West Surrey Family History Society

Surrey Parishes with a list of Neighbouring Parishes
by Cliff Webb

One of the things we rapidly learn as family historians is that few families remained rooted to the soil of one parish for any great length of time. Instead they moved quite frequently. Sometimes such movements, especially into London or other big industrial towns, were over long distances, but it is much more common to find movements over just a few miles. Usually, however, even these small-scale migrations took our ancestors into a different parish, and often into another county. Neither sort of administrative boundary provided any barrier, even at the time when the old Poor Law system acted with most rigour.

To help trace local movements, and to plan parish register searches, this guide provides a list of all Surrey parishes except those transferred to the County of London in 1889. For each it lists all other parishes, whether in Surrey or not, which are touching, even if the contact is only at a point. These contiguous or adjacent parishes are the obvious first search points for a family who disappear from the central parish, whether the searcher is working backwards as is usual or forwards. It can be difficult to arrange such checks in an ordered manner when working from parish maps, particularly if a county boundary is involved. But this guide is cheap enough to write on as you work, and replace before the next search.

The list of contiguous parishes starts with the one due north of the northernmost ' point of the parish in question, and then goes clockwise. This approach was suggested by Peter Cleaver.

Searchers may be interested to note that the average Surrey parish touches 6.6 others. The parishes touching fewest others are Thorpe and Guildford Holy Trinity, both three; the one touching most others is Kingston, with fifteen neighbours.

ABINGER: East Horsley, Effingham, Wotton, Ockley, Okewood, Rudgwick (Sussex), Ewhurst, Shere, West Horsley

ADDINGTON: Beckenham (Kent), West Wickham (Kent), Cudham (Kent), Chelsham, Farleigh, Croydon, Sanderstead

ALBURY: West Clandon, East Clandon, Shere, Cranleigh, Wonersh, Alfold, St Martha's, Merrow

ALFOLD: Hascombe, Cranleigh, Albury, Wisborough Green (Sussex), Kirdford (Sussex), Dunsfold, Bramley

ASH AND FRIMLEY: Winkfield (Berkshire), Windlesham, Chobham, Pirbright, Worplesdon, Wanborough, Seale, Aldershot (Hampshire), Farnborough (Hampshire), Yateley (Hampshire), Sandhurst (Berkshire), Asthampstead (Berkshire)

ASHTEAD: Chessington, Maiden, Epsom, Walton on the Hill, Headley, Leatherhead, Stoke D'Abernon

BANSTEAD: Cheam, Sutton, Carshalton, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood (in Ewell), Reigate, Buckland, Walton on the Hill, Epsom, Ewell, Cuddington

BARNES: Hammersmith (Middlesex), Fulham (Middlesex), Putney, Mortlake, Chiswick (Middlesex)

BEDDINGTON: Mitcham, Croydon, Coulsdon, Woodmansterne, Carshalton

BETCHWORTH: Headley, Walton on the Hill, Buckland, Reigate, Leigh, Capel, Dorking, Mickleham

BISLEY: Chobham, Horsell, Woking, Pirbright

BLETCHINGLEY: Chaldon, Caterham, Godstone, Home, Burstow, Horley, Nutfield, Merstham

BOOKHAM (GREAT): Stoke D'Abernon, Fetcham, Mickleham, Dorking, Little Bookham

BOOKHAM (LITTLE): Stoke D'Abernon, Great Bookham, Dorking, Wotton, Effingham, Cobham

BRAMLEY: Shalford, Wonersh, Cranleigh, Hascombe, Dunsfold, Godalming

BUCKLAND: Walton on the Hill, Banstead, Reigate, Betchworth

BURSTOW: Bletchingley, Horne, Worth (Sussex), Horley, Nutfield

BYFLEET: Chertsey, Weybridge, Walton on Thames, Wisley, Pyrford

CAPEL: Dorking, Betchworth, Leigh, Newdigate, Rusper (Sussex), Ockley, Wotton

CARSHALTON: Morden, Mitcham, Beddington, Woodmansterne, Banstead, Sutton

CATERHAM: Coulsdon, Warlingham, Tandridge, Godstone, Bletchingley, Chaldon

CHALDON: Coulsdon, Caterham, Bletchingley, Merstham

CHARLWOOD: Horley, Worth (Sussex), Crawley (Sussex), Ifield (Sussex), Newdigate, Leigh

