UK surname
A surname either derived from a placename or referring to someone who was still or motionless.
In the 1881 census there were 103 people recorded with the Stilling surname, ranking it #19,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 79, ranked #33,100, down from #19,410 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stilling is 170 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.3%.
1881 census count
103
Ranked #19,410
Modern count
79
2016, ranked #33,100
Peak year
1911
170 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stilling surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stilling surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 57 | #23,092 |
| 1861 | historical | 66 | #25,487 |
| 1881 | historical | 103 | #19,410 |
| 1891 | historical | 150 | #18,328 |
| 1901 | historical | 136 | #19,110 |
| 1911 | historical | 170 | #16,510 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 89 | #29,026 |
| 1999 | modern | 81 | #30,037 |
| 2000 | modern | 76 | #30,578 |
| 2001 | modern | 76 | #30,366 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 71 | #31,393 |
| 2004 | modern | 68 | #31,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 82 | #31,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 84 | #31,842 |
| 2010 | modern | 77 | #32,927 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 80 | #33,133 |
| 2015 | modern | 79 | #33,127 |
| 2016 | modern | 79 | #33,100 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, St Pancras, Auckland St Andrew and St Giles-in-the-Fields. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lancaster Borough | Lancashire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Auckland St Andrew | Durham |
| 5 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stilling surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Stilling, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Stilling surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stilling household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Stilling is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Stilling is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stilling, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname STILLING is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "stillan," which means "to be still" or "to remain calm and quiet." This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive nickname to someone with a calm or composed demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the STILLING surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1221, where a person named William Stilling is mentioned. Additionally, the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a John Stilling as a resident of the area.
In the 14th century, the STILLING surname is documented in various historical records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Thomas Stilling is mentioned in 1348. During this period, variations in spelling were common, and the name is also found recorded as Stillyng, Styllynge, and Stillinge.
One notable individual bearing the STILLING surname was Sir Ralph Stilling, a prominent English landowner and military commander who lived during the 15th century. He served in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted for his bravery in battle. Another historical figure was William Stilling, a merchant and alderman in the city of London during the late 16th century.
In the 17th century, the STILLING surname appears in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. One example is Thomas Stilling, who was baptized in the parish of Rotherfield in East Sussex in 1634.
During the 18th century, the STILLING name spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. In Scotland, a notable individual was Robert Stilling, a minister and theologian who lived from 1706 to 1784 and served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow.
As the centuries progressed, the STILLING surname continued to be found throughout England, with concentrations in the northern counties and the Midlands. Individuals bearing this name contributed to various fields, including academia, the arts, and public service.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stilling surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 24 Stillings recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 24 | 2.39x |
| Lancashire | 21 | 1.76x |
| Westmorland | 21 | 95.11x |
| Durham | 8 | 2.68x |
| Devon | 7 | 3.35x |
| Staffordshire | 7 | 2.06x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.60x |
| Cumberland | 4 | 4.62x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.97x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.67x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.62x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.59x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kendal in Westmorland leads with 21 Stillings recorded in 1881 and an index of 519.80x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kendal | 21 | 519.80x |
| St Pancras London | 15 | 18.55x |
| Sunderland Bridge | 8 | 1702.13x |
| Dunnerdale With | 7 | 7000.00x |
| Handsworth | 7 | 83.73x |
| Guisbrough | 5 | 229.36x |
| St Giles In Fields | 5 | 144.09x |
| West Broughton | 5 | 1250.00x |
| Brigham | 4 | 975.61x |
| Skerton | 4 | 408.16x |
| Salford | 3 | 8.56x |
| Shute | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Aldershot | 2 | 28.99x |
| Axminster | 2 | 204.08x |
| Cheetham | 2 | 22.50x |
| Laira | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 5.12x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.22x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.79x |
| Marston Magna | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 12.90x |
| Ruislip | 1 | 200.00x |
| Subdeanery | 1 | 77.52x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 9.68x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stilling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Stilling surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Stilling households.
FAQ
In 1881, 103 people were recorded with the Stilling surname. That placed it at #19,410 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 79 in 2016. That gives Stilling a modern rank of #33,100.
A surname either derived from a placename or referring to someone who was still or motionless.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stilling bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.