NameCensus.

UK surname

Cass

An English occupational surname for a maker of casks, barrels, or chests, derived from the Middle English "casse".

In the 1881 census there were 2,120 people recorded with the Cass surname, ranking it #2,084 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,651, ranked #2,518, down from #2,084 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Copeland and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cass is 2,827 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.0%.

1881 census count

2,120

Ranked #2,084

Modern count

2,651

2016, ranked #2,518

Peak year

1911

2,827 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cass had 2,120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,084 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,651 in 2016, ranked #2,518.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,827 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cass 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 1,392 #2,059
1861 historical 1,150 #2,446
1881 historical 2,120 #2,084
1891 historical 2,199 #2,127
1901 historical 2,591 #2,121
1911 historical 2,827 #1,843
1997 modern 2,672 #2,387
1998 modern 2,764 #2,403
1999 modern 2,765 #2,415
2000 modern 2,719 #2,438
2001 modern 2,689 #2,416
2002 modern 2,737 #2,427
2003 modern 2,663 #2,433
2004 modern 2,628 #2,466
2005 modern 2,568 #2,482
2006 modern 2,540 #2,515
2007 modern 2,583 #2,489
2008 modern 2,633 #2,467
2009 modern 2,678 #2,479
2010 modern 2,711 #2,514
2011 modern 2,693 #2,495
2012 modern 2,675 #2,477
2013 modern 2,667 #2,519
2014 modern 2,683 #2,522
2015 modern 2,651 #2,531
2016 modern 2,651 #2,518

Geography

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Where Cass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, St Giles Camberwell and Scarborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Copeland, Cornwall and Isle of Wight. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)
5 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 008 Ryedale
2 Copeland 004 Copeland
3 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
4 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
5 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cass

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Cass is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Cass 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

Cass falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Cass

The surname Cass has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "casse," which means "empty" or "hollow." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for a thin or slender person.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cass appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1176, where it is spelled "Casse." This indicates that the name was present in England by the late 12th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there is a record of a place called "Cassa" in Hertfordshire, which may have contributed to the development of the surname Cass. Additionally, the name is similar to the Old English word "casce," meaning "basket" or "container."

The surname Cass has been found in various historical records throughout the centuries. One notable example is Sir John Cass (1661-1718), a British merchant and philanthropist who founded several schools and charities in London. Another prominent figure was Lewis Cass (1782-1866), an American military officer, politician, and diplomat who served as the Secretary of War under President Andrew Jackson.

Other historical individuals with the surname Cass include:

1. Sir John Cass (1550-1615), an English merchant and Member of Parliament. 2. Jonathan Cass (1670-1749), an English Quaker minister and writer. 3. Elizabeth Cass (1778-1853), an American pioneer and the founder of Cass County, Michigan. 4. Lewis Cass, Jr. (1782-1866), an American politician and son of Lewis Cass. 5. George Cass (1918-1992), an American actor and playwright.

