NameCensus.

UK surname

Berkeley

An English habitational surname originating from a town in Gloucestershire.

In the 1881 census there were 220 people recorded with the Berkeley surname, ranking it #12,087 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 539, ranked #9,438, up from #12,087 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Bloomsbury, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Kensington and Chelsea and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berkeley is 571 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 145.0%.

1881 census count

220

Ranked #12,087

Modern count

539

2016, ranked #9,438

Peak year

2014

571 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berkeley had 220 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,087 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016, ranked #9,438.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 361 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Berkeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berkeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berkeley 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 220 #12,087
1891 historical 234 #13,352
1901 historical 332 #10,863
1911 historical 361 #10,044
1997 modern 507 #9,204
1998 modern 507 #9,486
1999 modern 527 #9,277
2000 modern 520 #9,339
2001 modern 501 #9,448
2002 modern 513 #9,464
2003 modern 510 #9,350
2004 modern 503 #9,480
2005 modern 494 #9,527
2006 modern 504 #9,432
2007 modern 503 #9,524
2008 modern 515 #9,430
2009 modern 522 #9,544
2010 modern 553 #9,324
2011 modern 562 #9,111
2012 modern 547 #9,203
2013 modern 561 #9,177
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 552 #9,277
2016 modern 539 #9,438

Geography

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Where Berkeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Bloomsbury, London parishes, Gateshead and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Kensington and Chelsea, Stroud and Islington. 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 George Bloomsbury London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 007 Wychavon
2 Kensington and Chelsea 018 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Stroud 012 Stroud
4 Islington 015 Islington
5 Kensington and Chelsea 019 Kensington and Chelsea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berkeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berkeley

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

Berkeley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Berkeley

The surname BERKELEY originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "bierce" meaning birch tree and "leah" meaning meadow or clearing, referring to a meadow with birch trees. The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Berchelei" in reference to a settlement in Gloucestershire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the BERKELEY surname was Robert FitzHarding, a wealthy Anglo-Norman nobleman who was granted the manor of Berkeley by King Henry II in the 12th century. FitzHarding's descendants took the surname BERKELEY and established the Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire, which remains the oldest inhabited castle in England today.

During the Middle Ages, the BERKELEY family played a significant role in English history. Thomas de Berkeley, 1st Baron Berkeley (c. 1245-1321) was a prominent military leader who fought in the Barons' War and the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable member was Maurice de Berkeley, 4th Baron Berkeley (c. 1330-1368), who served as a military commander during the Hundred Years' War.

In the 16th century, the BERKELEY surname gained further prominence with Sir Francis Berkeley (c. 1515-1598), a courtier and politician who served as a member of Parliament and ambassador to France and Scotland. His son, Sir Maurice Berkeley (c. 1576-1617), was also a prominent figure and served as a Member of Parliament and Vice-Admiral of the English fleet.

The BERKELEY family continued to hold a prominent position in England throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. George Berkeley (1685-1753), an influential philosopher and Bishop of Cloyne, is one of the most famous bearers of the surname. His philosophical works, including "A Treatise Concerning the Principles of Human Knowledge" and "Three Dialogues between Hylas and Philonous," had a significant impact on modern philosophy.

Another notable figure was Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt (1717-1770), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Virginia from 1768 to 1770. He played a crucial role in mediating tensions between the American colonies and the British government during the pre-Revolutionary period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berkeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berkeley 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 49 Berkeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 49 2.29x
Worcestershire 25 8.96x
Durham 19 2.99x
Lancashire 16 0.63x
Kent 15 2.06x
Surrey 13 1.25x
Warwickshire 13 2.41x
Sussex 12 3.33x
Somerset 7 2.04x
Suffolk 5 1.92x
Yorkshire 5 0.24x
Dorset 4 2.85x
Essex 4 0.95x
Cornwall 3 1.24x
Devon 3 0.67x
Gloucestershire 3 0.72x
Hampshire 3 0.69x
Herefordshire 3 3.43x
Hertfordshire 3 2.04x
Northumberland 3 0.94x
Berkshire 2 1.25x
Channel Islands 1 1.58x
Cheshire 1 0.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 1 2.36x
Northamptonshire 1 0.50x
Peeblesshire 1 9.95x
Shropshire 1 0.54x
Staffordshire 1 0.14x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bickerstaffe in Lancashire leads with 12 Berkeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 722.89x.

