NameCensus.

UK surname

Armfield

A locational surname derived from placenames like Armefeld or Armfield, likely referring to someone who lived by an open field.

In the 1881 census there were 413 people recorded with the Armfield surname, ranking it #7,794 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 308, ranked #14,479, down from #7,794 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Glossop and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Tameside and Stratford-on-Avon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Armfield is 458 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.4%.

1881 census count

413

Ranked #7,794

Modern count

308

2016, ranked #14,479

Peak year

1911

458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Armfield had 413 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,794 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016, ranked #14,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 458 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Armfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Armfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Armfield 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 273 #9,134
1881 historical 413 #7,794
1891 historical 381 #9,213
1901 historical 374 #9,930
1911 historical 458 #8,376
1997 modern 311 #13,217
1998 modern 307 #13,690
1999 modern 308 #13,722
2000 modern 293 #14,141
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 285 #14,483
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 277 #14,667
2007 modern 280 #14,694
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 289 #14,809
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 300 #14,591
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 299 #14,780
2014 modern 310 #14,499
2015 modern 314 #14,275
2016 modern 308 #14,479

Geography

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Where Armfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Glossop, London parishes, Doncaster and Mottram-in-Longdendale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Tameside, Stratford-on-Avon, Burnley and Birmingham. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 004 Copeland
2 Tameside 001 Tameside
3 Stratford-on-Avon 011 Stratford-on-Avon
4 Burnley 010 Burnley
5 Birmingham 003 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Armfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Armfield

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Armfield is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Armfield is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Armfield falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Armfield

The surname ARMFIELD is of English origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is composed of two elements: "arm" meaning "arm" or "brahium" in Old English, and "feld" meaning "field" or "open land."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ARMFIELD can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, dated 1273, where it appears as "Ermfeld." This suggests that the name may have originated in the county of Bedfordshire or a nearby region.

The ARMFIELD surname is also closely associated with the region of Lancashire, particularly in the area around Blackburn. In the 16th century, records show several ARMFIELD families living in and around the town of Blackburn, suggesting that the name may have been well-established in that area.

In the Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the surname ARMFIELD, but there are mentions of places with similar names, such as "Ermefield" in Hampshire and "Ermefeld" in Worcestershire, which may have been the original locations from which the surname derived.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ARMFIELD was John Armfield, who was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, around 1580. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.

Another notable figure was Sir William Armfield (1604-1672), a wealthy English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lancashire in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, Robert Armfield (1726-1802) was a successful merchant and shipowner based in Liverpool, known for his involvement in the transatlantic trade.

The 19th century saw the rise of Joseph Armfield (1815-1895), a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Armfield Engineering Company in Ringley, Lancashire.

Finally, one of the most famous individuals with the surname ARMFIELD was Sir Walter Armfield (1837-1912), a celebrated English architect who designed many notable buildings, including the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Armfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Armfield 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. Cheshire leads with 77 Armfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.68x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 77 8.68x
Lancashire 68 1.43x
Yorkshire 61 1.53x
Warwickshire 57 5.62x
Middlesex 54 1.34x
Surrey 37 1.89x
Kent 16 1.17x
Derbyshire 14 2.23x
Essex 8 1.01x
Staffordshire 7 0.52x
Glamorgan 4 0.57x
Lincolnshire 4 0.62x
Hampshire 2 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.41x
Cumberland 1 0.29x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hyde in Cheshire leads with 34 Armfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.87x.

Place Total Index
Hyde 34 129.87x
Birmingham 29 8.59x
Ashton Under Lyne 25 23.99x
Aston 22 7.88x
Saddleworth 19 61.85x
Bermondsey 13 10.87x
Kensington London 13 5.82x
Barnsley 11 26.78x
Dukinfield 10 24.40x
Ardsley 8 174.29x
Blackburn 8 6.31x
Deptford St Paul 8 7.56x
Heaton Norris 8 29.48x
Plumstead 7 15.31x
Ruswarp 7 158.01x
Shoreditch London 7 4.02x
Stockport 7 15.33x
Battersea 6 4.06x
Camberwell 6 2.34x
Castleton 6 12.60x
Colne Engaine 6 833.33x
Doncaster 6 20.62x
Mile End Old Town London 6 7.01x
Newton In Ashton Under 6 68.57x
St Giles In Fields London 6 30.43x
Ludworth 5 168.92x
Manchester 5 2.33x
Marple 5 82.10x
Newton 5 362.32x
St Anne Soho London 5 21.79x
Croydon 4 3.68x
Dalton In Furness 4 21.73x
Great Grimsby 4 9.81x
Penarth 4 58.48x
Sheffield 4 3.15x
St George Hanover Square 4 5.65x
Tideswell 4 146.52x
Ardwick 3 6.97x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 3.70x
Edgbaston 3 9.55x
Islington London 3 0.77x
Mitcham 3 24.23x
Rotherhithe 3 6.04x
St Luke London 3 4.65x
Tottenham 3 4.69x
West Bromwich 3 3.86x
Bollington In 2 25.32x
Elton 2 12.14x
Glossop Dale 2 6.79x
Handsworth 2 5.98x
Hollingworth 2 54.64x
Leamington Priors 2 8.02x
Macclesfield 2 5.07x
Poynton 2 67.11x
Ringwood 2 37.95x
Walsall Borough 2 18.99x
Wanstead 2 14.40x
Aldingham 1 62.89x
Ashover 1 31.95x
Burrow With Burrow 1 344.83x
Cheltenham 1 1.64x
Chester St John Baptist 1 6.27x
Chinley Bugsworth 1 60.61x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.32x
Grandborough 1 169.49x
Halton 1 99.01x
Hampton London 1 15.13x
Hathersage 1 56.82x
Hulme 1 1.00x
Kimberworth 1 4.52x
Lambeth 1 0.29x
Monk Bretton 1 24.81x
Newington 1 0.67x
North Meols 1 2.14x
Paddington London 1 0.68x
Rainow 1 56.50x
Salford 1 0.71x
St George In East London 1 2.65x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 10.33x
Worsbrough 1 8.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 17
Emma 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Hannah 7
Florence 6
Jane 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Amelia 4
Annie 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Emily 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Julia 3
Maud 3
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Marion 2
Nellie 2
Annice 1
Betty 1
Charlot 1
Ester 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Floretta 1
Frances 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Jeanetta 1
Juliet 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 28
Thomas 15
George 13
Joseph 13
William 13
James 11
Charles 7
Christopher 5
Edward 5
Henry 5
Ralph 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Emanuel 2
Joe 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Benjamen 1
Benjm. 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Edgar 1
Frd. 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.G. 1
Fredk.James 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Maurice 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Saml. 1
Saml.A. 1
Shaw 1
Zacharia 1

FAQ

Armfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Armfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 413 people were recorded with the Armfield surname. That placed it at #7,794 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Armfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 308 in 2016. That gives Armfield a modern rank of #14,479.

What does the Armfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from placenames like Armefeld or Armfield, likely referring to someone who lived by an open field.

What does the Armfield map show?

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