NameCensus.

UK surname

Christopher

A surname derived from the given name, referring to a person who carried Christ in their heart or followed Christ.

In the 1881 census there were 1,736 people recorded with the Christopher surname, ranking it #2,487 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,523, ranked #1,926, up from #2,487 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Monmouthshire, Isles of Scilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Christopher is 3,587 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 102.9%.

1881 census count

1,736

Ranked #2,487

Modern count

3,523

2016, ranked #1,926

Peak year

2010

3,587 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Christopher had 1,736 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,487 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,523 in 2016, ranked #1,926.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,573 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Christopher surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Christopher surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Christopher 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 1,217 #2,344
1861 historical 1,438 #1,975
1881 historical 1,736 #2,487
1891 historical 2,075 #2,231
1901 historical 2,130 #2,530
1911 historical 2,573 #1,983
1997 modern 3,275 #1,966
1998 modern 3,406 #1,963
1999 modern 3,467 #1,958
2000 modern 3,368 #2,004
2001 modern 3,286 #2,006
2002 modern 3,384 #2,004
2003 modern 3,287 #2,013
2004 modern 3,323 #1,992
2005 modern 3,300 #1,975
2006 modern 3,346 #1,949
2007 modern 3,409 #1,924
2008 modern 3,439 #1,928
2009 modern 3,517 #1,937
2010 modern 3,587 #1,942
2011 modern 3,542 #1,941
2012 modern 3,490 #1,934
2013 modern 3,534 #1,949
2014 modern 3,572 #1,937
2015 modern 3,547 #1,925
2016 modern 3,523 #1,926

Geography

Back to top

Where Christophers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Poole St James, London parishes and Cranborne, Wimborne St Giles and Allhallows, Moore Critchell, Gussage St Michael, West Parley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Monmouthshire, Isles of Scilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Lincoln and North Dorset. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Poole St James Dorset
3 London parishes London 3
4 London parishes London 2
5 Cranborne, Wimborne St Giles and Allhallows, Moore Critchell, Gussage St Michael, West Parley Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
2 Isles of Scilly 001 Isles of Scilly
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Lincoln 004 Lincoln
5 North Dorset 007 North Dorset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Christopher

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Christopher

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Christopher surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Christopher household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Christopher is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Christopher is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Christopher falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Christopher

The surname Christopher originated in England and Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the ancient Greek name Christophoros, which means "Christ-bearer" or "bearer of Christ." The name was often given to children born on Christmas Day or around the Christmas season.

In England, the surname Christopher can be traced back to the 13th century. One of the earliest recorded examples is Robert Christofer, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. The surname was also found in other parts of England, such as Yorkshire, where it was recorded as Cristofre in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379.

In Scotland, the surname Christopher was often spelled as Cristor or Cristofer. It is believed to have been introduced by Anglo-Norman settlers in the 12th and 13th centuries. Some early examples include William Cristor, mentioned in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, and Robert Cristofer, recorded in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland in 1359.

The surname Christopher has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer credited with the European discovery of the Americas. Another notable figure was Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), an English playwright and poet who was a contemporary of William Shakespeare.

In the 17th century, Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was a prominent English architect who designed numerous buildings, including St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Christopher Dock (1698-1771) was a German-American educator and author who wrote an influential book on teaching methods.

During the 18th century, Christopher Smart (1722-1771) was an English poet and translator best known for his work "A Song to David." In the 19th century, Christopher Sholes (1819-1890) was an American inventor who played a crucial role in the development of the first commercially successful typewriter.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Christopher throughout history. The name has a rich heritage and has been carried by people from various walks of life, including explorers, writers, architects, educators, and inventors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Christopher families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Christopher 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. Dorset leads with 290 Christophers recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.71x.

County Total Index
Dorset 290 25.71x
Lancashire 218 1.07x
Middlesex 129 0.75x
Glamorgan 113 3.78x
Cornwall 111 5.70x
Monmouthshire 100 8.05x
Yorkshire 84 0.49x
Durham 75 1.47x
Lincolnshire 68 2.47x
Herefordshire 64 9.08x
Surrey 53 0.63x
Kent 51 0.87x
Carmarthenshire 46 6.35x
Sussex 43 1.48x
Hampshire 38 1.08x
Essex 35 1.03x
Devon 24 0.67x
Worcestershire 20 0.89x
Warwickshire 19 0.44x
Somerset 17 0.61x
Angus 15 0.94x
Channel Islands 14 2.75x
Staffordshire 14 0.24x
Wiltshire 14 0.92x
Gloucestershire 13 0.39x
Brecknockshire 11 3.20x
Norfolk 11 0.42x
Isle of Man 10 3.13x
Hertfordshire 9 0.76x
Cheshire 7 0.18x
Leicestershire 6 0.31x
Shropshire 6 0.40x
Northumberland 5 0.20x
Cardiganshire 4 0.95x
Northamptonshire 4 0.25x
Suffolk 4 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.19x
Cumberland 3 0.20x
Derbyshire 3 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.19x
Fife 2 0.20x
Oxfordshire 2 0.19x
Denbighshire 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 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. Chesilborne in Dorset leads with 45 Christophers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2163.46x.

