Comparisons Comparative Table of 300 Leading Surnames Because of the varying sample sizes, the following percentages should be taken as indicative rather than prescriptive. The 1853 figures in particular are an interpretation of the percentage of the population, whilst the other figures represent a percentage of the total number of events sampled. Care should be taken to compare only like areas. England and Wales has approximately 85% of the UK total population (1999 estimate: 59,236,500), but not necessarily that proportion of a surname. For example, historically Jones has not had a significant presence in Scotland. Nonetheless, the percentage stability of many of these names is remarkable. Eng/W Eng/W Eng/W Eng/W ? ? ? Eng/W Eng/W UK 1853 1975 1984-97 1853 1944 1964 1966 1975 1984-97 1996 Rank 1-50 Rank 1-147 Rank 1-300 RG Treasury% Civil Serv% Nat Ins % Lasker GRO Deaths Electoral Reg % 1 1 1 Smith 1.36 1.76 1.33 1.37 1.36 1.37 1.20 2 2 2 Jones 1.31 1.24 0.99 1.07 1.12 1.14 0.90 3 4 3 Williams 0.86 0.82 0.68 0.65 0.73 0.73 0.62 4 5 4 Taylor 0.68 0.75 0.59 0.63 0.60 0.63 0.56 6 3 5 Brown 0.57 0.83 0.62 0.67 0.61 0.58 0.58 5 7 6 Davies 0.61 0.56 0.51 0.54 0.56 0.58 0.47 8 10 7 Evans 0.50 0.44 0.43 0.43 0.45 0.47 0.38 7 9 8 Thomas 0.50 0.44 0.39 0.34 0.40 0.41 0.34 12 6 9 Wilson 0.36 0.57 0.44 0.44 0.37 0.39 0.42 9 15 10 Roberts 0.42 0.36 0.36 0.37 0.38 0.38 0.32 10 8 11 Johnson 0.37 0.47 0.32 0.35 0.38 0.37 0.33 11 17 12 Robinson 0.36 0.35 0.29 0.32 0.31 0.33 0.29 13 13 13 Wright 0.34 0.40 0.31 0.30 0.32 0.32 0.30 21 16 14 Thompson 0.32 0.35 0.29 0.33 0.31 0.31 0.29 16 12 15 Walker 0.32 0.41 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.31 0.30 22 14 16 White 0.30 0.37 0.32 0.29 0.33 0.31 0.28 20 21 17 Edwards 0.31 0.30 0.29 0.27 0.29 0.30 0.26 18 19 18 Green 0.32 0.32 0.27 0.27 0.30 0.30 0.26 15 18 19 Hall 0.32 0.32 0.29 0.28 0.29 0.30 0.26 14 11 20 Wood 0.33 0.43 0.28 0.23 0.28 0.30 0.25 26 24 21 Harris 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.44 0.27 0.29 0.25 17 20 22 Hughes 0.32 0.30 0.28 0.28 0.29 0.29 0.27 19 25 23 Lewis 0.31 0.28 0.28 0.22 0.29 0.29 0.25 23 31 24 Jackson 0.30 0.27 0.24 0.28 0.27 0.28 0.24 24 23 25 Turner 0.30 0.29 0.27 0.25 0.27 0.28 0.24 39 28 26 Clarke 0.20 0.28 0.24 0.25 0.27 0.26 0.25 25 29 27 Hill 0.28 0.27 0.24 0.21 0.24 0.26 0.23 28 26 28 Cooper 0.26 0.28 0.23 0.24 0.26 0.25 0.22 33 22 29 Martin 0.23 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.25 0.25 0.25 32 38 30 Baker 0.23 0.24 0.24 0.22 0.24 0.24 0.20 27 35 31 Clark 0.27 0.25 0.28 0.26 0.22 0.24 0.24 34 33 32 Morris 0.23 0.26 0.22 0.23 0.25 0.24 0.21 31 32 33 Ward 0.24 0.27 0.21 0.20 0.22 0.24 0.21 29 37 34 Harrison 0.28 0.24 0.19 0.23 0.23 0.23 0.20 37 39 35 King 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.23 0.21 41 27 36 Moore 0.21 0.28 0.23 0.18 0.22 0.23 0.22 36 34 37 Morgan 0.22 0.25 0.20 0.21 0.22 0.22 0.20 38 41 38 Allen 0.22 0.22 0.21 0.17 0.21 0.21 0.19 35 52 39 James 0.23 0.19 0.19 – 0.21 0.21 0.18 44 48 40 Phillips 0.20 0.20 0.21 0.20 0.21 0.21 0.18 42 42 41 Parker 0.21 0.22 