NameCensus.

UK surname

Townend

A surname indicating a person from the end of a town or village.

In the 1881 census there were 2,567 people recorded with the Townend surname, ranking it #1,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,984, ranked #2,259, down from #1,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leeds, Batley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kirklees and Wakefield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Townend is 3,280 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.2%.

1881 census count

2,567

Ranked #1,740

Modern count

2,984

2016, ranked #2,259

Peak year

1901

3,280 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Townend had 2,567 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,984 in 2016, ranked #2,259.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,280 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Townend surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Townend surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Townend 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 1,553 #1,847
1861 historical 1,821 #1,590
1881 historical 2,567 #1,740
1891 historical 2,978 #1,582
1901 historical 3,280 #1,699
1911 historical 3,231 #1,612
1997 modern 2,986 #2,165
1998 modern 3,120 #2,150
1999 modern 3,111 #2,175
2000 modern 3,107 #2,164
2001 modern 3,026 #2,175
2002 modern 3,074 #2,189
2003 modern 2,997 #2,191
2004 modern 2,972 #2,208
2005 modern 2,944 #2,200
2006 modern 2,949 #2,196
2007 modern 2,978 #2,187
2008 modern 2,983 #2,201
2009 modern 3,033 #2,221
2010 modern 3,058 #2,260
2011 modern 3,059 #2,223
2012 modern 3,013 #2,213
2013 modern 3,040 #2,240
2014 modern 3,067 #2,228
2015 modern 3,029 #2,230
2016 modern 2,984 #2,259

Geography

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Where Townends are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leeds, Batley, Bradford, Huddersfield and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kirklees and Wakefield. 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 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kirklees 018 Kirklees
2 Kirklees 036 Kirklees
3 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
4 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
5 Wakefield 021 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Townend

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Townend

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Townend 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

Townend is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Townend falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Townend

The surname Townend is an English locational name derived from a geographical location. It originates from the combination of the Old English words "tun" meaning an enclosure or farmstead, and "ende" meaning the end or boundary. This suggests that the name refers to someone who lived at the end or boundary of a village or town.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Townend date back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, England. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Richard de Tovensende, who was mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1286. The Townend surname also appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301, where it was spelled as "Towendes".

In the 14th century, the name was found in various records across northern England, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a John del Towendes was recorded in 1379. The surname was also present in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379, where it was spelled as "Townend".

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Townend name was particularly prominent in the regions of Lancashire and Yorkshire. One notable bearer of the name was John Townend (1608-1668), an English Puritan clergyman and religious writer from Yorkshire, who served as the vicar of Christ Church in Sowerby Bridge.

Another significant figure with the Townend surname was Richard Townend (1629-1707), an English Quaker from Lancashire, who was imprisoned several times for his religious beliefs during the reign of King Charles II.

In the 18th century, the Townend name continued to be prevalent in northern England. One notable individual was James Townend (1714-1778), a British politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Arundel from 1768 to 1778.

Moving into the 19th century, the Townend surname was also found in other parts of England. One example is Charles Townend (1808-1882), an English architect and surveyor from Hertfordshire, who designed several notable buildings in London.

Throughout history, the Townend surname has also been recorded with various spelling variations, such as Townsend, Townshend, and Townend, reflecting the evolution of language and regional dialects over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Townend families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Townend 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. Yorkshire leads with 2,003 Townends recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.08x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 2,003 8.08x
Lancashire 236 0.80x
Lincolnshire 72 1.80x
Middlesex 56 0.22x
Kent 43 0.50x
Warwickshire 25 0.40x
Surrey 18 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 17 0.50x
Cheshire 15 0.27x
Devon 13 0.25x
Staffordshire 10 0.12x
Durham 9 0.12x
Derbyshire 7 0.18x
Sussex 7 0.17x
Westmorland 6 1.09x
Ayrshire 5 0.27x
Glamorgan 4 0.09x
Hampshire 3 0.06x
Worcestershire 3 0.09x
Berkshire 2 0.11x
Flintshire 2 0.30x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.25x
Renfrewshire 2 0.10x
Essex 1 0.02x
Gloucestershire 1 0.02x
Merionethshire 1 0.22x
Somerset 1 0.02x

