NameCensus.

UK surname

Struthers

A surname possibly derived from a place name related to the Old English word "streother," meaning marshy land or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 1,352 people recorded with the Struthers surname, ranking it #3,029 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,412, ranked #4,324, down from #3,029 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Blantyre, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hazelbank and Kirkfieldbank, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton and Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Struthers is 1,463 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.4%.

1881 census count

1,352

Ranked #3,029

Modern count

1,412

2016, ranked #4,324

Peak year

1901

1,463 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Struthers had 1,352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,029 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,412 in 2016, ranked #4,324.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,463 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Struthers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Struthers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Struthers 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 850 #3,199
1861 historical 1,021 #2,745
1881 historical 1,352 #3,029
1891 historical 1,349 #3,225
1901 historical 1,463 #3,490
1911 historical 209 #14,557
1997 modern 1,275 #4,467
1998 modern 1,347 #4,419
1999 modern 1,375 #4,369
2000 modern 1,413 #4,254
2001 modern 1,350 #4,330
2002 modern 1,390 #4,317
2003 modern 1,390 #4,243
2004 modern 1,383 #4,271
2005 modern 1,340 #4,329
2006 modern 1,317 #4,401
2007 modern 1,340 #4,382
2008 modern 1,355 #4,362
2009 modern 1,391 #4,356
2010 modern 1,405 #4,391
2011 modern 1,378 #4,415
2012 modern 1,398 #4,312
2013 modern 1,422 #4,314
2014 modern 1,418 #4,348
2015 modern 1,393 #4,367
2016 modern 1,412 #4,324

Geography

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Where Struthers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Blantyre, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glassford and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hazelbank and Kirkfieldbank, Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton, Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath, Rannoch and Aberfeldy and Crossford, Braidwood and Yieldshields. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Blantyre Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glassford Lanark
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hazelbank and Kirkfieldbank South Lanarkshire
2 Biggar, Symington, Thankerton and Dolphinton South Lanarkshire
3 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath South Lanarkshire
4 Rannoch and Aberfeldy Perth and Kinross
5 Crossford, Braidwood and Yieldshields South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Struthers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Struthers

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

Spacious Rural Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Struthers 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

Struthers is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Struthers falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Struthers

The surname Struthers originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'streother,' which means a boggy or marshy area covered in brushwood. This suggests that the name may have been a descriptive one, referring to someone who lived near or in a marshy area overgrown with brushwood.

The earliest known record of the name is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as 'Strothir.' This was a list of Scottish landowners and nobles who were forced to swear fealty to King Edward I of England. Another early mention of the name is in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1357, where it is spelled as 'Strothyre.'

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. For example, in 1483, a John Struthers is mentioned as a resident of Lanarkshire. In the 16th century, the spelling of the name became more consistent, with variations such as 'Struthers' and 'Struthir' being commonly used.

One of the earliest notable figures with the surname Struthers was William Struthers (1516-1570), who was a Scottish lawyer and judge. He served as the Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1565 to 1570. Another notable bearer of the name was John Struthers (1776-1853), a Scottish poet and journalist who was known for his contributions to Scottish literature.

In the 18th century, the Struthers family was prominent in the Scottish Borders region, particularly around Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. One notable member of the family from this era was John Struthers (1720-1786), a Scottish minister and writer who authored several religious works.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Sir John Struthers (1823-1899), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Advocate of Scotland from 1876 to 1880. Another prominent figure was Gavin Struthers (1854-1928), a Scottish businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Glasgow from 1906 to 1910.

