NameCensus.

UK surname

Strother

Derived from a place name meaning "marsh" or "fen," likely referring to someone who lived near such a location.

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Strother surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norham, Gateshead and Berwick-on-Tweed. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Northumberland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Strother is 297 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.0%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

1901

297 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Strother had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 297 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Strother surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Strother surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Strother 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 274 #11,880
1901 historical 297 #11,721
1911 historical 279 #12,018
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 179 #19,372
1999 modern 184 #19,178
2000 modern 184 #19,190
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 172 #20,108
2003 modern 172 #19,893
2004 modern 175 #19,805
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 165 #21,552
2010 modern 161 #22,385
2011 modern 167 #21,642
2012 modern 163 #21,989
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 164 #22,445
2015 modern 159 #22,796
2016 modern 160 #22,694

Geography

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Where Strothers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norham, Gateshead, Berwick-on-Tweed, Jarrow and Bidstone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Northumberland, County Durham 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 Norham Northumberland
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Berwick-on-Tweed Northumberland
4 Jarrow Durham
5 Bidstone Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 023 South Tyneside
2 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
3 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
4 County Durham 009 County Durham
5 Sunderland 001 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Strother

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Strother

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Strother, 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 Strother surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Strother 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, Strother 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

Strother 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

Strother falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Strother

The surname Strother is of Anglo-Saxon origin, originating in England during the medieval period. It derived from the Old English word "strother," meaning a marshy area or a stretch of uncultivated land. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near or on such land.

The Strother surname is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled for William the Conqueror, as "de Stroder." This early spelling variation indicates that the name was already established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Strother, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1176. This historical record provides evidence of the Strother family's presence in northern England during the 12th century.

The name Strother is also closely associated with the village of Strother in Northumberland, England. It is believed that some families adopted the surname due to their connection with this location, which further reinforces the name's geographic origins.

Notable individuals with the Strother surname include:

1. William Strother (1387-1470), an English clergyman who served as Bishop of Winchester from 1451 until his death. 2. John Strother (1513-1581), an English military leader who fought in the Anglo-Scottish Wars during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 3. Thomas Strother (1619-1689), an English settler who emigrated to Virginia and became a prominent landowner in the colony. 4. David Hunter Strother (1816-1888), an American writer, artist, and military officer known by his pen name "Porte Crayon." 5. Jessie Strother (1865-1933), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who served as the first female member of the Board of Education in Richmond, Virginia.

While the Strother surname originated in England, it later spread to other parts of the English-speaking world, including North America and Australia, through migration and settlement patterns.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Strother families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Strother 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. Northumberland leads with 73 Strothers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.28x.

County Total Index
Northumberland 73 20.28x
Yorkshire 69 2.88x
Durham 32 4.45x
Cheshire 21 3.93x
Middlesex 12 0.50x
Inverness-shire 8 11.07x
Surrey 8 0.68x
Devon 7 1.39x
Somerset 6 1.54x
Berwickshire 4 13.65x
Kent 2 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.61x
Hertfordshire 1 0.60x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 18 Strothers recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.30x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 18 13.30x
Berwick Upon Tweed 15 196.59x
Horncliffe 14 4827.59x
Westgate 11 49.35x
Bishopwearmouth 9 14.57x
Gateshead 8 14.85x
Isleworth 8 74.35x
Tranmere 8 40.75x
Westoe 8 19.61x
Birkenhead 7 16.44x
Elswick 7 24.36x
Norham 7 875.00x
Petty 7 551.18x
Stranton 7 28.89x
Shaugh Prior 6 1034.48x
Skipton 6 79.58x
Weston Super Mare 6 61.04x
Clifton In York 5 99.80x
Killinghall 5 892.86x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 5 81.43x
Seaton Delaval 5 158.23x
Tankersley 5 279.33x
Alnmouth 4 909.09x
Coldingham 4 152.09x
Newington 4 4.48x
Wakefield 4 21.74x
Camberwell 3 1.94x
Gate Helmsley 3 1764.71x
Holy Trinity 3 5.20x
Mirfield 3 22.80x
Widdrington 3 348.84x
Greasbrough 2 63.09x
Hackney London 2 1.47x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 12.96x
Huddersfield 2 5.73x
Middlesbrough 2 6.41x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 10.72x
Snenton 2 15.61x
Acton 1 7.05x
Armley 1 9.46x
Belford 1 129.87x
Bollin Fee 1 42.19x
Bradfield 1 10.82x
Chatton 1 90.91x
Chorley 1 6.21x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.57x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.05x
Hazon 1 2000.00x
Henfield 1 63.69x
Hertford St John 1 40.16x
High Low Bishopside 1 46.95x
Hunslet 1 2.68x
Inverness 1 5.50x
Manningham 1 3.39x
Marton Cum Moxby 1 833.33x
Minster In Sheppey 1 7.32x
Ripon 1 17.99x
Rotherham 1 7.40x
Rotherhithe 1 3.35x
Spindleston 1 1000.00x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.91x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 1.15x
Tavistock 1 17.42x
Warenton 1 909.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 11
Alice 6
Isabella 6
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Hannah 5
Ann 4
Annie 4
Eleanor 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Margaret 3
Alicia 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Helen 2
Clara 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Jennet 1
Jessie 1
Johanna 1
John 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Ann 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Milcha 1
Nancy 1
Pheobe 1
Prudence 1
Rachel 1
Rice 1
Rosa 1
Rosalie 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 18
George 10
Thomas 9
James 7
Joseph 5
Charles 4
Arthur 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Bennet 1
Bertrand 1
Francis 1
Georg 1
Herbert 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Laucelot 1
Lionel 1
Matthew 1
Rd.J. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Strother surname: questions and answers

How common was the Strother surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Strother surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Strother surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Strother a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Strother surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "marsh" or "fen," likely referring to someone who lived near such a location.

What does the Strother map show?

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