NameCensus.

UK surname

Churchill

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "church hill."

In the 1881 census there were 3,526 people recorded with the Churchill surname, ranking it #1,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,306, ranked #1,271, up from #1,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Purbeck and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Churchill is 5,624 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.5%.

1881 census count

3,526

Ranked #1,284

Modern count

5,306

2016, ranked #1,271

Peak year

1999

5,624 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Churchill had 3,526 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,306 in 2016, ranked #1,271.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,915 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Churchill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Churchill surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Churchill 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 2,240 #1,312
1861 historical 2,409 #1,214
1881 historical 3,526 #1,284
1891 historical 4,004 #1,195
1901 historical 4,460 #1,276
1911 historical 4,915 #1,063
1997 modern 5,305 #1,227
1998 modern 5,538 #1,225
1999 modern 5,624 #1,213
2000 modern 5,532 #1,233
2001 modern 5,435 #1,224
2002 modern 5,578 #1,218
2003 modern 5,355 #1,239
2004 modern 5,322 #1,243
2005 modern 5,230 #1,249
2006 modern 5,216 #1,251
2007 modern 5,276 #1,245
2008 modern 5,231 #1,273
2009 modern 5,357 #1,272
2010 modern 5,454 #1,277
2011 modern 5,415 #1,264
2012 modern 5,313 #1,259
2013 modern 5,362 #1,272
2014 modern 5,409 #1,267
2015 modern 5,377 #1,258
2016 modern 5,306 #1,271

Geography

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Where Churchills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and Crewkerne, Wayford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Purbeck, South Somerset and West 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Crewkerne, Wayford Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 005 East Devon
2 Purbeck 006 Purbeck
3 South Somerset 024 South Somerset
4 Purbeck 005 Purbeck
5 West Dorset 010 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Churchill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Churchill

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Churchill is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Churchill is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Churchill falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Churchill

The surname Churchill originated in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "ceorla" and "hyll," meaning "the hill belonging to the freeman or peasant." The name is associated with several places in England, including Churchill in Somerset and Churchill in Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Chevresel" and refers to a place in Somerset. Other early spellings include "Cheritone" (1199) and "Churichull" (1227), reflecting the evolution of the name over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Churchill include:

1. Roger de Churchull (born around 1150), an English landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. 2. John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough (1650-1722), a renowned English military leader and statesman, best known for his victories in the War of the Spanish Succession. 3. Winston Churchill (1874-1965), the famous British statesman, Prime Minister, and Nobel Prize laureate, who led Britain during World War II. 4. Charles Churchill (1732-1764), an English poet and satirist known for his biting criticism of contemporary figures and events. 5. Jennie Churchill (1854-1921), the American-born mother of Winston Churchill and a prominent socialite in her own right.

The name Churchill has also been associated with several place names, such as Churchill in Somerset, which was recorded as "Ceorlcyll" in the 10th century, and Churchill in Oxfordshire, mentioned as "Cercelle" in the Domesday Book.

Throughout history, the surname Churchill has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, military leaders, politicians, writers, and socialites, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who carried this historic name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Churchill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Churchill 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 556 Churchills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.60x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 556 1.60x
Dorset 489 21.50x
Somerset 281 5.04x
Surrey 281 1.66x
Gloucestershire 201 2.96x
Devon 193 2.68x
Lancashire 184 0.45x
Hampshire 169 2.38x
Kent 140 1.18x
Wiltshire 101 3.30x
Worcestershire 99 2.19x
Warwickshire 93 1.06x
Staffordshire 91 0.78x
Oxfordshire 78 3.64x
Yorkshire 65 0.19x
Sussex 61 1.04x
Durham 56 0.54x
Monmouthshire 51 2.04x
Glamorgan 38 0.63x
Bedfordshire 34 1.89x
Cheshire 34 0.44x
Berkshire 31 1.19x
Buckinghamshire 26 1.24x
Channel Islands 24 2.34x
Derbyshire 21 0.39x
Nottinghamshire 19 0.41x
Norfolk 18 0.34x
Essex 16 0.23x
Herefordshire 16 1.13x
Cumberland 9 0.30x
Lanarkshire 9 0.08x
Brecknockshire 7 1.01x
Shropshire 7 0.23x
Hertfordshire 5 0.21x
Northumberland 5 0.10x
Royal Navy 5 1.21x
Westmorland 5 0.66x
Leicestershire 4 0.10x
Angus 3 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.14x
Cornwall 3 0.08x
Northamptonshire 3 0.09x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.27x
Ross-shire 3 0.32x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.14x
Denbighshire 2 0.15x
Lincolnshire 2 0.04x
Rutland 2 0.79x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.16x
Cardiganshire 1 0.12x
Fife 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crewkerne in Somerset leads with 84 Churchills recorded in 1881 and an index of 141.77x.

