NameCensus.

UK surname

Urwin

An English surname derived from a placename referring to residence near a green hill or slope.

In the 1881 census there were 1,359 people recorded with the Urwin surname, ranking it #3,016 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,840, ranked #3,445, down from #3,016 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Chollerton, Birtley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, South Tyneside and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Urwin is 2,001 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.4%.

1881 census count

1,359

Ranked #3,016

Modern count

1,840

2016, ranked #3,445

Peak year

1998

2,001 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Urwin had 1,359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,016 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,840 in 2016, ranked #3,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,980 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Urwin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Urwin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Urwin 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 803 #3,334
1861 historical 848 #3,260
1881 historical 1,359 #3,016
1891 historical 1,368 #3,171
1901 historical 1,851 #2,838
1911 historical 1,980 #2,508
1997 modern 1,920 #3,148
1998 modern 2,001 #3,158
1999 modern 1,990 #3,187
2000 modern 1,980 #3,192
2001 modern 1,939 #3,187
2002 modern 1,953 #3,230
2003 modern 1,881 #3,266
2004 modern 1,862 #3,295
2005 modern 1,822 #3,330
2006 modern 1,845 #3,302
2007 modern 1,839 #3,335
2008 modern 1,800 #3,434
2009 modern 1,883 #3,373
2010 modern 1,943 #3,352
2011 modern 1,892 #3,396
2012 modern 1,846 #3,410
2013 modern 1,869 #3,423
2014 modern 1,865 #3,451
2015 modern 1,849 #3,448
2016 modern 1,840 #3,445

Geography

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Where Urwins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Chollerton, Birtley, Newcastle St John and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, South Tyneside and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Chollerton, Birtley Northumberland
4 Newcastle St John Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 034 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 035 Northumberland
3 South Tyneside 008 South Tyneside
4 County Durham 003 County Durham
5 Northumberland 039 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Urwin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Urwin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Urwin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Urwin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Urwin 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

Urwin is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Urwin falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Urwin

The surname Urwin originates from England and can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ure" meaning a prosperous person and "wynn" meaning joy or pleasure, making it an occupational surname for someone who brought joy or prosperity to others.

The name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Northumberland. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Urewine" and is listed as a landholder in Yorkshire.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Urewyne" and "Urwyne," in medieval records and charters from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. During this period, the name was also associated with several place names, including Urwin in Cheshire and Urwin Cross in Lancashire.

One notable bearer of the name was John Urwin, a 14th-century merchant and alderman from York, who played a significant role in the city's trade and governance. Another prominent figure was Thomas Urwin, a 16th-century poet and playwright from Lancashire, known for his works on religious themes.

In the 17th century, the name Urwin was found in various parish records across northern England, including baptisms, marriages, and burials. For instance, Richard Urwin, born in 1632 in Yorkshire, was a renowned clockmaker and inventor of a successful timepiece design.

As the name spread across England, it also gained prominence in other regions. In the 18th century, William Urwin (1727-1796) from Gloucestershire became a respected physician and author of several medical treatises. Additionally, John Urwin (1758-1831) from Northamptonshire was a prominent Baptist minister and author.

Throughout the 19th century, the Urwin surname continued to appear in various parts of England, with notable figures such as Thomas Urwin (1823-1901), a Scottish-born architect who designed several notable buildings in Liverpool, and James Urwin (1842-1919), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Urwin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Urwin 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. Durham leads with 729 Urwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.43x.

