NameCensus.

UK surname

Style

A surname likely originating from an occupational reference to a talented or stylish individual.

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Style surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Melcombe Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kingston upon Thames, Lewisham and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Style is 285 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 39.9%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

1861

285 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Style had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Style surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Style surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Style 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 197 #10,535
1861 historical 285 #8,826
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 239 #13,489
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 109 #25,650
1998 modern 110 #26,129
1999 modern 118 #25,227
2000 modern 105 #27,001
2001 modern 98 #27,672
2002 modern 100 #27,944
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 109 #26,583
2006 modern 107 #27,179
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Styles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Melcombe Regis 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 Kingston upon Thames, Lewisham, Brighton and Hove and Camden. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Melcombe Regis Dorset
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kingston upon Thames 009 Kingston upon Thames
2 Lewisham 012 Lewisham
3 Brighton and Hove 032 Brighton and Hove
4 Brighton and Hove 028 Brighton and Hove
5 Camden 002 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Style

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Style

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Style surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Style 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Style 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

Style is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Style 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 Style 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 Style, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Style

The surname Style is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "stæl" or "stǽl," meaning "position" or "place." It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to someone who lived in a particular place or near a prominent landmark.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Style can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Staela" or "de Staylle." This entry suggests that the name was already in use in the late 11th century and may have been associated with a specific location or estate.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Style was primarily concentrated in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Nottinghamshire. It was often spelled in various ways, such as Stile, Styll, Stele, and Steele, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time.

One notable figure bearing the surname Style was Sir John Style (c. 1508-1593), an English judge and Member of Parliament during the Tudor period. He served as a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas and played a significant role in the legal proceedings against Mary, Queen of Scots.

Another prominent individual with the surname Style was Sir Thomas Style (c. 1600-1679), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Arundel during the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentary cause and played a role in the trial of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, the Style surname was also found in Scotland, where it may have been adopted by families who migrated from England. One such individual was John Style (1738-1803), a Scottish writer and philosopher who authored several works on moral and philosophical subjects.

In the 19th century, the Style surname gained some prominence in the United States, with individuals like William Style (1802-1876), a successful businessman and landowner in New York, and James Style (1825-1901), a prominent lawyer and judge in Illinois.

Throughout its history, the surname Style has been associated with various occupations and professions, including law, politics, business, and academia. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English language and the early settlements in various regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Style families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Style 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 66 Styles recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.62x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 66 2.62x
Warwickshire 30 4.73x
Somerset 29 7.16x
Kent 15 1.75x
Gloucestershire 14 2.84x
Surrey 14 1.14x
Lancashire 10 0.33x
Worcestershire 10 3.04x
Yorkshire 10 0.40x
Devon 9 1.72x
Dorset 8 4.84x
Hampshire 8 1.55x
Sussex 7 1.65x
Glamorgan 6 1.37x
Brecknockshire 5 9.93x
Aberdeenshire 4 1.72x
Berkshire 4 2.12x
Oxfordshire 3 1.93x
Essex 2 0.40x
Hertfordshire 2 1.15x
Wiltshire 2 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 19 Styles recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.79x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 19 7.79x
Coventry Holy Trinity 18 94.99x
Spaxton 13 1645.57x
Kensington London 9 6.43x
Kidderminster Foreign 7 150.54x
Birmingham 6 2.84x
Boxley 6 454.55x
Bristol St Augustine 6 75.28x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 12.91x
Coventry St Michael 6 29.43x
Melcombe Regis 6 87.59x
St Marylebone London 6 4.47x
Sunbury 6 198.68x
Brecknock St John 5 117.92x
Giggleswick 5 595.24x
Isleworth 5 44.68x
Lambeth 5 2.28x
Llangynwyd Lower 5 1282.05x
Margate St John Baptist 5 31.81x
Reddish 5 121.65x
St Pancras London 5 2.47x
Aberdeen Old Machar 4 8.22x
Paulton 4 216.22x
Yeovil 4 48.60x
Camberwell 3 1.87x
Chichester St Pancras 3 236.22x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 25.00x
Kidderminster Borough 3 15.59x
Leigh 3 666.67x
Ramsgate 3 21.40x
Sculcoates 3 7.59x
Shiplake 3 566.04x
South Warnborough 3 1111.11x
Tottenham 3 7.49x
Bedminster 2 5.25x
Bury 2 5.86x
Dawlish 2 51.15x
Hackney London 2 1.42x
Hove 2 10.74x
New Windsor 2 31.50x
Paddington London 2 2.16x
Reading St Giles 2 10.79x
Rotherhithe 2 6.43x
Shapwick 2 526.32x
Southampton St Lawrence 2 740.74x
St George Hanover 2 6.09x
Toxteth Park 2 1.98x
Watford 2 14.87x
Westbury On Trym 2 11.96x
Westminster St James 2 7.73x
Bathwick 1 22.32x
Catcott 1 212.77x
Chagford 1 80.00x
Chelsea London 1 1.32x
Christchurch 1 8.94x
Deal 1 13.66x
East Teignmouth 1 46.73x
Eastbourne 1 5.12x
Eglwysilan 1 13.16x
Exeter Heavitree 1 25.58x
Exeter St Mary Major 1 31.65x
Feltham 1 39.84x
Fulham London 1 2.74x
Hendon 1 11.04x
Manningham 1 3.26x
Mile End New Town 1 29.07x
Nether Hallam 1 2.96x
New Alresford 1 74.63x
North Meols 1 3.42x
Parkstone 1 51.81x
Romford 1 12.74x
Rumbolds Wyke 1 128.21x
Ryde 1 9.03x
Salisbury St Edmund 1 28.01x
Taunton St James 1 16.92x
Thames Ditton 1 39.22x
Wanstead 1 11.49x
Warminster 1 20.49x
Wells St Cuthbert In 1 161.29x
Wimborne 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 11
George 9
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Henry 5
James 5
Frederick 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Herbert 3
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
Donald 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Harriet 1
Hy.J. 1
J.P. 1
Lionel 1
Oliver 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rodney 1
S. 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Percy 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Style surname: questions and answers

How common was the Style surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Style surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Style a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Style surname mean?

A surname likely originating from an occupational reference to a talented or stylish individual.

What does the Style map show?

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