Place Total Index
Crewkerne 84 141.77x
Islington London 80 2.38x
St Pancras London 54 1.94x
Portsea 50 3.59x
Battersea 44 3.45x
Greenwich 41 7.43x
Birmingham 39 1.34x
Hackney London 39 2.01x
Bristol St George 34 10.81x
Deddington 32 137.75x
Dudley 32 5.82x
Kensington London 32 1.66x
West Derby 31 2.58x
Lambeth 30 0.99x
Liverpool 30 1.20x
Newington 29 2.27x
Sidmouth 29 70.22x
Chelsea London 27 2.59x
Corfe Castle 27 128.08x
Trevethin 27 11.41x
Aston 26 1.08x
Birkenhead 26 4.26x
Milton Abbas 25 224.22x
Stapleton 25 19.39x
Shoreditch London 23 1.53x
St George Hanover Square 23 3.77x
Camberwell 22 0.99x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 22 119.44x
Kingston On Thames 22 5.42x
Tredington 22 177.85x
Wareham Lady St Mary 22 125.21x
Hampstead London 20 3.71x
Ruislip 20 115.94x
Oldham 19 1.43x
Studland 19 262.79x
Brighton 18 1.53x
Croydon 18 1.92x
Ottery St Mary 18 38.03x
St Marylebone London 18 0.97x
Brading 17 18.01x
Epsom 17 20.66x
Salisbury St Edmund 16 32.52x
Southwark St George Martyr 16 2.29x
Westminster St James 16 4.49x
Exeter St Sidwell 15 9.08x
Lidlington 15 191.57x
Siston 15 123.46x
West Bromwich 15 2.24x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 1.56x
Cannock 14 6.86x
Gillingham 14 35.81x
Glastonbury 14 30.75x
Hilton 14 177.89x
Mile End Old Town London 14 1.90x
Wynford Eagle 14 786.52x
Abbotsbury 13 111.97x
Barnes 13 18.20x
Broughton In Salford 13 3.46x
Chesterfield 13 6.39x
Hayes 13 36.75x
Puncknowle 13 231.73x
Stinsford 13 323.38x
Toller Porcorum 13 245.75x
Warminster 13 19.36x
Bristol St Augustine 12 10.94x
Lingfield 12 36.46x
Stockton On Tees 12 2.41x
West Teignmouth 12 21.74x
Wimborne St Giles 12 223.46x
Wootton 12 93.60x
Clifton 11 3.20x
Dartford 11 9.10x
East Teignmouth 11 37.26x
Harborne 11 2.93x
St Helier 11 3.29x
Storrington 11 68.62x
Sydling St Nicholas 11 165.91x
Wellington 11 14.54x
Westbury 11 15.38x
Winterborne St Martin 11 215.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 212
Elizabeth 138
Sarah 115
Ann 66
Emma 64
Jane 64
Ellen 59
Emily 58
Alice 48
Eliza 44
Annie 43
Louisa 32
Hannah 28
Martha 28
Edith 27
Caroline 24
Florence 24
Margaret 24
Kate 23
Susan 23
Harriet 22
Ada 21
Frances 21
Harriett 21
Maria 20
Fanny 19
Charlotte 17
Catherine 15
Clara 14
Matilda 14
Lucy 13
Julia 12
Amelia 10
Bessie 10
Jessie 10
Rosa 10
Anne 9
Gertrude 9
Lilian 9
Bridget 8
Elizth. 8
Ethel 8
Rose 8
Agnes 7
Anna 7
Beatrice 7
Grace 7
Isabella 7
Amy 6
Mabel 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 204
John 173
George 126
James 106
Charles 101
Henry 87
Thomas 87
Joseph 68
Edward 44
Alfred 43
Arthur 38
Samuel 35
Robert 32
Albert 31
Frederick 31
Walter 29
Richard 26
Harry 23
Frank 22
Patrick 17
Edwin 16
Benjamin 14
Francis 12
Fred 12
Michael 11
Herbert 10
Tom 10
Wm. 10
Isaac 9
Ernest 8
Fredrick 8
Christopher 7
Mark 7
Sidney 7
Daniel 5
David 5
Geo. 5
Hugh 5
Reginald 5
Stephen 5
Alfd. 4
Augustus 4
Edwd. 4
Emanuel 4
Percy 4
Smith 4
Hy. 3
Jesse 3
Job 3
Leonard 3

FAQ

Churchill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Churchill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,526 people were recorded with the Churchill surname. That placed it at #1,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Churchill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,306 in 2016. That gives Churchill a modern rank of #1,271.

What does the Churchill surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place meaning "church hill."

What does the Churchill map show?

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