NameCensus.

UK surname

Archer

An occupational surname referring to a person who shoots with a bow and arrow or makes bows.

In the 1881 census there were 12,355 people recorded with the Archer surname, ranking it #344 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,428, ranked #379, down from #344 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, County Durham and South Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Archer is 16,994 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

12,355

Ranked #344

Modern count

16,428

2016, ranked #379

Peak year

1999

16,994 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Archer had 12,355 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #344 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,428 in 2016, ranked #379.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16,336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Archer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Archer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Archer 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 8,059 #345
1861 historical 8,057 #342
1881 historical 12,355 #344
1891 historical 13,324 #328
1901 historical 15,277 #340
1911 historical 16,336 #296
1997 modern 16,363 #366
1998 modern 16,896 #368
1999 modern 16,994 #371
2000 modern 16,778 #373
2001 modern 16,360 #377
2002 modern 16,677 #377
2003 modern 16,297 #375
2004 modern 16,189 #376
2005 modern 15,909 #376
2006 modern 15,847 #378
2007 modern 15,949 #380
2008 modern 16,069 #379
2009 modern 16,448 #377
2010 modern 16,664 #382
2011 modern 16,486 #380
2012 modern 16,161 #380
2013 modern 16,589 #379
2014 modern 16,673 #379
2015 modern 16,535 #378
2016 modern 16,428 #379

Geography

Back to top

Where Archers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Lambeth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, County Durham, South Derbyshire and Northumberland. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 010 Derbyshire Dales
2 County Durham 046 County Durham
3 South Derbyshire 001 South Derbyshire
4 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
5 County Durham 032 County Durham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Archer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Archer

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Archer is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Archer 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

Archer falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Archer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Archer

The surname Archer originated in England during the medieval period. It derived from the Old English word 'arche', meaning 'one who uses a bow and arrow'. The name initially referred to a skilled archer or bowman, employed as a soldier or hunter.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Archer appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Several individuals with the name Archer were listed as landholders or tenants in various counties.

In the 12th century, the name Archer began to appear more frequently in historical records such as the Pipe Rolls, which were annual financial records maintained by the Exchequer. This suggests that by this time, the name had become established as a hereditary surname.

One notable early bearer of the name was Roger le Archer, who was recorded as a landowner in the county of Essex in 1210. Another early example is William Archer, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived during the reign of King Edward I (1272-1307).

The surname Archer is also associated with several place names in England, such as Archer's Court in Hampshire and Archer's Green in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Archer who owned or lived in these locations.

Among the famous individuals with the surname Archer throughout history are:

