NameCensus.

UK surname

Catherine

A surname derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning "pure one".

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Catherine surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 117, ranked #28,033, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Bournemouth and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catherine is 178 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 225.0%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

117

2016, ranked #28,033

Peak year

1861

178 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catherine had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016, ranked #28,033.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 178 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Catherine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catherine surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catherine 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 65 #26,917
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 53 #32,329
1998 modern 57 #32,226
1999 modern 62 #31,893
2000 modern 65 #31,641
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 64 #32,007
2003 modern 62 #32,258
2004 modern 64 #32,286
2005 modern 63 #32,602
2006 modern 72 #32,059
2007 modern 77 #31,856
2008 modern 81 #31,713
2009 modern 78 #32,471
2010 modern 83 #32,396
2011 modern 73 #33,230
2012 modern 86 #32,297
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 101 #30,855
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 117 #28,033

Geography

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Where Catherines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Bournemouth, Kirklees, South Thornliebank and Woodfarm and Denbighshire. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 013 Pendle
2 Bournemouth 024 Bournemouth
3 Kirklees 045 Kirklees
4 South Thornliebank and Woodfarm East Renfrewshire
5 Denbighshire 008 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catherine

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catherine

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Catherine, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Catherine surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Catherine 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Catherine 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

Catherine 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

Catherine falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Catherine is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Catherine, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Catherine

The surname Catherine is of English origin, derived from the ancient Greek name "Katharina," meaning "pure" or "clear." This name gained popularity during the Middle Ages, especially after the 12th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Catherine can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, an extensive survey of land ownership and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Several entries in this document mention individuals bearing this surname, indicating its presence in various parts of the country.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Catherine was Robert Catherine, a landowner from Gloucestershire, England, whose name appears in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. These rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer during the reign of King Henry II.

In the 13th century, the surname Catherine was found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire. Variants of the spelling, such as Catheryne and Catheren, were also common during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Catherine include Sir John Catherine (c. 1480-1545), a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1520. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Catherine (1568-1619), an English lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1616 until his death.

In the 16th century, the surname Catherine was associated with several place names, such as Catherington in Hampshire and Catherinefield in Wiltshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Catherine who had settled in those areas.

Other notable bearers of the surname Catherine throughout history include:

1. William Catherine (1726-1799), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 2. Mary Catherine (1779-1855), an English novelist and playwright known for her works depicting the lives of the landed gentry. 3. Sir Charles Catherine (1832-1901), a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1895. 4. Edith Catherine (1875-1964), a renowned British botanist and mycologist who made significant contributions to the study of fungi. 5. James Catherine (1902-1988), an English cricketer who played for the Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the 1920s and 1930s.

While the surname Catherine has its roots in England, it has since spread worldwide and is found in various countries and cultures, reflecting the global reach and diversity of this historic name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catherine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catherine 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Catherines recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 14 3.12x
Channel Islands 9 67.67x
Surrey 8 3.66x
Lanarkshire 5 3.45x
Lancashire 5 0.94x
Kent 2 1.31x
Argyllshire 1 8.01x
Royal Navy 1 18.69x
Yorkshire 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. Newington in Surrey leads with 8 Catherines recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.25x.

Place Total Index
Newington 8 48.25x
Bromley London 6 60.79x
Shoreditch London 5 25.71x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 5 326.80x
St Peter Port 4 162.60x
St Saviour 4 547.95x
Blantyre 3 198.68x
Bethnal Green London 2 10.26x
Glasgow 2 7.76x
Greenwich 1 14.01x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 126.58x
Maidstone 1 21.93x
Pontefract 1 104.17x
Royal Navy 1 21.88x
Spitalfields London 1 29.59x
St Owen 1 285.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Mary 2
Virginie 2
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Celestine 1
Dina 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Heneretta 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Wife 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 3
William 3
Arthur 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Eugene 1
Henri 1
Isiah 1
Jean 1
Peter 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

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 Catherine households.

FAQ

Catherine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catherine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Catherine surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catherine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 117 in 2016. That gives Catherine a modern rank of #28,033.

What does the Catherine surname mean?

A surname derived from the Greek name Aikaterine, meaning "pure one".

What does the Catherine map show?

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