NameCensus.

UK surname

Cam

A Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic 'cam' meaning crooked or bent.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Cam surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick and Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Merton, Wandsworth and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cam is 352 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.4%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

2016

352 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cam had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Cam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cam 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 285 #7,952
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1901 historical 214 #14,517
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 242 #16,037
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 253 #15,623
2001 modern 231 #16,365
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 254 #15,540
2005 modern 249 #15,679
2006 modern 257 #15,448
2007 modern 275 #14,888
2008 modern 282 #14,748
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 317 #14,166
2011 modern 318 #14,023
2012 modern 321 #13,836
2013 modern 334 #13,648
2014 modern 341 #13,528
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

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Where Cams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel, Sheffield and Acton Turville. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Merton, Wandsworth, Sheffield, Islington and Leeds. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
3 Winterbourne, Westerleigh, Pucklechurch, Frampton Cotterel Gloucestershire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Acton Turville Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Merton 024 Merton
2 Wandsworth 024 Wandsworth
3 Sheffield 059 Sheffield
4 Islington 015 Islington
5 Leeds 079 Leeds

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cam, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Cam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Cam 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Cam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cam 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

Cam falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Cam

The surname Cam is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cam," meaning "crooked" or "bent." This could suggest that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a winding river or crooked path.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cam can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus Cam, indicating the name's presence during the Norman conquest of England.

During the 13th century, the surname Cam appeared in various records across England, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and their holdings. One such entry mentions a Thomas de Cam, suggesting the use of the "de" prefix to denote place of origin.

In the 14th century, the name Cam was associated with several notable individuals. One example is John Cam (c. 1300-1349), a English philosopher and logician who taught at the University of Paris and wrote extensively on logic and metaphysics.

The 15th century saw the rise of the Cam family, a prominent lineage that held significant landholdings in Gloucestershire and Somerset. During this period, the name was sometimes spelled as "Camme" or "Cammes," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the most famous individuals bearing the surname Cam was Sir Robert Cam (c. 1483-1543), a successful merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1540 and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Cloth Workers' Company.

In the 17th century, the name Cam was linked to several scholars and clergymen. Notable examples include Thomas Cam (1585-1670), a Church of England clergyman and author, and John Cam (1624-1670), a Fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford, and a renowned classical scholar.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Cam has been associated with various place names in England, including Cam in Gloucestershire, Cam Fell in Cumbria, and Camerton in Somerset. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cam 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. Yorkshire leads with 47 Cams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.02x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 47 2.02x
Gloucestershire 45 9.76x
Middlesex 20 0.85x
Lancashire 14 0.50x
Staffordshire 13 1.64x
Worcestershire 12 3.91x
Surrey 11 0.96x
Devon 10 2.04x
Wiltshire 9 4.33x
Lincolnshire 8 2.13x
Durham 7 1.00x
Berkshire 6 3.40x
Derbyshire 6 1.63x
Warwickshire 6 1.01x
Kent 5 0.62x
Glamorgan 4 0.98x
Herefordshire 3 3.11x
Dumfriesshire 2 3.85x
Leicestershire 2 0.77x
Rutland 2 11.59x
Somerset 2 0.53x
Sussex 2 0.50x
Channel Islands 1 1.44x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Northumberland 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 3.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ecclesall Bierlow in Yorkshire leads with 20 Cams recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.21x.

Place Total Index
Ecclesall Bierlow 20 42.21x
Wolverhampton 12 19.67x
Brightside Bierlow 11 24.08x
Acton Turville 9 3750.00x
Bristol St Michael 8 202.53x
Iron Acton 8 860.22x
Plymouth Charles The 8 37.11x
Wortley In Bramley 7 37.94x
Birmingham 6 3.04x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 39.04x
Dawdon 6 69.77x
Frampton Cotterell 6 370.37x
St Swithin Lincoln 6 101.52x
Bermondsey 5 7.14x
Mile End Old Town London 5 9.99x
Poplar London 5 11.27x
Sherston Magna 5 400.00x
Toxteth Park 5 5.29x
Winkfield 5 170.65x
Dudley 4 10.72x
Eltham 4 85.11x
Hallow 4 266.67x
Ystradyfodwg 4 11.14x
Belper 3 42.02x
Burnley 3 12.77x
Camberwell 3 2.00x
Litchurch 3 20.26x
Preston 3 232.56x
Ashton In Makerfield 2 25.19x
Cam 2 141.84x
Chelsea London 2 2.82x
Egham 2 28.45x
Great Bolton 2 5.41x
Hampton London 2 51.81x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 2 168.07x
Potterne Worton 2 740.74x
St Maryle Wigford 2 68.49x
St Marylebone London 2 1.59x
Thistleton 2 1818.18x
Upton On Severn 2 99.50x
Worcester St Martin 2 48.31x
Yate 2 198.02x
Arundel 1 45.05x
Bitton 1 24.94x
Bremhill 1 106.38x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.30x
Broom 1 172.41x
Butcombe 1 666.67x
Christchurch 1 9.57x
Coulsdon 1 48.08x
Darfield 1 47.17x
Devizes St James 1 36.23x
Ellerby In Skirlaugh 1 357.14x
Exminster 1 56.82x
Great Badminton 1 250.00x
Great Yarmouth 1 3.34x
Hereford St Owen 1 31.45x
Hulme 1 1.72x
Islington London 1 0.44x
Kensington London 1 0.77x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.75x
Leicester St Nicholas 1 67.57x
Lewisham 1 2.34x
Middlesbrough 1 3.30x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 270.27x
North South Anston 1 98.04x
Old Windsor 1 49.02x
Oldham 1 1.11x
Royal Navy 1 4.18x
Sheffield 1 1.35x
St Botolph Aldersgate 1 37.04x
St Helier 1 4.41x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Stoke Lacy 1 434.78x
Thurlstone 1 43.48x
Tormoham 1 4.83x
Walcot 1 4.96x
Wednesfield 1 8.56x
West Dean 1 169.49x
Yarkhill 1 277.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 9
Jane 7
Alice 5
Emma 5
Louisa 5
Ann 4
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Catherine 2
Grace 2
Helen 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Blanch 1
Christianna 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Ida 1
Isselle 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Katharine 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Mainy 1
Marie 1
Olive 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 14
James 10
George 9
Joseph 8
Henry 6
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 2
Fred 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Alick 1
Arther 1
Bartholomew 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Bingham 1
Christopher 1
Clifford 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Herbert 1
Holgate 1
Horatia 1
Isaac 1
J.Louis 1
Leonard 1
Ludford 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Tom 1
Wallace 1
Waw 1

FAQ

Cam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Cam surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Cam a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Cam surname mean?

A Scottish surname, derived from the Gaelic 'cam' meaning crooked or bent.

What does the Cam map show?

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