NameCensus.

UK surname

Candy

A surname derived from the confectionery trade or a seller of candy/sweets.

In the 1881 census there were 1,064 people recorded with the Candy surname, ranking it #3,711 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,024, ranked #5,694, down from #3,711 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, South Stoneham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Montrose South, Mendip and Montrose North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Candy is 1,341 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.

1881 census count

1,064

Ranked #3,711

Modern count

1,024

2016, ranked #5,694

Peak year

1911

1,341 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Candy had 1,064 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,711 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,024 in 2016, ranked #5,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,341 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Candy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Candy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Candy 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 788 #3,385
1861 historical 865 #3,205
1881 historical 1,064 #3,711
1891 historical 1,170 #3,655
1901 historical 1,257 #3,942
1911 historical 1,341 #3,568
1997 modern 1,083 #5,142
1998 modern 1,115 #5,200
1999 modern 1,111 #5,255
2000 modern 1,101 #5,263
2001 modern 1,069 #5,291
2002 modern 1,132 #5,160
2003 modern 1,086 #5,236
2004 modern 1,085 #5,253
2005 modern 1,048 #5,341
2006 modern 1,024 #5,457
2007 modern 1,049 #5,398
2008 modern 1,051 #5,428
2009 modern 1,060 #5,504
2010 modern 1,066 #5,578
2011 modern 1,041 #5,632
2012 modern 1,028 #5,610
2013 modern 1,030 #5,700
2014 modern 1,026 #5,737
2015 modern 1,019 #5,721
2016 modern 1,024 #5,694

Geography

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Where Candys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, South Stoneham, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Kilmersdon, Holcombe, Stratton-on-the-Fosse. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Montrose South, Mendip, Montrose North, Wiltshire and Brechin West. 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 South Stoneham Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Kilmersdon, Holcombe, Stratton-on-the-Fosse Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Montrose South Angus
2 Mendip 002 Mendip
3 Montrose North Angus
4 Wiltshire 023 Wiltshire
5 Brechin West Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Candy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Candy

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

Candy 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

Candy 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 Candy 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 Candy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Candy

The surname Candy originated in England during the late Middle Ages. It is an occupational surname derived from the Old English word "candle", referring to a chandler or candle maker. The earliest known bearer of the name was Robert le Candeler, recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273.

The name can also be traced back to the Norman French "candeler" or "candelier", which has the same meaning. This variation emerged after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, as many French words were introduced into the English language. One of the earliest recorded instances of this spelling is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mentions a Hugo Candeler.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Candeler, Candeler, and Candler, reflecting the changing spelling conventions of the time. The variant "Candy" became more prevalent in the 16th and 17th centuries, as surnames were standardized and anglicized.

Historically significant bearers of the Candy surname include Sir Edward Candy (1545-1627), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was John Candy (1590-1665), a prominent Puritan clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Wilby, Norfolk.

In the 18th century, the Candy family established themselves as prominent landowners and industrialists in the West Midlands region of England. Among them was Samuel Candy (1718-1792), a successful iron manufacturer and founder of the Candy Ironworks in Dudley.

During the Victorian era, the Candy surname gained further recognition with the works of authors such as Charles Candy (1824-1887), who wrote several historical novels set in medieval England. Another notable figure was Sir Edward Traherne Candy (1825-1899), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Royal Courts of Justice.

Other prominent individuals with the Candy surname include the explorer and naturalist Frank Candy (1865-1932), who conducted extensive research in the Amazon rainforest, and the World War II veteran and politician Sir Walter Candy (1899-1981), who served as a Member of Parliament for over three decades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Candy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Candy 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. Somerset leads with 216 Candys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.89x.

County Total Index
Somerset 216 12.89x
Hampshire 200 9.37x
Middlesex 133 1.28x
Surrey 73 1.44x
Dorset 72 10.54x
Devon 60 2.77x
Gloucestershire 56 2.74x
Wiltshire 54 5.87x
Kent 32 0.90x
Angus 19 1.97x
Glamorgan 19 1.05x
Cornwall 18 1.53x
Warwickshire 16 0.61x
Berkshire 12 1.54x
Leicestershire 11 0.95x
Worcestershire 11 0.81x
Essex 8 0.39x
Hertfordshire 8 1.12x
Lincolnshire 8 0.48x
Monmouthshire 8 1.06x
Sussex 8 0.46x
Northamptonshire 4 0.41x
Lanarkshire 3 0.09x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.30x
Durham 2 0.06x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Royal Navy 2 1.61x
Staffordshire 2 0.06x
Channel Islands 1 0.32x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.48x
Kincardineshire 1 0.79x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Suffolk 1 0.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmersdon in Somerset leads with 49 Candys recorded in 1881 and an index of 591.79x.