County Total Index
Durham 729 18.43x
Northumberland 438 22.14x
Yorkshire 98 0.74x
Lancashire 31 0.20x
Cumberland 10 0.87x
Middlesex 10 0.08x
Staffordshire 10 0.22x
Flintshire 6 1.68x
Northamptonshire 6 0.48x
Surrey 5 0.08x
Cheshire 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 3 0.14x
Kent 3 0.07x
Roxburghshire 3 1.25x
Midlothian 2 0.11x
Devon 1 0.04x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.07x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 86 Urwins recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.04x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 86 29.04x
Westoe 67 29.88x
Elswick 39 24.70x
Benfieldside 31 119.18x
Stockton On Tees 26 13.64x
Hexham 25 81.65x
Whitby 25 56.31x
Bedlington 24 36.33x
Earsdon 23 142.95x
Penshaw 23 193.60x
Tudhoe 23 66.45x
Collierley 22 124.86x
Cowpen 22 48.30x
Harton 20 127.96x
Pelton 20 106.27x
Benwell 18 83.26x
Haydon 18 166.36x
Wallsend 16 25.50x
Birtley 14 86.74x
Chollerton 14 251.80x
West Matfen 14 992.91x
Birtley 13 747.13x
Bishopwearmouth 13 3.83x
Hetton Le Hole 13 25.93x
Horton 13 132.92x
Ormesby 13 36.71x
Ouston 13 225.30x
Westgate 13 10.61x
Burradon In Tynemouth 12 237.62x
Byker 12 12.27x
Helmington Row 12 65.15x
Southwick 12 32.03x
Bishop Auckland 11 20.73x
Monkwearmouth Shore 11 14.25x
Newcastle On Tyne St 11 10.73x
Ryhope 11 40.06x
Usworth 11 52.38x
Wolsingham 11 30.51x
Heddon On Wall 10 413.22x
Jesmond 10 35.92x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 2.10x
Hartlepool 9 16.01x
Hedleyhope 9 131.39x
Melbecks 9 169.49x
Ovington 9 370.37x
Ryton 9 64.75x
Tynemouth 9 8.50x
Cleator 8 16.79x
East Rainton 8 104.44x
Haswell 8 28.22x
Medomsley 8 43.36x
Middlesbrough 8 4.66x
Newburn 8 141.59x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 6.77x
Pittington 8 71.94x
Preston In Tynemouth 8 102.83x
Ruswarp 8 54.61x
Winlaton 8 21.08x
Aislaby 7 1228.07x
Anick 7 1000.00x
Corbridge 7 96.55x
Crook Billy Row 7 13.82x
Edmondbyers 7 437.50x
Iveston 7 38.42x
Moorsley 7 164.71x
Ovingham Whittle Spital 7 233.33x
South Shields 7 19.86x
St Luke London 7 3.28x
Wall 7 386.74x
Washington 7 42.22x
Wingate 7 25.81x
Coundon Grange 6 69.12x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 3.50x
Holywell 6 13.37x
Peterborough 6 6.63x
Shadforth 6 78.23x
Shipley 6 8.78x
Stella 6 176.99x
Urpeth 6 77.82x
Newton In Makerfield 5 10.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 124
Elizabeth 86
Jane 70
Margaret 56
Ann 44
Sarah 42
Isabella 27
Hannah 21
Alice 15
Annie 15
Catherine 14
Eleanor 12
Frances 10
Dorothy 9
Emily 7
Esther 7
Edith 6
Martha 6
Ellen 5
Rebecca 5
Ada 4
Francis 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Emma 3
Harriet 3
Margery 3
Margret 3
Ursula 3
Amelia 2
Barbara 2
Bertha 2
Charllota 2
Christine 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Johanna 2
Lucy 2
Margt.Ann 2
Maria 2
Maud 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
E. 1
Elener 1
Elenor 1
Elisa 1
Eliz. 1
Georgina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 105
William 82
Thomas 69
George 50
Robert 48
James 44
Joseph 31
Ralph 23
Henry 22
Richard 16
Edward 11
David 10
Jacob 7
Matthew 6
Michael 5
Thos. 5
Andrew 4
Benjamin 4
Christopher 4
Frederick 4
Smith 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Alfred 3
Anthony 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Nicholas 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Henery 2
Herbert 2
Jonn. 2
Jos. 2
Joshua 2
Robt. 2
Roger 2
Samuel 2
Amos 1
Eli 1
Fenwick 1
Forster 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Jn.W. 1
Jno. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Urwin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Urwin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,359 people were recorded with the Urwin surname. That placed it at #3,016 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Urwin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,840 in 2016. That gives Urwin a modern rank of #3,445.

What does the Urwin surname mean?

An English surname derived from a placename referring to residence near a green hill or slope.

What does the Urwin map show?

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