UK surname
A surname originally given to someone who made or sold candles.
In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Candle surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7, ranked #37,967, down from #18,230 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Candle is 270 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.9%.
1881 census count
115
Ranked #18,230
Modern count
7
2016, ranked #37,967
Peak year
1851
270 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Candle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Candle surname density by area, 1881 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 | 270 | #8,275 |
| 1861 | historical | 187 | #12,690 |
| 1881 | historical | 115 | #18,230 |
| 1891 | historical | 228 | #13,582 |
| 1901 | historical | 245 | #13,298 |
| 1911 | historical | 270 | #12,273 |
| 1998 | modern | 2 | #38,550 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 4 | #38,371 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 7 | #37,920 |
| 2016 | modern | 7 | #37,967 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Dowdeswell and Avening. 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 | Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Swindon, Lyddington | Wiltshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Dowdeswell | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Avening | Gloucestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Candle 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 Candle, 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 Candle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Candle 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, Candle 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 Candle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Candle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Candle has its origins in England, with its earliest records dating back to the Medieval period, around the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where the name and its variants were first noted. The name Candle is derived from the Old English words "candel," meaning "candle," which was used metaphorically to refer to individuals who were involved in the making or selling of candles, a vital trade in Medieval society.
One of the earliest manuscript references to the name Candle can be traced to the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1196, where a William Candelarius is mentioned. This Latinized version highlights the connection to the occupation of a chandler or candlemaker. Over time, the spelling of the surname evolved and variations such as Candel, Candil, and Kendall appeared in different records. In some instances, these variations were used interchangeably to denote individuals from different regions.
Historical records show that a notable individual with the surname Candle was John Candle, a merchant recorded in the tax rolls of Lancashire in 1327. He was known for his significant contributions to the local economy through his candle-making business. Another early instance is Richard Candle, who appears in the London records of 1454 as a member of the Worshipful Company of Wax Chandlers, an ancient Livery Company of the City of London.
Moving forward, the 16th century saw the surname Candle becoming more established. Thomas Candle, born around 1510 and deceased in 1572, was a landowner in the county of Norfolk. His estate documents frequently referenced his surname, indicating the prominence and recognition he held in his community. In the 17th century, the Candle family expanded their ventures and were involved in various trades, as seen with Matthew Candle, born in 1603 and who became a renowned blacksmith in Birmingham until his death in 1661.
Among the famous bearers of the surname Candle is Anne Candle, born in 1678, who made her mark in history as a philanthropist in London. Her charitable works and endowments to the poor were well-documented, leaving a lasting legacy upon her death in 1735.
The surname Candle, with its historical roots and occupational linkages, reflects a rich tapestry of medieval commerce and societal contributions. Though it has evolved and sometimes merged with other names, its origins as part of the candlemaking trade in England remain a fascinating chapter of surname history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Candle 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. Middlesex leads with 39 Candles recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 39 | 3.88x |
| Gloucestershire | 17 | 8.63x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.84x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 0.60x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.46x |
| Northamptonshire | 5 | 5.29x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 2.68x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.88x |
| Dorset | 2 | 3.03x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.01x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.17x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.48x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.79x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.33x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 5.01x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.65x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 11 Candles recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.21x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 11 | 25.21x |
| Camberwell | 8 | 12.47x |
| Tottenham | 8 | 50.00x |
| Castleford | 6 | 165.29x |
| Cirencester | 6 | 224.72x |
| Cheltenham | 5 | 32.89x |
| Deptford St Paul | 5 | 18.91x |
| Lilford Cum Wigsthorpe | 5 | 10000.00x |
| St Luke London | 5 | 31.04x |
| Fulham London | 4 | 27.45x |
| Hexham | 4 | 173.16x |
| Leckhampton | 4 | 330.58x |
| Hampstead London | 3 | 19.17x |
| Atherstone | 2 | 155.04x |
| Clarborough | 2 | 198.02x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 3.55x |
| Walsall Foreign | 2 | 11.42x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 20.20x |
| Barking | 1 | 17.24x |
| Bluntisham | 1 | 270.27x |
| Burslem | 1 | 10.30x |
| Colchester St Giles | 1 | 51.02x |
| Everton | 1 | 2.63x |
| Gloucester Barton St Mary | 1 | 27.70x |
| Harrow | 1 | 64.94x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.14x |
| Lower Machen | 1 | 277.78x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.68x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 62.11x |
| St Martin In Fields | 1 | 16.64x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 12.77x |
| Tincelton | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Trowse Cum Newton | 1 | 263.16x |
| Weston | 1 | 80.65x |
| Winchcomb | 1 | 102.04x |
| Winterborne Came | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Worsley | 1 | 13.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Candle 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 Candle 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 Candle households.
FAQ
In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Candle surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 7 in 2016. That gives Candle a modern rank of #37,967.
A surname originally given to someone who made or sold candles.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Candle 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.