NameCensus.

UK surname

Thaw

A surname derived from the Old English word "þawian," meaning to thaw or melt.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Thaw surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 182, ranked #20,890, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, St Werburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leuchars and Guardbridge, Sheffield and Victoria Park.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thaw is 182 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.9%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

182

2016, ranked #20,890

Peak year

2016

182 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thaw had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016, ranked #20,890.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 168 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Thaw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thaw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thaw 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 106 #20,147
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 99 #22,850
1997 modern 157 #20,513
1998 modern 168 #20,181
1999 modern 162 #20,781
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 151 #21,375
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 156 #21,115
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 147 #22,057
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 161 #21,201
2008 modern 161 #21,431
2009 modern 170 #21,095
2010 modern 171 #21,481
2011 modern 170 #21,407
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 176 #21,413
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 182 #20,890

Geography

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Where Thaws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, St Werburgh, Manchester, Greenock and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leuchars and Guardbridge, Sheffield, Victoria Park, Broomhill and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Cupar Fife
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leuchars and Guardbridge Fife
2 Sheffield 064 Sheffield
3 Victoria Park Glasgow City
4 Broomhill Glasgow City
5 Stoke-on-Trent 011 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thaw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thaw

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Thaw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Thaw household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Thaw is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thaw 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

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

Meaning and origin of Thaw

The surname THAW is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "þawian," which means "to thaw" or "to melt." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a thawing river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name THAW can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dating back to 1273. This ancient document mentions a person named Roger Thawe, indicating the presence of the surname in the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name THAW appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a certain Walter Thawe was listed as a taxpayer. This record provides further evidence of the name's existence during the Middle Ages.

The THAW surname may also be linked to various place names in England, such as Thawfield in Lincolnshire or Thawe in Cheshire. These place names could have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

One notable individual from history who bore the surname THAW was John Thaw (1942-2002), a renowned English actor best known for his roles in popular television series like "Inspector Morse" and "The Sweeney."

Another significant figure was Sir William Muir Thaw (1834-1917), a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist who made his fortune in the coal and coke industry in Pennsylvania. He was also a prominent art collector and patron of the arts.

In the literary world, the American novelist and short story writer Jack Thaw (1924-2002) gained recognition for his works, including the novel "The Green Light" and the short story collection "Staying Up Much Too Late."

The English cricketer and footballer Arthur Thaw (1871-1949) also carried the THAW surname. He played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and represented England in a single Test match against Australia in 1899.

Lastly, Sir William Thaw (1819-1889) was a Scottish merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituencies of Falkirk Burghs and Falkirk District between 1865 and 1885.

While the THAW surname may not be as common as some others, it has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thaw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thaw 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 22 Thaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.28x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 22 5.28x
Lancashire 12 0.79x
Yorkshire 12 0.94x
Fife 10 13.12x
Renfrewshire 9 9.02x
Surrey 8 1.28x
Derbyshire 7 3.47x
Kincardineshire 7 44.64x
Cheshire 6 2.11x
Essex 6 2.36x
Northamptonshire 6 4.96x
Aberdeenshire 5 4.19x
Ayrshire 5 5.19x
Angus 4 3.35x
Northumberland 3 1.57x
Hampshire 2 0.76x
Worcestershire 2 1.19x
Caernarfonshire 1 1.92x
Dorset 1 1.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.49x
Perthshire 1 1.73x
Royal Navy 1 6.52x
Wigtownshire 1 5.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Greenock in Renfrewshire leads with 9 Thaws recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.25x.

Place Total Index
West Greenock 9 50.25x
Barony 7 6.64x
Fetteresso 7 284.55x
Lanark 7 208.96x
Birkenhead 6 26.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 24.72x
Croydon 6 17.23x
Cupar 6 181.27x
Glasgow 6 8.12x
West Ham 6 10.69x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 20.09x
Maybole 5 170.65x
Brightside Bierlow 4 15.99x
East Haddon 4 1212.12x
Litchurch 4 49.32x
Mains 4 396.04x
Derby St Werburgh 3 25.77x
Hulme 3 9.41x
Kirkburton 3 200.00x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 3 26.22x
Pendleton In Salford 3 16.48x
Cleasby 2 2500.00x
Govan 2 1.94x
Kilconquhar 2 219.78x
Lambeth 2 1.78x
Redmarley 2 454.55x
Wellingborough 2 32.84x
Armley 1 17.76x
Cameron 1 227.27x
Gainsborough 1 20.62x
Holdenhurst 1 14.45x
Leuchars 1 104.17x
Linthorpe 1 13.14x
Llanfaglan 1 909.09x
Mochrum 1 98.04x
Perth West Church 1 36.50x
Portland 1 22.03x
Sheffield 1 2.46x
Southampton St Mary 1 6.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 5
Ellen 3
Emily 2
Phoebe 2
Adilaide 1
Annie 1
Barbarra 1
Elenora 1
Elizabett 1
Evelyn 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Jenneatte 1
Lizzie 1
Marrion 1
Nelly 1
Penelope 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
Thomas 5
George 3
Fred 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Duncan 1
Ernest 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Thos.Booth 1

FAQ

Thaw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thaw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Thaw surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thaw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 182 in 2016. That gives Thaw a modern rank of #20,890.

What does the Thaw surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "þawian," meaning to thaw or melt.

What does the Thaw map show?

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