NameCensus.

UK surname

Withington

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Withington.

In the 1881 census there were 798 people recorded with the Withington surname, ranking it #4,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,119, ranked #5,265, down from #4,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Eccles, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Withington is 1,205 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

798

Ranked #4,665

Modern count

1,119

2016, ranked #5,265

Peak year

2002

1,205 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Withington had 798 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,119 in 2016, ranked #5,265.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,152 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Withington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Withington surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Withington 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 393 #6,118
1861 historical 539 #4,868
1881 historical 798 #4,665
1891 historical 897 #4,590
1901 historical 1,041 #4,597
1911 historical 1,152 #4,054
1997 modern 1,023 #5,382
1998 modern 1,190 #4,918
1999 modern 1,197 #4,938
2000 modern 1,204 #4,893
2001 modern 1,181 #4,866
2002 modern 1,205 #4,886
2003 modern 1,146 #5,007
2004 modern 1,148 #5,006
2005 modern 1,128 #5,027
2006 modern 1,107 #5,113
2007 modern 1,118 #5,115
2008 modern 1,108 #5,186
2009 modern 1,129 #5,204
2010 modern 1,170 #5,149
2011 modern 1,143 #5,207
2012 modern 1,127 #5,180
2013 modern 1,162 #5,131
2014 modern 1,152 #5,191
2015 modern 1,125 #5,252
2016 modern 1,119 #5,265

Geography

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Where Withingtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Eccles, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Bolton-le-Moors and West Bromwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Staffordshire Moorlands. 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 Eccles Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 West Bromwich Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Staffordshire 001 South Staffordshire
2 Stoke-on-Trent 031 Stoke-on-Trent
3 East Staffordshire 003 East Staffordshire
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 006 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Staffordshire Moorlands 009 Staffordshire Moorlands

Forenames

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First names often paired with Withington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Withington

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Withington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Withington 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Withington 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

Withington is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Withington 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 Withington 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 Withington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Withington

The surname Withington has its origins in England, specifically from the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. This name is derived from the Old English words "widu" meaning "wood" and "ton" meaning "settlement" or "enclosure." The combined form, "Widingtūn," can be translated as "settlement in the wood" or "village by the woods."

The earliest references to the name Withington are found in the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of lands and landholding across much of England. In the Domesday Book, a place named Withington is documented in Gloucestershire, confirming the existence and recognition of this locale and its name during the Norman conquest of England.

Historically, the name appears in various records and manuscripts, often in slightly different spellings. One of the earliest recorded spellings appears in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, where a Richard de Wythindon is mentioned. Another early example is found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332, listing a John de Withington in the county of Cheshire.

Throughout the centuries, individuals bearing the surname Withington have made notable contributions. Richard Withington (c. 1485–1549) was a prominent landowner in Lancashire and is mentioned in several legal documents of the period. Paul Withington (1593–1651), another significant figure, served as a churchwarden in the parish of St. Mary’s, Nottinghamshire, indicating his esteemed position within the community.

In the realm of scholarship, Leonard Withington (1789–1885) was an American clergyman and author of English descent. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, he made significant contributions to theological literature and served as a pastor for over four decades. Another notable bearer of the surname is William Withington (1835–1903), a decorated soldier and politician from Michigan who served in the American Civil War and later as a state senator.

In the arts, actress Elizabeth Withington (1872–1945) gained modest fame in the theatre world during the early 20th century. Her performances were well-regarded in both London and New York, showcasing the versatility and talent associated with the surname.

The Withington family name remains deeply rooted in its English origins, with a rich and varied history that spans centuries and continents, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Withington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Withington 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. Lancashire leads with 387 Withingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 387 4.23x
Staffordshire 127 4.88x
Cheshire 74 4.34x
Shropshire 74 11.10x
Warwickshire 22 1.13x
Worcestershire 17 1.69x
Surrey 15 0.40x
Middlesex 12 0.16x
Bedfordshire 10 2.50x
Oxfordshire 10 2.10x
Yorkshire 10 0.13x
Gloucestershire 7 0.46x
Somerset 6 0.48x
Devon 5 0.31x
Hertfordshire 4 0.75x
Lincolnshire 3 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.43x
Kent 2 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.32x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Durham 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Droylsden in Lancashire leads with 75 Withingtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 251.09x.

