NameCensus.

UK surname

Yarwood

A locational surname derived from a dwelling by a wood called Yerwood.

In the 1881 census there were 1,220 people recorded with the Yarwood surname, ranking it #3,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,869, ranked #3,406, down from #3,314 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Astbury and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yarwood is 1,918 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.2%.

1881 census count

1,220

Ranked #3,314

Modern count

1,869

2016, ranked #3,406

Peak year

2002

1,918 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yarwood had 1,220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,314 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,869 in 2016, ranked #3,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,812 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Yarwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yarwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yarwood 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 724 #3,619
1861 historical 672 #3,994
1881 historical 1,220 #3,314
1891 historical 1,274 #3,392
1901 historical 1,583 #3,259
1911 historical 1,812 #2,714
1997 modern 1,792 #3,350
1998 modern 1,885 #3,321
1999 modern 1,887 #3,339
2000 modern 1,895 #3,309
2001 modern 1,849 #3,317
2002 modern 1,918 #3,285
2003 modern 1,847 #3,317
2004 modern 1,828 #3,352
2005 modern 1,773 #3,416
2006 modern 1,767 #3,430
2007 modern 1,784 #3,436
2008 modern 1,812 #3,416
2009 modern 1,854 #3,427
2010 modern 1,886 #3,442
2011 modern 1,839 #3,469
2012 modern 1,826 #3,435
2013 modern 1,905 #3,373
2014 modern 1,889 #3,411
2015 modern 1,870 #3,410
2016 modern 1,869 #3,406

Geography

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Where Yarwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Astbury, Manchester, Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Astbury Cheshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Great Budworth (Witton with Twambrook), Davenham (Leftwich) Cheshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire West and Chester 017 Cheshire West and Chester
2 Cheshire West and Chester 021 Cheshire West and Chester
3 Cheshire West and Chester 020 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Cheshire West and Chester 019 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Cheshire West and Chester 018 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yarwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yarwood

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Yarwood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Yarwood is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yarwood falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Yarwood

The surname Yarwood has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. This name is particularly associated with the counties of Cheshire and Staffordshire. The name Yarwood is of locational origin, derived from a place called Yarwood in Cheshire, which is thought to have meant "the wood where the yarrow grows," with "yarrow" being a type of herb, and "wood" indicating a wooded area.

The Old English words that might have contributed to this surname include "gearwe," meaning yarrow, and "wudu," meaning wood. These elements hint at a geographic feature or a landscape where yarrow plants were prevalent. Variant spellings in earlier records, such as Yerwood or Yarwode, can be found, illustrating the evolving nature of surnames over time.

Yarwood made its first significant appearance in written records during the Middle Ages. One of the earliest mentions is in the Domesday Book of 1086, a vast survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This book provides a snapshot of the landholdings and resources and includes places that likely influenced the formation of surnames in the region.

Among the earliest recorded bearers of the surname is John de Yarwode, who is noted in the Assize Rolls of Cheshire in 1286. His name denotes his origin from the area bearing the same name. Over time, several families adopted the surname, many of whom remained concentrated in the Cheshire area.

Noteworthy individuals with the surname Yarwood include Arthur Yarwood (1858-1924), a British local historian and collector of antiquities, notable for his contributions to preserving the history of the Cheshire region. Another prominent figure is John Yarwood (1912-1989), a renowned British physicist whose work in fluid dynamics significantly impacted engineering and science.

In the realm of entertainment, the name Yarwood was popularized by Mike Yarwood (b. 1941), a well-known English comedian and impressionist who was highly influential during the 1960s and 1970s. His television presence brought the surname into broader public awareness.

Another historical figure is William Yarwood, who in the early 20th century contributed to the industrial development of the British railway system. His work as an engineer helped enhance the efficiency of rail transportation during a crucial period of growth.

Lastly, Edith Yarwood, a social reformer and advocate in early 20th-century Britain, made strides in championing women's rights and improving social conditions, leaving a legacy of activism that enriched the communities she served.