0.18 0.15 – 0.20 0.17 – 30 42 Scott 0.27 0.27 0.24 0.24 0.21 0.20 0.23 48 45 43 Bennett 0.19 0.20 0.18 0.19 – 0.19 0.17 30 44 44 Davis 0.23 0.21 0.19 0.18 – 0.19 0.17 50 58 45 Griffiths 0.18 0.17 0.17 – – 0.19 0.16 43 61 46 Price 0.20 0.17 0.16 – – 0.19 0.16 45 36 47 Watson 0.18 0.25 0.22 0.19 0.19 0.19 0.21 – – 48 Cooke 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.18 – 59 49 Bailey – 0.17 0.16 – – 0.18 0.15 49 64 50 Carter 0.18 0.16 0.17 – – 0.18 0.15 40 55 51 Cook 0.20 0.18 0.18 – – 0.18 0.16 47 49 52 Lee 0.19 0.19 0.15 – – 0.18 0.17 – 50 53 Young – 0.19 0.21 – 0.17 0.18 0.20 – 43 54 Bell – 0.21 0.18 0.18 – 0.17 0.18 – 56 55 Cox – 0.18 0.17 – – 0.17 0.14 – 40 56 Mitchell – 0.22 0.21 0.20 – 0.17 0.18 – 54 57 Richardson – 0.18 0.17 – – 0.17 0.16 46 46 58 Shaw 0.19 0.20 0.16 0.18 – 0.17 0.16 – 67 59 Collins – 0.16 0.16 – – 0.16 0.15 – 73 60 Richards – 0.15 0.14 – – 0.16 0.13 – 68 61 Adams – 0.16 0.17 – – 0.15 0.14 – 86 62 Chapman – 0.13 – – – 0.15 0.12 – 72 63 Ellis – 0.15 0.15 – – 0.15 0.13 – 57 64 Marshall – 0.18 0.17 – – 0.15 0.15 – 51 65 Miller – 0.19 0.19 – – 0.15 0.16 – 47 66 Simpson – 0.20 0.15 0.17 – 0.15 0.16 – 70 67 Webb – 0.15 0.15 – – 0.15 0.12 – 62 68 Wilkinson – 0.17 0.13 – – 0.15 0.13 – 77 69 Foster – 0.14 – – – 0.14 0.13 – 85 70 Hunt – 0.13 – – – 0.14 0.12 – 74 71 Mason – 0.15 0.13 – – 0.14 0.12 – 90 72 Owen – 0.12 – – – 0.14 0.11 – 95 73 Powell – 0.12 – – – 0.14 0.12 – 78 74 Rogers – 0.14 – – – 0.14 0.12 – 53 75 Anderson – 0.19 0.21 – – 0.13 – – 99 76 Barker – 0.11 – – – 0.13 – – 100 77 Barnes – 0.11 – – – 0.13 – – 69 78 Gray – 0.15 0.17 – – 0.13 0.15 – 75 79 Holmes – 0.14 0.12 – – 0.13 0.12 – 96 80 Lloyd – 0.12 – – – 0.13 – – 88 81 Matthews – 0.13 – – – 0.13 0.11 – 71 82 Mills – 0.15 0.13 – – 0.13 0.11 – 93 83 Palmer – 0.12 – – – 0.13 0.11 – 102 84 Butler – 0.11 – – – 0.12 – – 94 85 Fisher – 0.12 – – – 0.12 – – 79 86 Fletcher – 0.14 – – – 0.12 – – 89 87 Harvey – 0.12 – – – 0.12 – – 92 88 Jenkins – 0.12 – – – 0.12 – – 63 89 Kelly – 0.17 0.13 – – 0.12 0.17 – 87 90 Knight – 0.13 – – – 0.12 – – 91 91 Pearson – 0.12 – – – 0.12 – – 98 92 Stevens – 0.12 – – – 0.12 – – 119 93 Dixon – 0.10 – – – 0.11 – – 97 94 Howard – 0.12 – – – 0.11 – – 82 95 Murphy – 0.14 – – – 0.11 0.14 – 120 96 Payne – 0.10 – – – 0.11 – – 83 97 Russell – 0.14 – – – 0.11 0.12 – 118 98 Andrews – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 132 99 Atkinson – 0.09 – – – 0.10 – – 142 100 Ball – 0.09 – – – 0.10 – – 105 101 Booth – 0.11 – – – 0.10 – – 104 102 Brooks – 0.11 – – – 0.10 – – 135 103 Cole – 0.09 – – – 0.10 – – 111 104 Dawson – 0.11 – – – 0.10 – – 114 105 Day – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 76 106 Elliott – 0.14 – – – 0.10 – – 117 107 Ford – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 126 108 Fox – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 101 109 Gibson – 0.11 – – – 0.10 0.11 – 84 110 Graham – 0.13 – – 0.10 0.13 – 107 111 Pearce – 0.11 – – – 0.10 – – 109 112 Reynolds – 0.11 – – – 0.10 – – 123 113 Spencer – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 120 114 West – 