UK surname
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Widowson surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15, ranked #37,092, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Brampton, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Widowson is 139 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 79.2%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
15
2016, ranked #37,092
Peak year
1851
139 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Widowson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Widowson surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 139 | #13,659 |
| 1861 | historical | 67 | #25,342 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 69 | #26,499 |
| 1911 | historical | 40 | #28,913 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 17 | #36,240 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 21 | #35,799 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 15 | #36,942 |
| 2010 | modern | 16 | #36,937 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 13 | #37,251 |
| 2016 | modern | 15 | #37,092 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Brampton, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Ilkeston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brampton | Derbyshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Nottingham St Mary | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Ilkeston | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Widowson surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Widowson, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Widowson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Widowson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Widowson is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Widowson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Widowson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Widowson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 15 Widowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.11x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 15 | 2.11x |
| Nottinghamshire | 13 | 13.55x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.84x |
| Cheshire | 9 | 5.73x |
| Derbyshire | 8 | 7.18x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.89x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 2.64x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 3.89x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.71x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.29x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Balby Cum Hexthorpe in Yorkshire leads with 10 Widowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1190.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Balby Cum Hexthorpe | 10 | 1190.48x |
| Hyde | 8 | 172.41x |
| Clerkenwell London | 7 | 41.67x |
| Edmonton | 7 | 121.95x |
| East Bridgford | 6 | 2727.27x |
| Great Lumley | 4 | 1111.11x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 4 | 16.12x |
| Brampton | 3 | 192.31x |
| Long Eaton | 3 | 204.08x |
| Tetford | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Ecclesfield | 2 | 38.68x |
| Gunthorpe | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Abergavenny | 1 | 51.81x |
| Ashton On Mersey | 1 | 123.46x |
| Ault Hucknall | 1 | 555.56x |
| Belgrave | 1 | 56.18x |
| Bermondsey | 1 | 4.72x |
| Bulkington | 1 | 256.41x |
| Grays Thurrock | 1 | 76.34x |
| Hasland | 1 | 88.50x |
| Leeds | 1 | 2.51x |
| Lichfield St Michael | 1 | 133.33x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 8.90x |
| Monmouth | 1 | 73.53x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.50x |
| West Leake | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Widowson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Widowson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Widowson households.
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Widowson surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 15 in 2016. That gives Widowson a modern rank of #37,092.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Widowson bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.