelling surname is also closely linked to the town of Stellingwerf, located in the province of Friesland, in the northern Netherlands. Stellingwerf is believed to have derived its name from the Old Frisian word "stelling," which meant a fortified position or a defensive structure. It is possible that the surname Stelling may have originated from this area, with individuals adopting the name based on their association with the town or its fortifications.

In the 17th century, the Stelling name appears to have spread across the Netherlands and into neighboring regions. One notable figure from this period was Johannes Stelling, a Dutch painter born in 1634 in Amsterdam. He was known for his landscapes and seascapes, and his works can be found in various museums across Europe.

Another noteworthy individual was Pieter Stelling, a Dutch military engineer born in 1679. He was involved in the construction of several fortifications and defensive works in the Netherlands, including the famous Stelling van Amsterdam, a ring of forts and inundation areas built to protect the city of Amsterdam from potential invasions.

In the 18th century, the Stelling name continued to appear in various records across the Netherlands and surrounding regions. One example is Dirk Stelling, a Dutch merchant and entrepreneur born in 1721 in Rotterdam. He established a successful trading company that dealt in goods from the Dutch East Indies.

As the centuries progressed, the Stelling surname spread further across Europe and beyond, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields. In the 19th century, for instance, there was Friedrich Stelling, a German mathematician born in 1819, who made significant contributions to the field of geometry.

Another prominent figure was Sir Ralph Stelling, a British architect born in 1852. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House and the former Midland Bank Headquarters on Poultry Street.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stelling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stelling 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. Yorkshire leads with 102 Stellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.61x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 102 4.61x
Durham 67 10.08x
Surrey 24 2.21x
Middlesex 18 0.81x
Northumberland 7 2.11x
Monmouthshire 4 2.48x
Staffordshire 2 0.27x
Suffolk 2 0.74x
Warwickshire 2 0.36x
Devon 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 22 Stellings recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.42x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 22 15.42x
Stranton 16 71.52x
Bedale 15 1851.85x
Hunton 12 3870.97x
Well 12 4800.00x
Edmonton 9 50.00x
Boldon 8 337.55x
Ledsham 8 3809.52x
Thornaby 8 96.74x
Bishop Auckland 7 78.48x
East Harlsey 7 2413.79x
Scarborough 7 34.81x
Willington 7 182.29x
Crakehall 6 1621.62x
Chirton 5 66.49x
Witton Le Wear 5 265.96x
Benfieldside 4 91.53x
Bishopwearmouth 4 7.01x
Bowling 4 18.25x
Coundon Grange 4 273.97x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 30.84x
Ripon 4 77.82x
Stockton On Tees 4 12.49x
Trevethin 4 26.23x
Islington London 3 1.39x
St George Hanover 3 10.29x
St Pancras London 3 1.67x
Ainderby Myers With 2 3333.33x
Barton 2 512.82x
Birmingham 2 1.07x
Darlington 2 7.79x
Finghall Akebar 2 1666.67x
Gilling 2 298.51x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 26.25x
Lambeth 2 1.03x
Northallerton 2 70.67x
Scruton 2 740.74x
Conside Knitsley 1 19.34x
Dawdon 1 12.24x
Elswick 1 3.77x
Great Ayton 1 73.53x
Hipswell 1 476.19x
Kirby In Cleveland 1 526.32x
Lockton 1 322.58x
Melsonby 1 243.90x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 5.80x
Newsham 1 476.19x
Patrck Brmptn Newton 1 250.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.79x
Tettenhall 1 21.69x
Wolstanton 1 4.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 18
William 12
Thomas 8
George 6
Anthony 5
Henry 5
Christopher 4
Frederick 4
Matthew 4
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Edward 2
James 2
Ludwig 2
Peter 2
Adolph 1
Albert 1
Arthur 1
August 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Ferdinand 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Friederich 1
Gerhard 1
Gustav 1
Harry 1
Hodgson 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Lupton 1
Mark 1
Nathan 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Robinson 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Stelling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stelling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 229 people were recorded with the Stelling surname. That placed it at #11,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stelling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Stelling a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Stelling surname mean?

A surname derived from the Dutch word meaning "scaffold" or "platform."

What does the Stelling map show?

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