NameCensus.

UK surname

Archard

A surname derived from a medieval personal name of French origin.

In the 1881 census there were 297 people recorded with the Archard surname, ranking it #9,792 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 343, ranked #13,368, down from #9,792 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Potterne and Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Garelochhead and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Archard is 433 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.5%.

1881 census count

297

Ranked #9,792

Modern count

343

2016, ranked #13,368

Peak year

1911

433 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Archard had 297 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,792 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016, ranked #13,368.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 433 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Archard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Archard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Archard 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 282 #8,013
1861 historical 310 #8,175
1881 historical 297 #9,792
1891 historical 389 #9,085
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 433 #8,762
1997 modern 394 #11,129
1998 modern 409 #11,172
1999 modern 401 #11,422
2000 modern 403 #11,333
2001 modern 374 #11,805
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 355 #12,285
2004 modern 363 #12,131
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 347 #12,515
2007 modern 341 #12,840
2008 modern 346 #12,813
2009 modern 353 #12,894
2010 modern 374 #12,597
2011 modern 360 #12,832
2012 modern 361 #12,647
2013 modern 359 #12,917
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 343 #13,368

Geography

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Where Archards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Potterne, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington and Pewsham, Chippenham, Langley Burrell, Hardenhuish, Kington, Slaughterford, Biddestone St Nicholas an. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Garelochhead, Wiltshire, Derby and Winchester. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Potterne Wiltshire
4 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
5 Pewsham, Chippenham, Langley Burrell, Hardenhuish, Kington, Slaughterford, Biddestone St Nicholas an Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 008 Swindon
2 Garelochhead Argyll and Bute
3 Wiltshire 011 Wiltshire
4 Derby 017 Derby
5 Winchester 012 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Archard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Archard

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Archard is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Archard is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Archard falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Archard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Archard

The surname Archard has its roots in England, originating from the Old French word "archier," which means "archer" or "bowman." This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who practiced archery or worked as an archer, possibly in the military or as a hunter.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Archard can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset. It is believed that the name may have originated as a nickname or occupational surname during the Middle Ages.

In the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire, compiled in 1273, there is a reference to a "Thomas le Archer," which could be an early variant spelling of the name Archard. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327 mention a "John Attercherd," further indicating the evolution of the name's spelling over time.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Archard was William Archard (c. 1485-1559), an English clergyman and reformer during the Protestant Reformation. He served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1536 until his death in 1559.

Another individual of note was Sir Richard Archard (1588-1642), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire during the early 17th century.

In the 16th century, the name Archard was also associated with the village of Archard in Gloucestershire, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and this place name.

John Archard (1672-1747), an English clergyman and writer, was known for his works on theology and religious controversies during the early 18th century.

Thomas Archard (1788-1868), a British naval officer, achieved the rank of Admiral in the Royal Navy and played a role in the suppression of the Atlantic slave trade during the 19th century.

Over the centuries, variations in the spelling of the surname Archard have emerged, including Archart, Atchart, and Archert, among others, reflecting the evolution of language and regional differences in pronunciation and record-keeping.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Archard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Archard 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. Wiltshire leads with 100 Archards recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.51x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 100 38.51x
Middlesex 32 1.09x
Berkshire 29 13.16x
Somerset 24 5.08x
Gloucestershire 20 3.47x
Surrey 14 0.98x
Hampshire 10 1.66x
Norfolk 10 2.22x
Cheshire 8 1.23x
Kent 8 0.80x
Lancashire 8 0.23x
Yorkshire 7 0.24x
Devon 6 0.98x
Glamorgan 6 1.17x
Warwickshire 5 0.68x
Isle of Man 4 7.34x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.69x
Derbyshire 2 0.44x
Essex 1 0.17x
Fife 1 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.25x
Staffordshire 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Calne in Wiltshire leads with 35 Archards recorded in 1881 and an index of 654.21x.

Place Total Index
Calne 35 654.21x
Bradford On Avon 24 288.81x
Chippenham 16 293.58x
Kensington London 16 9.80x
Bisley 12 229.89x
Reading St Mary 11 62.32x
Great Yarmouth 10 26.75x
Lyncombe Widcombe 10 80.84x
Reading St Lawrence 9 191.08x
Bray 8 123.46x
Lambeth 8 3.13x
Tranmere 8 33.59x
Battersea 6 5.55x
Hulme 6 8.25x
Langley Burrell 6 555.56x
Mile End Old Town London 6 9.60x
Otley 6 84.99x
Plymouth Charles The 6 22.29x
St John Near Swansea 6 94.94x
St Pancras London 6 2.54x
Woolwich 6 16.21x
Birmingham 5 2.03x
St Maurice Winchester 5 200.00x
Walcot 5 19.86x
Biddestone St Nicholas 4 975.61x
Braddan 4 134.23x
Kington Langley 4 701.75x
Portsea 4 3.39x
Bath St Peter St Paul 3 143.54x
Berkeley 3 93.75x
Hillmarton 3 468.75x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 3 163.93x
Derby St Peter 2 13.66x
Glastonbury 2 51.81x
Marlborough St Peter St 2 149.25x
Westbury On Trym 2 10.25x
Weston Super Mare 2 16.76x
Winslow 2 119.76x
Basford 1 5.48x
Boughton Aluph 1 175.44x
Brighton 1 1.00x
Cheltenham 1 2.25x
Cheriton 1 24.51x
Cirencester 1 12.82x
Cupar 1 13.23x
Haigh 1 82.64x
Hannington 1 312.50x
Hordle 1 95.24x
Melksham 1 22.17x
Monckton Combe 1 66.23x
Old Malton 1 54.64x
Paddington London 1 0.93x
Prestbury 1 69.93x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 1 24.04x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.93x
St Luke London 1 2.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.95x
Trowbridge 1 8.71x
Twerton 1 20.53x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 14.14x
Wallingford All Hallows 1 588.24x
West Derby 1 0.98x
West Ham 1 0.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 13
Emma 9
Annie 7
Eliza 7
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Florence 5
Fanny 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Amelia 3
Ann 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Emily 2
Emly 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Brejetta 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Clarance 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elemy 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Jessie 1
Lilian 1
Lillia 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 13
George 12
Charles 11
Thomas 9
Alfred 8
Edward 7
James 6
Albert 5
David 5
Henry 5
Edwin 4
Frederick 4
Ambrose 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Herbert 2
Nathaniel 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Charlie 1
Edwd. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
G.Howard 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Esaru 1

FAQ

Archard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Archard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 297 people were recorded with the Archard surname. That placed it at #9,792 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Archard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 343 in 2016. That gives Archard a modern rank of #13,368.

What does the Archard surname mean?

A surname derived from a medieval personal name of French origin.

What does the Archard map show?

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