NameCensus.

UK surname

Cage

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of cages, or a nickname for someone who lived near a cage.

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Cage surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 387, ranked #12,170, up from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hackington, Ipswich St Peter and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Mendip and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cage is 387 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 80.0%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

387

2016, ranked #12,170

Peak year

2016

387 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cage had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016, ranked #12,170.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 331 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cage surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cage surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cage 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 281 #11,630
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 331 #10,654
1997 modern 375 #11,555
1998 modern 386 #11,668
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 378 #11,882
2001 modern 361 #12,102
2002 modern 377 #11,962
2003 modern 356 #12,258
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 344 #12,600
2007 modern 353 #12,521
2008 modern 354 #12,591
2009 modern 351 #12,940
2010 modern 366 #12,800
2011 modern 365 #12,694
2012 modern 356 #12,784
2013 modern 371 #12,597
2014 modern 371 #12,689
2015 modern 369 #12,627
2016 modern 387 #12,170

Geography

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Where Cages are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hackington, Ipswich St Peter, London parishes, St Pancras and Stonham Aspel. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Mendip, Babergh and Arun. 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 Hackington Kent
2 Ipswich St Peter Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Stonham Aspel Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 004 Fenland
2 Mendip 002 Mendip
3 Fenland 003 Fenland
4 Babergh 001 Babergh
5 Arun 011 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cage

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cage

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

Cage is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Cage falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cage is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Cage, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Cage

The surname Cage has its roots in England, originating in the late 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "cage," which means a small hut or dwelling. This points to the name initially being used as a descriptive term for someone who lived in a small, cage-like dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Cage surname is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, dated 1195, where a Robert de la Cage is mentioned. This suggests the name was already established in England by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Cage, Cagge, and Kage, reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname Cage in counties like Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

During the 14th century, the Cage surname was further documented in historical records. The Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 list a Johannes Cagge, while the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1381 mention a William Cage.

Notable individuals with the Cage surname throughout history include John Cage (1912-1992), an influential American composer known for his experimental and avant-garde works. Another is Henry Clinton Cage (1859-1937), an American civil engineer who played a key role in the construction of the Panama Canal.

In the literary world, there was Henry Cage (1816-1892), an English writer and journalist who wrote extensively on the history of Hertfordshire. Historically, the Cage surname was also associated with places like Cage Green in Kent, which derived its name from the Old English word "caega," meaning enclosure or cage.

Other individuals of note include Sir Thomas Cage (1786-1849), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Harriet Cage (1856-1926), an American suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote.

While the Cage surname has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who migrated or were part of the British diaspora.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cage families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cage 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. Suffolk leads with 83 Cages recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.49x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 83 32.49x
Kent 38 5.31x
Surrey 28 2.74x
Middlesex 18 0.86x
Yorkshire 16 0.77x
Norfolk 9 2.79x
Essex 7 1.69x
Staffordshire 3 0.42x
Wiltshire 3 1.62x
Gloucestershire 2 0.49x
Hampshire 2 0.47x
Leicestershire 2 0.86x
Cheshire 1 0.22x
Dorset 1 0.73x
Durham 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 12 Cages recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.31x.

Place Total Index
Rotherhithe 12 46.31x
Mildenhall 9 332.10x
Hackington St Stephen 8 1739.13x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 8 337.55x
St Pancras London 8 4.74x
Ipswich St Peter 7 203.49x
Baylham 6 1500.00x
Dartford 6 81.97x
Doncaster 6 39.53x
Grundisburgh 6 1016.95x
Morley 6 55.50x
Stonham Aspall 6 1153.85x
Sutton 6 1463.41x
Chevening 5 641.03x
Diss 5 181.16x
Knowlton 5 16666.67x
Westerfield 5 2000.00x
Framsden 4 701.75x
West Ham 4 4.38x
Battersea 3 3.89x
Brampton 3 1428.57x
Bromley London 3 6.50x
Burton Upon Trent 3 18.12x
Chartham 3 168.54x
Clapham 3 11.44x
Great Ashfield 3 1034.48x
Great Barton 3 508.47x
Reigate Borough 3 127.12x
Swindon 3 20.85x
Thurston 3 600.00x
Bardwell 2 370.37x
Beyton 2 800.00x
Canterbury St Dunstan 2 162.60x
Chelsea London 2 3.16x
Clayton Cum Frickley 2 869.57x
Clifton 2 9.62x
Framlingham 2 110.50x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 2 350.88x
Lambeth 2 1.09x
Leicester St Margaret 2 3.53x
Putney 2 20.92x
St George Hanover Square 2 5.41x
Streatham 2 12.85x
Tottenham 2 5.99x
Althorp 1 1428.57x
Billingford In Depwade 1 714.29x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 14.06x
Blean 1 204.08x
Brentwood 1 39.68x
Broughton In Skipton 1 769.23x
Bunwell 1 161.29x
Canterbury St Andrew 1 333.33x
Chillenden 1 1000.00x
Croydon 1 1.76x
Fordington 1 33.78x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 153.85x
Hernhill 1 185.19x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 11.53x
Islington London 1 0.49x
Kingsley 1 116.28x
Knettishall 1 2000.00x
Lewisham 1 2.62x
Meopham 1 112.36x
Northbourne 1 147.06x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 47.85x
Old Newton 1 204.08x
Onehouse 1 400.00x
Portsea 1 1.19x
Prittlewell 1 17.42x
South Lynn 1 27.47x
South Stoneham 1 10.73x
Stoke By Nayland 1 120.48x
Sunderland 1 9.07x
Tilmanstone 1 384.62x
Waltham 1 277.78x
Woodbridge 1 30.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 12
Thomas 11
James 9
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Walter 5
Henry 4
Robert 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Benjamin 1
Edward 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
F.C. 1
Fred 1
Freeman 1
Georg 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
John 1
Orlando 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Spencer 1
Spenser 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Cage surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cage surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Cage surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cage surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 387 in 2016. That gives Cage a modern rank of #12,170.

What does the Cage surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of cages, or a nickname for someone who lived near a cage.

What does the Cage map show?

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