NameCensus.

UK surname

Catchpole

A surname derived from Old English indicating an officer who caught and arrested criminals.

In the 1881 census there were 1,933 people recorded with the Catchpole surname, ranking it #2,260 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,363, ranked #2,773, down from #2,260 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kessingland, London parishes and Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney and South Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catchpole is 2,756 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.

1881 census count

1,933

Ranked #2,260

Modern count

2,363

2016, ranked #2,773

Peak year

1911

2,756 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catchpole had 1,933 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,260 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,363 in 2016, ranked #2,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,756 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Catchpole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catchpole surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catchpole 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 1,162 #2,426
1861 historical 1,291 #2,207
1881 historical 1,933 #2,260
1891 historical 2,122 #2,196
1901 historical 2,490 #2,193
1911 historical 2,756 #1,883
1997 modern 2,447 #2,570
1998 modern 2,557 #2,555
1999 modern 2,630 #2,509
2000 modern 2,599 #2,526
2001 modern 2,609 #2,479
2002 modern 2,611 #2,521
2003 modern 2,522 #2,545
2004 modern 2,509 #2,564
2005 modern 2,470 #2,566
2006 modern 2,408 #2,623
2007 modern 2,412 #2,648
2008 modern 2,411 #2,658
2009 modern 2,490 #2,654
2010 modern 2,531 #2,671
2011 modern 2,488 #2,680
2012 modern 2,388 #2,725
2013 modern 2,423 #2,732
2014 modern 2,430 #2,742
2015 modern 2,389 #2,759
2016 modern 2,363 #2,773

Geography

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Where Catchpoles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kessingland, London parishes, Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney and South Norfolk. 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 Kessingland Suffolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lakenham , Eaton St Andrew, Town Close, St Stephen, St Peter Mancroft, St Giles, St Andrew, St John Norfolk
5 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 012 Waveney
2 Waveney 006 Waveney
3 Waveney 004 Waveney
4 Waveney 008 Waveney
5 South Norfolk 012 South Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catchpole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catchpole

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

Catchpole is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Catchpole

The surname Catchpole is an occupational name derived from the Old English words "cache" meaning to catch and "pole" referring to a staff or pole used for catching or herding animals. It originates from England, where it first appeared in the early 13th century.

The name suggests its earliest bearers were employed as animal catchers or herders, possibly using poles with nooses or hooks to capture stray or wandering livestock. It was particularly common in the rural areas of southern and eastern England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1260, which mentions a Robert Cacchepol. The Suffolk Feet of Fines from 1310 also lists a William Cachepol.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Cachepol, Catchepoll, and Cachepole, reflecting regional dialects and phonetic variations. The modern spelling of Catchpole became more standardized by the 16th century.

Notable early bearers of the name include John Catchpole, a prominent merchant and member of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York, who lived around 1450. Another early record is of a William Catchpole, born in 1534 in Friston, Suffolk, who served as a church warden in his local parish.

During the English Civil War, a Captain John Catchpole (1610-1680) fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He was later appointed as a Commissioner for the sale of Crown lands after the execution of King Charles I.

In the 18th century, a family of Catchpoles from Norfolk gained some prominence, including Thomas Catchpole (1727-1798), a prosperous landowner and Justice of the Peace, and his son, Reverend Thomas Catchpole (1764-1838), who was a notable Anglican clergyman and author.

Another significant figure was Edward Catchpole (1813-1897), a renowned landscape painter from Suffolk, known for his depictions of rural English scenery. His works can be found in several prestigious art collections.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catchpole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catchpole 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. Suffolk leads with 626 Catchpoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.30x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 626 27.30x
Norfolk 420 14.51x
Middlesex 288 1.53x
Surrey 141 1.54x
Kent 65 1.01x
Yorkshire 65 0.35x
Durham 59 1.05x
Essex 59 1.59x
Derbyshire 41 1.39x
Lancashire 22 0.10x
Warwickshire 22 0.46x
Northumberland 21 0.75x
Hertfordshire 16 1.23x
Glamorgan 13 0.40x
Somerset 10 0.33x
Cheshire 9 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 8 0.67x
Midlothian 7 0.28x
Northamptonshire 6 0.34x
Sussex 6 0.19x
Cornwall 5 0.23x
Hampshire 5 0.13x
Lanarkshire 5 0.08x
Leicestershire 3 0.14x
Flintshire 2 0.40x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Bedfordshire 1 0.10x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.09x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kessingland in Suffolk leads with 63 Catchpoles recorded in 1881 and an index of 795.45x.

