NameCensus.

UK surname

Stewardson

A patronymic surname referring to the son of a steward.

In the 1881 census there were 309 people recorded with the Stewardson surname, ranking it #9,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 480, ranked #10,292, down from #9,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Allerdale and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stewardson is 486 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.3%.

1881 census count

309

Ranked #9,517

Modern count

480

2016, ranked #10,292

Peak year

2014

486 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stewardson had 309 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016, ranked #10,292.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 424 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Stewardson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stewardson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stewardson 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 281 #8,921
1881 historical 309 #9,517
1891 historical 335 #10,181
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 424 #8,905
1997 modern 429 #10,440
1998 modern 451 #10,393
1999 modern 458 #10,325
2000 modern 466 #10,163
2001 modern 452 #10,192
2002 modern 457 #10,314
2003 modern 453 #10,241
2004 modern 447 #10,369
2005 modern 439 #10,401
2006 modern 441 #10,411
2007 modern 446 #10,409
2008 modern 462 #10,223
2009 modern 474 #10,251
2010 modern 476 #10,434
2011 modern 473 #10,376
2012 modern 469 #10,348
2013 modern 482 #10,298
2014 modern 486 #10,309
2015 modern 477 #10,369
2016 modern 480 #10,292

Geography

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Where Stewardsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Manchester and Penrith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Allerdale, Sandwell, South Lakeland and Rugby. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Penrith Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
2 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
3 Sandwell 018 Sandwell
4 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland
5 Rugby 010 Rugby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stewardson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stewardson

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Stewardson is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Stewardson is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stewardson falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stewardson

The surname Stewardson is of English origin, deriving from the Middle English word "stiward", meaning a guardian or keeper of property. It emerged as an occupational surname during the medieval period, referring to individuals who served as stewards or estate managers for noble households or religious institutions.

Historically, the name Stewardson can be traced back to the 13th century, with early recordings appearing in various county records and manuscripts. One of the earliest known references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, which mentions a "Robertus Stewardsone".

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror, does not contain any specific mentions of the surname Stewardson. However, it does include entries for individuals with the occupation of "stiward" or "steward", indicating the presence of this role in the 11th century.

During the 14th century, the name Stewardson began to appear more frequently in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls and the Hearth Tax Returns. One notable example is Sir William Stewardson, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in Staffordshire during the late 14th century.

In the 16th century, the surname Stewardson was well-established across various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Staffordshire. One notable individual from this period was Robert Stewardson, a merchant and alderman in the city of York, who lived from around 1540 to 1610.

Over the centuries, the surname Stewardson has evolved and taken on various spellings, such as Stewartson, Stewardsone, and Stewerdson. Some of these variations were influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in record-keeping.

Other notable individuals bearing the surname Stewardson include:

1. John Stewardson (1663-1728), an English clergyman and author from Derbyshire. 2. Thomas Stewardson (1734-1800), a prominent architect and surveyor from Yorkshire, known for his work on several churches and country houses. 3. William Stewardson (1797-1876), a British artist and engraver, renowned for his landscape paintings and engravings of Yorkshire scenery. 4. Henry Stewardson (1825-1897), an American physician and professor of obstetrics at the University of Pennsylvania. 5. Ralph Stewardson (1877-1957), a British politician and Member of Parliament for Honiton from 1924 to 1931.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stewardson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stewardson 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 81 Stewardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.19x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 81 2.19x
Westmorland 38 55.57x
Middlesex 36 1.16x
Norfolk 20 4.18x
Yorkshire 20 0.65x
Durham 15 1.62x
Surrey 15 0.99x
Cheshire 12 1.75x
Derbyshire 12 2.46x
Nottinghamshire 12 2.86x
Cumberland 11 4.11x
Midlothian 9 2.16x
Northumberland 9 1.94x
Isle of Man 8 13.85x
Bedfordshire 5 3.10x
Essex 4 0.65x
Staffordshire 3 0.29x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.59x
Flintshire 2 2.39x
Gloucestershire 2 0.33x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.47x
Shetland 1 3.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lancaster in Lancashire leads with 14 Stewardsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.72x.

