NameCensus.

UK surname

Stobbs

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing in the woods".

In the 1881 census there were 868 people recorded with the Stobbs surname, ranking it #4,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,419, ranked #4,297, up from #4,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stobbs is 1,501 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.5%.

1881 census count

868

Ranked #4,364

Modern count

1,419

2016, ranked #4,297

Peak year

1999

1,501 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stobbs had 868 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,419 in 2016, ranked #4,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,285 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Stobbs surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stobbs surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stobbs 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 463 #5,359
1861 historical 507 #5,159
1881 historical 868 #4,364
1891 historical 954 #4,341
1901 historical 1,252 #3,954
1911 historical 1,285 #3,707
1997 modern 1,458 #4,002
1998 modern 1,492 #4,072
1999 modern 1,501 #4,085
2000 modern 1,485 #4,094
2001 modern 1,456 #4,087
2002 modern 1,473 #4,127
2003 modern 1,409 #4,206
2004 modern 1,411 #4,192
2005 modern 1,417 #4,152
2006 modern 1,409 #4,172
2007 modern 1,409 #4,209
2008 modern 1,390 #4,281
2009 modern 1,417 #4,291
2010 modern 1,452 #4,294
2011 modern 1,466 #4,213
2012 modern 1,408 #4,285
2013 modern 1,422 #4,314
2014 modern 1,430 #4,320
2015 modern 1,417 #4,319
2016 modern 1,419 #4,297

Geography

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Where Stobbs' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, South Tyneside and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 012 County Durham
2 South Tyneside 013 South Tyneside
3 County Durham 059 County Durham
4 County Durham 042 County Durham
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stobbs

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stobbs

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Stobbs surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Stobbs household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Stobbs 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

Stobbs is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stobbs falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stobbs

The surname Stobbs is of English origin, primarily found in the county of Northumberland and the surrounding areas. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "stobb," which means a stump or tree trunk.

The earliest known record of the name Stobbs dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Northumberland Assize Rolls of 1279 as "William de Stobbes." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place or settlement with a name related to the word "stobb."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a settlement called "Stubbs" is mentioned, which could be an early variant spelling of the name. This indicates that the name may have evolved from a place name referring to an area with stumps or tree trunks.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Stobbs was John Stobbs, who was born in Northumberland around 1520. He was a landowner and member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Stobbs (1555-1629), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London. He was involved in the trade with the Levant and served as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers.

In the 17th century, William Stobbs (1612-1679) was a prominent English clergyman and academic. He served as the Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, and was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

During the 18th century, Captain John Stobbs (1730-1792) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He was commended for his bravery and leadership in several naval battles.

In more recent times, Sir Philip Stobbs (1860-1938) was a British architect and town planner. He was influential in the development of modern urban planning and was responsible for the design of several notable buildings and town plans in the early 20th century.

While the surname Stobbs is not among the most common in England, it has a long and interesting history that can be traced back to the medieval period and the northeastern regions of the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stobbs families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stobbs 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. Durham leads with 400 Stobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.92x.

County Total Index
Durham 400 15.92x
Northumberland 255 20.29x
Yorkshire 106 1.27x
Middlesex 21 0.25x
Cheshire 15 0.80x
Dumfriesshire 15 8.04x
Lanarkshire 12 0.44x
Ayrshire 9 1.42x
Lancashire 8 0.08x
Suffolk 7 0.68x
Hampshire 5 0.29x
Surrey 5 0.12x
Shropshire 3 0.41x
Berwickshire 2 1.96x
Kent 1 0.03x
Midlothian 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 26 Stobbs' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.82x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 26 13.82x
Allendale 24 206.01x
Westoe 24 16.85x
Winlaton 23 95.40x
Iveston 22 189.98x
Wolsingham 22 96.03x
Chirton 18 63.27x
Elswick 18 17.94x
Newcastle On Tyne St 18 27.63x
Tynemouth 17 25.26x
Bishop Auckland 16 47.45x
Stockley 16 503.14x
Hexham 15 77.12x
Longbenton 15 28.17x
High Low Bishopside 14 188.43x
Medomsley 14 119.45x
Pelton 14 117.06x
Stockton On Tees 14 11.56x
Stanhope 13 50.10x
Tunstall 13 103.92x
Auckland St Andrew 12 180.72x
Bewerley 12 348.84x
Collierley 12 107.14x
Linthorpe 12 24.02x
Acomb 11 360.66x
Govan 11 1.63x
Tanfield 11 36.80x
Dilston 10 1694.92x
Merrington 10 206.61x
Newton Cap 10 256.41x
Wallsend 10 25.09x
Benfieldside 9 54.45x
Bishopwearmouth 9 4.17x
Coundon Grange 9 163.34x
North Shields 9 35.89x
Tranmere 9 13.13x
Westgate 9 11.56x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 10.26x
Edmondbyers 8 784.31x
Glencairn 8 159.36x
Heworth 8 16.16x
Holbeck 8 14.42x
Jesmond 8 45.22x
Nether Hallam 8 7.06x
Riccarton Hurlford 8 72.14x
Birtley 7 68.23x
Dalton 7 2800.00x
Hedley Woodside 7 542.64x
Orford 7 210.84x
Ormesby 7 31.11x
Prudhoe 7 80.09x
Byker 6 9.66x
Cheadle 6 16.84x
East Chevington 6 143.54x
Framwellgate 6 40.30x
Leeds 6 1.27x
Monkseaton 6 425.53x
Paddington London 6 1.93x
Seaton Delaval 6 54.35x
St George Martyr 6 42.13x
Willington 6 41.32x
Auckland St Helen 5 189.39x
Clint 5 442.48x
Croydon 5 2.19x
Haworth 5 25.13x
Horton 5 80.52x
Islington London 5 0.61x
Portsea 5 1.47x
Sanquhar 5 76.22x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 22.08x
Houghton Le Spring 4 23.03x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 8.15x
Salford 4 1.36x
Trimdon 4 45.05x
Tudhoe 4 18.19x
West Auckland 4 43.53x
Chester Le Street 3 15.54x
Kimberworth 3 6.46x
Stamfordham 3 379.75x
Whessoe 3 405.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Elizabeth 55
Sarah 30
Jane 29
Margaret 23
Hannah 20
Ann 19
Isabella 11
Annie 8
Barbara 7
Maria 7
Alice 6
Dorothy 5
Emily 5
Eleanor 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Jessie 3
Margt. 3
Sophia 3
Amelia 2
Caroline 2
Christiana 2
Elleanor 2
Ellen 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Isabel 2
Kate 2
Lottie 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margt.A. 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Amy 1
Betsy 1
Cathe. 1
Catherine 1
Eliz.R. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizh.Ellen 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Honoria 1
Isabele 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 72
William 44
Joseph 40
Thomas 38
George 27
James 22
Henry 21
Edward 18
Robert 17
Matthew 11
Cuthbert 8
Ralph 8
Richard 5
Daniel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
David 3
Stephenson 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Dodds 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Hall 2
Harry 2
Mathew 2
Michael 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
Roger 2
Simon 2
Thompson 2
Wm. 2
Arhtur 1
Colin 1
Ernest 1
Freddy 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.William 1
Jno. 1
John. 1
Jos. 1
Kidd 1
Margaret 1
Michal 1

FAQ

Stobbs surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stobbs surname in 1881?

In 1881, 868 people were recorded with the Stobbs surname. That placed it at #4,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stobbs surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,419 in 2016. That gives Stobbs a modern rank of #4,297.

What does the Stobbs surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "clearing in the woods".

What does the Stobbs map show?

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