NameCensus.

UK surname

Case

An occupational surname referring to a maker or supplier of boxes, chests, or other containers.

In the 1881 census there were 2,978 people recorded with the Case surname, ranking it #1,500 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,503, ranked #1,936, down from #1,500 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Bishopston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wrexham, The Vale of Glamorgan and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Case is 3,651 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.6%.

1881 census count

2,978

Ranked #1,500

Modern count

3,503

2016, ranked #1,936

Peak year

1911

3,651 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Case had 2,978 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,500 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,503 in 2016, ranked #1,936.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,651 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Case surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Case surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Case 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 1,767 #1,633
1861 historical 1,711 #1,678
1881 historical 2,978 #1,500
1891 historical 2,897 #1,628
1901 historical 3,177 #1,768
1911 historical 3,651 #1,431
1997 modern 3,444 #1,880
1998 modern 3,574 #1,889
1999 modern 3,599 #1,891
2000 modern 3,598 #1,887
2001 modern 3,489 #1,897
2002 modern 3,512 #1,931
2003 modern 3,463 #1,919
2004 modern 3,477 #1,905
2005 modern 3,399 #1,913
2006 modern 3,383 #1,922
2007 modern 3,398 #1,937
2008 modern 3,445 #1,926
2009 modern 3,556 #1,917
2010 modern 3,624 #1,925
2011 modern 3,548 #1,939
2012 modern 3,506 #1,923
2013 modern 3,553 #1,934
2014 modern 3,574 #1,934
2015 modern 3,510 #1,946
2016 modern 3,503 #1,936

Geography

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Where Cases are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Bishopston and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wrexham, The Vale of Glamorgan, Knowsley and St. Helens. 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 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bishopston Wiltshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wrexham 017 Wrexham
2 The Vale of Glamorgan 010 Vale of Glamorgan
3 The Vale of Glamorgan 013 Vale of Glamorgan
4 Knowsley 009 Knowsley
5 St. Helens 004 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Case

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Case

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

Case is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Case falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Case

The surname Case is an English occupational name derived from the Old French word 'cas', meaning a small house or cottage. It likely originated in the medieval period, referring to individuals who lived in a small dwelling or hamlet.

The earliest known record of the surname Case dates back to the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is listed as 'Atte Case'. This early spelling suggests a connection to a specific place or residence. Over time, the name evolved to its modern form, Case.

In the 13th century, the surname Case appeared in various records across England, particularly in Essex, Hertfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. It is believed that these areas were among the first places where the name became established.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and population in England compiled in 1086, does not contain the surname Case. However, it does mention several place names with similar roots, such as Caistor in Lincolnshire, which may have influenced the development of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Case was John Case, born around 1350 in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. He was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the rector of several parishes in the late 14th century.

Another notable figure was Sir John Case (1563-1600), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Justice of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 16th century, the surname Case gained prominence in the county of Kent, where several families adopted it. One such individual was Thomas Case (1598-1682), an English Puritan minister and theologian known for his involvement in the Westminster Assembly.

During the 17th century, the Case surname spread to the American colonies, with some of the earliest recorded instances being John Case (1622-1691), who settled in Stamford, Connecticut, and Joseph Case (1653-1725), a prominent merchant and landowner in Rhode Island.

In the 18th century, Sir John Case (1732-1808) was a notable British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout history, the surname Case has been associated with various occupations, including scholars, lawyers, clergymen, merchants, and military personnel, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Case families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Case 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. Lancashire leads with 461 Cases recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.33x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 461 1.33x
Middlesex 290 0.99x
Somerset 224 4.77x
Dorset 185 9.66x
Wiltshire 182 7.05x
Surrey 173 1.22x
Kent 145 1.46x
Hampshire 118 1.97x
Norfolk 104 2.32x
Yorkshire 104 0.36x
Devon 94 1.55x
Gloucestershire 87 1.52x
Warwickshire 72 0.98x
Glamorgan 59 1.16x
Berkshire 58 2.65x
Nottinghamshire 45 1.14x
Sussex 45 0.91x
Staffordshire 42 0.43x
Durham 40 0.46x
Bedfordshire 36 2.38x
Cheshire 31 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 30 1.62x
Essex 29 0.50x
Worcestershire 28 0.73x
Oxfordshire 24 1.33x
Monmouthshire 23 1.09x
Northamptonshire 23 0.84x
Channel Islands 21 2.43x
Shropshire 21 0.83x
Leicestershire 20 0.62x
Northumberland 18 0.41x
Huntingdonshire 17 2.93x
Westmorland 17 2.65x
Lincolnshire 15 0.32x
Suffolk 15 0.42x
Denbighshire 14 1.27x
Derbyshire 14 0.31x
Buckinghamshire 11 0.62x
Cumberland 9 0.36x
Hertfordshire 9 0.45x
Cornwall 8 0.24x
Ayrshire 6 0.27x
Renfrewshire 5 0.22x
Royal Navy 4 1.15x
Lanarkshire 3 0.03x
Midlothian 3 0.08x
Brecknockshire 2 0.34x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.16x
Fife 1 0.06x
Flintshire 1 0.13x
Herefordshire 1 0.08x
Isle of Man 1 0.18x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.11x
Rutland 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eccleston In Prescot in Lancashire leads with 50 Cases recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.76x.