Place Total Index
Chesilborne 45 2163.46x
St Woollos 30 21.63x
Pembrey 24 72.05x
Saddleworth 24 18.27x
West Ham 24 3.20x
Chatham 23 14.26x
Lytchett Matravers 21 515.97x
Heskin 20 888.89x
Liverpool 19 1.53x
Dewlish 17 625.00x
Moore Critchell 17 787.04x
Pentyrch 17 137.54x
St Pancras London 17 1.23x
Bromley London 16 4.23x
Gwithian 16 443.21x
Madron 16 101.78x
Portsea 16 2.32x
Uny Lelant 16 152.09x
Aspull 15 31.27x
Garston 15 24.92x
Camberwell 14 1.28x
Kensington London 14 1.47x
Llanelly 14 8.58x
Aberdare 13 6.33x
Birmingham 13 0.90x
Gussage St Michael 13 855.26x
Mawdesley 13 237.23x
Zennor 13 363.13x
Bermondsey 12 2.35x
Hutton Henry 12 111.42x
Llandevenny 12 3636.36x
Wimborne Minster 12 65.75x
Witchampton 12 416.67x
Bispham 11 666.67x
Cardiff St Mary 11 6.67x
Corfe Mullen 11 268.95x
Cornforth 11 73.04x
Hamworthy 11 279.90x
Sculcoates 11 4.07x
Stockwood 11 2682.93x
Wigan 11 3.86x
Clifton 10 5.87x
Heckington 10 95.60x
Hinton Martel 10 446.43x
Hollington 10 96.99x
Malew 10 35.87x
Merthyr Tydfil 10 3.48x
Poole St James 10 23.59x
Redwick 10 653.59x
Roath 10 7.36x
St Helier 10 6.03x
Aberystruth 9 8.22x
Battersea 9 1.42x
Blandford St Mary 9 420.56x
Cardiff St John 9 9.21x
Chorley 9 7.86x
Hackney London 9 0.93x
Hemel Hempstead 9 16.86x
Horsham 9 15.99x
Ideford 9 538.92x
Lytchett Minster 9 180.00x
Madley 9 181.82x
Medomsley 9 37.74x
Street 9 60.12x
Walsall Foreign 9 3.00x
Wingate 9 25.68x
Eccleston In Chorley 8 150.94x
Gillingham 8 6.62x
Gradley 8 73.80x
Gwinear 8 86.67x
Llanedy 8 58.65x
Madron Penzance 8 11.31x
Normanby In 8 17.57x
Oldbury 8 7.24x
Oldham 8 1.22x
Panteg 8 40.88x
Ystradyfodwg 8 3.05x
Budock 7 47.81x
Ince In Makerfield 7 7.38x
Trevethin 7 5.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 125
Elizabeth 84
Sarah 59
Ellen 35
Jane 32
Ann 31
Margaret 28
Annie 25
Alice 21
Emma 18
Eliza 17
Catherine 13
Fanny 13
Emily 12
Hannah 12
Maria 12
Louisa 11
Martha 11
Caroline 10
Edith 10
Lucy 10
Ada 9
Bridget 9
Florence 9
Rose 9
Susan 9
Amelia 8
Anne 8
Harriet 8
Julia 8
Frances 7
Charlotte 6
Harriett 6
Isabella 6
Gertrude 5
Kate 5
Blanch 4
Francis 4
Laura 4
Lydia 4
Margt. 4
Agnes 3
Anna 3
Bessie 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Helen 3
Johanna 3
Margret 3
Minnie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 119
John 106
Thomas 69
James 55
George 50
Henry 34
Charles 33
Joseph 24
Richard 24
Robert 20
David 18
Samuel 14
Albert 13
Walter 13
Alfred 12
Frederick 11
Frank 9
Harry 9
Edwin 8
Ernest 7
Arthur 6
Benjamin 6
Edward 6
Sidney 6
Andrew 5
Francis 5
Nicholas 5
Tom 5
Daniel 4
Herbert 4
Mark 4
Patrick 4
Robt. 4
Stephen 4
Earnest 3
Fred 3
Horace 3
Sydney 3
Wm. 3
Enoch 2
Esau 2
Geo. 2
Levi 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Morris 2
Paul 2
Rueben 2
Thos. 2

FAQ

Christopher surname: questions and answers

How common was the Christopher surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,736 people were recorded with the Christopher surname. That placed it at #2,487 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Christopher surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,523 in 2016. That gives Christopher a modern rank of #1,926.

What does the Christopher surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name, referring to a person who carried Christ in their heart or followed Christ.

What does the Christopher map show?

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