While the surname Struthers has its origins in Scotland, it eventually spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as Scottish families emigrated in search of new opportunities.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Struthers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Struthers 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. Lanarkshire leads with 698 Struthers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.52x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 698 16.52x
Renfrewshire 115 11.36x
Ayrshire 113 11.56x
Stirlingshire 54 11.21x
Middlesex 33 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 30 8.55x
Fife 30 3.88x
Midlothian 30 1.71x
Aberdeenshire 29 2.40x
Durham 27 0.69x
Peeblesshire 20 32.55x
Argyllshire 17 4.68x
Dumfriesshire 16 5.55x
West Lothian 15 7.63x
Lancashire 14 0.09x
Yorkshire 12 0.09x
Berwickshire 9 5.69x
Cheshire 9 0.31x
Northumberland 9 0.46x
Channel Islands 8 2.07x
Inverness-shire 8 2.05x
Orkney 8 5.57x
Angus 5 0.41x
East Lothian 5 2.89x
Shropshire 5 0.44x
Kent 4 0.09x
Hampshire 3 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 1.93x
Hertfordshire 2 0.22x
Selkirkshire 2 1.69x
Wigtownshire 2 1.15x
Flintshire 1 0.28x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.53x
Surrey 1 0.02x
Worcestershire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 175 Struthers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.75x.

Place Total Index
Govan 175 16.75x
Barony 88 8.23x
Blantyre 71 161.44x
Glasgow 67 8.93x
Carluke 38 99.06x
Avondale 37 149.80x
Glassford 32 491.55x
Kilmarnock 32 27.50x
Hamilton 30 25.46x
East Kilbride 27 149.25x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 3.13x
Eastwood 21 33.69x
Dalserf 20 47.45x
Cambusnethan 18 19.19x
Dunfermline 18 15.14x
Falkirk 18 15.96x
Galston 16 59.86x
Innerleithen 15 91.97x
Ayr 14 30.34x
Bonhill 14 24.85x
West Greenock 14 7.71x
Abbey 13 8.42x
Bishopwearmouth 13 3.90x
Bothwell 13 11.35x
Half Morton 13 580.36x
Loudoun 13 55.30x
Paisley Middle Church 13 22.06x
Aberdeen Old Machar 11 4.36x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 11 4.86x
Old Monkland 11 6.56x
Renfrew 11 32.90x
Cathcart 10 18.26x
Auckinleck 9 29.74x
Carstairs 9 102.86x
Islington London 9 0.71x
Mordington 9 548.78x
Sorn 9 46.88x
St Ninians 9 18.85x
Gilling 8 205.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 4.75x
Lesmahagow 8 17.91x
Neilston 8 15.74x
New Monkland 8 6.41x
Polmont 8 44.97x
Riccarton Hurlford 8 46.65x
St Lawrence 8 75.69x
Stonehouse 8 55.83x
Wiston Robertson 8 316.21x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.23x
Heaton 7 108.53x
Kilmore Kilbride 7 30.33x
Lanark 7 20.59x
Lochwinnoch 7 46.39x
Old Kilpatrick 7 16.88x
Scoonie 7 41.82x
South Ronaldshay 7 47.07x
South Uist 7 25.72x
Whitburn 7 24.63x
Bothkennar 6 41.72x
Bow London 6 3.61x
Conside Knitsley 6 19.85x
Kinellar 6 231.66x
Lismore Appin 6 49.59x
Penwortham 6 81.74x
Kilsyth 5 16.28x
Kirkintilloch 5 10.49x
Lymm 5 23.86x
Paisley Low Church 5 15.61x
Prestonpans 5 43.10x
Rutherglen 5 8.07x
Stirling 5 8.23x
Biggar 4 41.88x
Boness 4 14.75x
Glenholm 4 380.95x
Linlithgow 4 15.85x
Mile End New Town 4 22.42x
Monks Coppenhall 4 3.68x
Shrewsbury St Julian 4 14.33x
St Vigeans 4 6.12x
Great Bolton 3 1.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Isabella 6
Jane 6
Elizabeth 4
Margaret 4
Alice 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Barbrow 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Ellen 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Maryanne 1
Mina 1
Muran 1
Ruth 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 10
Robert 8
John 7
Thomas 7
William 7
Archibald 6
David 2
Edward 2
George 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Arther 1
Clarence 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Thos.B. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Struthers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Struthers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,352 people were recorded with the Struthers surname. That placed it at #3,029 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Struthers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,412 in 2016. That gives Struthers a modern rank of #4,324.

What does the Struthers surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a place name related to the Old English word "streother," meaning marshy land or stream.

What does the Struthers map show?

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