NameCensus.

UK surname

Caves

Derived from the Old French "cave" meaning cave, referring to someone who lived in or near a cave.

In the 1881 census there were 166 people recorded with the Caves surname, ranking it #14,496 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 356, ranked #12,978, up from #14,496 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kempston, Woolverton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Caves is 379 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.5%.

1881 census count

166

Ranked #14,496

Modern count

356

2016, ranked #12,978

Peak year

2002

379 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Caves had 166 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,496 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016, ranked #12,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 311 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Caves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Caves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Caves 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 194 #10,662
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 166 #14,496
1891 historical 229 #13,539
1901 historical 261 #12,775
1911 historical 311 #11,150
1997 modern 366 #11,781
1998 modern 375 #11,939
1999 modern 373 #12,054
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 352 #12,318
2002 modern 379 #11,913
2003 modern 367 #11,988
2004 modern 362 #12,155
2005 modern 357 #12,194
2006 modern 360 #12,198
2007 modern 371 #12,053
2008 modern 371 #12,155
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 376 #12,548
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 365 #12,547
2013 modern 366 #12,733
2014 modern 364 #12,876
2015 modern 355 #13,033
2016 modern 356 #12,978

Geography

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Where Caves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kempston, Woolverton, St Pancras, Hanslope and Emberton, Hardmead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Derby. 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 Kempston Bedfordshire
2 Woolverton Northamptonshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Hanslope Buckinghamshire
5 Emberton, Hardmead Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
2 Bedford 020 Bedford
3 Central Bedfordshire 009 Central Bedfordshire
4 Barnsley 005 Barnsley
5 Derby 014 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Caves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Caves

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Caves is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Caves is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Caves falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Caves 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 Caves, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Caves

The surname Caves is an English locational surname that originated from the Old English word "cafu" or the Old French word "cave," both meaning "cave" or "hollow." It is believed to have been derived from people who lived near caves or in areas known for their caves.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Caves can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Suffolk. One of the earliest documented references to the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, where it is recorded as "Atte Cave."

In the 14th century, the surname was found in various forms, such as "de la Cave," "atte Cave," and "de Cave," indicating its locational origin. These variations suggest that the name referred to individuals residing near or associated with caves or hollow areas.

The Caves surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was John de Cave, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century and was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1286.

Another notable figure was Sir Ambrose Cave (1504-1568), an English judge and legal scholar who served as a Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in Stanford, Northamptonshire, and played a significant role in the legal system of his time.

In the 17th century, Sir Thomas Cave (1610-1692) was a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament. He was born in Leicestershire and represented the county in the House of Commons during the English Civil War.

The Caves family also had connections to the peerage, with Sir Roger Cave (1655-1703) being created the 1st Baronet of Stanford in 1641. His descendants continued to hold the baronetcy until the early 20th century.

Another notable bearer of the Caves surname was Joseph Cave (1837-1900), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire and represented the England national cricket team in the 1860s.

The surname Caves has undergone various spellings throughout its history, including Cave, Cave, Cavey, and Cavie, reflecting regional variations and influences. However, it has maintained its connection to its locational roots, reflecting the historical significance of caves and hollow areas in shaping this distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Caves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Caves 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 45 Caves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.80x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 45 2.80x
Buckinghamshire 37 38.03x
Bedfordshire 23 27.60x
Lancashire 15 0.79x
Leicestershire 11 6.16x
Cheshire 8 2.25x
Warwickshire 4 0.99x
Flintshire 3 6.93x
Sussex 3 1.11x
Angus 2 1.34x
Suffolk 2 1.02x
Surrey 2 0.26x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.40x
Devon 1 0.30x
Hampshire 1 0.30x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.39x
Northamptonshire 1 0.66x
Staffordshire 1 0.18x
Worcestershire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town London in Middlesex leads with 11 Caves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.12x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town London 11 32.12x
Hanslope 10 1149.43x
Leicester St Mary 9 62.41x
Marston Moretaine 9 1384.62x
Tottenham 8 31.21x
Wing 8 888.89x
Islington London 6 3.85x
Kensington London 6 6.71x
Shoreditch London 6 8.60x
Monks Coppenhall 5 37.29x
Emberton 4 1111.11x
Everton 4 6.57x
Newport Pagnell 4 197.04x
Wolverton 4 199.01x
Aston 3 2.68x
Cilcen Llysycoed 3 7500.00x
Dalton In Furness 3 40.71x
Flitwick 3 666.67x
Houghton Conquest 3 882.35x
Liverpool 3 2.59x
Macclesfield 3 19.00x
Paddington London 3 5.07x
Preston 3 63.29x
St Pancras London 3 2.32x
Bedford St Peter 2 92.59x
Buckingham 2 101.01x
Burnley 2 12.44x
Dundee 2 3.59x
Elstow 2 645.16x
Luton 2 13.86x
Risby 2 833.33x
Stowe 2 1052.63x
Alvaston 1 138.89x
Chelsea London 1 2.06x
Ealing 1 6.95x
Eltham 1 31.06x
Epsom 1 26.18x
Eton 1 45.25x
Houghton Regis 1 75.19x
Kempston 1 52.91x
Kenilworth 1 43.67x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.31x
Kirby Bellars 1 666.67x
Leicester St Martin 1 83.33x
Middleton On Wolds 1 285.71x
Moulsoe 1 909.09x
Nettleton 1 370.37x
North Meols 1 5.35x
Old 1 500.00x
Parbold 1 333.33x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.87x
Portsea 1 1.55x
Preston 1 1.96x
Sheffield 1 1.97x
Stony Stratford East 1 250.00x
Walsall Foreign 1 3.56x
Yardley 1 18.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 11
Ellen 5
Jane 4
Amelia 3
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Christina 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Janet 1
Margret 1
Mathar 1
Matilda 1
Milcent 1
Prudence 1
Rosamund 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Caves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Caves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 166 people were recorded with the Caves surname. That placed it at #14,496 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Caves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 356 in 2016. That gives Caves a modern rank of #12,978.

What does the Caves surname mean?

Derived from the Old French "cave" meaning cave, referring to someone who lived in or near a cave.

What does the Caves map show?

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