CHEAM: Morden, Sutton, Banstead, Cuddington, Malden

CHELSHAM: Farleigh, Addington, West Wickham (Kent), Cudham (Kent), Titsey, Woldingham, Godstone, Warlingham

CHERTSEY: Thorpe, Staines (Middlesex), Laleham (Middlesex), Littleton (Middlesex), Shepperton (Middlesex), Weybridge, Byfleet, Pyrford, Woking, Horsell, Chobham, Egham

CHESSINGTON: Kingston, Tolworth (in Long Ditton), Ewell, Epsom, Maiden, Leatherhead, Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham

CHIDDINGFOLD: Godalming, Hambledon, Hascombe, Dunsfold, Kirdford (Sussex), North Chapel (Sussex), Lurgashall (Sussex), Steep (Sussex), Fernhurst (Sussex), Haslemere, Witley, Thursley

CHIPSTEAD: Banstead, Woodmansterne, Coulsdon, Merstham, Gatton, Kingswood (in Ewell)

CHOBHAM: Egham, Chertsey, Horsell, Bisley, Pirbright, Frimley, Windlesham

CLANDON (EAST): Send, West Horsley, Shere, Albury, West Clandon

CLANDON (WEST): Send, East Clandon, Albury, Merrow

COBHAM: Esher, Thames Ditton, Kingston, Chessington, Stoke D'Abernon Little Bookham, Effingham, East Horsley, Ockham, Wisley, Walton on Thames

COMPTON: Worplesdon, St Nicolas Guildford, Godalming, Puttenham, Wanborough

COULSDON: Croydon, Sanderstead, Warlingham, Caterham, Chaldon, Merstham, Chipstead, Woodmansterne, Beddington

CRANLEIGH: Shere, Ewhurst, Rudgwick (Sussex), Wisborough Green (Sussex), Alfold, Albury, Hascombe, Bramley, Wonersh

CROWHURST: Oxted, Limpsfield, Lingfleld, Tandridge

CROYDON: Lambeth, Camberwell, Penge (in Battersea), Beckenham (Kent), Addington, Farleigh, Warlingham, Sanderstead, Coulsdon, Beddington, Mitcham, Streatham

CUDDINGTON: Malden, Cheam, Banstead, Ewell, Kingston, Long Ditton

DITTON (LONG): Hampton (Middlesex), Kingston, Malden, Cuddington, Ewell, Chessington, Thames Ditton

DITTON (THAMES): Hampton (Middlesex), Long Ditton, Kingston, Cobham, Esher, East Molesey

DORKING: Mickleham, Betchworth, Leigh, Capel, Wotton, Little Bookham, Great Bookham

DUNSFOLD: Hascombe, Bramley, Alfold, Kirdford (Sussex), Chiddingfold, Godalming

EFFINGHAM: Cobham, Little Bookham, Wotton, Abinger, East Horsley

EGHAM: Wraysbury (Buckinghamshire), Staines (Middlesex), Thorpe, Chertsey, Chobham, Windlesham, Old Windsor (Berkshire)

ELSTEAD: Seale, Puttenham, Godalming, Peper Harow, Thursley, Frensham, Farnham

EPSOM: Ewell, Banstead, Walton on the Hill, Ashtead, Malden, Chessington

ESHER: East Molesey, Thames Ditton, Cobham, Walton on Thames

EWELL: Long Ditton, Cuddington, Banstead, Chipstead, Gatton, Reigate, Epsom, Chessington

EWHURST: Shere, Ockley, Abinger, Rudgwick (Sussex), Cranleigh

FARLEIGH: Addington, Chelsham, Warlingham, Croydon

FARNHAM: Aldershot (Hampshire), Seale, Waverley (extra-parochial), Elstead, Frensham, Binstead (Hampshire), Bentley (Hampshire), Crondall (Hampshire)

FETCHAM: Stoke D'Abernon, Leatherhead, Mickleham, Great Bookham

FRENSHAM: Farnham, Elstead, Thursley, Haslemere, Bramshott (Hampshire), Headley (Hampshire), Kingsley (Hampshire), Binstead (Hampshire)

FRIMLEY: See Ash and Frimley

GATTON: Chipstead, Merstham, Nutfield, Reigate, Kingswood (in Ewell)

GODALMING: Compton, St Nicolas Guildford, Shalford, Bramley, Hascombe, Dunsfold, Chiddingfold, Hambledon, Witley, Peper Harow, Puttenham

