NameCensus.

UK surname

Still

An occupational surname referring to someone who operates a still for distilling alcohol.

In the 1881 census there were 1,888 people recorded with the Still surname, ranking it #2,308 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,785, ranked #2,419, down from #2,308 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Fontnell Magna. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Auchterless and Monquhitter, Gravesham and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Still is 3,031 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.5%.

1881 census count

1,888

Ranked #2,308

Modern count

2,785

2016, ranked #2,419

Peak year

1998

3,031 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • • Still had 1,888 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,308 surname in that year.
  • • The latest modern count shown here is 2,785 in 2016, ranked #2,419.
  • • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,558 in 1901.
  • • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Map

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Still surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Still surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Still 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 1,298 #2,205
1861 historical 1,167 #2,419
1881 historical 1,888 #2,308
1891 historical 2,158 #2,164
1901 historical 2,558 #2,147
1911 historical 2,382 #2,152
1997 modern 2,972 #2,178
1998 modern 3,031 #2,222
1999 modern 3,030 #2,240
2000 modern 2,986 #2,257
2001 modern 2,928 #2,248
2002 modern 2,983 #2,254
2003 modern 2,877 #2,284
2004 modern 2,881 #2,288
2005 modern 2,834 #2,294
2006 modern 2,813 #2,313
2007 modern 2,792 #2,346
2008 modern 2,784 #2,370
2009 modern 2,841 #2,379
2010 modern 2,892 #2,385
2011 modern 2,865 #2,373
2012 modern 2,835 #2,353
2013 modern 2,890 #2,351
2014 modern 2,880 #2,377
2015 modern 2,847 #2,377
2016 modern 2,785 #2,419

Geography

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Where Stills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Fontnell Magna and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Auchterless and Monquhitter, Gravesham, South Holland, Mid Sussex and Maidstone. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Fontnell Magna Dorset
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Auchterless and Monquhitter Aberdeenshire
2 Gravesham 006 Gravesham
3 South Holland 008 South Holland
4 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex
5 Maidstone 013 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Still

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Jane Ann Annie Alice Ellen Eliza Emma

Historical male names

William John George James Thomas Charles Robert Alfred Henry Frederick

Recent female names

Margaret Sarah Susan Patricia Emma Elizabeth Nicola Karen Mary Anne

Recent male names

David Michael John Robert Andrew Peter James Christopher William Paul

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Still

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Still surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Still household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Still 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

Still is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Still falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Origin

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Meaning and origin of Still

The surname STILL is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'still', meaning 'quiet' or 'calm'. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who was particularly quiet or reserved in nature. It first appeared in historical records in the 13th century, with early spellings including Stille, Stylle, and Styl.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John le Stille. The Hundred Rolls were a series of administrative records compiled in England during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable insights into the names and occupations of individuals at the time.

The STILL surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1296, which include references to a William Stille and a Robert Stille. These rolls were tax records used to collect subsidies for the king, and they often provide a glimpse into the distribution of surnames across different regions.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John Styl is mentioned in 1315. These rolls documented legal proceedings and transactions within the manor, providing valuable information about the local population.

One notable individual bearing the STILL surname was John Still (c. 1543-1607), an English bishop and academic who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1592 until his death. He was a renowned theologian and a prominent figure in the Church of England during the Elizabethan era.

Another significant bearer of the name was Nathaniel Still (1786-1844), an American businessman and philanthropist from New Jersey. He was a successful merchant and banker, and he made substantial contributions to educational institutions, including the establishment of the Still Academy in his hometown of Woodbury.

In the literary world, Andrew Still (1563-1629) was an English writer and translator known for his works on navigational techniques and translations of various historical texts. His contributions helped popularize and disseminate knowledge in the fields of navigation and exploration.

The STILL surname has also been associated with place names in England, such as Stillington in Yorkshire and Stillingfleet in the East Riding of Yorkshire. These place names may have influenced the development and distribution of the surname in their respective regions.

Throughout history, the STILL surname has been borne by numerous individuals from various walks of life, including clergy, academics, businessmen, and writers, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments associated with this ancient English name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Still families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Still 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. Kent leads with 298 Stills recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.75x.