Place Total Index
Kessingland 63 795.45x
St George Hanover Square 43 12.96x
Ipswich St Margaret 39 50.12x
St Pancras London 37 2.44x
Great Yarmouth 36 15.01x
Lowestoft 36 33.23x
Camberwell 29 2.41x
Chesterfield 29 26.24x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 27 264.97x
Deptford St Paul 25 5.05x
Ipswich St Helen 25 91.98x
Hessett 24 869.57x
Ipswich St Peter 24 77.75x
Lakenham 24 58.35x
Croydon 23 4.52x
Islington London 22 1.21x
Rockland St Mary 20 699.30x
Heigham 19 12.23x
Ormesby St Margaret W 19 261.71x
Battersea 18 2.60x
Cowpen 18 27.91x
Erith 18 28.45x
Ipswich St Mathew 18 28.01x
Mile End Old Town London 18 4.49x
Shimpling 18 1592.92x
Westoe 18 5.67x
Hedenham 17 939.23x
Ipswich St Clement 17 29.16x
Hackney London 16 1.52x
St Marylebone London 16 1.59x
Rotherhithe 15 6.45x
Woodton 15 487.01x
Aston 14 1.07x
Newington 14 2.01x
St George In East London 14 7.91x
West Ham 14 1.71x
Wetheringsett Cum 14 210.21x
Ipswich St Mary Key 13 218.49x
Leiston 13 82.54x
Liverpool 13 0.96x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 12 6.90x
Ditchingham 12 173.16x
Bredfield 11 395.68x
Bungay St Mary 11 96.83x
Norwich St James 11 48.44x
Ashcott 10 215.98x
Bungay Holy Trinity 10 84.96x
Catton 10 206.61x
Frimley 10 38.27x
Gissing 10 341.30x
Kingston On Thames 10 4.54x
Shadwell London 10 18.98x
Stowmarket 10 37.74x
Thorpe Next Norwich 10 32.59x
Tunstall 10 251.89x
Uggeshall 10 621.12x
Framlingham 9 55.28x
Lambeth 9 0.55x
Penarth 9 28.09x
Wanstead 9 13.83x
Whittington 9 22.07x
Woodbridge 9 30.70x
Wreningham 9 286.62x
Bengeo 8 53.12x
Chelmondiston 8 143.63x
Chelsea London 8 1.41x
Dallinghoo 8 412.37x
Dickleburgh 8 149.81x
Hornchurch 8 43.91x
Lewisham 8 2.34x
Middlesbrough 8 3.29x
Monks Coppenhall 8 5.10x
Monks Kirby 8 76.56x
Tibenham 8 196.08x
Carlton Colville 7 83.23x
Chester Le Street 7 16.28x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 7 39.75x
Sibton 7 221.52x
Sotherton 7 603.45x
Thorington 7 1044.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 100
Elizabeth 88
Sarah 63
Emma 45
Alice 39
Eliza 35
Emily 34
Ellen 33
Louisa 26
Annie 24
Harriet 24
Ann 22
Edith 21
Margaret 19
Hannah 17
Maria 17
Florence 15
Caroline 13
Jane 13
Rose 13
Charlotte 12
Laura 12
Martha 11
Rosa 11
Susan 10
Agnes 9
Harriett 9
Esther 8
Kate 8
Sophia 8
Amelia 7
Ada 6
Anna 6
Anne 6
Catherine 6
Clara 6
Eleanor 6
Ethel 6
Maud 6
Bessie 5
Gertrude 5
Lucy 5
Lydia 5
Amy 4
Jessie 4
Margret 4
Maryann 4
Matilda 4
Rebecca 4
Ruth 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 123
John 76
George 72
James 68
Charles 48
Robert 41
Thomas 35
Henry 32
Alfred 31
Edward 25
Frederick 22
Joseph 21
Samuel 21
Arthur 20
Walter 18
Harry 17
Ernest 11
Herbert 11
Albert 9
David 8
Elijah 6
Ephraim 6
Frank 6
Jonathan 6
Richard 6
Wm. 6
Amos 5
Daniel 5
Edgar 5
Francis 5
Fredk. 5
Geo. 5
Christopher 4
Edmund 4
Horace 4
Isaac 4
Jonas 4
Nathaniel 4
Alexander 3
Benjamin 3
Christmas 3
Eli 3
Fred 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Arther 2
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Noah 2
Philip 2

FAQ

Catchpole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catchpole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,933 people were recorded with the Catchpole surname. That placed it at #2,260 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catchpole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,363 in 2016. That gives Catchpole a modern rank of #2,773.

What does the Catchpole surname mean?

A surname derived from Old English indicating an officer who caught and arrested criminals.

What does the Catchpole map show?

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