NameCensus.

UK surname

Argent

A surname meaning "silver" in French.

In the 1881 census there were 1,418 people recorded with the Argent surname, ranking it #2,929 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,771, ranked #3,550, down from #2,929 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Isleworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Maldon and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Argent is 1,950 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.9%.

1881 census count

1,418

Ranked #2,929

Modern count

1,771

2016, ranked #3,550

Peak year

1999

1,950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Argent had 1,418 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,929 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,771 in 2016, ranked #3,550.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,936 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Argent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Argent surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Argent 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 943 #2,943
1861 historical 840 #3,285
1881 historical 1,418 #2,929
1891 historical 1,626 #2,754
1901 historical 1,831 #2,873
1911 historical 1,936 #2,565
1997 modern 1,901 #3,174
1998 modern 1,941 #3,231
1999 modern 1,950 #3,247
2000 modern 1,939 #3,246
2001 modern 1,881 #3,265
2002 modern 1,910 #3,298
2003 modern 1,840 #3,332
2004 modern 1,885 #3,258
2005 modern 1,826 #3,322
2006 modern 1,817 #3,342
2007 modern 1,826 #3,360
2008 modern 1,815 #3,410
2009 modern 1,863 #3,409
2010 modern 1,869 #3,462
2011 modern 1,837 #3,471
2012 modern 1,791 #3,496
2013 modern 1,820 #3,502
2014 modern 1,845 #3,484
2015 modern 1,813 #3,504
2016 modern 1,771 #3,550

Geography

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Where Argents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Isleworth, London parishes, Haverhill, Little Wratting 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 Braintree, Maldon and Halton. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Isleworth Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Haverhill, Little Wratting Suffolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 001 Braintree
2 Maldon 008 Maldon
3 Halton 006 Halton
4 Halton 003 Halton
5 Braintree 004 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Argent

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Argent

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Argent is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Argent 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

Argent falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Argent 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 Argent, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Argent

The surname Argent is of French origin, deriving from the Old French word "argent," meaning "silver." This name likely emerged during the medieval period, potentially referring to a person who worked with silver, such as a silversmith or a moneyer.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Argent can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions an individual named Robertus Argent, who held lands in Oxfordshire, England.

In the 13th century, records show the name Argent appearing in various forms, including "Argenton" and "Argentoun." These variations may have been influenced by the French town of Argenton-sur-Creuse or derived from the Latin word "argentum," also meaning "silver."

During the Renaissance period, several notable individuals bore the surname Argent. One such figure was Sir William Argent (c. 1505-1568), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1567-1568.

Another prominent figure was Bartholomew Argent (c. 1570-1640), an English poet and playwright who authored several works, including the play "The Wowers Well Met" in 1615.

In the 17th century, the name Argent was associated with various place names in England, such as Argent's Hill in Hampshire and Argent's Green in Hertfordshire. These locations may have been named after individuals bearing the Argent surname or related to their occupations or properties.

Later in history, Sir John Argent (1744-1821) was a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolutionary Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his service.

Another notable figure was Charles Argent (1856-1924), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Leysian Mission in East London and the former London Coliseum Theatre.

These are just a few examples of individuals who bore the surname Argent throughout history, demonstrating its longevity and widespread use across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Argent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Argent 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. Essex leads with 434 Argents recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.84x.

