NameCensus.

UK surname

Caveney

From an English place name meaning "dweller at the cave-shaped hill."

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Caveney surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 533, ranked #9,534, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mobberley, Rochdale and Stockport. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Liverpool and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caveney is 541 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 233.1%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

533

2016, ranked #9,534

Peak year

2014

541 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caveney had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016, ranked #9,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Caveney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caveney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caveney 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 76 #20,127
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 287 #12,001
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 521 #9,026
1998 modern 527 #9,222
1999 modern 538 #9,134
2000 modern 537 #9,118
2001 modern 532 #9,028
2002 modern 540 #9,103
2003 modern 520 #9,233
2004 modern 505 #9,453
2005 modern 505 #9,379
2006 modern 505 #9,415
2007 modern 523 #9,238
2008 modern 523 #9,316
2009 modern 532 #9,402
2010 modern 535 #9,571
2011 modern 530 #9,541
2012 modern 533 #9,407
2013 modern 537 #9,526
2014 modern 541 #9,517
2015 modern 536 #9,517
2016 modern 533 #9,534

Geography

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Where Caveneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mobberley, Rochdale, Stockport, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Liverpool, Stockport and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Mobberley Cheshire
2 Rochdale Lancashire
3 Stockport Cheshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 007 Cheshire East
2 Liverpool 044 Liverpool
3 Stockport 018 Stockport
4 Liverpool 059 Liverpool
5 Redcar and Cleveland 021 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caveney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caveney

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Caveney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Caveney household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Caveney 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

Caveney 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

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

Meaning and origin of Caveney

The surname Caveney is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'caveneg', meaning a keeper or guardian of a cave. The name likely originated in the northern regions of England, where natural caves and caverns were more prevalent.

The earliest recorded instance of the Caveney surname dates back to the 13th century, appearing in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. It is believed that the name was initially used as a descriptive term for someone who resided near or oversaw the security of a local cave or cavern.

During the medieval period, the name Caveney appeared in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentioned a John de Caveneye. This suggests that the surname had already begun to establish itself as a hereditary name by this time.

In the 16th century, the name Caveney appeared in the Parish Registers of Derbyshire, where a Christopher Caveney was recorded in 1589. The name also appeared in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, which documented individuals who swore allegiance to the Protestant faith during the English Civil War.

Notable individuals with the surname Caveney include:

1. Richard Caveney (1676-1743), an English clergyman and author who published several theological works. 2. John Caveney (1807-1879), a British engineer and inventor known for his contributions to the development of the steam engine. 3. Elizabeth Caveney (1846-1923), an American educator and suffragist who advocated for women's rights and education reform. 4. William Caveney (1892-1967), a Canadian soldier who served in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. 5. Margaret Caveney (1914-2003), an English writer and journalist who published several novels and short story collections.

Over time, the surname Caveney has undergone various spelling variations, such as Cavney, Caveny, and Caveny, likely due to regional dialects and phonetic interpretations. Additionally, the name has been associated with certain place names, such as Cavenagh in Ireland and Cavendish in England, although these connections are speculative and not definitively established.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caveney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caveney 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 42 Caveneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.72x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 42 2.72x
Lancashire 32 1.73x
Staffordshire 22 4.18x
Cheshire 17 4.93x
Middlesex 9 0.58x
Derbyshire 8 3.27x
Durham 6 1.29x
Lanarkshire 4 0.79x
Sussex 4 1.52x
Leicestershire 3 1.73x
Renfrewshire 3 2.48x
Warwickshire 3 0.76x
Angus 1 0.69x
Devon 1 0.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.37x
Kent 1 0.19x
Midlothian 1 0.48x
Shropshire 1 0.74x
Worcestershire 1 0.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hyde in Cheshire leads with 10 Caveneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 98.33x.

Place Total Index
Hyde 10 98.33x
Lichfield St Chad 10 847.46x
Wakefield 9 75.82x
Liverpool 7 6.22x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 7 97.49x
Wardleworth 7 66.16x
Wolverhampton 7 17.28x
Oldham 6 10.04x
Tadcaster West 6 491.80x
Altofts 5 292.40x
Huddersfield 5 22.19x
Manchester 5 6.00x
Aldridge 4 396.04x
Brighton 4 7.54x
Dewsbury 4 25.22x
Dukinfield 4 25.13x
Glossop Dale 4 34.97x
St Marylebone London 4 4.80x
Birmingham 3 2.29x
Brandon Byshottles 3 51.55x
Derby St Alkmund 3 40.98x
Glasgow 3 3.35x
Leicester St Margaret 3 7.11x
Paisley High Church 3 31.15x
St Luke London 3 11.99x
York St Denis In 3 441.18x
Bollin Fee 2 130.72x
Cheetham 2 14.48x
Kensington London 2 2.30x
Batley 1 6.80x
Blackburn 1 2.03x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.68x
Corstorphine 1 86.96x
Dundee 1 1.85x
Gateshead 1 2.88x
Gorton 1 5.74x
Great Bolton 1 4.08x
Higher Bebington 1 45.25x
Hythe St Leonard 1 53.19x
Ilkeston 1 14.60x
Kidderminster Borough 1 8.38x
Kimberworth 1 11.66x
Lidford 1 68.49x
Linthorpe 1 10.83x
Newbottle 1 39.37x
Preston 1 2.02x
Rutherglen 1 13.51x
Sunderland 1 12.20x
Walsall Foreign 1 3.68x
Wellington 1 13.19x
Whiston 1 69.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Bridget 11
Margaret 7
Ellen 5
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Catherine 2
Elizabeth 2
Kate 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Belle 1
Cath 1
Eliza 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Marceilla 1
Marguerite 1
Maria 1
Marindi 1
Rosa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
Patrick 12
Michael 9
Thomas 9
James 5
William 5
Andrew 4
Francis 2
Martin 2
Albert 1
Conn 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Harriet 1
Henry 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Malachi 1
Miles 1
Owen 1
Peter 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Caveney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caveney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Caveney surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caveney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 533 in 2016. That gives Caveney a modern rank of #9,534.

What does the Caveney surname mean?

From an English place name meaning "dweller at the cave-shaped hill."

What does the Caveney map show?

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