Place Total Index
Eccleston In Prescot 50 28.76x
Prescot 49 78.24x
West Derby 46 4.54x
Camberwell 44 2.36x
Windle 38 19.50x
Bedminster 33 7.48x
Sheffield 32 3.48x
Islington London 31 1.10x
Nottingham St Mary 31 3.05x
Shaftesbury St James 30 300.00x
Battersea 26 2.42x
Broadwinsor 26 207.17x
Portsea 26 2.22x
Toxteth Park 24 2.05x
Coventry St Michael 23 9.73x
Bishopstone 22 178.72x
Widnes 22 8.81x
Corfe Mullen 21 302.59x
St Pancras London 21 0.89x
Westbury 21 34.86x
Chelsea London 20 2.27x
Ulverston 20 19.83x
West Ham 19 1.49x
Withycombe 19 681.00x
Easton In Gordano 18 95.19x
Llandaff 18 10.65x
Sutton 18 15.50x
Westbury On Trym 18 9.28x
Wolborough 18 23.44x
Aston 17 0.84x
Clerkenwell London 17 2.47x
Parr 17 13.72x
Manchester 16 1.03x
Shoreditch London 16 1.26x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 15 52.47x
Cardiff St John 15 9.04x
Gateshead 15 2.31x
Plumstead 15 4.52x
Broad Chalk 14 191.00x
Chadderton 14 8.27x
Kingston On Thames 14 4.10x
Nantwich 14 18.70x
Bingley 13 7.06x
Birmingham 13 0.53x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 13 2.41x
Hindley 13 8.80x
Lambeth 13 0.51x
Leicester St Margaret 13 1.65x
March 13 21.00x
Chard 12 21.09x
Hilgay 12 71.13x
Letcombe Bassett 12 542.99x
Paddington London 12 1.12x
Shaftesbury Holy Trinity 12 121.46x
Trowbridge 12 10.52x
Wandsworth 12 4.27x
Brighton 11 1.11x
Clifton 11 3.80x
Croydon 11 1.39x
Hove 11 5.09x
Maidstone 11 3.71x
Nether Hallam 11 2.81x
Newington 11 1.02x
Poole St James 11 15.28x
Putney 11 8.27x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 8.71x
St Peter Port 11 6.88x
Tuttington 11 555.56x
Wolverhampton 11 1.45x
Brampton Bierlow 10 27.00x
Bristol St Paul In 10 6.56x
Chorlton On Medlock 10 1.82x
Eltham 10 17.14x
Gillingham 10 4.87x
Henstridge 10 77.04x
Plumpton 10 214.59x
Shipton Under Wychwood 10 86.21x
St Andrewthe Less 10 4.73x
West Bromwich 10 1.77x
Whiston 10 37.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 203
Elizabeth 110
Sarah 91
Eliza 54
Ellen 53
Ann 50
Jane 50
Emma 47
Alice 46
Emily 42
Annie 41
Margaret 36
Martha 27
Fanny 24
Caroline 23
Charlotte 21
Florence 21
Edith 19
Louisa 19
Harriet 18
Maria 18
Ada 17
Susan 17
Catherine 16
Hannah 16
Clara 14
Esther 13
Harriett 13
Lucy 12
Agnes 11
Anne 9
Bessie 9
Sophia 9
Frances 8
Gertrude 8
Kate 8
Mabel 8
Julia 7
Rebecca 7
Rosa 7
Amy 6
Blanche 6
Lydia 6
Rose 6
Amelia 5
Beatrice 5
Betsy 5
Matilda 5
Minnie 5
Ruth 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 162
John 138
James 113
George 106
Thomas 101
Henry 99
Charles 59
Joseph 44
Robert 40
Frederick 37
Arthur 31
Edward 30
Walter 29
Samuel 26
Alfred 25
Harry 21
Richard 21
Albert 20
Herbert 17
Frank 16
Ernest 14
Edwin 10
Francis 10
Peter 9
Philip 8
Benjamin 7
Fred 7
Sidney 7
Tom 7
Edgar 6
Job 6
Isaac 5
Percy 5
Wm. 5
Caleb 4
David 4
Edmund 4
Chas. 3
Daniel 3
Emanuel 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
G. 3
Geo. 3
Jacob 3
Jonathan 3
Leonard 3
Matthew 3
Maurice 3
Thos. 3

FAQ

Case surname: questions and answers

How common was the Case surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,978 people were recorded with the Case surname. That placed it at #1,500 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Case surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,503 in 2016. That gives Case a modern rank of #1,936.

What does the Case surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a maker or supplier of boxes, chests, or other containers.

What does the Case map show?

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