NameCensus.

UK surname

String

An English surname alluding to a maker or seller of strings or cords.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the String surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plumbland, Caldbeck and Horton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for String is 131 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.0%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

9

2016, ranked #37,705

Peak year

1861

131 bearers

Map years

2

1861 to 1891

Key insights

  • String had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016, ranked #37,705.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 131 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is No data.

String surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

String surname density by area, 1891 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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String 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 131 #17,052
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 112 #22,291
1901 historical 26 #31,152
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 2 #38,557
1999 modern 2 #38,551
2000 modern 2 #38,472
2001 modern 1 #38,647
2002 modern 2 #38,400
2003 modern 2 #38,424
2004 modern 2 #38,464
2005 modern 3 #38,312
2006 modern 3 #38,334
2007 modern 3 #38,372
2008 modern 2 #38,673
2009 modern 2 #38,725
2010 modern 4 #38,371
2011 modern 5 #38,168
2012 modern 5 #38,167
2013 modern 5 #38,195
2014 modern 5 #38,228
2015 modern 6 #38,076
2016 modern 9 #37,705

Geography

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Where Strings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plumbland, Caldbeck, Horton, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. 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.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Plumbland Cumberland
2 Caldbeck Cumberland
3 Horton Northumberland
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 No data No data

Forenames

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First names often paired with String

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for String

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

No data

Group

No data

Nationally, the String surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every String household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

No data

Group

No data

Within London, String 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

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for String is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of String

The surname STRING is of English origin, with roots dating back to the late medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "streng," meaning a stringed instrument or a cord. The name likely originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who played a stringed instrument or worked with ropes or strings.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname STRING can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is Robert le Strenger, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. Another early reference is John Strenger, who appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1317.

During the medieval period, the surname STRING was prevalent in various areas of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. It is believed that the name may have been associated with the town of Stringston in Gloucestershire, which could have been an earlier spelling of the place name.

In the 16th century, the surname STRING gained prominence with the emergence of notable individuals bearing this name. One such figure was Sir William String (1516-1591), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as Chief Baron of the Exchequer under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable person with the surname STRING was John String (1562-1646), an English composer and organist who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal during the reigns of James I and Charles I.

In the 17th century, the name STRING was carried across the Atlantic by English colonists to the New World. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in America was Thomas String, who arrived in Virginia in 1635.

As the centuries passed, the surname STRING continued to be found in various parts of England and later in the United States. Notable individuals bearing this name include Sir James String (1683-1752), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the STRING family made significant contributions to the field of science. William String (1813-1892) was a renowned English botanist and horticulturist, known for his work on the classification of plants and the cultivation of rare species.

These examples illustrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds associated with the surname STRING, which has its roots in the medieval occupational traditions of England and has since spread across the globe, leaving its mark on various fields and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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String families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the String 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Strings recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 11 3.13x
Lancashire 5 1.20x
Cumberland 3 9.92x
Durham 3 2.87x
Hertfordshire 2 8.26x
Somerset 2 3.54x
Surrey 2 1.17x
Sussex 2 3.38x
Derbyshire 1 1.82x
Devon 1 1.37x
Kent 1 0.83x
Midlothian 1 2.13x
Warwickshire 1 1.13x
Yorkshire 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. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 5 Strings recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.80x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 5 57.80x
Breightmet 4 2222.22x
St Marylebone London 4 21.33x
Burgh By Sands 3 3000.00x
Westoe 3 50.68x
Brighton 2 16.75x
Glastonbury 2 434.78x
Rickmansworth 2 298.51x
Shoreditch London 2 13.14x
Ashton 1 5000.00x
Aston 1 4.10x
Camberwell 1 4.46x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 80.00x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 102.04x
Matlock 1 135.14x
Sheffield 1 9.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 14.14x
Spotland 1 21.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 4
Charlotte 2
Sarah 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Kate 1
Lililan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 3
John 3
William 2
Wm. 2
Jas. 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 String households.

FAQ

String surname: questions and answers

How common was the String surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the String surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the String surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives String a modern rank of #37,705.

What does the String surname mean?

An English surname alluding to a maker or seller of strings or cords.

What does the String map show?

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