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 155 Townends recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.08x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 155 11.08x
Longwood 120 300.38x
Bradford 92 15.33x
Huddersfield 64 17.72x
Liversedge 59 53.48x
Kippax 52 238.53x
Castleford 45 49.86x
Dewsbury 42 16.52x
Heckmondwike 41 51.43x
Almondbury 37 30.87x
Hunslet 37 9.57x
North Bierley 37 27.65x
Barnsley 36 14.08x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 36 40.66x
Selby 33 63.71x
Horton In Bradford 32 8.27x
Manningham 30 9.83x
Haworth 28 47.53x
Halifax 27 7.42x
Shelley 27 186.34x
Nether Hallam 26 7.75x
Keighley 25 9.46x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 25 39.99x
Shipley 24 18.66x
Walton In Wakefield 24 451.13x
Cumberworth 22 174.33x
Morley 22 17.07x
Flockton 21 207.72x
Golcar 21 32.05x
Crofton 20 326.80x
Horbury 20 46.13x
Wombwell 20 27.67x
Sowerby In Halifax 19 23.45x
Castleton 18 6.07x
Chislehurst 18 39.34x
Linthwaite 18 34.56x
Templenewsam 18 100.28x
Coventry Holy Trinity 17 9.03x
Meltham 17 44.11x
Pontefract 17 31.84x
Bingley 16 10.14x
Wortley In Bramley 16 8.15x
Bowling 15 6.11x
Chadderton 15 10.34x
Habergham Eaves 15 5.53x
Thornton In Craven 15 75.41x
Wakefield 15 7.88x
Brampton Bierlow 14 44.11x
Drypool 14 36.89x
Rotherham 14 10.02x
Shoreditch London 14 1.29x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 14 12.16x
West Clayton 14 113.82x
Headingley Cum Burley 13 8.15x
Hemsworth 13 91.29x
Northowram 13 7.48x
Burnley 12 4.80x
Ecclesall Bierlow 12 2.38x
Holy Trinity 12 2.01x
Idle 12 10.44x
Lockwood 12 13.46x
Louth 12 13.09x
Newchurch 12 4.94x
Over Darwen 12 5.06x
Greenwich 11 2.76x
Newton 11 4.81x
Pudsey 11 8.30x
Thornton In Bradford 11 13.33x
Whitwood 11 31.24x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 10 11.11x
Cleckheaton 10 10.95x
Garforth 10 52.71x
Kexborough 10 187.97x
Loddiswell 10 145.56x
Middleton In Oldham 10 11.24x
Rothwell 10 19.98x
Sculcoates 10 2.54x
Silkstone 9 73.35x
Spotland 9 2.73x
Tottenham 9 2.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 195
Sarah 109
Elizabeth 87
Ann 59
Annie 49
Emma 47
Alice 44
Hannah 43
Martha 41
Jane 35
Emily 32
Eliza 30
Ellen 28
Ada 24
Louisa 18
Clara 16
Margaret 16
Lucy 14
Edith 12
Harriet 12
Maria 12
Ruth 11
Caroline 10
Frances 10
Anne 9
Betsy 9
Florence 9
Lilly 9
Rebecca 9
Amy 8
Betty 8
Ethel 8
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Bertha 7
Esther 7
Fanny 7
Isabella 7
Kate 7
Matilda 7
Susan 7
Catherine 6
Charlotte 6
Lily 6
Nancy 6
Priscilla 6
Maud 5
Rhoda 5
Sophia 5
Jessie 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 149
William 115
George 100
James 64
Joseph 54
Thomas 50
Charles 36
Henry 31
Walter 30
Fred 29
Arthur 28
Robert 25
Richard 24
Alfred 20
David 18
Albert 17
Frank 17
Benjamin 16
Edward 16
Harry 16
Herbert 16
Tom 15
Samuel 11
Frederick 10
Joe 8
Geo. 7
Edwin 6
Luke 6
Matthew 6
Sam 6
Thos. 6
Simeon 5
Wm. 5
Chas. 4
Earnest 4
Ernest 4
Job 4
Jonathan 4
Leonard 4
Mark 4
Percy 4
Abraham 3
Ben 3
Daniel 3
Ebenezer 3
Ezra 3
Jesse 3
Noah 3
Ralph 3
Sidney 3

FAQ

Townend surname: questions and answers

How common was the Townend surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,567 people were recorded with the Townend surname. That placed it at #1,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Townend surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,984 in 2016. That gives Townend a modern rank of #2,259.

What does the Townend surname mean?

A surname indicating a person from the end of a town or village.

What does the Townend map show?

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