NameCensus.

UK surname

Straw

An English occupational surname referring to a person who sold or thatched with straw.

In the 1881 census there were 1,044 people recorded with the Straw surname, ranking it #3,768 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,850, ranked #3,430, up from #3,768 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Nottingham St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Erewash.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Straw is 2,045 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.2%.

1881 census count

1,044

Ranked #3,768

Modern count

1,850

2016, ranked #3,430

Peak year

1999

2,045 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Straw had 1,044 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,768 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,850 in 2016, ranked #3,430.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,022 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Straw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Straw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Straw 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 722 #3,629
1861 historical 817 #3,370
1881 historical 1,044 #3,768
1891 historical 1,437 #3,046
1901 historical 1,741 #2,978
1911 historical 2,022 #2,461
1997 modern 1,994 #3,060
1998 modern 2,036 #3,114
1999 modern 2,045 #3,131
2000 modern 2,011 #3,152
2001 modern 1,948 #3,176
2002 modern 1,990 #3,185
2003 modern 1,914 #3,220
2004 modern 1,922 #3,210
2005 modern 1,894 #3,219
2006 modern 1,902 #3,231
2007 modern 1,888 #3,271
2008 modern 1,883 #3,298
2009 modern 1,896 #3,351
2010 modern 1,941 #3,357
2011 modern 1,948 #3,312
2012 modern 1,867 #3,378
2013 modern 1,906 #3,369
2014 modern 1,917 #3,371
2015 modern 1,893 #3,378
2016 modern 1,850 #3,430

Geography

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Where Straws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary, Ilkeston and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Erewash. 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 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
4 Ilkeston Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Erewash 003 Erewash
2 Erewash 005 Erewash
3 Erewash 016 Erewash
4 Erewash 001 Erewash
5 Erewash 006 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Straw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Straw

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Straw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Straw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Straw is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Straw is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Straw falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Straw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Straw

The surname Straw originates from England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word "streaw," meaning straw, and was likely given to someone who worked with straw or lived near a place where straw was grown or sold.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a man named Simon Straw is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, indicating its presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

In the 14th century, the Straw family held lands in the county of Essex, and a member named John Straw gained notoriety as the leader of the Peasants' Revolt in 1381. This uprising against the oppressive policies of the ruling class played a significant role in English history and highlighted the growing discontent among the common people.

Throughout the centuries, the Straw surname has been subject to various spelling variations, such as Strawe, Strau, and Strau. Some of these variations can be found in historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk from 1230, where a person named Robert Strau is documented.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the Straw surname was William Straw (c. 1505–1558), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian persecutions for his religious beliefs. His unwavering commitment to his faith made him a prominent figure in the Protestant movement of that era.

Another influential individual with the Straw surname was Sir Richard Straw (1671–1737), an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1719 to 1724. His contributions to the legal profession and his role in upholding the law during a time of political turmoil have been recognized by historians.

The Straw surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Straw Farm in Wiltshire and Straw's Bridge in Somerset. These place names likely originated from individuals or families bearing the Straw surname who lived or owned land in those areas.

Over the centuries, the Straw surname has been carried by numerous individuals, including poets, scholars, and politicians, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Straw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Straw 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. Derbyshire leads with 356 Straws recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.33x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 356 22.33x
Nottinghamshire 261 19.01x
Yorkshire 163 1.62x
Middlesex 45 0.44x
Lincolnshire 43 2.64x
Lancashire 42 0.35x
Staffordshire 33 0.96x
Devon 30 1.42x
Kent 14 0.40x
Sussex 13 0.76x
Leicestershire 7 0.62x
Surrey 7 0.14x
Warwickshire 7 0.27x
Hertfordshire 5 0.71x
Lanarkshire 4 0.12x
Angus 3 0.32x
Cheshire 3 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.32x
Berkshire 1 0.13x
Durham 1 0.03x
Essex 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Hampshire 1 0.05x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ilkeston in Derbyshire leads with 173 Straws recorded in 1881 and an index of 387.02x.

Place Total Index
Ilkeston 173 387.02x
Sutton In Ashfield 40 134.27x
Greasley 34 109.78x
Brightside Bierlow 30 15.16x
Snenton 28 51.92x
Alfreton 27 55.74x
Nottingham St Mary 27 7.60x
Carlton 26 166.03x
Sheffield 23 7.16x
Heanor 22 92.28x
Kimberworth 22 39.28x
Whittington 22 99.73x
Burton Upon Trent 21 26.11x
Basford 19 30.03x
Chesterfield 17 28.44x
Winwick With Hulme 17 1000.00x
Nether Hallam 14 10.25x
Arnold 13 64.87x
Lowdham 13 503.88x
Church Gresley 11 43.36x
Islington London 11 1.11x
Pinxton 11 135.80x
Wembury 11 572.92x
West Hallam 11 533.98x
Barton St Mary St Peter 10 331.13x
Blackwell 10 127.55x
Handsworth 10 37.48x
Sharlston 9 135.95x
Stoke Damerel 9 6.07x
Stoke Newington London 9 11.35x
Plymouth St Andrew 8 4.90x
St Maryle Wigford 8 63.24x
Bradfield 7 17.99x
Horsham 7 20.99x
Hucknall Torkard 7 20.11x
Rotherham 7 12.30x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 1.92x
Brampton Bierlow 6 46.44x
Bulwell 6 20.11x
Dronfield 6 29.37x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.92x
Hackney London 6 1.05x
Hastings St Clement 6 37.13x
Heaton Norris 6 8.72x
Lewisham 6 3.24x
Mansfield 6 12.63x
Ripley 6 30.44x
Shustoke 6 262.01x
Tibshelf 6 76.73x
Belper 5 16.18x
Coleby West Halton 5 574.71x
Gainsborough 5 13.02x
Radford 5 7.17x
South Normanton 5 44.64x
St Ippollitts 5 141.64x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 4.25x
Codnor Loscoe 4 31.67x
Glasgow 4 0.68x
Hucknall Under 4 56.50x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.78x
Scunthorpe 4 54.64x
St Swithin Lincoln 4 15.63x
Stone 4 9.10x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 14.99x
Bestwood Park 3 123.46x
Chislehurst 3 16.10x
Congleton 3 7.72x
East Bridgford 3 95.85x
Eckington 3 7.75x
Forfar 3 5.87x
Greenwich 3 1.85x
Hammersmith London 3 1.20x
Kirkby In Ashfield 3 20.44x
Lambeth 3 0.34x
Loughborough 3 5.85x
Newark Upon Trent 3 6.08x
Ruddington 3 32.61x
Shipley 3 119.05x
Shoreditch London 3 0.68x
St Pancras London 3 0.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 80
John 55
George 44
Thomas 38
James 28
Samuel 27
Henry 20
Arthur 19
Charles 19
Walter 18
Joseph 13
Robert 12
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Albert 7
Herbert 7
Benjamin 5
Abraham 4
Chas. 4
Harry 4
Philip 4
Wheatley 4
Aaron 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Allen 2
Andrew 2
Arnold 2
Jacob 2
Lewis 2
Mathew 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Nicholas 2
Verity 2
Asaph 1
Emily 1
Enoch 1
Everett 1
Ewin 1
Ferdenand 1
Ferguson 1
Isaac 1
J.W. 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Straw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Straw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,044 people were recorded with the Straw surname. That placed it at #3,768 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Straw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,850 in 2016. That gives Straw a modern rank of #3,430.

What does the Straw surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who sold or thatched with straw.

What does the Straw map show?

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