County Total Index
Essex 434 15.84x
Middlesex 417 3.00x
Suffolk 143 8.46x
Surrey 125 1.85x
Kent 59 1.25x
Cambridgeshire 48 5.46x
Sussex 31 1.32x
Yorkshire 31 0.23x
Lancashire 27 0.16x
Glamorgan 21 0.87x
Hertfordshire 15 1.57x
Hampshire 9 0.32x
Derbyshire 8 0.37x
Durham 8 0.19x
Staffordshire 8 0.17x
Warwickshire 7 0.20x
Leicestershire 6 0.39x
Worcestershire 5 0.28x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.45x
Royal Navy 4 2.42x
Cheshire 2 0.07x
Cornwall 2 0.13x
Dorset 2 0.22x
Norfolk 2 0.09x
Devon 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.27x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 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. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 47 Argents recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.81x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 47 7.81x
Islington London 45 3.34x
Isleworth 37 59.96x
West Ham 37 6.12x
Hackney London 35 4.50x
Mile End Old Town London 33 11.17x
Halstead 32 100.13x
Haverhill 31 206.39x
Bethnal Green London 26 4.31x
Camberwell 24 2.71x
Toppesfield 24 586.80x
Little Burstead 22 2315.79x
Reigate Foreign 22 30.04x
Bromley London 19 6.22x
Whittlesey St Mary St 19 61.87x
Bury St Edmunds St James 18 39.86x
Cavendish 18 329.67x
Barking 17 21.20x
Great Maplestead 17 904.26x
Battersea 16 3.13x
Boreham 16 338.27x
Swansea Town 16 8.07x
Glemsford 15 126.37x
St Pancras London 15 1.34x
Bow London 14 7.92x
Clerkenwell London 14 4.27x
Waltham Holy Cross 14 54.67x
Tillingham 12 248.45x
East Grinstead 11 33.20x
St George Hanover Square 11 4.50x
Steeple Bumpstead 11 219.12x
Wanstead 11 22.92x
Westminster St John 11 6.51x
Hornsey 10 5.70x
Lambeth 10 0.83x
Burnham 9 88.93x
Horsham 9 19.80x
St Luke London 9 4.04x
Stoke Newington London 9 8.32x
West Bergholt 9 175.78x
Bermondsey 8 1.94x
Chedburgh 8 661.16x
Croydon 8 2.13x
Hampstead London 8 3.70x
High Ongar 8 158.42x
Hints 8 784.31x
Little Maplestead 8 645.16x
Sittingbourne 8 21.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.86x
Wickhambrook 8 125.98x
Widnes 8 6.73x
Belchamp Walter 7 238.91x
Colchester St Martin 7 139.72x
Colne Engaine 7 282.26x
Cowlinge 7 216.72x
Derby St Werburgh 7 5.58x
East Hanningfield 7 364.58x
Newmarket All Sts 7 107.86x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 18.81x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 6 4.68x
Bishop Auckland 6 10.83x
Carlton 6 372.67x
Everton 6 1.14x
Felstead 6 63.90x
Goldhanger 6 253.16x
Great Wratting 6 322.58x
Haverhill 6 240.96x
Hockley 6 202.02x
Ingatestone 6 136.36x
Leyton Low 6 10.77x
Mile End New Town London 6 21.87x
Minster In Sheppey 6 7.65x
Shenfield 6 84.39x
St George In East London 6 4.60x
Whitechapel London 6 4.39x
Woolwich 6 3.43x
Kirkdale 5 1.80x
Leyton 5 10.59x
Southwark Christchurch 5 7.69x
St Andrewthe Less 5 4.98x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 97
John 68
George 52
Henry 47
Charles 39
Thomas 35
James 33
Edward 24
Alfred 23
Arthur 23
Joseph 20
Walter 20
Frederick 18
Albert 13
Harry 13
Robert 10
Samuel 10
Wm. 7
Benjamin 6
Ernest 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Stephen 5
Abraham 4
Daniel 4
Geo. 4
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Reuben 4
Richard 4
Martin 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Ambrose 2
C. 2
Fred 2
Horace 2
Jesse 2
Mark 2
Nicholas 2
Philip 2
Rowland 2
W. 2
Willm. 2
Augustus 1
Edmd. 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
Harrey 1

FAQ

Argent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Argent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,418 people were recorded with the Argent surname. That placed it at #2,929 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Argent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,771 in 2016. That gives Argent a modern rank of #3,550.

What does the Argent surname mean?

A surname meaning "silver" in French.

What does the Argent map show?

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