GODSTONE: Chelsham, Woldingham, Oxted, Tandridge, East Grinstead (Sussex), Worth (Sussex), Horne, Bletchingley, Caterham, Warlingham

GUILDFORD HOLY TRINITY: Stoke next Guildford, Shalford, St Mary Guildford

GUILDFORD St MARY: Stoke next Guildford, Holy Trinity Guildford, Shalford, St Nicolas Guildford

GUILDFORD St NICOLAS: Stoke next Guildford, St Mary Guildford, Shalford, Godalming, Compton, Worplesdon

HAMBLEDON: Godalming, Bramley, Hascombe, Chiddingfold

HASCOMBE: Bramley, Cranleigh, Alfold, Dunsfold, Godalming, Hambledon

HASLEMERE: Witley, Chiddingfold, Steep (Sussex), Fernhurst (Sussex), Linchmore (Sussex), Frensham, Thursley

HEADLEY: Ashstead, Walton on the Hill, Betchworth, Mickleham, Leatherhead

HORLEY: Reigate, Nutfield, Bletchingley, Horne, Burstow, Worth (Sussex), Charlwood, Newdigate, Leigh, Buckland

HORNE: Bletchingley, Godstone, Tandridge, East Grinstead (Sussex), Worth (Sussex), Burstow, Horley, Nutfield

HORSELL: Chobham, Chertsey, Pyrford, Woking, Bisley

HORSLEY (EAST): Cobham, Effingham, Abinger, Shere, West Horsley, Wisley, Ockham

HORSLEY (WEST): Ockham, Wisley, East Horsley, Abinger, Shere, East Clandon, Send

KEW: Hanwell and Brentford (Middlesex), Ealing (Middlesex), Chiswick (Middlesex), Mortlake, Richmond

KINGSTON: Petersham, Mortlake, Putney, Wimbledon, Merton, Maiden, Cuddington, Long Ditton, Chessington, Stoke D'Abernon, Cobham, Thames Ditton, Hampton (Middlesex), Teddington (Middlesex), Twickenham (Middlesex)

LEATHERHEAD: Stoke D'Abernon, Chessington, Malden, Ashtead, Headley, Mickleham, Fetcham

LEIGH: Reigate, Buckland, Horley, Charlwood, Newdigate, Capel, Dorking, Betchworth

LIMPSFIELD: Titsey, Tatsfield, Westerham (Kent), Edenbridge (Kent), Lingfield, Crowhurst, Oxted, Woldingham

LINGFIELD: Crowhurst, Limpsfield, Edenbridge (Kent), Cowden (Kent), East Grinstead (Sussex), Tandridge

MALDEN: Kingston, Merton, Morden, Cheam, Cuddington, Epsom, Chessington, Ashtead, Leatherhead, Stoke D'Abernon

MERROW: Send, West Clandon, Albury, St Martha's, Stoke next Guildford, Woking

MERSTHAM: Coulsdon, Chaldon, Bletchingley, Nutfield, Gatton, Chipstead

MERTON: Wimbledon, Mitcham, Morden, Maiden, Kingston

MICKLEHAM: Leatherhead, Headley, Betchworth, Dorking, Great Bookham, Fetcham

MITCHAM: Tooting Graveney, Streatham, Croydon, Beddington, Carshalton, Morden, Merton, Wimbledon

MOLESEY (EAST): Hampton (Middlesex), Thames Ditton, Esher, Walton on Thames, West Molesey

MOLESEY (WEST): Sunbury (Middlesex), Hampton (Middlesex), East Molesey, Walton on Thames

MORDEN: Merton, Mitcham, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam, Malden

MORTLAKE: Chiswick (Middlesex), Barnes, Putney, Kingston, Petersham, Richmond, Kew

NEWDIGATE: Leigh, Horley, Charlwood, Ifield (Sussex), Rusper (Sussex), Capel

NUTFIELD: Merstham, Bletchingley, Burstow, Horne, Horley, Reigate, Gatton

OCKHAM: Wisley, Cobham, East Horsley, West Horsley, Send, Pyrford

OCKLEY: Capel, Rusper (Sussex), Warnham (Sussex), Abinger, Wotton, Ewhurst, Shere