0.10 – – – 0.10 – – 108 115 Bradley – 0.11 – – – 0.09 – – 140 116 Burton – 0.09 – – – 0.09 – – 130 117 Hudson – 0.09 – – – 0.09 – – 138 118 Lawrence – 0.09 – – – 0.09 – – 80 119 Murray – 0.14 – – – 0.09 0.14 – 127 120 Perry – 0.10 – – – 0.09 – – 137 121 Rees – 0.09 – – – 0.09 – – 147 122 Rose – 0.09 – – – 0.09 – – 106 123 Watts – 0.11 – – – 0.09 – – 121 124 Wells – 0.10 – – – 0.09 – – – 125 Newman – – – – – 0.08 – – – 126 Parsons – – – – – 0.08 – – – 127 Page – – – – – 0.08 – – – 128 Stone – – – – – 0.08 – – – 129 Bird – – – – – 0.08 – – – 130 Gregory – – – – – 0.08 – 133 131 Berry – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – 66 132 Campbell – 0.16 0.18 – – 0.08 0.18 – 146 133 Dunn – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – 124 134 Hart – 0.10 – – – 0.08 – – 145 135 Hawkins – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – 144 136 Hayes – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – 129 137 Lowe – 0.10 – – – 0.08 – – 131 138 Marsh – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – 65 139 Stewart – 0.16 0.16 – – 0.08 0.15 – 128 140 Walsh – 0.10 – – – 0.08 – – 143 141 Webster – 0.09 – – – 0.08 – – – 142 Reed 0.08 – – – 143 Armstrong 0.08 – – – 144 Newton 0.08 – – – 145 Barrett 0.08 – – – 146 Carr 0.08 – – – 147 Holland 0.08 – – – 148 Lane 0.08 – – – 149 Dean 0.08 – – – 150 Harding 0.08 – – – 151 Porter 0.08 – – – 152 Oliver 0.08 – – – 153 Gill 0.08 – – – 154 Parry 0.07 – – – 155 Francis 0.07 – – – 156 Shepherd 0.07 – – – 157 Bates 0.07 – – – 158 Walton 0.07 – – – 159 Bishop 0.07 – – – 160 Gardner 0.07 – – – 161 Burgess 0.07 – – – 162 Warren 0.07 – – – 163 Yates 0.07 – – – 164 Freeman 0.07 – – – 165 Nicholls 0.07 – – – 166 Cross 0.07 – – – 167 Hodgson 0.07 – – 110 168 Hunter – 0.11 – – – 0.07 – – 139 169 Riley – 0.09 – – – 0.07 – – 136 170 Williamson – 0.09 – – – 0.07 – – 141 171 Woods – 0.09 – – – 0.07 – – – 172 Sutton – – – – – 0.07 – – – 173 Nicholson – – – – – 0.07 – – – 174 Robson – – – – – 0.07 – – – 175 Potter – – – – – 0.07 – – – 176 Long – – – – – 0.07 – – – 177 Moss – – – – – 0.07 – – – 178 Sharp – – – – – 0.07 – – – 179 Wheeler – – – – – 0.07 – – – 180 Watkins – – – – – 0.07 – – – 181 Hopkins – – – – – 0.07 – – – 182 Read – – – – – 0.07 – – – 183 Grant – – – – – 0.07 – – – 184 Curtis – – – – – 0.06 – – – 185 Harper – – – – – 0.06 – – – 186 Osborne – – – – – 0.06 – – – 187 Miles – – – – – 0.06 – – – 188 Hardy – – – – – 0.06 – – – 189 Barber – – – – – 0.06 – – – 190 Chambers – – – – – 0.06 – – – 191 Hutchinson – – – – – 0.06 – – – 192 Coleman – – – – – 0.06 – – – 193 Frost – – – – – 0.06 – – – 194 Hammond – – – – – 0.06 – – – 195 Whitehead – – – – – 0.06 – – – 196 Arnold – – – – – 0.06 – – – 197 May – – – – – 0.06 – – – 198 Pritchard – – – – – 0.06 – – – 199 Greenwood – – – – – 0.06 – – – 200 Rowe – – – – – 0.06 – – 134 201 Burns – 0.09 – – – 0.06 – – 115 202 Henderson – 0.10 – – – 0.06 – – – 203 Patel – – – – – 0.06 0.15 – 81 204 Robertson – 0.14 – – – 0.06 – – 116 205 Ross – 0.10 – – – 0.06 – – – 206 Gilbert – – – – – 0.06 – – – 207 Slater – – – – – 0.06 – – – 208 