UK surname
Derived from the Old Norse byname "Kabi," meaning a person with a hooked nose or a big mouth.
In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Cabe surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16, ranked #36,998, down from #27,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lympston, St Giles-in-the-Fields and Stranton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cabe is 169 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.0%.
1881 census count
47
Ranked #27,019
Modern count
16
2016, ranked #36,998
Peak year
1861
169 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cabe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cabe surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 111 | #16,006 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 47 | #27,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 56 | #27,952 |
| 1911 | historical | 64 | #26,435 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 2 | #38,335 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 16 | #36,932 |
| 2012 | modern | 11 | #37,394 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 16 | #36,974 |
| 2015 | modern | 18 | #36,809 |
| 2016 | modern | 16 | #36,998 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lympston, St Giles-in-the-Fields, Stranton, Liverpool and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lympston | Devon |
| 2 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Stranton | Durham |
| 4 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 5 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cabe surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cabe, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cabe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cabe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cabe is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cabe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cabe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cabe originates from the Celtic region of Britain, specifically in the area now known as Wales. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh word "cab," which means a dry outer covering or husk. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked with husks or had a connection to agricultural activities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cabe can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England and parts of Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Cabe in the county of Monmouthshire, which was then considered part of the Welsh Marches.
During the Middle Ages, the name Cabe appeared in various historical records and documents across Wales and the border regions with England. In the 14th century, a Welsh poet named Llywelyn Cabe gained recognition for his works celebrating Welsh culture and traditions.
In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Cabe, a merchant and landowner from Pembrokeshire, Wales. He was influential in the local community and served as a justice of the peace during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The 17th century saw the rise of Sir Hugh Cabe, a Welsh soldier and politician who fought in the English Civil War on the side of the Parliamentarians. He later became a member of the Council of State under Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate.
In the 19th century, William Cabe, born in Carmarthenshire, Wales, in 1822, made significant contributions to the field of agriculture. He was a pioneering farmer who introduced new techniques and methods for improving crop yields and livestock management.
Throughout its history, the Cabe surname has been associated with various place names in Wales, such as Cabedu, Caberllwyd, and Caberuddyn, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in different regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cabe surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 16 Cabes recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 16 | 19.22x |
| Staffordshire | 6 | 4.44x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.84x |
| Lincolnshire | 3 | 4.69x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 1.55x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.84x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.44x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.22x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 6.10x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.73x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.25x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.51x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.48x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.99x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brewood in Staffordshire leads with 6 Cabes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1538.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brewood | 6 | 1538.46x |
| East Allington | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Lympston | 5 | 3333.33x |
| Littleham | 4 | 655.74x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 3 | 79.58x |
| Glanford Brigg | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Withycombe Rawleigh | 2 | 465.12x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 36.36x |
| Brighton | 1 | 7.35x |
| Cambusnethan | 1 | 34.84x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 31.95x |
| Esh | 1 | 114.94x |
| Hereford St Nicholas | 1 | 454.55x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 13.74x |
| Monks Coppenhall | 1 | 30.03x |
| Newington | 1 | 6.77x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.80x |
| Rutherglen | 1 | 52.63x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 17.51x |
| Walton On Hill | 1 | 38.91x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cabe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cabe surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Cabe households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 13 |
| Police Constable | 2 |
| (D) Nurse | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Coach Wheeler | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper App | 1 |
| General Mason | 1 |
| Gentleman | 1 |
| Independent | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Land Agents Wife | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Nursemaid Unemployed | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Police Constable Wife | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Cabe surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 16 in 2016. That gives Cabe a modern rank of #36,998.
Derived from the Old Norse byname "Kabi," meaning a person with a hooked nose or a big mouth.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cabe bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.