NameCensus.

UK surname

Churchward

A locational surname denoting someone living near or associated with a church.

In the 1881 census there were 391 people recorded with the Churchward surname, ranking it #8,090 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 487, ranked #10,172, down from #8,090 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Churchward is 546 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.6%.

1881 census count

391

Ranked #8,090

Modern count

487

2016, ranked #10,172

Peak year

1997

546 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Churchward had 391 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,090 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016, ranked #10,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Churchward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Churchward surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Churchward 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 260 #8,512
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 391 #8,090
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 494 #8,124
1911 historical 514 #7,669
1997 modern 546 #8,712
1998 modern 529 #9,195
1999 modern 541 #9,092
2000 modern 523 #9,304
2001 modern 512 #9,288
2002 modern 522 #9,349
2003 modern 508 #9,379
2004 modern 513 #9,338
2005 modern 502 #9,419
2006 modern 496 #9,535
2007 modern 489 #9,718
2008 modern 474 #10,040
2009 modern 488 #10,048
2010 modern 486 #10,264
2011 modern 479 #10,280
2012 modern 467 #10,384
2013 modern 487 #10,227
2014 modern 489 #10,253
2015 modern 499 #10,021
2016 modern 487 #10,172

Geography

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Where Churchwards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes, St Mary Islington and Buckfastleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Torbay, Teignbridge and South Hams. 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 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
4 Buckfastleigh Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
2 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
3 Torbay 015 Torbay
4 Teignbridge 018 Teignbridge
5 South Hams 006 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Churchward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Churchward

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Churchward 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

Churchward is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Churchward falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Churchward

The surname Churchward has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "circe" meaning church and "weard" meaning guardian or keeper. The name likely referred to someone who was responsible for maintaining or guarding a church building.

The earliest known record of the Churchward surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was recorded as "Circeweard" in this document, indicating its ancient roots.

During the 13th century, the name was sometimes spelled as "Churchewarde" or "Churchwarde," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common in medieval times. The surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Devon, and Dorset in the southwestern part of England.

One notable early bearer of the Churchward name was John Churchward, who was born in Somerset around 1420. He served as the churchwarden, or guardian of the parish church, in the village of Cheddar, lending further credence to the meaning of the surname.

In the 16th century, the surname began to appear in its modern spelling of "Churchward." During this time, a family of Churchwards owned land and property in the village of Stogursey in Somerset. One member of this family, Thomas Churchward, born in 1562, was a renowned scholar and theologian who authored several works on religious subjects.

Another notable figure was Sir John Churchward, born in 1635 in Devon. He was a successful merchant and served as the Mayor of Bristol, an important port city in southwestern England, in 1691.

In the 18th century, the Churchward surname gained prominence with the birth of James Churchward in 1751 in Somerset. He was an accomplished architect and designed several notable buildings, including the parish church in the town of Yeovil.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most well-known bearers of the Churchward name was Albert Churchward, born in 1852 in Gloucestershire. He was a renowned explorer and author who traveled extensively in Africa and wrote several books about his adventures and observations of indigenous cultures.

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable individuals associated with the Churchward surname, which has its roots firmly planted in the medieval period of English history and reflects the importance of the church in the lives of its early bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Churchward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Churchward 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. Devon leads with 245 Churchwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 245 30.01x
Middlesex 42 1.07x
Surrey 30 1.57x
Hampshire 12 1.49x
Durham 10 0.86x
Kent 10 0.75x
Cornwall 9 2.03x
Pembrokeshire 6 4.81x
Royal Navy 6 12.84x
Channel Islands 5 4.30x
Lancashire 5 0.11x
Somerset 5 0.79x
Cheshire 4 0.46x
Dorset 4 1.55x
Glamorgan 3 0.44x
Sussex 2 0.30x
Essex 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Wiltshire 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. Buckfastleigh in Devon leads with 59 Churchwards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1564.99x.

Place Total Index
Buckfastleigh 59 1564.99x
Tormoham 44 127.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 20 31.81x
Islington London 16 4.21x
Paignton 15 241.55x
Wolborough 14 135.66x
Newington 13 8.97x
Staverton 11 1100.00x
Plymouth Charles The 10 27.81x
West Teignmouth 10 160.26x
Westoe 9 13.61x
Exeter St Thomas The 8 96.15x
Newton Abbot St Mary 8 116.79x
Stoke Gabriel 8 930.23x
Aldershot 7 25.99x
Croydon 7 6.60x
Kensington London 7 3.21x
Stoke Damerel 7 12.25x
Tiverton 7 49.79x
Pembroke St Mary 6 37.38x
Royal Navy 6 15.02x
Saltash 5 145.35x
St Helier 5 13.22x
Axminster 4 104.44x
Bedminster 4 6.74x
Birkenhead 4 5.80x
St George In East London 4 10.85x
Alverstoke 3 10.31x
Cardiff St Mary 3 7.98x
Fulham London 3 5.28x
Hammersmith London 3 3.11x
Lambeth 3 0.88x
Lyme Regis 3 97.40x
Penge 3 11.98x
Toxteth Park 3 1.90x
Acton 2 8.70x
Barnstaple 2 15.61x
Bradford 2 9.18x
Brighton 2 1.50x
Exeter St John 2 344.83x
Farnborough 2 102.56x
Hatherleigh 2 98.52x
Highweek 2 68.73x
Landrake 2 202.02x
Lewisham 2 2.80x
River 2 235.29x
St Germans 2 64.52x
Ashton 1 384.62x
Barking 1 4.42x
Battersea 1 0.69x
Blackawton 1 70.42x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.97x
East Teignmouth 1 29.94x
Egham 1 8.53x
Eling 1 12.29x
Exeter St David 1 14.35x
Govan 1 0.32x
Hampstead London 1 1.64x
Isleworth 1 5.74x
Kingsbridge 1 48.78x
Kingston 1 89.29x
Mitcham 1 8.28x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 1 59.88x
Orpington 1 24.39x
Plympton Maurice 1 64.94x
Portisham 1 104.17x
Sittingbourne 1 9.46x
South Shields 1 9.62x
Southwark St Saviour 1 4.96x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 5.89x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.45x
St Marylebone London 1 0.48x
St Nicholas Olave London 1 1250.00x
Swindon 1 3.72x
Thetford St Mary 1 60.98x
Ugborough 1 50.76x
Weston Super Mare 1 6.27x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 1 91.74x
Woodland 1 476.19x
Woolwich 1 2.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 10
Emma 9
Jane 9
Eliza 8
Louisa 8
Ellen 6
Caroline 5
Susan 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Maria 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Laura 3
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Francis 2
Gilanna 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Agusta 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Carloine 1
Celina 1
E.J. 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Elisabeth 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Flory 1
Grace 1
Gwendoline 1
Haniel 1
Helena 1
Herone 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
William 22
James 19
George 14
Charles 13
Henry 10
Thomas 9
Robert 7
Frederick 6
Albert 5
Samuel 5
Richard 4
Abraham 3
Edwin 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Gilbert 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Sidney 2
Alaric 1
Charley 1
Charly 1
Earnest 1
Emanuel 1
Ewin 1
F.J. 1
Francis 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Herman 1
Hesley 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Marcus 1
Mathew 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Rich 1
Saml. 1
W.J. 1
Will 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Churchward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Churchward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 391 people were recorded with the Churchward surname. That placed it at #8,090 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Churchward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016. That gives Churchward a modern rank of #10,172.

What does the Churchward surname mean?

A locational surname denoting someone living near or associated with a church.

What does the Churchward map show?

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