1. John Archer (c. 1598-1682), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1628. 2. Thomas Archer (1668-1743), an English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings, including St. John's College in Cambridge. 3. William Archer (1856-1924), a Scottish critic and playwright who played a significant role in introducing the works of Henrik Ibsen to English audiences. 4. Jeffrey Archer (born 1940), a British novelist, former politician, and convicted perjurer, best known for his novels including "Kane and Abel" and "The Prodigal Daughter". 5. Anne Archer (born 1947), an American actress known for her roles in films such as "Fatal Attraction" and "Patriot Games".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Archer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Archer 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. Middlesex leads with 1,804 Archers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.49x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,804 1.49x
Yorkshire 1,344 1.12x
Lancashire 755 0.53x
Surrey 724 1.23x
Staffordshire 666 1.63x
Warwickshire 660 2.17x
Essex 638 2.67x
Durham 444 1.24x
Kent 388 0.94x
Derbyshire 376 1.99x
Nottinghamshire 349 2.14x
Hertfordshire 312 3.75x
Suffolk 306 2.08x
Norfolk 250 1.35x
Northamptonshire 249 2.19x
Leicestershire 245 1.83x
Wiltshire 210 1.97x
Lincolnshire 200 1.04x
Gloucestershire 187 0.79x
Oxfordshire 175 2.35x
Worcestershire 163 1.03x
Northumberland 148 0.82x
Hampshire 145 0.59x
Buckinghamshire 141 1.93x
Angus 126 1.13x
Sussex 126 0.62x
Berkshire 118 1.30x
Lanarkshire 113 0.29x
Shropshire 109 1.04x
Cumberland 96 0.92x
Cheshire 95 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 90 1.18x
Midlothian 76 0.47x
Devon 67 0.27x
Herefordshire 58 1.17x
Somerset 46 0.24x
Isle of Man 40 1.78x
Fife 38 0.53x
Bedfordshire 29 0.46x
Dorset 29 0.37x
Glamorgan 29 0.14x
Perthshire 24 0.44x
Huntingdonshire 23 0.96x
Renfrewshire 23 0.25x
Westmorland 23 0.87x
Denbighshire 16 0.35x
Cornwall 12 0.09x
Selkirkshire 10 0.91x
Monmouthshire 9 0.10x
West Lothian 8 0.44x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 0.40x
Ayrshire 6 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.18x
Kincardineshire 6 0.41x
Argyllshire 5 0.15x
Brecknockshire 5 0.21x
Cardiganshire 5 0.17x
Radnorshire 5 0.51x
Royal Navy 5 0.35x
Stirlingshire 4 0.09x
Wigtownshire 4 0.25x
Channel Islands 3 0.08x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.04x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.01x
Berwickshire 1 0.07x
Buteshire 1 0.14x
Flintshire 1 0.03x
Morayshire 1 0.05x
Nairnshire 1 0.27x
Roxburghshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 202 Archers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.72x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 202 1.72x
Aston 167 1.99x
Birmingham 143 1.41x
Hackney London 125 1.85x
Bethnal Green London 118 2.25x
Lambeth 118 1.12x
Mile End Old Town London 110 4.28x
Camberwell 106 1.37x
Kensington London 100 1.49x
Nottingham St Mary 97 2.30x
Walsall Foreign 93 4.41x
Shoreditch London 79 1.51x
St Pancras London 76 0.78x
West Ham 76 1.44x
St Marylebone London 67 1.04x
Hammersmith London 64 2.15x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 64 14.96x
Newington 62 1.39x
Preston 60 1.56x
Gateshead 59 2.19x
Bermondsey 58 1.61x
Deptford St Paul 57 1.79x
Leeds 54 0.80x
Batley 53 4.66x
Marston Upon Dove 52 85.53x
Bromley London 51 1.92x
St George Hanover Square 51 2.40x
Dewsbury 50 4.07x
Alston 48 25.04x
Wheathampstead 48 49.87x
Dagenham 47 33.11x
Salford 47 1.11x
Enfield 45 5.68x
Dundee 44 1.05x
Stoke Upon Trent 44 1.02x
Chelsea London 43 1.18x
Hornsey 43 2.81x
Radford 43 5.20x
Wolverhampton 43 1.37x
Glasgow 42 0.61x
Halifax 42 2.39x
Croydon 41 1.25x
Penge 41 5.31x
Clerkenwell London 40 1.40x
Great Yarmouth 39 2.53x
Onchan 39 6.03x
St George In East London 39 3.43x
Plumstead 38 2.77x
Corsham 37 23.73x
Walthamstow 37 4.31x
Wednesbury 37 3.63x
Battersea 36 0.81x
Bishopwearmouth 35 1.13x
Holy Trinity 35 1.22x
Arnold 34 14.30x
Coventry Holy Trinity 34 3.74x
Everton 34 0.74x
Paddington London 34 0.77x
Tottenham 34 1.77x
Dawley 33 8.69x
Liverpool 33 0.38x
Southwark St George Martyr 33 1.36x
Darlington 32 2.31x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 32 0.49x
Greenwich 32 1.66x
Limehouse London 32 2.41x
Scarborough 32 2.94x
Bushey 31 15.63x
Wortley In Bramley 31 3.27x
Barony 30 0.30x
Saffron Walden 30 11.90x
Clapham 29 1.92x
Harpenden 29 22.83x
Manchester 29 0.45x
Tamworth 29 13.30x
Bishop Stortford 28 10.06x
Heckmondwike 28 7.27x
Horsham 28 7.08x
Isleworth 28 5.21x
Swayfield 28 267.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 721
Sarah 486
Elizabeth 454
Jane 236
Ann 215
Emma 201
Eliza 185
Alice 176
Annie 174
Ellen 145
Emily 140
Hannah 126
Margaret 112
Martha 111
Harriet 88
Louisa 84
Ada 78
Caroline 78
Edith 75
Florence 73
Charlotte 70
Fanny 60
Susan 57
Maria 54
Kate 53
Catherine 50
Lucy 47
Anne 45
Frances 45
Harriett 43
Agnes 41
Clara 39
Rose 37
Isabella 33
Sophia 31
Amy 30
Jessie 30
Julia 30
Amelia 28
Matilda 28
Rebecca 28
Susannah 28
Esther 27
Lizzie 25
Eleanor 24
Elizth. 24
Minnie 24
Lydia 20
Ethel 19
Ruth 19

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 735
John 683
Thomas 459
George 416
James 360
Henry 303
Charles 244
Joseph 218
Alfred 154
Robert 151
Frederick 127
Arthur 120
Richard 112
Samuel 111
Albert 99
Edward 95
Harry 76
Walter 64
Frank 60
Ernest 52
Herbert 49
David 44
Wm. 38
Fred 34
Francis 32
Benjamin 31
Edwin 31
Fredrick 27
Daniel 25
Thos. 24
Isaac 21
Geo. 18
Chas. 15
Tom 15
Fredk. 13
Edmund 12
Percy 12
Willm. 12
Enoch 11
Jesse 11
Joshua 11
Mark 11
Sidney 11
Abraham 10
Amos 10
Matthew 10
Peter 10
Robt. 10
Christopher 9
Edgar 9

FAQ

Archer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Archer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,355 people were recorded with the Archer surname. That placed it at #344 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Archer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,428 in 2016. That gives Archer a modern rank of #379.

What does the Archer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who shoots with a bow and arrow or makes bows.

What does the Archer map show?

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