NameCensus.

UK surname

Came

A surname derived from the Latin word "camus," meaning crooked or bent.

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Came surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, up from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stratford-on-Avon, Exeter and Brentwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Came is 314 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 107.3%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

1998

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Came had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 304 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Came surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Came surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Came 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 120 #15,144
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 256 #12,522
1901 historical 220 #14,245
1911 historical 304 #11,342
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 314 #13,483
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 295 #14,070
2001 modern 298 #13,784
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 298 #13,886
2004 modern 288 #14,254
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 266 #15,076
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 258 #15,732
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 282 #15,410
2011 modern 284 #15,174
2012 modern 279 #15,289
2013 modern 290 #15,107
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Cames are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Tormoham with Torquay, Willesden and Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stratford-on-Avon, Exeter, Brentwood, Cheshire West and Chester and South Kesteven. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
4 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stratford-on-Avon 009 Stratford-on-Avon
2 Exeter 010 Exeter
3 Brentwood 001 Brentwood
4 Cheshire West and Chester 035 Cheshire West and Chester
5 South Kesteven 003 South Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Came

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Came

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Came is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Came is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Came falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Came

The surname "CAME" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with some experts tracing its roots back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "camu" or "camb," meaning "crooked" or "bent," which may have been used to describe a physical characteristic or a location.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Cama" and "Cambe," suggesting that it was already well-established in different regions of England.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was William Came, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the 13th century. He is mentioned in historical records from that time period, although details about his life are scarce.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the form of "Camme" in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, a record of taxation in the county. This variation in spelling highlights the fluidity of surnames during that era.

A notable figure bearing the surname was John Came, a prominent merchant and benefactor who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Bristol, England, in 1501 and made his fortune through trading in the city. Came was a generous philanthropist and contributed to the construction of several churches and charitable institutions in Bristol.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir Benjamin Came, an English naval officer and explorer who lived from 1628 to 1687. He served in the Royal Navy and was involved in various expeditions and battles during the Anglo-Dutch Wars.

In the 18th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of John Came, a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He was born in 1728 in Gloucestershire and made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

The Came family also had connections to various locations throughout England, as evidenced by the place names "Came" and "Cameden" found in counties such as Gloucestershire and Somerset. These place names may have influenced the surname or vice versa, further solidifying its connection to specific regions.

Over the centuries, the surname "CAME" has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, military personnel, scientists, and scholars. While its exact origins remain somewhat uncertain, the name has left an indelible mark on English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Came families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Came 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. Devon leads with 51 Cames recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.34x.

County Total Index
Devon 51 18.34x
Somerset 35 16.27x
Warwickshire 15 4.45x
Middlesex 14 1.05x
Monmouthshire 11 11.39x
Lanarkshire 4 0.93x
Cornwall 3 1.98x
Surrey 2 0.31x
Dorset 1 1.14x
Glamorgan 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 21 Cames recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.42x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 21 178.42x
Birmingham 15 13.36x
Huntspill 10 1136.36x
Bridgewater 9 154.11x
Burnham 9 548.78x
Exeter St Thomas The 9 316.90x
Loddiswell 8 2162.16x
Aberystruth 5 58.75x
Bedminster 5 24.74x
Bedwellty 5 29.31x
Barony 4 3.66x
Dittisham 4 1481.48x
Islington London 4 3.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 18.67x
St Pancras London 3 2.79x
Chelsea London 2 4.97x
Hackney London 2 2.67x
St Mellion 2 1428.57x
Abergavenny 1 27.62x
Botus Fleming 1 1000.00x
Cogan 1 285.71x
Dawlish 1 48.31x
Dean Prior 1 714.29x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 1 140.85x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 15.70x
Hennock 1 285.71x
Lambeth 1 0.86x
Limehouse London 1 6.82x
Oxted 1 128.21x
South Brent 1 277.78x
St Marylebone London 1 1.40x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 57.80x
Westminster St James 1 7.28x
Wolborough 1 28.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Emily 5
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Lucy 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Christe 1
Esther 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Rosina 1
S. 1
Sarah 1
Tryphina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Charles 10
John 10
Thomas 7
Henry 6
George 4
James 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Albert 1
David 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Job 1
Percy 1
Raymond 1
Robert 1
Timathy 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Came surname: questions and answers

How common was the Came surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Came surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Came surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Came a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Came surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word "camus," meaning crooked or bent.

What does the Came map show?

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