Place Total Index
Bickerstaffe 12 722.89x
Kyo 11 367.89x
Birmingham 9 5.01x
Gateshead 8 16.81x
Spetchley 8 6666.67x
Islington London 7 3.38x
Milton In Gravesend 7 64.04x
Worcester St Martin 7 186.17x
Deptford St Paul 6 10.67x
Hackney London 6 5.01x
Hove 6 37.97x
St George Bloomsbury 6 48.94x
Cotheridge 5 3571.43x
Gorleston 5 75.64x
Kensington London 5 4.21x
Tottenham 5 14.70x
Willesden 5 24.83x
Clapham 4 14.98x
Aston 3 2.02x
Broadwas 3 1304.35x
Ewell 3 136.36x
Paddington London 3 3.82x
Sharow 3 1071.43x
St Cleer 3 142.86x
St Marylebone London 3 2.63x
Ware 3 71.09x
Cheddar 2 115.61x
Cockington 2 769.23x
Fordington 2 66.23x
Great Crosby 2 28.94x
Heene 2 322.58x
Leominster 2 55.10x
Portsea 2 2.33x
Preston 2 31.80x
Sculcoates 2 5.96x
Southminster 2 217.39x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.31x
Thornton In Fylde 2 36.04x
Abingdon St Helen 1 21.32x
Battersea 1 1.27x
Bromsgrove 1 10.65x
Chelsea London 1 1.55x
Cheltenham 1 3.09x
Chirton 1 13.91x
Chobham 1 54.35x
Clewer 1 15.22x
Cranford 1 270.27x
Elswick 1 3.94x
Great Staughton 1 121.95x
Hammersmith London 1 1.90x
Hereford All Sts 1 24.94x
Higher Bebington 1 33.11x
Isleworth 1 10.53x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Lewisham 1 2.57x
Leyton Low 1 11.67x
Littlebury 1 172.41x
Llandaff 1 8.08x
Marlborough 1 312.50x
Midsomer Norton 1 30.86x
Newton Abbot St Mary 1 26.81x
Nuneaton 1 16.03x
Overbury 1 204.08x
Portland 1 13.26x
Portsmouth 1 9.92x
Preston In Tynemouth 1 80.00x
Sherborne 1 24.21x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 1 49.02x
Southwark Christchurch 1 9.99x
St Helier 1 4.85x
Staplegrove 1 238.10x
Stoke Newington London 1 6.01x
Taunton St Mary 1 15.85x
Traquair 1 178.57x
Warmington 1 200.00x
Westbourne 1 55.87x
Westminster St James 1 4.55x
Westminster St John 1 3.84x
Weston 1 37.88x
Whittington 1 68.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charles 8
George 7
William 7
Alfred 6
Robert 6
Frederick 5
John 5
Richard 5
Henry 4
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Maurice 3
Rowland 3
Augustus 2
James 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Thos. 2
Agustus 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
Christopher 1
Edgar 1
Geo.A. 1
Grenville 1
H.B.C. 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Humphrey 1
Montague 1
Oswald 1
Paul 1
Phillip 1
R. 1
Roland 1
S. 1
Sackville 1
Shales 1
Sidney 1
Stuart 1
T.M. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Berkeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berkeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 220 people were recorded with the Berkeley surname. That placed it at #12,087 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berkeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 539 in 2016. That gives Berkeley a modern rank of #9,438.

What does the Berkeley surname mean?

An English habitational surname originating from a town in Gloucestershire.

What does the Berkeley map show?

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