NameCensus.

UK surname

Caufield

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "open land by a hill".

In the 1881 census there were 206 people recorded with the Caufield surname, ranking it #12,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #12,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harrington, Manchester and Oxted. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gravesham, Chorley and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caufield is 206 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.9%.

1881 census count

206

Ranked #12,596

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1881

206 bearers

Map years

4

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caufield had 206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 206 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Caufield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caufield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caufield 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 82 #23,321
1881 historical 206 #12,596
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 99 #22,999
1911 historical 79 #24,903
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 156 #21,235
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 114 #25,664
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 121 #25,133
2007 modern 130 #24,389
2008 modern 132 #24,476
2009 modern 129 #25,314
2010 modern 137 #24,907
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Caufields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harrington, Manchester, Oxted, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gravesham, Chorley, Tandridge, Wycombe and Northumberland. 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 Harrington Cumberland
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Oxted Surrey
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gravesham 011 Gravesham
2 Chorley 003 Chorley
3 Tandridge 003 Tandridge
4 Wycombe 007 Wycombe
5 Northumberland 015 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caufield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caufield

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Caufield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Caufield household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Caufield 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

Caufield is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Caufield falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caufield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Caufield

The surname Caufield originated in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "calu" meaning "bare" or "bald" and "feld" meaning "field" or "open land." The name likely referred to someone who lived or worked on a bare or treeless field.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Calufeld." The Hundred Rolls were a series of inquisitions conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I, providing valuable information about landowners and their properties.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various spellings, such as "Calfeld," "Caufeld," and "Cawfeld," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. The Caufield family is also mentioned in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Caufield (1551-1627), an English soldier and courtier who served under Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. He played a significant role in the Nine Years' War in Ireland and was appointed Lord President of Connaught in 1622.

Another prominent figure was James Caufield (1700-1776), an English-born American soldier and surveyor. He served in the French and Indian War and later became a supporter of the American Revolution, representing Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the Provincial Convention of 1776.

In the literary world, Joan Caufield (1922-1976) was an American actress best known for her roles in films such as "The Road to Utopia" (1945) and "The Unsuspected" (1947). She had a successful career in Hollywood during the 1940s and 1950s.

The name Caufield has also been associated with various places in England, including Caufield Hall in Wigan, Lancashire, and Caufield Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely originated from the surname itself, reflecting the historical presence of the Caufield family in those areas.

Throughout history, the surname Caufield has been subject to various spellings, including Caulfield, Caufeild, and Cawfield, reflecting the fluidity of name conventions in earlier times. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and connection to its English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caufield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caufield 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 55 Caufields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 55 2.30x
Cumberland 17 9.78x
Kent 15 2.18x
Renfrewshire 14 8.95x
Yorkshire 13 0.65x
Cheshire 12 2.69x
Lanarkshire 12 1.84x
Middlesex 11 0.54x
Dunbartonshire 7 12.90x
Midlothian 7 2.59x
Surrey 7 0.71x
Channel Islands 6 10.03x
Durham 5 0.83x
Aberdeenshire 4 2.14x
Angus 4 2.14x
Sussex 4 1.17x
Argyllshire 3 5.34x
Lincolnshire 2 0.62x
West Lothian 2 6.58x
Wigtownshire 2 7.46x
Worcestershire 2 0.76x
Isle of Man 1 2.67x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.37x
Suffolk 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 12 Caufields recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.25x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 12 8.25x
Beckermet St John 9 2093.02x
Manchester 9 8.35x
West Greenock 9 32.04x
St Mary Cray 8 606.06x
Altrincham 7 89.86x
Dumbarton 7 92.72x
Hulme 7 13.99x
Salford 7 9.93x
Seaton 7 344.83x
West Calder 7 131.33x
Acton 6 50.68x
Greenwich 6 18.67x
Abbey 5 20.94x
Glasgow 5 4.31x
Pennington In Leigh 5 108.70x
St Helier 5 25.67x
York St George 5 316.46x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 11.43x
Bletchingley 4 312.50x
Bothwell 4 22.59x
Brighton 4 5.82x
Everton 4 5.24x
Keighley 4 18.75x
St Luke London 4 12.35x
St Vigeans 4 39.60x
Warrington 4 14.08x
Bishop Auckland 3 37.22x
Croydon 3 5.49x
Dalserf 3 46.01x
Huddersfield 3 10.29x
Kilninian Kilmore 3 174.42x
Great Malvern 2 36.36x
Lower Bebington 2 75.47x
Stretford 2 15.17x
Uphall 2 59.88x
Antrobus 1 322.58x
Bury 1 3.65x
Chatham 1 5.28x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 8.31x
Gorleston 1 16.00x
Hayton 1 101.01x
Hendon 1 13.76x
Higher Bebington 1 35.09x
Kirkdale 1 2.48x
Kirkmaiden 1 58.82x
Lancaster 1 7.01x
Newton In Macclesfield 1 2000.00x
Onchan 1 9.26x
Redbourne 1 400.00x
Richmond 1 31.95x
Snenton 1 9.35x
St Sampson 1 37.04x
Stamford St John 1 227.27x
Stranton 1 4.95x
Walmersley Cum 1 26.11x
Wigtown 1 65.36x
Winlaton 1 17.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Annie 5
Margaret 5
Emily 4
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Emma 2
Rebecca 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Bella 1
Bridget 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elisabeth 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Georgiani 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jeanie 1
Kaziah 1
Louisa 1
Margrat 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matthew 1
Mgt. 1
Rose 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Wilma 1
Winfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 11
James 7
Michael 7
Henry 5
William 4
George 3
Thos. 3
Hugh 2
Robert 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bartholomew 1
Charles 1
Clarence 1
David 1
Edward 1
Evan 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Nickolas 1
Oliver 1
Pat 1
Patrick 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Thos.E. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Caufield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caufield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 206 people were recorded with the Caufield surname. That placed it at #12,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caufield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Caufield a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Caufield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "open land by a hill".

What does the Caufield map show?

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