NameCensus.

UK surname

Straight

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept roads and paths in good order.

In the 1881 census there were 105 people recorded with the Straight surname, ranking it #19,183 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #19,183 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Northfleet, Bocking and South Weald. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tendring, Gravesham and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Straight is 131 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.2%.

1881 census count

105

Ranked #19,183

Modern count

89

2016, ranked #32,297

Peak year

1911

131 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2006

Key insights

  • Straight had 105 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,183 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016, ranked #32,297.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Straight surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Straight surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Straight 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 105 #19,183
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 129 #19,735
1911 historical 131 #19,404
1997 modern 101 #26,774
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 98 #27,988
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 101 #28,505
2008 modern 107 #27,844
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 92 #31,528
2013 modern 92 #31,909
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 89 #32,297

Geography

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Where Straights are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Northfleet, Bocking, South Weald, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tendring, Gravesham and Medway. 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 Bocking Essex
3 South Weald Essex
4 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tendring 017 Tendring
2 Tendring 010 Tendring
3 Tendring 014 Tendring
4 Gravesham 006 Gravesham
5 Medway 003 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Straight

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Straight

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Straight surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Straight household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Straight 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

Straight 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

Straight 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 Straight is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Straight, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Straight

The surname "STRAIGHT" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "stræt," meaning "street" or "road." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent street or road.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Strete" or "Strat." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landholders and properties throughout England, providing valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

By the 13th century, the name had evolved into various spellings, including "Strete," "Strate," and "Stret." These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies of medieval recordkeeping.

Notable individuals bearing the surname "STRAIGHT" throughout history include:

1. William Straight (c. 1570-1644), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of St. Peter's College, Cambridge, from 1620 until his death.

2. John Straight (1732-1801), a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several voyages to the Pacific Ocean and played a role in the exploration of the Hawaiian Islands.

3. Elizabeth Straight (1767-1844), a British author and poet known for her works on moral and religious themes, such as "Thoughts on the Moral Government of God" (1801).

4. Richard Straight (1854-1924), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the National Biscuit Company (later known as Nabisco) and played a significant role in the development of the modern baking industry.

5. Michael Straight (1916-2004), an American writer, publisher, and political activist who co-founded the influential magazine "The New Republic" and served as a speechwriter for Adlai Stevenson during his presidential campaigns.

While the surname "STRAIGHT" can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, likely through migration and settlement patterns. The name's origins and evolution reflect the rich tapestry of linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped the English language and its associated surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Straight families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Straight 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. Essex leads with 53 Straights recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.21x.

County Total Index
Essex 53 26.21x
Surrey 13 2.60x
Middlesex 11 1.07x
Kent 10 2.86x
Durham 6 1.97x
Wiltshire 6 6.62x
Yorkshire 3 0.30x
Gloucestershire 1 0.50x
Herefordshire 1 2.38x
Staffordshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelmsford in Essex leads with 17 Straights recorded in 1881 and an index of 489.91x.

Place Total Index
Chelmsford 17 489.91x
Hornchurch 10 1010.10x
Brentwood 9 731.71x
Northfleet 8 259.74x
Bishopwearmouth 6 22.94x
Rodbourne Cheney 6 857.14x
Lambeth 5 5.60x
Richmond 4 57.22x
Walthamstow 4 54.95x
Hampstead London 3 18.81x
Leyton 3 86.21x
Orsett 3 566.04x
St Marylebone London 3 5.49x
Thornaby 3 79.16x
Wethersfield 3 588.24x
Bethnal Green London 2 4.50x
Croydon 2 7.22x
Kensington London 2 3.51x
Brenchley 1 80.00x
Bridstow 1 416.67x
Bristol St Augustine 1 30.86x
Colchester St Botolph 1 58.14x
Frensham 1 136.99x
Great Baddow 1 138.89x
Higham 1 212.77x
Islington London 1 1.01x
Penge 1 15.29x
Roxwell 1 344.83x
Wolverhampton 1 3.76x
Woodford 1 43.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Frances 3
Maria 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Marian 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Feodora 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Jannet 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
Thomas 5
William 5
Charles 4
George 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Henry 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Nathaniel 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Straight surname: questions and answers

How common was the Straight surname in 1881?

In 1881, 105 people were recorded with the Straight surname. That placed it at #19,183 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Straight surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Straight a modern rank of #32,297.

What does the Straight surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who kept roads and paths in good order.

What does the Straight map show?

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