NameCensus.

UK surname

Washer

A surname derived from an occupation involving washing or laundering.

In the 1881 census there were 330 people recorded with the Washer surname, ranking it #9,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 409, ranked #11,694, down from #9,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chailey, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Lewes St John-under-the-Castle. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Harrogate and Huntingdonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Washer is 511 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.9%.

1881 census count

330

Ranked #9,088

Modern count

409

2016, ranked #11,694

Peak year

1911

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Washer had 330 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016, ranked #11,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Washer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Washer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Washer 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 250 #8,788
1861 historical 393 #6,524
1881 historical 330 #9,088
1891 historical 433 #8,301
1901 historical 476 #8,356
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 462 #9,869
1998 modern 470 #10,066
1999 modern 477 #10,014
2000 modern 458 #10,281
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 448 #10,477
2003 modern 429 #10,684
2004 modern 432 #10,658
2005 modern 422 #10,739
2006 modern 431 #10,600
2007 modern 446 #10,409
2008 modern 440 #10,622
2009 modern 437 #10,947
2010 modern 427 #11,379
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 425 #11,382
2014 modern 422 #11,516
2015 modern 414 #11,605
2016 modern 409 #11,694

Geography

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Where Washers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chailey, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lewes St John-under-the-Castle, London parishes and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Harrogate, Huntingdonshire and Lewes. 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 Chailey Sussex
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Lewes St John-under-the-Castle Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 003 Cornwall
2 Harrogate 014 Harrogate
3 Huntingdonshire 007 Huntingdonshire
4 Lewes 003 Lewes
5 Lewes 009 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Washer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Washer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Washer, 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 Washer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Washer 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Washer is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Washer is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Washer falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Washer

The surname "WASHER" is of English origin, derived from the occupational name for a person who washed clothes or linens for a living. It is believed to have emerged in the late 13th or early 14th century, during the Middle English period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a "John le Washer" residing in the village of Pateley Bridge. The prefix "le" was a common way of denoting occupations during this time.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various records with slight spelling variations, such as "Wasshere" and "Wasshour." These variations likely stemmed from the regional dialects and the inconsistent nature of spelling conventions in those days.

The name is also found in the Hertfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1523, which mention a "Thomas Wassher" from the town of Watford. This suggests that the surname had spread to other parts of England by the 16th century.

One notable bearer of the name was John Washer (c. 1550-1616), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of St. Peter's Church in Wolverhampton. He is best known for his work "The Doctrine of Re-Baptizing," published in 1609.

Another historical figure with the surname was William Washer (1687-1738), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He is recorded as having owned several properties in the town of Knaresborough during the early 18th century.

In the 19th century, the name appears in various directories and records, including the 1881 Census of England and Wales, which lists several families with the surname "WASHER" living in areas such as London, Lancashire, and Yorkshire.

One notable individual from this period was Henry Washer (1822-1898), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal College of Music.

The surname "WASHER" can also be found in various place names, such as Washer Lane in the village of Weston, Hertfordshire, and Washer's Green in the town of Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. These place names likely derived from individuals or families with the surname who lived or worked in those areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Washer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Washer 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. Sussex leads with 106 Washers recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.08x.

County Total Index
Sussex 106 20.08x
Somerset 73 14.48x
Devon 29 4.45x
Middlesex 24 0.77x
Gloucestershire 16 2.61x
Kent 16 1.50x
Carmarthenshire 11 8.34x
Glamorgan 10 1.83x
Hampshire 7 1.09x
Surrey 7 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.95x
Westmorland 4 5.81x
Dorset 3 1.46x
Oxfordshire 3 1.55x
Yorkshire 3 0.10x
Monmouthshire 2 0.88x
Berkshire 1 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.53x
Leicestershire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Washers recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.62x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 36.62x
Bridgewater 33 241.23x
Chailey 22 1341.46x
Ringmer 15 1006.71x
Weston Super Mare 13 102.12x
Tormoham 11 39.88x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 10 17.30x
Burnham 10 260.42x
Roath 8 32.31x
Wembdon 8 536.91x
Exeter St Paul 7 542.64x
Milton In Gravesend 7 43.70x
Cliffe 6 337.08x
Fremington 6 454.55x
Lewes St Ann 6 333.33x
Southampton St Mary 6 14.87x
St Clears 6 560.75x
Bristol Temple 5 123.76x
Hamsey 5 847.46x
Islington London 5 1.65x
Llanelly 5 16.82x
St Marylebone London 5 2.99x
Willesden 5 16.94x
Exeter St Martin 4 2000.00x
Gravesend 4 44.25x
Holme 4 481.93x
Newark Upon Trent 4 26.37x
Southwark St Saviour 4 24.86x
Doncaster 3 13.23x
Lewes St John Southover 3 84.51x
Maresfield 3 134.53x
Melcombe Regis 3 35.21x
Mile End New Town 3 70.09x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 3 312.50x
Bedminster 2 4.22x
Berrow 2 425.53x
Cannington 2 133.33x
Llanvihangel Crucorney 2 416.67x
Paddington London 2 1.74x
Poplar London 2 3.38x
Preston 2 21.69x
Swanscombe 2 41.67x
Walcot 2 7.45x
Barcombe 1 78.74x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.74x
Bristol St Peter 1 45.45x
Broadwater 1 8.26x
Camberwell 1 0.50x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.33x
Clist St Mary 1 500.00x
Croydon 1 1.18x
Holdenhurst 1 5.94x
Huntspill 1 48.54x
Langley Marish 1 43.10x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.18x
Lindfield 1 44.84x
Mayfield 1 32.05x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.65x
Newhaven 1 23.31x
Northfleet 1 10.63x
Shorne 1 105.26x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.59x
Swansea Town 1 2.24x
Westminster St James 1 3.11x
Winkfield 1 25.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 12
Jane 10
Ellen 8
Elizabeth 7
Emma 7
Ada 5
Eliza 5
Emily 5
Florence 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Ida 2
Jemima 2
Kate 2
Lucretia 2
Margaret 2
Anna 1
Arabella 1
C.M.A.H.E. 1
Caroline 1
Effie 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Faith 1
Feroma 1
Jaima 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
Henry 15
James 15
John 14
George 12
Alfred 6
Robert 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Thomas 4
Albert 3
Richard 3
Frank 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Oliver 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Amhouse 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Fred.W. 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Jesse 1
Jno. 1
Oratio 1
Rupert 1
Ruscombe 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
W. 1
Willm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Washer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Washer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 330 people were recorded with the Washer surname. That placed it at #9,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Washer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 409 in 2016. That gives Washer a modern rank of #11,694.

What does the Washer surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation involving washing or laundering.

What does the Washer map show?

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