Place Total Index
Lancaster 14 63.72x
Wandsworth 10 33.39x
Westoe 10 19.05x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 5.37x
Islington London 9 2.98x
Manchester 9 5.42x
Kendal 8 63.90x
Liverpool 8 3.57x
Nottingham St Mary 8 7.37x
Cheetham 7 25.42x
Dalton In Furness 7 49.12x
German Peel 7 210.21x
Westgate 7 24.42x
Chester St John Baptist 6 48.58x
Clerkenwell London 6 8.17x
Normanton 6 145.99x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 6 206.19x
Bedford St Cuthbert 5 349.65x
Chester St Oswald 5 40.19x
Church Gresley 5 64.52x
Crosthwaite Lyth 5 609.76x
Heigham 5 19.47x
St Cuthbert W O 5 38.28x
St Sepulchre London 5 109.65x
Toxteth Park 5 4.00x
West Derby 5 4.63x
Appleby St Lawrence 4 256.41x
Balderton 4 347.83x
Crosscanonby 4 45.15x
Fakenham 4 169.49x
Halliwell 4 29.76x
Lambeth 4 1.47x
Nether Staveley 4 1142.86x
Shildon 4 53.76x
Wardleworth 4 18.96x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.22x
Cartmel Fell 3 937.50x
Hackney London 3 1.72x
Haverah Park 3 4285.71x
Leeds 3 1.72x
Moss Side 3 15.44x
Shap 3 198.68x
Stretford 3 14.77x
Tutbury 3 117.19x
Ulverston 3 27.91x
Undermilbeck 3 133.33x
Wivenhoe 3 122.95x
Asby 2 377.36x
Bangor 2 16.49x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 6.82x
Dewsbury 2 6.33x
Etton 2 377.36x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 17.91x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 2 121.21x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.07x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 8.33x
Northop 2 67.57x
Norwich St Clement 2 36.04x
Norwich St James 2 53.33x
Pocklington 2 68.73x
Poulton Barre 2 47.62x
Sigglesthorne 2 869.57x
St Luke London 2 4.01x
Stainton 2 476.19x
York St Lawrence 2 62.11x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.24x
Askham 1 181.82x
Auckland St Andrew 1 40.98x
Brightside Bierlow 1 1.65x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.52x
Holbeck 1 4.89x
Holme On Spalding Moor 1 49.51x
Horsley 1 34.13x
Middlesbrough 1 2.49x
Newdigate 1 140.85x
Portsea 1 0.80x
St George Hanover 1 2.46x
St Marylebone London 1 0.60x
Walthamstow 1 4.52x
Whitechapel London 1 3.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 13
Margaret 11
Ellen 9
Annie 8
Hannah 8
Jane 8
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Alice 4
Emma 4
Maria 4
Clara 3
Esther 3
Louisa 3
Amelia 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annas 1
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Eliza 1
Flora 1
Jemima 1
Jemmina 1
Laura 1
Lucinda 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Magt.Jane 1
Margot 1
Nancy 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 20
Arthur 8
Samuel 8
George 7
James 7
Richard 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Francis 4
Henry 4
Geo. 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Jos. 2
Mark 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Silas 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Edmund 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Hannah 1
Harrison 1
Herbert 1
J.W. 1
Launcel 1
Lawrence 1
Matthew 1
Nathaniel 1
Rd. 1
Reynold 1
Saml. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Stewardson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stewardson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 309 people were recorded with the Stewardson surname. That placed it at #9,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stewardson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 480 in 2016. That gives Stewardson a modern rank of #10,292.

What does the Stewardson surname mean?

A patronymic surname referring to the son of a steward.

What does the Stewardson map show?

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