The surname Yarwood encapsulates a rich heritage linked to the English landscape and its historical development, carried by individuals who have left their mark across various fields through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yarwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yarwood 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. Cheshire leads with 471 Yarwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.96x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 471 17.96x
Lancashire 437 3.10x
Derbyshire 64 3.44x
Middlesex 51 0.43x
Warwickshire 33 1.10x
Staffordshire 32 0.80x
Surrey 28 0.48x
Yorkshire 23 0.20x
Worcestershire 14 0.90x
Lincolnshire 10 0.53x
Northamptonshire 10 0.89x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.50x
Devon 7 0.28x
Northumberland 7 0.40x
Glamorgan 5 0.24x
Durham 3 0.08x
Shropshire 3 0.29x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Royal Navy 2 1.41x
Rutland 2 2.29x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.20x
Essex 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.02x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hulme in Lancashire leads with 42 Yarwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.27x.

Place Total Index
Hulme 42 14.27x
Knutsford Nether 32 201.89x
Congleton 27 59.59x
Leftwich 26 223.18x
Ardwick 25 19.66x
Ludworth 25 285.39x
Heaton Norris 23 28.66x
Bradford 22 33.34x
Runcorn 22 36.38x
Wincham 22 454.55x
Manchester 21 3.31x
Shoreditch London 21 4.08x
Barton Upon Irwell 20 18.84x
Newton 20 18.41x
Castleton 18 12.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 7.59x
Dunham Massey 17 211.44x
Hyde 16 20.67x
Macclesfield 16 13.72x
Wharton 15 105.04x
Birtle Cum Bamford 14 152.17x
Bury 14 8.69x
Islington London 14 1.22x
Birmingham 13 1.30x
Hayfield 13 113.94x
Moulton Eaton In 13 593.61x
Kings Norton 12 8.63x
Mellor 12 237.15x
Newington 12 2.73x
Salford 12 2.89x
Tarbock 12 470.59x
Weaverham Cum Milton 12 173.16x
Aston 11 1.33x
Cheadle 11 21.96x
High Leigh 11 317.92x
Stockport 11 8.15x
Toxteth Park 11 2.30x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 11 47.13x
Altrincham 10 21.82x
Kingswinford 10 6.87x
Peterborough 10 12.36x
Wolstanton 10 8.21x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 2.92x
Gorton 9 6.79x
Rixton With Glazebrook 9 250.70x
Weston In Runcorn 9 131.96x
Barrow In Furness 8 4.17x
Everton 8 1.78x
Glossop Dale 8 9.18x
Kinderton Cum Hulme 8 363.64x
Nottingham St Mary 8 1.93x
Openshaw 8 12.12x
Turton 8 34.66x
Accrington 7 5.46x
Bollin Fee 7 60.19x
Elswick 7 4.96x
Leeds 7 1.05x
Liverpool 7 0.82x
Marton In Whitegate 7 247.35x
Oldham 7 1.54x
Ollerton 7 598.29x
Sale 7 21.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 2.93x
Wootton Wawen 7 74.15x
Church Hulme 6 223.05x
Dutton 6 326.09x
Frodsham 6 59.06x
Monks Coppenhall 6 6.06x
Northenden 6 125.52x
Prestwich 6 17.06x
Saddleworth 6 6.61x
Southwark Christchurch 6 10.78x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 1.41x
Sutton In Macclesfield 6 22.04x
Sutton In Runcorn 6 392.16x
Tormoham 6 5.73x
Widnes 6 5.90x
Garston 5 12.02x
St Pancras London 5 0.52x
Walton Superior 5 500.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 92
William 81
Thomas 58
James 36
Samuel 35
George 31
Joseph 25
Henry 24
Alfred 20
Charles 18
Frederick 12
Walter 12
Albert 11
Arthur 9
Jonathan 7
Edwin 6
Fred 6
Thos. 6
Peter 5
Robert 5
Christopher 4
Harry 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Saml. 3
Benjamin 2
Bradford 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Elliss 2
Enoch 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Hugh 2
Jno. 2
Josiah 2
Ralph 2
Reginald 2
Roger 2
Tom 2
Arthar 1
Chas. 1
Every 1
Foster 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Worseley 1

FAQ

Yarwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yarwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,220 people were recorded with the Yarwood surname. That placed it at #3,314 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yarwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,869 in 2016. That gives Yarwood a modern rank of #3,406.

What does the Yarwood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a dwelling by a wood called Yerwood.

What does the Yarwood map show?

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