The surname Cass has been present in various regions of England, including Lincolnshire, Hertfordshire, and London. Over time, it has spread to other parts of the world, particularly through English migration and colonization.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cass 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 785 Cass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.83x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 785 3.83x
Lancashire 231 0.94x
Hampshire 196 4.62x
Middlesex 154 0.74x
Essex 148 3.62x
Durham 115 1.87x
Surrey 112 1.11x
Cumberland 107 6.00x
Kent 56 0.79x
Hertfordshire 41 2.87x
Nottinghamshire 29 1.04x
Sussex 27 0.77x
Cheshire 18 0.39x
Northumberland 17 0.55x
Lincolnshire 10 0.30x
Selkirkshire 9 4.80x
Somerset 8 0.24x
Wiltshire 8 0.44x
Glamorgan 7 0.19x
Northamptonshire 7 0.36x
Oxfordshire 6 0.47x
Warwickshire 5 0.10x
Gloucestershire 4 0.10x
Midlothian 4 0.14x
Suffolk 4 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.06x
Royal Navy 2 0.81x
Worcestershire 2 0.07x
Anglesey 1 0.27x
Angus 1 0.05x
Bedfordshire 1 0.09x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Herefordshire 1 0.12x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Renfrewshire 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 70 Cass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 70 6.04x
Ryde 67 73.47x
Camberwell 55 4.16x
Holy Trinity 52 10.53x
Bury 44 15.67x
Scarborough 32 17.16x
Mirfield 31 27.51x
Sculcoates 31 9.53x
Portsea 28 3.37x
Sandon 28 848.48x
Stranton 27 13.02x
Islington London 25 1.25x
Whitby 23 33.26x
Little Hallingbury 22 532.69x
Stockton On Tees 22 7.41x
Carisbrooke 21 35.64x
Bishop Stortford 20 41.95x
Fulham London 20 6.66x
Lambeth 20 1.11x
Linthorpe 18 14.70x
Ripon 18 37.81x
Toxteth Park 18 2.16x
Everton 16 2.04x
Liverpool 15 1.01x
Manchester 15 1.36x
Brigham 14 166.27x
Little Waltham 14 340.63x
Nottingham St Mary 14 1.94x
Barwick In Elmet 13 82.70x
Cockermouth 13 34.63x
Crigglestone 13 65.79x
Crosscanonby 13 22.05x
Elton 13 15.31x
Horton In Bradford 13 4.06x
Bethnal Green London 12 1.33x
Broomfield 12 186.92x
Southampton St Mary 12 4.50x
St Marylebone London 12 1.09x
Wingate 12 28.41x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 11 14.76x
Barnsley 11 5.20x
Birkenhead 11 3.02x
Bramley In Bramley 11 14.00x
St George Hanover Square 11 3.01x
Hampstead London 10 3.10x
Heeley 10 16.04x
Kirkoswald 10 238.10x
Manningham 10 3.96x
North Bierley 10 9.03x
Worsley 10 6.60x
York St Helen On Walls 10 297.62x
Barmbrough 9 119.84x
Batley 9 4.61x
Doncaster 9 6.00x
Dover St Mary Virgin 9 13.16x
Lancing 9 93.85x
Lower Dunsforth 9 1250.00x
Melrose 9 19.08x
Mile End Old Town London 9 2.04x
Newington 9 1.18x
Salford 9 1.25x
Settrington 9 229.01x
Shoreditch London 9 1.00x
Thornton In Fylde 9 16.74x
Tottenham 9 2.73x
Woolwich 9 3.45x
York St Saviour 9 45.94x
Aldwark 8 506.33x
Broxbourne 8 28.28x
Chelmsford 8 11.41x
Freshwater 8 41.24x
Hatfield Broad Oak 8 57.97x
Rawreth 8 340.43x
Riccall 8 143.88x
Rillington 8 128.62x
Sheffield 8 1.22x
Skegness 8 84.30x
Ventnor 8 19.82x
Wakefield 8 5.08x
Westoe 8 2.29x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 141
John 127
Thomas 81
George 72
James 71
Charles 46
Henry 40
Joseph 40
Alfred 27
Richard 25
Robert 25
Arthur 21
Frederick 19
Albert 16
Harry 16
Edward 13
Walter 12
Ernest 11
Frank 9
Herbert 9
Samuel 9
Francis 7
Fred 7
David 5
Stephen 5
Thos. 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Cornelius 4
Fredk. 4
Geo. 4
Tom 4
Christopher 3
Edmund 3
Isaac 3
Joe 3
Jonathan 3
Joshua 3
Leonard 3
Lewis 3
Martin 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Daniel 2
Edwd. 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Oswald 2
Patrick 2
Peter 2

FAQ

Cass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,120 people were recorded with the Cass surname. That placed it at #2,084 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,651 in 2016. That gives Cass a modern rank of #2,518.

What does the Cass surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a maker of casks, barrels, or chests, derived from the Middle English "casse".

What does the Cass map show?

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