NameCensus.

UK surname

Calver

A surname possibly derived from a location or meaning "chalk clover" farm.

In the 1881 census there were 1,342 people recorded with the Calver surname, ranking it #3,052 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,909, ranked #3,329, down from #3,052 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Calver is 2,024 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.3%.

1881 census count

1,342

Ranked #3,052

Modern count

1,909

2016, ranked #3,329

Peak year

1999

2,024 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Calver had 1,342 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,052 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,909 in 2016, ranked #3,329.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,950 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Calver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Calver surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Calver 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 1,005 #2,779
1861 historical 967 #2,882
1881 historical 1,342 #3,052
1891 historical 1,572 #2,826
1901 historical 1,753 #2,960
1911 historical 1,950 #2,547
1997 modern 1,971 #3,091
1998 modern 2,020 #3,135
1999 modern 2,024 #3,154
2000 modern 1,990 #3,175
2001 modern 1,938 #3,190
2002 modern 1,978 #3,200
2003 modern 1,924 #3,212
2004 modern 1,927 #3,205
2005 modern 1,937 #3,167
2006 modern 1,907 #3,221
2007 modern 1,899 #3,256
2008 modern 1,911 #3,260
2009 modern 1,949 #3,288
2010 modern 1,999 #3,284
2011 modern 1,970 #3,274
2012 modern 1,916 #3,305
2013 modern 1,954 #3,307
2014 modern 1,971 #3,301
2015 modern 1,938 #3,316
2016 modern 1,909 #3,329

Geography

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Where Calvers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ipswich St Mary Stoke, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Suffolk Coastal and Tendring. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 014 Ipswich
2 Suffolk Coastal 010 Suffolk Coastal
3 Suffolk Coastal 009 Suffolk Coastal
4 Tendring 001 Tendring
5 Ipswich 010 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Calver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Calver

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Calver is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Calver is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Calver falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Calver 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 Calver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Calver

The surname Calver is of English origin and can be traced back to the early medieval period in Britain. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "calfere," which referred to a cattle keeper or a cow herder. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in tending to or managing cattle and livestock.

The name Calver is closely associated with various regions in England, particularly the counties of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire, where it has a long-standing presence. Early records from the 13th and 14th centuries show variations in the spelling, such as "Calvere," "Calvyr," and "Calvar," which eventually evolved into the modern form of "Calver."

One of the earliest documented references to the name Calver can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dating back to 1230, where a certain William Calver is mentioned. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of Derbyshire from 1275 record a Robert Calver among the landowners of the time.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the Calver surname was John Calver, born in 1570 in Staffordshire. He was a prominent clergyman and served as the Rector of Wigan Parish Church from 1615 until his death in 1630.

Another historical figure with the surname Calver was Thomas Calver, born in 1605 in Yorkshire. He was a respected lawyer and served as a Justice of the Peace during the reign of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, William Calver (1700-1782) was a renowned architect from Derbyshire, known for his contributions to the design and construction of several churches and public buildings in the region.

The 19th century saw the birth of George Calver (1834-1910), a prominent English businessman and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the textile industry and was widely recognized for his charitable work in supporting education and social welfare initiatives.