Willis – – – – – 0.06 – – – 209 Griffin – – – – – 0.06 – – – 210 Walters – – – – – 0.06 – – – 211 George – – – – – 0.06 – – – 212 Stephenson – – – – – 0.06 – – – 213 Hewitt – – – – – 0.06 – – – 214 Holt – – – – – 0.06 – – – 215 O’Brien – – – – – 0.06 – – – 216 Austin – – – – – 0.06 – – – 217 Lambert – – – – – 0.06 – – – 218 Poole – – – – – 0.06 – – – 219 Woodward – – – – – 0.06 – – – 220 Goodwin – – – – – 0.06 – – – 221 Barton – – – – – 0.06 – – – 222 Barnett – – – – – 0.06 – – – 223 Clayton – – – – – 0.06 – – – 224 Bond – – – – – 0.06 – – – 225 Stevenson – – – – – 0.06 – – – 226 Kemp – – – – – 0.06 – – – 227 Buckley – – – – – 0.06 – – – 228 Heath – – – – – 0.06 – – – 229 Tucker – – – – – 0.06 – – – 230 Stephens – – – – – 0.06 – – – 231 Jordan – – – – – 0.05 – – – 232 Nash – – – – – 0.05 – – – 233 Baxter – – – – – 0.05 – – – 234 Mann – – – – – 0.05 – – – 235 Fowler – – – – – 0.05 – – – 236 Barlow – – – – – 0.05 – – – 237 Blake – – – – – 0.05 – – – 238 Dickinson – – – – – 0.05 – – – 239 Higgins – – – – – 0.05 – – – 240 Jennings – – – – – 0.05 – – – 241 Kennedy – – – – – 0.05 – – – 242 French – – – – – 0.05 – – – 243 Hartley – – – – – 0.05 – – – 244 Norman – – – – – 0.05 – – – 245 Ryan – – – – – 0.05 – – – 246 Pratt – – – – – 0.05 – – – 247 Gibbs – – – – – 0.05 – – – 248 Briggs – – – – – 0.05 – – – 249 Middleton – – – – – 0.05 – – – 250 Stokes – – – – – 0.05 – – – 251 Jarvis – – – – – 0.05 – – – 252 Hayward – – – – – 0.05 – – – 253 Banks – – – – – 0.05 – – – 254 Knowles – – – – – 0.05 – – – 255 Field – – – – – 0.05 – – – 256 Wallace – – – – – 0.05 – – – 257 Hancock – – – – – 0.05 – – – 258 Singh – – – – – 0.05 – – 125 259 Johnston – 0.10 – – – 0.05 – – 60 260 Mac/Mc Donald – 0.17 0.18 – – 0.05 0.16 – 103 261 Reid – 0.11 – – – 0.05 – – 113 262 Saunders – 0.10 – – – 0.05 – – – 263 Preston – – – – – 0.05 – – – 264 Stanley – – – – – 0.05 – – – 265 Lucas – – – – – 0.05 – – – 266 Abbott – – – – – 0.05 – – – 267 Baldwin – – – – – 0.05 – – – 268 Simmons – – – – – 0.05 – – – 269 Norris – – – – – 0.05 – – – 270 Lawson – – – – – 0.05 – – – 271 Ashton – – – – – 0.05 – – – 272 Thornton – – – – – 0.05 – – – 273 Perkins – – – – – 0.05 – – – 274 Sanders – – – – – 0.05 – – – 275 Hamilton – – – – – 0.05 – – – 276 Holden – – – – – 0.05 – – – 277 Reeves – – – – – 0.05 – – – 278 Tomlinson – – – – – 0.05 – – – 279 Thorpe – – – – – 0.05 – – – 280 Sullivan – – – – – 0.05 – – – 281 Todd – – – – – 0.05 – – – 282 Morton – – – – – 0.05 – – – 283 Townsend – – – – – 0.05 – – – 284 Burrows – – – – – 0.05 – – – 285 Lamb – – – – – 0.05 – – – 286 Birch – – – – – 0.05 – – – 287 Nelson – – – – – 0.05 – – – 288 Whittaker – – – – – 0.05 – – – 289 Rhodes – – – – – 0.05 – – – 290 Parkinson – – – – – 0.05 – – – 291 Bull – – – – – 0.05 – – – 292 Wilkins – – – – – 0.05 – – – 293 Morley – – – – – 0.05 – – – 294 Fuller – – – – – 0.05 – – – 295 Davey – – – – – 0.05 – – – 296 Skinner – – – – – 0.05 – – – 297 Cartwright – – – – – 0.05 – – – 298 Howe – – – – – 0.05 – – – 299 Bartlett – – – – – 0.05 – – – 300 Bryant – – – – – 0.05 – – 112 – Thomson – 0.10 – – – – –