UK surname
A surname derived from the Latin "causa" meaning purpose or reason.
In the 1881 census there were 72 people recorded with the Cause surname, ranking it #23,371 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #23,371 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Shoebury, South, London parishes and Brading. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cause is 126 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 48.6%.
1881 census count
72
Ranked #23,371
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
126 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cause surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cause surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 126 | #17,569 |
| 1881 | historical | 72 | #23,371 |
| 1891 | historical | 94 | #24,820 |
| 1901 | historical | 59 | #27,609 |
| 1911 | historical | 109 | #21,611 |
| 1997 | modern | 49 | #32,776 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 50 | #33,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 46 | #33,458 |
| 2001 | modern | 41 | #33,753 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 37 | #34,640 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 36 | #35,620 |
| 2011 | modern | 32 | #35,831 |
| 2012 | modern | 43 | #35,224 |
| 2013 | modern | 38 | #35,534 |
| 2014 | modern | 39 | #35,493 |
| 2015 | modern | 38 | #35,526 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Shoebury, South, London parishes, Brading, Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shoebury, South | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Brading | Hampshire |
| 4 | Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar | Essex |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cause surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Cause, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Cause surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cause household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Cause is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cause is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cause, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname CAUSE has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late 12th century as a variant spelling of the occupation surname "Cause", derived from the Old French word "caucer", meaning "to shoe". This name was initially given to those who made or repaired footwear, particularly shoes.
The earliest known record of the surname CAUSE appears in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland in 1195, where a certain John Cause is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already established itself in the northern counties of England by the late 12th century.
By the 13th century, the name had spread across various regions of England, as evidenced by its appearance in various records and manuscripts. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 include references to individuals with the surname CAUSE residing in counties such as Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire.
Notable individuals bearing the surname CAUSE throughout history include William CAUSE (c. 1510-1572), an English clergyman and academic who served as the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Another prominent figure was John CAUSE (1654-1700), a noted English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus.
In the 16th century, the name CAUSE also appears in various parish records and tax rolls, indicating its spread across different regions of England. For example, the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, contain entries for several individuals with the surname CAUSE during the late 1500s.
The surname CAUSE is also associated with several place names in England, such as Cause End in Oxfordshire and Cause Castle in Shropshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname CAUSE who once lived or owned property in those areas.
Other notable figures with the surname CAUSE include Sir Robert CAUSE (1578-1645), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire, and Thomas CAUSE (1737-1828), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.
Over the centuries, the surname CAUSE has undergone various spelling variations, including Caus, Caws, and Cawse, reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography and regional dialectal influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cause surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 35 Causes recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 35 | 25.25x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.63x |
| Devon | 8 | 5.47x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.14x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 0.72x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.39x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 1.26x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 3.47x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.51x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Prittlewell in Essex leads with 14 Causes recorded in 1881 and an index of 729.17x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Prittlewell | 14 | 729.17x |
| South Shoebury | 14 | 2500.00x |
| Bermondsey | 6 | 28.69x |
| Islington London | 5 | 7.35x |
| Chudleigh | 4 | 869.57x |
| Falsgrave | 4 | 388.35x |
| Great Wigborough | 4 | 6666.67x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 3 | 46.58x |
| Tolleshunt D Arcy | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Portsea | 2 | 7.09x |
| Westminster St James | 2 | 27.70x |
| Castleton | 1 | 12.02x |
| Coggs | 1 | 588.24x |
| Fowey | 1 | 277.78x |
| Hereford St Owen | 1 | 105.26x |
| Hillingdon | 1 | 44.64x |
| Holbeck | 1 | 21.69x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 8.88x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 1 | 7.08x |
| Sutton | 1 | 40.32x |
| Wellingborough | 1 | 30.12x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 26.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cause surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Cause surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Cause households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| General Laboror | 3 |
| Harness Maker | 3 |
| Gen Lab | 2 |
| Assistant Schoolmaster | 1 |
| Asst Headmaster Junior School | 1 |
| Brush Finisher | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servant Genrl | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Farm Baliff | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Galvanizer (To Appar Mkr) | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Inn Keeper Harness Maker | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Plasterers Labourer | 1 |
| Porter China & Glass | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Retired Butcher | 1 |
| Retired Farmer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Carpenter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 72 people were recorded with the Cause surname. That placed it at #23,371 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Cause a modern rank of #35,582.
A surname derived from the Latin "causa" meaning purpose or reason.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cause bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.