NameCensus.

UK surname

Conrad

Derived from the Old High German name Kuonrat, meaning "bold counselor" or "wise counselor."

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Conrad surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 439, ranked #11,007, up from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Arun, Denbighshire and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Conrad is 452 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 448.8%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

439

2016, ranked #11,007

Peak year

2010

452 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Conrad had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016, ranked #11,007.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 210 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Conrad surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Conrad surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Conrad 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 5 #32,456
1861 historical 26 #30,677
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 194 #15,425
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 419 #10,625
1998 modern 438 #10,617
1999 modern 435 #10,754
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 411 #11,003
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 413 #11,006
2004 modern 412 #11,029
2005 modern 396 #11,271
2006 modern 404 #11,159
2007 modern 427 #10,782
2008 modern 422 #10,992
2009 modern 419 #11,282
2010 modern 452 #10,880
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 446 #10,911
2014 modern 436 #11,198
2015 modern 429 #11,252
2016 modern 439 #11,007

Geography

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Where Conrads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, Portsmouth, Portsea and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Arun, Denbighshire, Kensington and Chelsea, Bristol and Maidstone. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Arun 018 Arun
2 Denbighshire 004 Denbighshire
3 Kensington and Chelsea 006 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Bristol 017 Bristol, City of
5 Maidstone 019 Maidstone

Forenames

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First names often paired with Conrad

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Conrad

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Conrad surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Conrad 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Conrad 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

Conrad 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

Conrad 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 Conrad is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Conrad

The surname Conrad originated in Germany during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old High German words "kuon" meaning "bold" and "rad" meaning "counsel" or "advice." The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "Chuonrat" in the 8th century.

Conrad is a name that has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is Conrad I, who was the King of Germany from 911 to 918 AD. Another notable bearer of the name was Conrad II, who was the Holy Roman Emperor from 1027 to 1039.

The name also appears in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership in England conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry records a landowner named "Cono Rat" in the county of Essex.

During the Middle Ages, the name was widespread in regions of present-day Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Variations of the spelling included "Cunrad," "Conrat," and "Konrad." The name was also associated with several place names, such as Konradsdorf in Germany and Konradsheim in Switzerland.

Some notable individuals with the surname Conrad include:

1. Joseph Conrad (1857-1924), a Polish-British novelist and author of works such as "Heart of Darkness" and "Lord Jim." 2. Robert K. Conrad (1935-2020), an American actor known for roles in popular television series like "The Wild Wild West" and "Baa Baa Black Sheep." 3. Charles Conrad Jr. (1930-1999), an American astronaut who walked on the moon during the Apollo 12 mission in 1969. 4. Michael Conrad (1925-1983), an American actor best known for his role as Sergeant Phil Esterhaus on the television series "Hill Street Blues." 5. William Conrad (1920-1994), an American actor and narrator with a distinctive voice, famous for his roles in movies like "The Killers" and for narrating TV shows like "Bullwinkle and Rocky."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Conrad families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Conrad 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 34 Conrads recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.36x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 4.36x
Lancashire 11 1.19x
Kent 10 3.76x
Hampshire 9 5.63x
Surrey 9 2.37x
Yorkshire 5 0.65x
Essex 1 0.65x
Northumberland 1 0.86x

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 9 Conrads recorded in 1881 and an index of 101.47x.

Place Total Index
Plumstead 9 101.47x
Islington London 8 10.58x
Newton 8 112.04x
Portsmouth 8 217.39x
Kensington London 7 16.14x
Glass Houghton 4 1428.57x
Camberwell 3 6.02x
Croydon 3 14.21x
Shadwell London 3 137.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 19.11x
St Clement Danes London 3 186.34x
St George In East London 3 40.87x
Bethnal Green London 2 5.90x
Cheetham 2 28.94x
Shoreditch London 2 5.91x
St Marylebone London 2 4.80x
Clerkenwell London 1 5.43x
Cullercoates 1 277.78x
East Horndon 1 769.23x
Everton 1 3.39x
Mile End New Town London 1 64.94x
Portsea 1 3.19x
Sheffield 1 4.06x
Westminster St James 1 12.47x
Whitechapel London 1 13.00x
Wrotham 1 113.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Lucy 3
Amy 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Mary 2
A.L. 1
Allice 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
B.B. 1
Carol 1
Cathe. 1
Charlotte 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
H.M. 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Maria 1
Mercy 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Staphia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Henry 3
Frederick 2
Jacob 2
Joseph 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Briming 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Christian 1
Elias 1
Ernest 1
Guillanme 1
J.W. 1
Johann 1
Juluis 1
M. 1
Nicklaus 1
Norris 1
Oswald 1
Peter 1
Philipp 1
Phillip 1
Roger 1
Rottsmund 1
Theodore 1
William 1

FAQ

Conrad surname: questions and answers

How common was the Conrad surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Conrad surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Conrad surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 439 in 2016. That gives Conrad a modern rank of #11,007.

What does the Conrad surname mean?

Derived from the Old High German name Kuonrat, meaning "bold counselor" or "wise counselor."

What does the Conrad map show?

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