UK surname
From the English habitational name referring to someone from any of the places in England called Caven or Cavenhall.
In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Cavins surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2012, the modern count was 1, ranked #38,986, down from #22,617 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Girvan, Govan Combination and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cavins is 155 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 98.7%.
1881 census count
77
Ranked #22,617
Modern count
1
2012, ranked #38,986
Peak year
1891
155 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Cavins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Cavins 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 78 | #23,836 |
| 1881 | historical | 77 | #22,617 |
| 1891 | historical | 155 | #17,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 147 | #18,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 139 | #18,745 |
| 1997 | modern | 1 | #38,839 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 1 | #38,820 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 1 | #38,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Girvan, Govan Combination, Toxteth Park, Rissington, Wick and Preston. 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 | Girvan | Ayr |
| 2 | Govan Combination | Lanark |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Rissington, Wick | Gloucestershire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Cavins 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 Cavins, 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 Cavins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Cavins 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, Cavins 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 Cavins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Cavins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Cavins is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "caf," meaning "bold" or "brave," combined with a patronymic suffix such as "-in" or "-ing," indicating "son of." This suggests that the name may have initially been bestowed upon the son of a bold or brave individual.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which date back to 1273. This document mentions a person named Richard Cavyn, whose name is likely an early spelling variation of the modern Cavins surname.
In the 14th century, the Cavins name appeared in several historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1327, where a John Cavyn is listed. This suggests that the name had spread to various regions of England by that time.
During the 15th century, the Cavins surname was documented in the Paston Letters, a collection of correspondence from the renowned Paston family of Norfolk. In one letter dated 1472, a person named Thomas Cavyns is mentioned, likely a member of a prominent local family.
Notable individuals bearing the Cavins surname throughout history include:
1. William Cavins (c. 1540 - 1615), an English merchant and explorer who is believed to have been one of the first Englishmen to visit the West Indies.
2. John Cavins (1615 - 1682), an English settler in colonial Virginia who was granted a land patent in Westmoreland County in 1653.
3. Sarah Cavins (1660 - 1717), a Quaker preacher and author from Gloucestershire, England, known for her religious writings and advocacy for women's rights.
4. Thomas Cavins (1745 - 1821), a British soldier who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent farmer in Upper Canada (modern-day Ontario).
5. Mary Cavins (1815 - 1891), an Irish-born writer and activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and education in the United States.
While the Cavins surname may have originated from a place name or geographical location in England, no definitive records have been found to confirm this theory. However, the name's prevalence in historical documents and its association with notable individuals throughout the centuries highlight its enduring legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cavins 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. Northumberland leads with 24 Cavins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 24 | 21.21x |
| Gloucestershire | 15 | 10.05x |
| Lanarkshire | 8 | 3.25x |
| Brecknockshire | 6 | 39.45x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 9.16x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.35x |
| Midlothian | 3 | 2.94x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.22x |
| Angus | 1 | 1.42x |
| Argyllshire | 1 | 4.72x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 1.76x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.22x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.91x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.39x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.13x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.03x |
| Wigtownshire | 1 | 9.90x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wick Rissington in Gloucestershire leads with 14 Cavins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wick Rissington | 14 | 35000.00x |
| Alnwick | 9 | 461.54x |
| Glasgow | 8 | 18.31x |
| Arlecdon | 6 | 344.83x |
| Llanfihangel | 6 | 6666.67x |
| Kingston On Thames | 5 | 56.18x |
| Longbenton | 5 | 104.38x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 4 | 59.17x |
| North Leith | 3 | 63.56x |
| Westgate | 3 | 42.80x |
| Chatton | 1 | 285.71x |
| Cheltenham | 1 | 8.69x |
| Dalton In Furness | 1 | 28.74x |
| Dunfermline | 1 | 14.45x |
| East Barnet | 1 | 96.15x |
| Flixton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Girvan | 1 | 69.93x |
| Inveraray | 1 | 370.37x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.23x |
| Liff Benvie | 1 | 9.35x |
| New Luce | 1 | 526.32x |
| Newcastle On Tyne St | 1 | 17.04x |
| Ovingham Whittle Spital | 1 | 588.24x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 12.90x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.46x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Cavins 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 Cavins 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 Cavins households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 18 |
| Farmer Son | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 2 |
| Iron Miner | 2 |
| Iron Ore Miner | 2 |
| Shepherd | 2 |
| Barman Unemployed | 1 |
| Billiard Marker | 1 |
| Carpenter & Blacksmith | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Engine Fitter At Works | 1 |
| Farmer 282 Acres Employing 4 Men 2 Women | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Gamekeeper | 1 |
| Gamekeeper Wife | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Private 63rd | 1 |
| Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Shopkeeper (Genl) (Small) | 1 |
| Shopman Grocer | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Cavins surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2012. That gives Cavins a modern rank of #38,986.
From the English habitational name referring to someone from any of the places in England called Caven or Cavenhall.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Cavins 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.