Throughout history, the surname Calver has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Calver Village in Derbyshire and Calver Peak in the Peak District National Park, further reinforcing its deep-rooted connection to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Calver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Calver 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 407 Calvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.62x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 407 25.62x
Norfolk 287 14.31x
Middlesex 188 1.44x
Essex 106 4.12x
Surrey 80 1.26x
Kent 57 1.28x
Yorkshire 44 0.34x
Sussex 16 0.73x
Cambridgeshire 15 1.82x
Hampshire 13 0.49x
Lincolnshire 12 0.58x
Midlothian 10 0.57x
Northumberland 10 0.52x
Pembrokeshire 10 2.41x
Staffordshire 10 0.23x
Durham 9 0.23x
Lancashire 8 0.05x
Lanarkshire 7 0.17x
Dunbartonshire 6 1.71x
Leicestershire 6 0.41x
Gloucestershire 5 0.20x
Warwickshire 5 0.15x
Bedfordshire 3 0.44x
East Lothian 3 1.74x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.17x
Shropshire 3 0.27x
Ayrshire 2 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.25x
Merionethshire 2 0.84x
Somerset 2 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.19x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Flintshire 1 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.39x
Roxburghshire 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 29 Calvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.46x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 29 17.46x
Walthamstow 29 31.30x
Wortwell 26 1397.85x
Lowestoft 23 30.65x
Beccles 22 86.04x
Islington London 21 1.66x
Camberwell 20 2.40x
Maidstone 20 15.09x
Chelsea London 17 4.33x
Rumburgh 17 1062.50x
Bromley London 16 5.58x
Harwich St Nicholas 16 80.48x
Heigham 16 14.87x
North Elmham 16 328.54x
Fressingfield 15 292.97x
Lewisham 15 6.32x
St Pancras London 15 1.43x
West Ham 15 2.64x
Croydon 14 3.97x
Great Barton 14 380.43x
Brockdish 13 670.10x
Holbeck 13 15.18x
Ringsfield 13 1023.62x
Honington 11 827.07x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 11 109.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 4.19x
Bethnal Green London 10 1.77x
Burnham Thorpe 10 632.91x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 10 67.84x
Lambeth 10 0.88x
Llanstadwell 10 73.86x
Paddington London 10 2.09x
Poplar London 10 4.06x
Shottesham St Mary 10 709.22x
Thompson 10 621.12x
Wenhaston 10 255.10x
Halesworth 9 79.93x
Henstead 9 375.00x
Ipswich St Helen 9 47.80x
Ipswich St Margaret 9 16.70x
Mile End Old Town London 9 3.24x
Mistley 9 130.06x
Norwich St James 9 57.22x
Acton 8 10.46x
Barrow 8 197.04x
Bradford 8 2.56x
Chelmondiston 8 207.25x
Felixstow 8 206.72x
Homersfield 8 1250.00x
Norwich St Martin At 8 235.99x
Stradbroke 8 148.98x
Swardeston 8 529.80x
Upwell 8 132.23x
Walton 8 140.60x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 16.50x
Downham Market 7 50.80x
Eastbourne 7 6.92x
Fornham St Martin 7 507.25x
Gisleham 7 514.71x
Great Grimsby 7 5.29x
Huddleston Cum Lumby 7 654.21x
Ilketshall St Andrew 7 331.75x
Ipswich St Clement 7 17.34x
Limehouse London 7 4.89x
Norwich St George Colegate 7 96.02x
Otley 7 246.48x
Pettaugh 7 786.52x
Shropham 7 362.69x
St Luke London 7 3.35x
St Marylebone London 7 1.01x
Tottenham 7 3.37x
Battersea 6 1.25x
Colchester St Giles 6 23.58x
Ipswich St Peter 6 28.06x
Kingston 6 160.43x
Kirton 6 212.77x
New Buckenham 6 240.96x
Newington 6 1.25x
Old Kilpatrick 6 14.49x
St George Martyr London 6 22.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 86
John 57
George 46
Charles 41
James 39
Henry 35
Thomas 27
Frederick 24
Walter 24
Arthur 22
Edward 22
Robert 17
Samuel 16
Harry 13
Herbert 10
Albert 9
David 8
Wm. 8
Alfred 6
Ernest 5
Francis 5
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Richard 4
Augustus 3
Elijah 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Jacob 3
Joseph 3
Sidney 3
Chas. 2
Ed.Thomas 2
Edmund 2
Fredk. 2
Hubert 2
Issac 2
Jno. 2
Nathaniel 2
Owen 2
Thos. 2
Charlie 1
Christopher 1
Edwd. 1
Eley 1
Ezekiel 1
Frances 1
Harcourt 1
Hector 1
Horace 1

FAQ

Calver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Calver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,342 people were recorded with the Calver surname. That placed it at #3,052 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Calver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,909 in 2016. That gives Calver a modern rank of #3,329.

What does the Calver surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from a location or meaning "chalk clover" farm.

What does the Calver map show?

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