NameCensus.

UK surname

Augustus

A Latin cognomen meaning "great" or "venerable," which was famously held by the first Roman emperor, Gaius Octavius.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Augustus surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 325, ranked #13,930, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Wight, North Hertfordshire and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Augustus is 344 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 577.1%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

325

2016, ranked #13,930

Peak year

2011

344 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Augustus had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016, ranked #13,930.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 93 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Augustus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Augustus surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Augustus 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 93 #24,965
1901 historical 73 #26,069
1911 historical 82 #24,635
1997 modern 251 #15,236
1998 modern 259 #15,320
1999 modern 261 #15,353
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 277 #14,474
2002 modern 292 #14,236
2003 modern 300 #13,823
2004 modern 304 #13,783
2005 modern 306 #13,657
2006 modern 306 #13,724
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 317 #13,632
2009 modern 339 #13,281
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 344 #13,249
2012 modern 323 #13,780
2013 modern 324 #13,961
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 324 #13,965
2016 modern 325 #13,930

Geography

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Where Augustus' 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 Isle of Wight, North Hertfordshire, Carmarthenshire, Brent and Southwark. 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 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
2 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire
3 Carmarthenshire 002 Carmarthenshire
4 Brent 034 Brent
5 Southwark 023 Southwark

Forenames

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First names often paired with Augustus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Augustus

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Augustus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Augustus 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Augustus is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Augustus 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

Augustus 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 Augustus 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 Augustus, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Augustus

The surname AUGUSTUS originated from the Latin language and has its roots in ancient Rome. The name is derived from the Latin word "augustus," which means "venerable" or "respected." It was initially used as a title bestowed upon the first Roman emperor, Augustus Caesar, who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.

The name AUGUSTUS gained popularity during the Roman Empire and was often associated with the imperial family and nobility. It was a prestigious name that conveyed a sense of grandeur and authority. Over time, it transitioned from a title to a surname, and as the Roman Empire expanded, the name spread across Europe and beyond.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname AUGUSTUS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Agustus" and "Agustinus," reflecting the linguistic evolution of the time.

During the Middle Ages, the surname AUGUSTUS was particularly prevalent in Italy, where it was often associated with noble families and scholarly circles. One notable bearer of the name was Aurelius Augustinus, better known as St. Augustine (354-430 AD), a highly influential philosopher and theologian whose works profoundly shaped Western thought.

In the Renaissance period, the name AUGUSTUS gained further prominence as it was embraced by artists, writers, and intellectuals who drew inspiration from classical Roman culture. For example, the Italian painter and architect Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio, 1483-1520) was born into a family with the surname AUGUSTUS.

Another famous bearer of the surname was the German composer and organist Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), whose full name was Johann Sebastian AUGUSTUS Bach. His use of the name AUGUSTUS reflects the cultural influence of ancient Rome on German society during the Baroque era.

Moving forward in time, the surname AUGUSTUS also found its way into English-speaking countries. One notable figure was Sir William AUGUSTUS, 1st Baron Pultney (1684-1764), a British politician and landowner who served as the Secretary of State for War under King George II.

Throughout history, the surname AUGUSTUS has been a symbol of prestige and cultural significance, carrying echoes of the grandeur of ancient Rome and the reverence for classical ideals. While its roots lie in Latin, the name has transcended borders and languages, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Augustus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Augustus 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. Glamorgan leads with 11 Augustus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.22x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 11 13.22x
Hampshire 11 11.23x
Carmarthenshire 5 24.83x
Cardiganshire 4 34.31x
Lancashire 4 0.71x
Gloucestershire 3 3.20x
Middlesex 3 0.63x
Kent 2 1.23x
Devon 1 1.01x
Essex 1 1.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 6.58x
Royal Navy 1 17.54x
Somerset 1 1.30x
Surrey 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whippingham in Hampshire leads with 11 Augustus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1486.49x.

Place Total Index
Whippingham 11 1486.49x
Swansea Town 7 102.64x
Cardigan St Mary 4 888.89x
Myddfai 4 4000.00x
Bristol St Michael 3 375.00x
Roath 3 79.37x
Bethnal Green London 2 9.63x
Liverpool 2 5.81x
Walton On Hill 2 65.15x
Ashford 1 62.89x
Cardiff St John 1 36.76x
Hackney London 1 3.73x
Hinton St George 1 909.09x
Kilgerran 1 555.56x
Lambeth 1 2.40x
Llanelly 1 22.03x
Maidstone 1 20.58x
Plymouth Charles The 1 22.83x
Royal Navy 1 20.53x
West Ham 1 4.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 7
Elizabeth 3
Emma 2
Louisa 2
Angeline 1
Anne 1
Eliza 1
G.D. 1
Gwenllian 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 4
David 3
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Grant 1
James 1
Luscombe 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1
Watson 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 Augustus households.

FAQ

Augustus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Augustus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Augustus surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Augustus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 325 in 2016. That gives Augustus a modern rank of #13,930.

What does the Augustus surname mean?

A Latin cognomen meaning "great" or "venerable," which was famously held by the first Roman emperor, Gaius Octavius.

What does the Augustus map show?

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