UK surname
A surname denoting someone who lived or worked near or at an establishment that served drinks and light meals.
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Cafe surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 93, ranked #31,945, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Hackington and Poole St James. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cafe is 124 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.8%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
93
2016, ranked #31,945
Peak year
1861
124 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cafe surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cafe surname density by area, 1861 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 | 44 | #25,328 |
| 1861 | historical | 124 | #17,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 54 | #29,849 |
| 1901 | historical | 55 | #28,064 |
| 1911 | historical | 54 | #27,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 65 | #31,477 |
| 1999 | modern | 64 | #31,692 |
| 2000 | modern | 69 | #31,273 |
| 2001 | modern | 65 | #31,501 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 64 | #32,056 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 89 | #31,934 |
| 2013 | modern | 94 | #31,656 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 89 | #32,325 |
| 2016 | modern | 93 | #31,945 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Hackington, Poole St James, Somerton and St Marylebone. 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 | St Peter | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Hackington | Kent |
| 3 | Poole St James | Dorset |
| 4 | Somerton | Somerset |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cafe 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 Cafe, 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 Cafe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cafe 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, Cafe 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 Cafe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cafe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "CAFE" is believed to have originated in Spain or Portugal during the Middle Ages. It likely derived from the Spanish word "café," which means coffee or a coffee shop. The name may have been given to someone who worked in the coffee trade or owned a café.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "CAFE" can be found in the 16th century Spanish archives, where a merchant named Juan Cafe was documented in Seville in 1572. It is possible that he imported coffee from the Middle East or owned a establishment where coffee was served.
In the 17th century, the name appears in various records from the Spanish colonies in the Americas. A notable example is Pedro Cafe, a landowner and rancher in New Spain (present-day Mexico) who was born in 1632 and died in 1701.
During the 18th century, the surname "CAFE" spread to other parts of Europe as the popularity of coffee increased. In France, a prominent figure with this name was Marie-Antoinette Cafe, a writer and philosopher born in 1751 and died in 1821.
In the 19th century, the name became more common in English-speaking countries due to immigration from Spain and Portugal. One notable individual was William Cafe, an English businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1815 to 1892 and made significant contributions to the development of London's East End.
Another notable figure with the surname "CAFE" was José Cafe, a Spanish painter and art teacher who lived from 1867 to 1944. He is known for his landscapes and portraits depicting life in rural Spain.
Throughout history, the surname "CAFE" has been associated with various occupations and professions related to the coffee trade, hospitality industry, and culinary arts. However, it has also been adopted by individuals in other fields, reflecting the widespread popularity of coffee and its cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cafe 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. Somerset leads with 15 Cafes recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 15 | 22.75x |
| Dorset | 11 | 40.92x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.46x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.35x |
| Sussex | 2 | 2.90x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.49x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.82x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.19x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 3.95x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 20.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poole St James in Dorset leads with 11 Cafes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1089.11x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Poole St James | 11 | 1089.11x |
| Somerton | 11 | 4074.07x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 18.29x |
| Langport Eastover | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Chichester St Peter | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Sidmouth | 2 | 408.16x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 27.70x |
| Cowley | 1 | 126.58x |
| Doncaster | 1 | 33.67x |
| Frome | 1 | 63.29x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 23.98x |
| Ryhope | 1 | 117.65x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 7.74x |
| Wickham | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cafe 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 Cafe 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 Cafe households.
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Cafe surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 93 in 2016. That gives Cafe a modern rank of #31,945.
A surname denoting someone who lived or worked near or at an establishment that served drinks and light meals.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cafe 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.