OXTED: Limpsfield, Crowhurst, Tandridge, Godstone, Warlingham

PEPER HAROW: Godalming, Witley, Thursley, Elstead

PETERSHAM: Richmond, Mortlake, Kingston, Twickenham (Middlesex)

PIRBRIGHT: Chobham, Bisley, Woking, Worplesdon, Ash

PUTNEY: Barnes, Fulham (Middlesex), Wandsworth, Wimbledon, Kingston upon Thames, Mortlake

PUTTENHAM: Wanborough, Compton, Godalming, Elstead, Seale

PYRFORD: Byfleet, Wisley, Ockham, Send, Woking, Horsell, Chertsey

REIGATE: Kingswood (in Ewell), Gatton, Nutfield, Horley, Buckland, Leigh, Betchworth, Walton on the Hill, Banstead

RICHMOND: Chiswick (Middlesex), Mortlake, Petersham, Twickenham (Middlesex), Isleworth (Middlesex), Hanwell and Brentford (Middlesex), Ealing (Middlesex)

RIPLEY: See Send and Ripley

ST MARTHA'S: Merrow, Albury, Shere, Wonersh, Shalford, Stoke next Guildford

SANDERSTEAD: Croydon, Addington, Warlingham, Coulsdon

SEALE: Ash, Wanborough, Puttenham, Elstead, Farnham

SEND & RIPLEY: Pyrford, Ockham, West Horsley, East Clandon, West Clandon, Merrow, Worplesdon, Woking

SHALFORD: Holy Trinity Guildford, Stoke next Guildford, St Martha's, Wonersh, Bramley, Godalming, St Nicolas Guildford, St Mary Guildford

SHERE: West Horsley, East Horsley, Abinger, Ockley, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Albury, St Martha's, East Clandon

STOKE D'ABERNON: Cobham, Kingston, Chessington, Maiden, Leatherhead, Fetcham, Great Bookham, Little Bookham

STOKE NEXT GUILDFORD: Worplesdon, Marrow, St Martha's, Shalford, Holy Trinity Guildford, St Mary Guildford, St Nicolas Guildford

SUTTON: Morden, Carshalton, Banstead, Cheam

TANDRIDGE: Godstone, Oxted, Crowhurst, Lingfield, East Grinstead (Sussex), Caterham, Warlingham

TATSFIELD: Cudham (Kent), Westerham (Kent), Limpsfield, Titsey

THORPE: Egham, Staines (Middlesex), Chertsey

THURSLEY: Peper Harow, Witley, Chiddingfold, Haslemere, Frensham, Elstead

TITSEY: Cudham (Kent), Tatsfield, Limpsfield, Woldingham, Chelsham

WALTON ON THE HILL: Epsom, Banstead, Reigate, Buckland, Betchworth, Headley, Ashtead

WALTON ON THAMES: Sunbury (Middlesex), West Molesey, East Molesey, Esher, Cobham, Wisley, Byfleet, Weybridge, Shepperton (Middlesex)

WANBOROUGH: Frimley, Worplesdon, Compton, Puttenham, Seale, Ash

WARLINGHAM: Sanderstead, Croydon, Farleigh, Chelsham, Godstone, Tandridge, Caterham, Coulsdon

WEYBRIDGE: Shepperton (Middlesex), Walton on Thames, Byfleet, Chertsey

WIMBLEDON: Wandsworth, Streatham, Tooting Graveney, Mitcham, Merton, Kingston, Putney

WINDLESHAM: Old Windsor (Berkshire), Egham, Chobham, Frimley, Asthampstead (Berkshire), Winkfield (Berkshire)

WISLEY: Byfleet, Walton on Thames, Cobham, Ockham, West Horsley, East Horsley, Pyrford

WITLEY: Peper Harow, Godalming, Chiddingfold, Haslemere, Thursley

WOKING: Horsell, Chertsey, Pyrford, Send, Worplesdon, Pirbright, Bisley

WOLDINGHAM: Chelsham, Titsey, Limpsfield, Oxted, Godstone

WONERSH: St Martha's, Albury, Ewhurst, Cranleigh, Bramley, Shalford

WOODMANSTERNE: Carshalton, Beddington, Coulsdon, Chipstead, Banstead

WORPLESDON: Woking, Stoke next Guildford, St Nicolas Guildford, Compton, Wanborough, Ash, Pirbright

WOTTON: Effingham, Little Bookham, Dorking, Capel, Ockley, Abinger

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