NameCensus.

UK surname

Threlkeld

A locational surname derived from a place in Cumberland, England, meaning "spring or well in a barren field."

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Threlkeld surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, down from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Ainstable with Rushroft and Kirkoswald. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, South Lakeland and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Threlkeld is 231 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 81.9%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

2011

231 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Threlkeld had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 174 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Threlkeld surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Threlkeld surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Threlkeld 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 75 #20,268
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 174 #16,311
1997 modern 211 #17,048
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 218 #17,258
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 208 #17,685
2004 modern 212 #17,540
2005 modern 200 #18,144
2006 modern 192 #18,753
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 201 #18,584
2009 modern 212 #18,328
2010 modern 217 #18,443
2011 modern 231 #17,530
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 224 #18,080
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

Back to top

Where Threlkelds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Ainstable with Rushroft, Kirkoswald, Crosthwaite and Hesket-in-the-Forest. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, South Lakeland and Carlisle. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Ainstable with Rushroft Cumberland
3 Kirkoswald Cumberland
4 Crosthwaite Cumberland
5 Hesket-in-the-Forest Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 002 Eden
2 South Lakeland 007 South Lakeland
3 Carlisle 001 Carlisle
4 Eden 004 Eden
5 Eden 001 Eden

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Threlkeld

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Threlkeld

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Threlkeld surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Threlkeld 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Threlkeld is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Threlkeld is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Threlkeld 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 Threlkeld is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Threlkeld

The surname Threlkeld originates from England and dates back to the late 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the village of Threlkeld in Cumbria, located near Keswick in the Lake District. The name is believed to have come from the Old English words "þryll" meaning "hole" or "aperture" and "kelda" meaning "spring" or "well," referring to a natural spring or well in the area.

The earliest known record of the name Threlkeld appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Trellecult." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land ownership throughout England. The name is also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Cumberland from the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Threlkeld was Sir Richard de Threlkeld, who was born around 1280. He served as a knight during the Scottish Wars of Independence and is mentioned in several historical documents from the early 14th century. Another notable figure was Sir Lancelot Threlkeld, born around 1450, who served as a Member of Parliament for Cumberland during the Wars of the Roses.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Threlkelds were a prominent family in Cumberland, with several members holding positions of authority in the region. One such individual was Sir John Threlkeld, born in 1535, who served as High Sheriff of Cumberland and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1578.

In the 18th century, John Threlkeld (1696-1772) was a notable English clergyman and author, known for his work "Synopsis Stirpium Hibernicarum" (A Synopsis of Irish Plants), which was one of the earliest published works on the flora of Ireland.

Another notable figure was Sir Launcelot Threlkeld (1825-1903), a British civil engineer who played a significant role in the construction of several railway lines in India during the British Raj. He was born in Haltwhistle, Northumberland, and was knighted in 1887 for his contributions to the development of India's infrastructure.

These are just a few examples of individuals with the surname Threlkeld who have made significant contributions throughout history in various fields, ranging from military service and politics to literature and engineering.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Threlkeld families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Threlkeld 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. Cumberland leads with 63 Threlkelds recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.68x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 63 64.68x
Westmorland 20 80.42x
Yorkshire 9 0.80x
Durham 7 2.08x
Lanarkshire 6 1.64x
Lancashire 4 0.30x
Cheshire 2 0.80x
Midlothian 2 1.32x
East Lothian 1 6.67x
Middlesex 1 0.09x
Surrey 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lazonby in Cumberland leads with 12 Threlkelds recorded in 1881 and an index of 4800.00x.

Place Total Index
Lazonby 12 4800.00x
Dufton 10 6250.00x
Kirkoswald 9 3913.04x
Long Marton 8 2857.14x
Burgh By Sands 7 2258.06x
Chilton 7 666.67x
Govan 6 6.63x
Penrith 6 166.67x
Wakefield 6 69.69x
Dalston Buckabank 5 2500.00x
Ainstable 3 1666.67x
Borrowdale 3 1764.71x
Bradford 3 11.05x
Briery Cottages 3 7500.00x
Caldewgate 3 56.18x
Langwathby 3 2307.69x
Salford 3 7.60x
Skelton 3 1071.43x
Appleby St Lawrence 2 350.88x
Birkenhead 2 10.05x
Cockermouth 2 97.56x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 25.91x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.64x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 1 147.06x
Everton 1 2.34x
Great Salkeld 1 526.32x
Haddington 1 45.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.39x
St Anne Soho London 1 15.48x
St Cuthbert W O 1 21.05x
Underskiddaw 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Jane 6
Hannah 5
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Bridget 2
Isabel 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Sarah 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Carrie 1
Dorothy 1
Eliz.Jane 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Rebecca 1
Ruth 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 14
John 10
William 8
Joseph 5
Dacre 4
George 3
Robert 2
Christopher 1
Collin 1
Isaac 1
James 1
Thos.Birney 1

FAQ

Threlkeld surname: questions and answers

How common was the Threlkeld surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Threlkeld surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Threlkeld surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Threlkeld a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Threlkeld surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Cumberland, England, meaning "spring or well in a barren field."

What does the Threlkeld map show?

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