NameCensus.

UK surname

Stoneham

A locational surname referring to residency in or near the town of Stoneham.

In the 1881 census there were 688 people recorded with the Stoneham surname, ranking it #5,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 824, ranked #6,742, down from #5,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Dartford and Gravesham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stoneham is 1,103 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.8%.

1881 census count

688

Ranked #5,256

Modern count

824

2016, ranked #6,742

Peak year

1911

1,103 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Stoneham had 688 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 824 in 2016, ranked #6,742.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,103 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Stoneham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Stoneham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Stoneham 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 435 #5,644
1861 historical 428 #6,002
1881 historical 688 #5,256
1891 historical 773 #5,186
1901 historical 995 #4,783
1911 historical 1,103 #4,214
1997 modern 884 #6,042
1998 modern 903 #6,146
1999 modern 907 #6,163
2000 modern 903 #6,163
2001 modern 876 #6,187
2002 modern 882 #6,275
2003 modern 871 #6,227
2004 modern 876 #6,220
2005 modern 844 #6,340
2006 modern 846 #6,344
2007 modern 856 #6,344
2008 modern 841 #6,484
2009 modern 852 #6,556
2010 modern 853 #6,671
2011 modern 845 #6,645
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 819 #6,808
2014 modern 833 #6,764
2015 modern 822 #6,784
2016 modern 824 #6,742

Geography

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Where Stonehams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Dartford, Gravesham and Sevenoaks. 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 Northfleet Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 002 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 004 Wiltshire
3 Dartford 012 Dartford
4 Gravesham 011 Gravesham
5 Sevenoaks 001 Sevenoaks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Stoneham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Stoneham

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Stoneham is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Stoneham is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Stoneham falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Stoneham

The surname Stoneham has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name "Stoneham" or variations thereof, referring to several villages and hamlets across the country.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Staneham" in Hampshire. This suggests that the name likely originated from a settlement in this region, possibly meaning "the homestead or village made of stone."

In the 13th century, records show variations such as "Staneham" and "Stonham" appearing in various county rolls and charters. These variations likely emerged due to dialectal differences and the inconsistencies in spelling during that era.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was Sir William Stoneham (c. 1460-1516), a Member of Parliament for Hampshire during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He was a prominent landowner and held the position of Sheriff of Hampshire in 1506.

Another individual of note was Richard Stoneham (1597-1653), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Bradwell-on-Sea in Essex. He authored several theological works, including "A Discourse on the Adoration of Our Blessed Saviour."

In the 17th century, the surname appears in parish records from various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Wiltshire, suggesting its spread across different regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America dates back to the 17th century, with Thomas Stoneham (1627-1680), who settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, in 1647.

Another notable figure was John Stoneham (1760-1836), an English architect and surveyor who designed several prominent buildings in London, including the Marylebone Workhouse and the Colosseum in Regent's Park.

Throughout its history, the surname Stoneham has been associated with various localities across England, particularly in Hampshire, Essex, and Suffolk, where it likely originated from settlements or villages bearing similar place names.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Stoneham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stoneham 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 182 Stonehams recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.94x.

County Total Index
Kent 182 7.94x
Middlesex 147 2.19x
Surrey 64 1.95x
Sussex 50 4.41x
Essex 48 3.62x
Gloucestershire 48 3.64x
Wiltshire 42 7.07x
Hampshire 33 2.40x
Glamorgan 12 1.03x
Huntingdonshire 12 8.99x
Lancashire 10 0.13x
Yorkshire 9 0.14x
Monmouthshire 8 1.65x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.98x
Devon 4 0.29x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.70x
Oxfordshire 3 0.72x
Shropshire 3 0.52x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 25 Stonehams recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.26x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 25 9.26x
Northfleet 24 118.81x
Deptford St Paul 20 11.31x
Witham 19 278.18x
Paddington London 18 7.28x
Poplar London 18 14.19x
St Pancras London 18 3.33x
St Marylebone London 17 4.74x
Camberwell 16 3.73x
Brighton 15 6.56x
Lambeth 15 2.56x
Swanscombe 15 145.63x
Erith 14 61.97x
Charlton 13 747.13x
Maidstone 13 19.03x
Rotherhithe 13 15.66x
Shoreditch London 13 4.46x
Southfleet 13 613.21x
Beckenham 12 40.03x
Buckden 12 500.00x
Crayford 12 119.88x
Kensington London 12 3.21x
Mawr 12 487.80x
Cheltenham 11 10.82x
Olveston 11 296.50x
Eastbourne 10 19.18x
Islington London 10 1.54x
Darenth 9 254.96x
Hove 9 18.10x
Milton In Gravesend 9 26.17x
Battersea 8 3.23x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 5.64x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.41x
Garsdon 7 1666.67x
Greenwich 7 6.54x
Lea Cleverton 7 660.38x
Sheffield 7 3.30x
Bromley London 6 4.06x
Burnham 6 122.45x
Shire Newton 6 340.91x
Skerton 6 91.60x
Southampton St Mary 6 6.93x
West Ham 6 2.05x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.71x
Ditton 5 649.35x
Grays Thurrock 5 40.55x
Henbury 5 77.76x
Malmesbury St Paul 5 97.85x
New Brentford 5 141.24x
Boxley 4 113.64x
Clifton 4 6.00x
Cranham 4 416.67x
Denham 4 137.93x
Ditchling 4 129.45x
Hammersmith London 4 2.42x
Hullavington 4 277.78x
Lewisham 4 3.27x
St Bartholomew Less 4 115.61x
Kirkdale 3 2.24x
Much Wenlock 3 55.97x
Newington 3 1.21x
Newmarket All Sts 3 95.54x
Ore 3 35.59x
Oxford St Giles 3 15.15x
Romford 3 14.31x
Shorne 3 147.78x
Springfield 3 51.64x
St George Hanover 3 3.42x
Stone In Dartford 3 51.02x
Wapley Codrington 3 476.19x
Bexley 2 9.87x
Chelmsford 2 8.79x
Chelsea London 2 0.99x
Clapham 2 2.38x
Hastings All Sts 2 18.73x
Ilfracombe 2 13.89x
Purton 2 37.81x
Tonge 2 273.97x
Westbury On Trym 2 4.48x
Westport St Mary 2 46.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 34
George 30
John 29
James 26
Thomas 23
Edward 20
Henry 20
Frederick 13
Charles 12
Alfred 10
Arthur 9
Walter 8
Herbert 7
Robert 7
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Philip 5
David 4
Samuel 4
Frank 3
Moses 3
Richard 3
Allen 2
Edgar 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Horace 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Amos 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Chas 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Elvie 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fridric 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Martyn 1
Nelim 1

FAQ

Stoneham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Stoneham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 688 people were recorded with the Stoneham surname. That placed it at #5,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Stoneham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 824 in 2016. That gives Stoneham a modern rank of #6,742.

What does the Stoneham surname mean?

A locational surname referring to residency in or near the town of Stoneham.

What does the Stoneham map show?

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