NameCensus.

UK surname

Unthank

An English surname derived from an old place name meaning "the unenclosed valley" or "open valley".

In the 1881 census there were 246 people recorded with the Unthank surname, ranking it #11,201 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #11,201 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hartlepool and Stranton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Redcar and Cleveland and Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Unthank is 284 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.6%.

1881 census count

246

Ranked #11,201

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

2002

284 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Unthank had 246 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,201 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 281 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Unthank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Unthank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Unthank 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 223 #10,942
1881 historical 246 #11,201
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 264 #12,449
1997 modern 267 #14,623
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 274 #14,826
2000 modern 279 #14,636
2001 modern 275 #14,540
2002 modern 284 #14,524
2003 modern 273 #14,715
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 270 #15,219
2009 modern 274 #15,395
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 271 #15,708
2012 modern 270 #15,667
2013 modern 272 #15,836
2014 modern 278 #15,692
2015 modern 276 #15,673
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Unthanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hartlepool, Stranton, Middlesborough and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Redcar and Cleveland, Burnley, Northumberland and Hartlepool. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Hartlepool Durham
3 Stranton Durham
4 Middlesborough Durham
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 007 Pendle
2 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Burnley 004 Burnley
4 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
5 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Unthank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Unthank

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Unthank, 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 Unthank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Unthank 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Unthank is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Unthank is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Unthank 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 Unthank is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Unthank

The surname Unthank originated in England during the late medieval period. It derived from the Old English words "un" meaning "not" and "thanc" meaning "thanks" or "gratitude." The name likely referred to someone perceived as ungrateful or unappreciative.

Unthank was initially concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Northumberland and Durham. Early records show variations in spelling, including Unthank, Unthank, and Unthanke. The name appeared in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland in 1296, demonstrating its presence in the region during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Unthank, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1275. Another early record is of William Unthank, recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Northumberland in 1336.

The Unthank surname has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Unthank in Derbyshire and Unthank in Northumberland. These place names may have influenced the adoption or spread of the surname in those areas.

Notably, the Unthank surname appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. However, the specific entry or context is not widely documented.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Unthank surname:

1. John Unthank (c. 1500 - 1577), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Babergh in Suffolk. 2. Thomas Unthank (1551 - 1622), an English landowner and member of Parliament for Appleby in Westmorland. 3. Elizabeth Unthank (1638 - 1714), a Quaker leader and preacher from Northumberland, known for her involvement in religious disputes. 4. William Unthank (1798 - 1859), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a merchant in Australia. 5. John Unthank (1839 - 1916), an American politician who served as the Mayor of Seattle, Washington, from 1892 to 1894.

While the Unthank surname may not be among the most prevalent in modern times, its origins and historical records provide insights into its unique meaning and significance in England's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Unthank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Unthank 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 119 Unthanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.96x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 119 4.96x
Durham 44 6.11x
Middlesex 16 0.66x
Northumberland 15 4.17x
Kent 14 1.70x
Essex 8 1.68x
Northamptonshire 6 2.64x
Cumberland 5 2.40x
Hampshire 4 0.81x
Berwickshire 3 10.24x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.92x
Lincolnshire 2 0.52x
Sussex 2 0.49x
Warwickshire 2 0.33x
Wiltshire 2 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stranton in Durham leads with 23 Unthanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.92x.

Place Total Index
Stranton 23 94.92x
Middlesbrough 19 60.86x
Hinderwell 18 878.05x
Garforth 10 543.48x
Stokesley 9 604.03x
Brotton 8 255.59x
Bishopwearmouth 7 11.33x
Durham St Nicholas 7 395.48x
Whitby 7 86.63x
Easington In Guisbrough 6 1132.08x
Gillingham 6 35.25x
Kings Sutton 6 594.06x
Kippax 6 284.36x
Linthorpe 6 41.93x
Lucker 6 3529.41x
Tottenham 6 15.57x
Tweedmouth 5 111.36x
Woolwich 5 16.40x
Eston 4 76.63x
Barwick In Elmet 3 163.04x
Brading 3 45.52x
Hackney London 3 2.21x
Hensingham 3 176.47x
Kirkleatham 3 92.59x
Leyton 3 36.45x
Nottingham St Mary 3 3.56x
Wakefield 3 16.30x
West Ham 3 2.85x
Berwick Upon Tweed 2 26.21x
Brighton 2 2.43x
Darlington 2 7.20x
Eccles 2 156.25x
Greenwich 2 5.19x
Guisbrough 2 38.17x
Hildenly 2 5000.00x
Leamington Priors 2 13.32x
Leeds 2 1.48x
Milton Lilborne 2 400.00x
Preston In Tynemouth 2 140.85x
Scarborough 2 9.18x
Shipton In Great 2 555.56x
Shoreditch London 2 1.91x
St Pancras London 2 1.03x
Stisted 2 322.58x
Tattershall 2 500.00x
Aismunderby Cum 1 147.06x
Appleton Wiske 1 370.37x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.56x
Bingley 1 6.55x
Bolton On Dearne 1 120.48x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.57x
Distington 1 93.46x
Fareham 1 16.78x
Framwellgate 1 23.47x
Garston 1 11.81x
Hart 1 57.14x
Harton 1 35.21x
Hutton 1 125.00x
Ilkley 1 25.51x
Liverpool 1 0.57x
Lofthouse 1 27.93x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.62x
Paddington London 1 1.12x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.91x
Stainland Cum Old 1 24.39x
Stockton On Tees 1 2.88x
Whitburn 1 59.52x
Whitehaven 1 9.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Hannah 9
Margaret 9
Ann 6
Isabella 5
Jane 4
Amy 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Judith 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Rhoda 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Beatrice 1
Bella 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Louisa 1
Margret 1
Margt.A. 1
Marjory 1
May 1
Mggie 1
Minnie 1
Rachael 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 15
Thomas 9
Robert 8
Richard 6
Joseph 5
Francis 4
George 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Isaac 3
Clement 2
Edward 2
Jos. 2
Ralph 2
Stephen 2
...ansom 1
Abraham 1
Abram 1
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Bowser 1
Christopher 1
Christy 1
Earnest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Thos. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Johnny 1
Peter 1
Rodham 1
T.R. 1
Thos. 1
Thos.H. 1

FAQ

Unthank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Unthank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 246 people were recorded with the Unthank surname. That placed it at #11,201 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Unthank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Unthank a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Unthank surname mean?

An English surname derived from an old place name meaning "the unenclosed valley" or "open valley".

What does the Unthank map show?

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