Place Total Index
Droylsden 75 251.09x
Runcorn 38 96.77x
Stoke Upon Trent 27 9.78x
Manchester 26 6.31x
Barton Upon Irwell 24 34.82x
Openshaw 23 53.64x
Aston 17 3.17x
Dawley 17 70.07x
Stone 17 51.04x
Cannock 16 35.20x
Gorton 15 17.43x
Tipton 15 18.81x
West Bromwich 15 10.06x
Westhoughton 15 61.40x
Hindley 14 35.86x
Salford 14 5.20x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 6.50x
Blackburn 11 4.52x
Bury 11 10.52x
Newcastle Under Lyme 11 23.87x
Over Darwen 11 15.04x
Pendleton In Salford 10 9.17x
Moss Side 9 18.68x
Stockport 9 10.27x
Toddington 9 157.07x
Wem 9 90.73x
Chorlton On Medlock 8 5.50x
Hulme 8 4.19x
Shifnal 8 44.20x
Tredington 8 290.91x
Wrockwardine 8 54.57x
Camberwell 7 1.42x
Edgmond 7 95.37x
Great Bolton 7 5.77x
Ince In Makerfield 7 16.43x
Lilleshall 7 68.69x
Newton In Makerfield 7 24.96x
Oldham 7 2.37x
Ormskirk 7 39.95x
Wolverhampton 7 3.50x
Allerton Bywater 6 144.93x
Bradford 6 14.00x
Halton 6 157.89x
Prees 6 73.89x
Preston 6 2.45x
Prestwich 6 26.27x
Skerton 6 79.79x
Taunton St Mary 6 26.32x
Tenbury 6 108.70x
Whitby 6 152.67x
Barnes 5 31.45x
Birmingham 5 0.77x
Cheslyn Hay 5 105.26x
Holton 5 793.65x
Huntington 5 1063.83x
Layton With Warbreck 5 14.88x
St Pancras London 5 0.81x
Westbury On Severn East 5 14.62x
Broughton In Salford 4 4.78x
Cheetham 4 5.86x
Fringford 4 366.97x
Liverpool 4 0.72x
Shoreditch London 4 1.20x
Stoke Upon Tern 4 162.60x
Ardwick 3 3.63x
Buckfastleigh 3 40.49x
Chester St Oswald 3 9.73x
Dudley 3 2.45x
Wellington 3 8.01x
West Derby 3 1.12x
Wolstanton 3 3.79x
Didsbury 2 16.45x
Fulshaw 2 63.69x
Lostock 2 96.62x
Newton 2 2.83x
Skelmersdale 2 13.11x
Stoke Damerel 2 1.78x
Thornton In Fylde 2 9.99x
Wath On Dearne 2 13.11x
Wombridge 2 24.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Sarah 41
Elizabeth 34
Jane 21
Alice 18
Ann 16
Martha 13
Ellen 12
Annie 11
Eliza 11
Hannah 11
Emily 9
Ada 7
Fanny 6
Harriet 6
Margaret 6
Edith 5
Frances 5
Catherine 4
Emma 4
Isabella 4
Louisa 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Florence 3
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
Lizzie 2
Lousia 2
Nancy 2
Rachel 2
Rose 2
Zillah 2
Bertha 1
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Eliza. 1
Elizh.J. 1
Elizth. 1
Ellenor 1
Hepzibaha 1
Hilda 1
Jennie 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 55
Thomas 42
William 41
James 30
George 20
Edward 14
Henry 14
Joseph 12
Alfred 11
Samuel 11
Arthur 9
Charles 9
Walter 9
Herbert 8
Albert 7
Wm. 7
Robert 6
Harry 5
Ralph 5
Ernest 4
Thos. 4
Benjamin 3
Edwin 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Frederick 3
Joshua 3
Josiah 3
Benjn. 2
Ebenezer 2
Jabez 2
Joel 2
Richard 2
Archibald 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Bolton 1
Cecil 1
Eligah 1
Enoch 1
Ezra 1
Fanny 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Geo.Robt. 1
Jn.Chas. 1
Joe 1
Knoot 1
Leonard 1

FAQ

Withington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Withington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 798 people were recorded with the Withington surname. That placed it at #4,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Withington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,119 in 2016. That gives Withington a modern rank of #5,265.

What does the Withington surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a place called Withington.

What does the Withington map show?

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