NameCensus.

UK surname

Cavey

A toponymic surname derived from an English place name referring to a cave or cavern.

In the 1881 census there were 185 people recorded with the Cavey surname, ranking it #13,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 275, ranked #15,720, down from #13,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Buckland with Carswell, London parishes and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Conwy and Surrey Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cavey is 363 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.6%.

1881 census count

185

Ranked #13,506

Modern count

275

2016, ranked #15,720

Peak year

1911

363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cavey had 185 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016, ranked #15,720.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 363 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cavey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cavey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cavey 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 185 #13,506
1891 historical 272 #11,957
1901 historical 352 #10,394
1911 historical 363 #10,005
1997 modern 303 #13,433
1998 modern 315 #13,452
1999 modern 313 #13,587
2000 modern 309 #13,651
2001 modern 299 #13,758
2002 modern 312 #13,639
2003 modern 311 #13,501
2004 modern 307 #13,685
2005 modern 294 #14,006
2006 modern 292 #14,148
2007 modern 289 #14,401
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 292 #14,700
2010 modern 309 #14,420
2011 modern 304 #14,475
2012 modern 282 #15,158
2013 modern 282 #15,441
2014 modern 274 #15,877
2015 modern 279 #15,527
2016 modern 275 #15,720

Geography

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Where Caveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Buckland with Carswell, London parishes, Wigan and Chisledon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Conwy, Surrey Heath, Wigan and East Cambridgeshire. 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 Buckland with Carswell Berkshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Wigan Lancashire
5 Chisledon Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 005 Cornwall
2 Conwy 015 Conwy
3 Surrey Heath 006 Surrey Heath
4 Wigan 001 Wigan
5 East Cambridgeshire 011 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cavey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cavey

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

Cavey 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

Cavey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Cavey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Cavey

The surname CAVEY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "caf," meaning "brisk" or "lively," suggesting that the name may have been initially given as a nickname to someone with an energetic or spirited personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a certain Richard Caveye is mentioned as residing in Oxfordshire. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Cavey, Cavy, and Cavie, reflecting the inconsistencies in spelling conventions during that time. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John Cavey from Worcestershire, while the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 mention a Thomas Cavie from Yorkshire.

The name CAVEY is also associated with several place names in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. For instance, the village of Caveye (now spelled Cavey) in Derbyshire is believed to have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

One notable historical figure with the surname CAVEY was Sir William Cavey (c. 1520-1588), a wealthy merchant and alderman of London. He served as Sheriff of London in 1567 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1577 for his services to the city.

Another prominent individual was John Cavey (1551-1623), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London from 1608 until his death.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence in the arts with the birth of Sir William Cavey (1642-1713), a renowned English painter and architect. He is best known for his portraits of King Charles II and members of the royal court.

During the 18th century, the name CAVEY was associated with the literary world through the figure of Elizabeth Cavey (1723-1790), a celebrated English poet and playwright whose works were widely acclaimed in her time.

Finally, in the 19th century, one notable bearer of the surname was Sir Thomas Cavey (1825-1892), a British diplomat and statesman who served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1868 to 1876.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cavey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cavey 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. Surrey leads with 40 Caveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.83x.

County Total Index
Surrey 40 3.83x
Channel Islands 33 51.90x
Kent 30 4.10x
Sussex 19 5.25x
Middlesex 15 0.70x
Yorkshire 13 0.61x
Lancashire 12 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 11 3.80x
Cornwall 8 3.29x
Berkshire 7 4.35x
Wiltshire 6 3.16x
Devon 5 1.12x
Glamorgan 5 1.34x
Hampshire 5 1.14x
Worcestershire 4 1.43x
Durham 2 0.31x
Royal Navy 2 7.82x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.77x
Essex 1 0.24x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plumstead in Kent leads with 25 Caveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 102.42x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 25 102.42x
St Helier 18 86.96x
Horsell 9 1363.64x
St Saviour 9 255.68x
Lambeth 8 4.28x
Hastings All Sts 7 205.28x
Speen 7 265.15x
Wigan 7 19.67x
Battersea 6 7.60x
Croydon 6 10.34x
Heeley 6 92.88x
Pudsey 6 52.77x
Chisledon 5 581.40x
Froyle 5 892.86x
Gwennap 5 109.17x
Islington London 5 2.40x
Newark Upon Trent 5 48.08x
Ruddington 5 257.73x
Swansea Town 5 16.32x
Clapham 4 14.91x
Peasmarsh 4 655.74x
Tormoham 4 21.16x
Wadhurst 4 168.07x
Worcester St John 4 119.40x
Bermondsey 3 4.70x
Elton 3 34.09x
St Mary At Hill London 3 2000.00x
St Mary Magdalene 3 167.60x
Trinity 3 204.08x
Beckley 2 222.22x
Chertsey 2 29.59x
Paddington London 2 2.53x
Royal Navy 2 9.15x
St John 2 165.29x
Walmer 2 62.89x
Barnsley 1 4.56x
Bramcote 1 181.82x
Brenzett 1 434.78x
Buckingham 1 37.88x
Camberwell 1 0.73x
Chelsea London 1 1.55x
Colchester St Botolph 1 27.78x
Hastings St Mary 1 11.11x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.62x
Heighington 1 181.82x
Ivychurch 1 526.32x
Lee 1 9.41x
Long Ditton 1 58.48x
Mile End Old Town London 1 2.19x
Oldham 1 1.22x
Rye 1 29.07x
Shoreditch London 1 1.07x
St Clement 1 103.09x
St Pancras London 1 0.58x
Stoke Damerel 1 3.20x
Swindon 1 6.79x
Teddington London 1 20.58x
West Derby 1 1.34x
Westoe 1 2.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 12
Alice 8
Sarah 8
Eliza 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Ada 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Lilly 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Sophia 2
Alexandrina 1
Amy 1
Berth 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
E.C. 1
Elsie 1
Estelle 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jesie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Marie 1
May 1
Patience 1
Prudence 1
Rebeca 1
Rebecca 1
Winefred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 13
George 11
Thomas 10
Arthur 5
Francis 5
William 5
Henry 4
James 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Andrew 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Patrick 2
Robert 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Ambrose 1
Charles 1
Dennis 1
Edward 1
Elias 1
Ephrahuin 1
Francois 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Maxime 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
T.R. 1
W.J. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Withers 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Arthur 1

FAQ

Cavey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cavey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 185 people were recorded with the Cavey surname. That placed it at #13,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cavey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 275 in 2016. That gives Cavey a modern rank of #15,720.

What does the Cavey surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from an English place name referring to a cave or cavern.

What does the Cavey map show?

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