NameCensus.

UK surname

Achilles

A Greek surname derived from the mythological hero, indicating a person's strength, skill, or bravery.

In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Achilles surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 103, ranked #30,515, up from #30,609 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Halton, Plymouth and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Achilles is 114 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 390.5%.

1881 census count

21

Ranked #30,609

Modern count

103

2016, ranked #30,515

Peak year

2011

114 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Achilles had 21 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,609 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016, ranked #30,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Achilles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Achilles surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Achilles 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1881 historical 21 #30,609
1891 historical 27 #32,115
1901 historical 36 #30,099
1911 historical 34 #29,600
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 80 #29,966
1999 modern 86 #29,496
2000 modern 86 #29,484
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 94 #28,896
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 105 #27,868
2008 modern 110 #27,391
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 105 #30,092
2016 modern 103 #30,515

Geography

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Where Achilles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Halton, Plymouth and Doncaster. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Halton 012 Halton
2 Halton 010 Halton
3 Plymouth 016 Plymouth
4 Doncaster 026 Doncaster
5 Plymouth 029 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Achilles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Achilles

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Achilles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Achilles household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Achilles is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Achilles is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Achilles 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 Achilles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Achilles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Achilles

The surname Achilles derives its origins from ancient Greece, tracing back to the renowned hero Achilles from Homer's epic poem, the Iliad. This name was initially used as a personal name in Greek mythology, associated with the legendary warrior and central figure in the Trojan War.

The name Achilles is believed to have entered the realm of surnames during the Middle Ages, particularly in regions with strong ties to Greek culture and literature. It was likely adopted as a surname by individuals or families who sought to establish a connection with the heroic figure from ancient tales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Achilles can be found in medieval manuscripts and chronicles from the Byzantine Empire, where the name was occasionally used as a surname among the Greek nobility and scholarly circles.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing this surname was Petros Achilles, a Greek scholar and philosopher who resided in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He authored several treatises on philosophy and was renowned for his expertise in ancient Greek literature.

During the Renaissance period, the surname Achilles gained popularity among humanist scholars and intellectuals who revered classical Greek and Roman literature. Notably, Paulus Achilles, a German poet and humanist born in 1480, adopted this surname as a tribute to the legendary hero.

Another prominent individual with the surname Achilles was Johann Achilles, a German astronomer and mathematician born in 1551. He made significant contributions to the field of astronomy and is credited with improving the accuracy of planetary tables.

In the 18th century, a French military officer named Louis Achilles gained recognition for his service during the Napoleonic Wars. He rose through the ranks and was awarded several honors for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

While the surname Achilles has been relatively uncommon throughout history, it has carried a symbolic connection to the virtues of courage, strength, and heroism associated with the legendary Greek figure. The name has persisted as a reminder of the enduring influence of ancient Greek mythology and literature on Western culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Achilles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Achilles 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. Hampshire leads with 8 Achilles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.06x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 8 19.06x
Middlesex 6 2.93x
Somerset 5 15.17x
Gloucestershire 1 2.49x
Yorkshire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Millbrook in Hampshire leads with 7 Achilles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 660.38x.

Place Total Index
Millbrook 7 660.38x
Huntspill 5 3846.15x
Westminster St James 5 236.97x
Holdenhurst 1 90.91x
Leeds 1 8.73x
St Marylebone London 1 9.15x
Tetbury 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Cecilia 1
Eliza 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Mabel 1
Marie 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Sarah 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
Albert 1
Chas 1
Gustav 1
Heinrich 1
Henrich 1
Ian 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Achilles households.

FAQ

Achilles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Achilles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Achilles surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Achilles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 103 in 2016. That gives Achilles a modern rank of #30,515.

What does the Achilles surname mean?

A Greek surname derived from the mythological hero, indicating a person's strength, skill, or bravery.

What does the Achilles map show?

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