Place Total Index
Kilmersdon 49 591.79x
South Stoneham 32 69.14x
Southampton St Mary 32 23.85x
Lambeth 28 3.09x
Cheltenham 19 12.06x
Breamore 18 891.09x
St Marylebone London 17 3.06x
Millbrook 16 29.78x
Lyncombe Widcombe 15 34.19x
St Just In Penwith 15 65.62x
Bathhampton 14 958.90x
Hackney London 14 2.40x
Southampton All Sts 14 38.25x
Birmingham 13 1.49x
Deptford St Paul 13 4.75x
Kensington London 13 2.25x
Mile End Old Town London 13 5.87x
Bow London 12 9.06x
Camberwell 12 1.80x
Sedghill 12 1764.71x
Stoke Damerel 12 7.91x
Stratton On The Fosse 12 1212.12x
Tyneham 12 1224.49x
Houghton 11 714.29x
Bermondsey 10 3.23x
Donhead St Andrew 10 353.36x
Tiverton 10 26.80x
West Harptree 10 598.80x
Highweek 9 116.58x
Leicester St Mary 9 9.65x
Montrose 9 15.40x
Roath 9 10.93x
St Peter Le Poer London 9 1000.00x
Tenbury 9 120.97x
Wotton Under Edge 9 74.81x
Corfe Castle 8 126.38x
Holcombe 8 418.85x
Iwerne Courtnay 8 173.91x
Portsea 8 1.91x
Shepton Mallet 8 42.55x
Shoreditch London 8 1.77x
Stoke Wake 8 2105.26x
Street 8 88.30x
Walcot 8 8.97x
Brant Broughton 7 289.26x
Doulting 7 324.07x
Gillingham 7 9.56x
Mere 7 66.92x
Mottisfont 7 378.38x
Portishead 7 56.22x
Stanton Drew 7 426.83x
Bedminster 6 3.81x
Bristol St George 6 6.36x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 8.81x
Edzell 6 203.39x
Hemington 6 288.46x
Kingston 6 201.34x
Plymouth Charles The 6 6.29x
Ryde 6 13.09x
Sampford Peverell 6 260.87x
Sixpenny Handley 6 179.64x
St Faith Winchester 6 60.36x
Twerton 6 34.72x
Wanstrow 6 508.47x
Bathwick 5 26.97x
Bishop Stortford 5 20.87x
Christchurch 5 10.81x
Fifehead Neville 5 1162.79x
Hinton On The Green 5 781.25x
Holdenhurst 5 8.94x
Lewisham 5 2.64x
St Mary Extra 5 29.12x
St Pancras London 5 0.60x
Westbury On Trym 5 7.23x
Westminster St James 5 4.67x
Whatley 5 324.68x
Wimborne 5 60.46x
Woking 5 16.36x
Lymington 4 25.51x
St Martin In Fields 4 6.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 49
Mary 49
Sarah 22
Emily 21
Alice 20
Eliza 18
Ellen 17
Emma 16
Jane 16
Annie 12
Caroline 12
Charlotte 12
Florence 12
Fanny 11
Ann 10
Kate 10
Martha 9
Julia 8
Louisa 8
Clara 7
Frances 7
Harriett 7
Lucy 7
Ada 6
Hannah 6
Harriet 6
Jessie 6
Bessie 5
Ethel 5
Amy 4
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Matilda 4
Minnie 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Nellie 3
Olive 3
Rosa 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Bridget 2
Celia 2
Kathleen 2
Mabel 2
Margaret 2
Margarett 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 63
James 37
Henry 35
George 33
John 33
Thomas 21
Charles 20
Joseph 13
Walter 13
Alfred 12
Arthur 10
Frederick 10
Albert 9
Richard 9
Edwin 8
Edward 7
Ernest 7
Frank 7
Herbert 7
Robert 6
Francis 5
Fred 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Alexander 2
Benjamin 2
Cecil 2
Charlie 2
Chas. 2
Chs. 2
Clifford 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Fredrick 2
Howard 2
Isaac 2
Sidney 2
Theophilus 2
Thos. 2
Aurthur 1
Austin 1
Azariah 1
Clement 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Garnet 1
Geo.Thomas 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Candy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Candy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,064 people were recorded with the Candy surname. That placed it at #3,711 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Candy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,024 in 2016. That gives Candy a modern rank of #5,694.

What does the Candy surname mean?

A surname derived from the confectionery trade or a seller of candy/sweets.

What does the Candy map show?

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