County Total Index
Kent 298 4.75x
Middlesex 274 1.49x
Aberdeenshire 225 13.21x
Surrey 220 2.45x
Sussex 193 6.22x
Lancashire 85 0.39x
Dorset 75 6.21x
Wiltshire 53 3.26x
Banffshire 49 12.84x
Essex 44 1.21x
Somerset 42 1.42x
Lanarkshire 41 0.69x
Yorkshire 37 0.20x
Hampshire 27 0.72x
Durham 24 0.44x
Devon 21 0.55x
Midlothian 16 0.65x
Gloucestershire 14 0.39x
Angus 13 0.76x
Staffordshire 10 0.16x
Shropshire 9 0.57x
Suffolk 9 0.40x
Herefordshire 8 1.06x
Northamptonshire 8 0.46x
Warwickshire 8 0.17x
Berkshire 7 0.51x
Westmorland 7 1.73x
Cheshire 6 0.15x
Cornwall 6 0.29x
Cumberland 5 0.32x
Stirlingshire 5 0.74x
Ayrshire 4 0.29x
Derbyshire 4 0.14x
Dumfriesshire 4 0.98x
Orkney 4 1.98x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.40x
Glamorgan 3 0.09x
Kincardineshire 3 1.34x
Renfrewshire 3 0.21x
Worcestershire 3 0.12x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.17x
Fife 2 0.18x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.75x
Royal Navy 2 0.91x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Lincolnshire 1 0.03x
Nairnshire 1 1.78x
Norfolk 1 0.04x
Perthshire 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. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 66 Stills recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.70x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 66 20.70x
Brighton 59 9.43x
Fontmell Magna 48 1043.48x
Aberdeen Old Machar 43 12.09x
Bedminster 28 10.06x
Lambeth 26 1.62x
Deptford St Paul 25 5.16x
Mile End Old Town 25 8.61x
West Ham 23 2.87x
Banff 22 66.39x
St Marylebone London 22 2.24x
West Lavington 22 282.05x
Glasgow 20 1.89x
Islington London 20 1.12x
Cowden 19 463.41x
Croydon 19 3.82x
Hackney London 19 1.84x
Newington 19 2.80x
Barony 18 1.20x
Camberwell 18 1.53x
Dartford 18 28.04x
Rainham 16 92.75x
Shere 16 147.74x
Battersea 15 2.22x
Bermondsey 15 2.74x
Gamrie 15 35.21x
Lewisham 15 4.48x
Hartfield 14 142.71x
Skene 14 123.89x
St Luke London 14 4.74x
Turriff 14 50.91x
Woolwich 14 6.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 13 1.31x
Gravesend 13 24.46x
Inverurie 13 67.46x
Kirkdale 13 3.54x
Poplar London 13 3.74x
Shoreditch London 13 1.63x
Capel 12 142.01x
Southwick 12 73.13x
Barking 11 10.35x
Bethnal Green London 11 1.38x
Kingston By Sea 11 223.12x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 2.97x
Withnell 11 82.15x
Dorking 10 16.61x
East Grinstead 10 22.77x
Eastchurch 10 161.55x
Greenwich 10 3.41x
Hampstead London 10 3.49x
Horley 10 66.53x
Kinellar 10 273.97x
Millbrook 10 10.53x
Milton In Gravesend 10 10.62x
Minster In Sheppey 10 9.62x
Old Deer 10 30.97x
St George Hanover 10 4.16x
Clerkenwell London 9 2.07x
Hove 9 6.61x
Manchester 9 0.92x
Middle 9 207.37x
New Deer 9 29.17x
Speldhurst 9 28.16x
St George In East 9 7.19x
Birmingham 8 0.52x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 2.31x
Ealing 8 4.87x
Eastbourne 8 5.60x
Fulham London 8 3.00x
Musbury 8 238.10x
Paddington London 8 1.18x
Sculcoates 8 2.77x
Trottiscliffe 8 430.11x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 10.57x
Beswick 7 12.54x
Horbury 7 21.95x
Kensington London 7 0.68x
Kingsbury 7 146.44x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 6.55x
Shap 7 78.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 84
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 50
Eliza 31
Emma 31
Ann 26
Ellen 26
Emily 26
Jane 25
Alice 22
Annie 16
Edith 13
Harriet 13
Fanny 12
Harriett 10
Maria 10
Charlotte 9
Clara 9
Hannah 9
Kate 9
Louisa 9
Martha 9
Susan 9
Margaret 8
Catherine 7
Frances 7
Lucy 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Caroline 6
Jessie 6
Ada 5
Amelia 5
Amy 5
E. 5
Elizth. 5
Julia 5
Selina 5
Sophia 5
Eleanor 4
Ethel 4
Helen 4
Isabella 4
Matilda 4
Minnie 4
Jemima 3
Lillian 3
Patience 3
Rebecca 3
Rosina 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
John 67
George 60
Henry 59
James 53
Thomas 38
Alfred 27
Charles 27
Frederick 19
Robert 19
Walter 19
Edward 18
Arthur 16
Harry 15
Joseph 14
Edwin 12
Richard 10
Albert 9
Frank 9
Isaac 7
Samuel 7
David 5
Ernest 5
Fredk. 5
Andrew 4
Jno. 4
Percy 4
Tom 4
Willm. 4
Chas. 3
Francis 3
Fred. 3
Reginald 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Alexander 2
Amos 2
Edgar 2
Fredrick 2
G. 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Jasper 2
Jesse 2
Jessie 2
Luke 2
Philip 2
Phillip 2
Wm.Jno. 2

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Still households.

Occupation Count
Scholar 285
Ag Lab 27
Labourer 22
Dressmaker 18
Blacksmith 8
Housemaid 8
Bricklayer 7
Carpenter 7
General Laborer 7
General Labourer 7
Carman 6
Domestic Servant 6
Grocer 6
Housekeeper 6
No Occupation 6
Agr Lab 5
Clerk 5
Coachman 5
Visitor 5
Annuitant 4
Brickfield Laborer 4
Cooper 4
Game Keeper 4
General Serv 4
Laundress 4
Lighterman 4
Warehouse Porter 4
Ag Labr 3
Agricultural Labourer 3
Barmaid 3
Brewers Laborer 3
Charwoman 3
Domestic Serv 3
Draper 3
Drapers Assistant 3
Gamekeeper 3
General Servant 3
Housekeeper (Dom) 3
None 3
Railway Porter 3
Schr 3
Shoe Maker 3
Stoker 3
Tailoress 3
Agl Lab 2
Boot Maker 2
Farm Boy 2
Gardener 2
Gen Lab 2
Governess (P) 2

FAQ

Still surname: questions and answers

How common was the Still surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,888 people were recorded with the Still surname. That placed it at #2,308 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Still surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,785 in 2016. That gives Still a modern rank of #2,419.

What does the Still surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who operates a still for distilling alcohol.

What does the Still map show?

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