The Surname Regions of Great Britain
James A. Cheshire; Paul A. Longley; Alex D. Singleton (2012). Journal of Maps, 6(1), 401-409. DOI: 10.4113/jom.2010.1103
Abstract
The British Population retains a strong sense of regional identity, epitomized by periodic campaigns for Scottish and Welsh devolution, or for Cornish self-government. There have been few studies into the regionalization of British surnames and none that utilize any register that can claim to be nationally representative. The National Social Map presented in this paper is the first comprehensive attempt to create a regional geography of Great Britain based upon the clustering of surnames. The resulting map illustrates a strong relationship between the populations surnames and geographic location. The homogeneity within each of the surname regions identified is striking given that spatial contiguity constraints were not included within the clustering process. The map will hopefully set a bench-mark for future work by geographers in the field of surname research.
Extended Summary
This research seeks to create the first comprehensive regional geography of Great Britain based on the clustering of surnames to examine patterns of population distribution and regional identity. The study utilised data from a 2001 Enhanced Electoral Register containing information on 45.6 million UK residents aged 17 or over. This dataset represents the largest nationally representative surname database ever analysed for British population geography. The methodology employed the Lasker Distance measure, which calculates surname similarity between geographical areas based on isonymy (sharing the same surname). Administrative districts were grouped using K-means clustering algorithms based on their surname composition, with 10,000 clustering runs completed to ensure optimal results. The analysis covered 378 administrative districts across Great Britain, with London boroughs aggregated into a single district due to their unique international surname mix. The research reveals striking regional patterns in surname distribution that closely correspond to geographical boundaries and historical settlement patterns. Scotland and Wales emerge as distinct surname regions with clear boundaries that closely match contemporary administrative borders. The Welsh surname region shows particular complexity, with a core Welsh area and peripheral regions extending into the West Midlands and North West England. South West England forms a separate distinct region, whilst areas like Birmingham and London cluster together, likely reflecting high concentrations of non-British surnames due to immigration patterns. The homogeneity within each surname region proves particularly significant given that spatial contiguity constraints were not included in the clustering process - areas naturally grouped together despite no requirement for geographical adjacency. This suggests deep-rooted historical population structures persist in contemporary Britain. The findings demonstrate that surname geography provides valuable insights into population mobility, genetic diversity, and cultural identity. Areas with high proportions of relatively few surnames indicate isolated populations with low mobility and limited inter-mixing, often explained by topographical or cultural barriers. The research has broader implications for understanding British social geography, demographic patterns, and regional identity. The surname regions identified could inform studies of genetic population structure, as surnames traditionally follow the male line and serve as proxies for genetic information. This work establishes a benchmark for future geographical research into surname patterns and provides a new framework for understanding regional population characteristics across Great Britain.
Key Findings
- Scotland and Wales form distinct surname regions with boundaries closely matching contemporary administrative borders.
- Surname clustering occurs naturally without spatial constraints, indicating deep-rooted historical population structures persist today.
- London and major cities cluster together due to high concentrations of international surnames from immigration.
- Welsh influence extends beyond Wales into peripheral regions including West Midlands and North West England.
- The study provides the first comprehensive national mapping of British surname geography using representative population data.
Citation
@article{cheshire2012surname,
author = {James A. Cheshire; Paul A. Longley; Alex D. Singleton},
title = {The Surname Regions of Great Britain},
journal = {Journal of Maps},
year = {2012},
volume = {6(1)},
pages = {401-409},
doi = {10.4113/jom.2010.1103}
}