NameCensus.

UK surname

Constance

A surname derived from the virtue name meaning constancy, firmness, or steadfastness.

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Constance surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 505, ranked #9,919, down from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Ashfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Constance is 510 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.9%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

505

2016, ranked #9,919

Peak year

2013

510 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Constance had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016, ranked #9,919.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 412 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Constance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Constance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Constance 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 241 #9,037
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 370 #10,017
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 461 #9,886
1998 modern 486 #9,810
1999 modern 502 #9,634
2000 modern 485 #9,853
2001 modern 473 #9,862
2002 modern 487 #9,820
2003 modern 469 #9,940
2004 modern 459 #10,137
2005 modern 448 #10,250
2006 modern 448 #10,269
2007 modern 448 #10,365
2008 modern 461 #10,235
2009 modern 469 #10,344
2010 modern 487 #10,251
2011 modern 498 #9,982
2012 modern 492 #9,989
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 500 #10,077
2015 modern 502 #9,972
2016 modern 505 #9,919

Geography

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Where Constances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Ashfield. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 009 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
3 Ashfield 003 Ashfield
4 Ashfield 004 Ashfield
5 Cornwall 014 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Constance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Constance

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Constance is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Constance 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

Constance 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 Constance 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 Constance, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Constance

The surname Constance is of French origin, derived from the Latin word "constantia," which means "constancy" or "firmness." It emerged as a surname during the Middle Ages in various regions of France.

In the early 12th century, the name Constance appeared in the Livre des Vassaux, a record of feudal landholdings in Normandy. This suggests that the name may have been associated with nobility or landowners in that region during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Constance can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in England. The entry mentions a landowner named Robert Constance in Lincolnshire.

During the 13th century, the surname Constance was found in various parts of France, including the regions of Brittany and Normandy. It is believed that the name may have originated from the Old French word "constance," meaning "steadfastness" or "perseverance."

A notable historical figure bearing the surname Constance was John Constance (c. 1420-1487), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells from 1478 until his death.

Another prominent individual was Guillaume Constance (c. 1490-1556), a French philosopher and theologian who was a leading figure in the Renaissance humanism movement.

In the 17th century, the surname Constance was also found in Scotland, where a family by the name of Constance settled in the Borders region. One notable member of this family was Sir James Constance (1612-1679), a Scottish landowner and military officer who fought in the English Civil War.

The surname Constance has been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Constance in Normandy, France, may have derived its name from an early bearer of the surname.

Other notable individuals with the surname Constance include Sir Walter Constance (1655-1712), an English politician and landowner, and Mary Constance (1738-1824), a British novelist and playwright.

While the surname Constance is not as common today as it was in the past, it remains a part of many family histories, reflecting the enduring legacy of its meaning and the individuals who have carried it through the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Constance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Constance 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. Gloucestershire leads with 98 Constances recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.42x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 98 16.42x
Monmouthshire 43 19.54x
Middlesex 34 1.12x
Suffolk 23 6.20x
Surrey 22 1.48x
Lancashire 15 0.42x
Herefordshire 14 11.22x
Warwickshire 13 1.69x
Norfolk 9 1.92x
Worcestershire 9 2.26x
Sussex 6 1.17x
Hampshire 4 0.64x
Kent 4 0.39x
Yorkshire 4 0.13x
Devon 3 0.47x
Bedfordshire 2 1.27x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.49x
Radnorshire 2 8.14x
Berkshire 1 0.44x
Cardiganshire 1 1.35x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Glamorgan 1 0.19x
Wiltshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Longhope in Gloucestershire leads with 47 Constances recorded in 1881 and an index of 4653.47x.

Place Total Index
Longhope 47 4653.47x
Trelleck Grange 9 6923.08x
Westbury On Severn East 9 66.72x
Bermondsey 8 8.83x
Charlton Kings 8 193.70x
Hereford St Peter 8 240.24x
Worcester St Peter 8 106.38x
Accrington 7 21.32x
Fulham London 7 15.86x
Gloucester St John Baptist 7 181.82x
Little Linstead 7 4117.65x
Panteg 7 201.73x
St Bartholomew Less 7 445.86x
Aston 6 2.84x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 10.68x
Monmouth 6 102.92x
Chepstow 5 133.33x
Croydon 5 6.07x
Llanvihangel Torymynydd 5 2941.18x
Mitcheldean 5 675.68x
Rumburgh 5 1351.35x
Rye 5 102.46x
St Marylebone London 5 3.08x
Birmingham 4 1.56x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 20.10x
Cheltenham 4 8.69x
Great Yarmouth 4 10.32x
Hampstead London 4 8.44x
Islington London 4 1.36x
Kirkley 4 129.03x
Portsea 4 3.27x
Bedwellty 3 7.72x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.75x
Lambeth 3 1.13x
Lancaster 3 13.96x
Llantillio Crossenny 3 434.78x
Normanton 3 33.11x
Ross 3 60.48x
Stapleton 3 26.50x
Stretton On Dunsmore 3 428.57x
Bedford St Paul 2 18.50x
Covehithe 2 1111.11x
Llanyre 2 273.97x
Mitchel Troy 2 571.43x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.89x
St Martin In Fields 2 10.98x
Taynton 2 333.33x
Toft Monks 2 487.80x
Wissett 2 487.80x
Aldingbourn 1 128.21x
Ashwater 1 111.11x
Battersea 1 0.89x
Cookley 1 454.55x
Cranham 1 243.90x
Devonport 1 13.74x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.63x
Everton 1 0.87x
Gillingham 1 212.77x
Gillingham 1 4.67x
Great Bolton 1 2.09x
Haddiscoe 1 243.90x
Heston 1 9.89x
Ilketshall St Andrew 1 204.08x
Leigh 1 20.75x
Linton In Newent 1 103.09x
Llantrisant 1 7.49x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 1 23.81x
Manchester 1 0.62x
New Windsor 1 13.02x
Norton Subcourse 1 263.16x
Reigate Borough 1 29.24x
St Andrew Undershaft 1 294.12x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.87x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.22x
Stonehouse East 1 31.15x
Sutton 1 9.32x
Trevethin 1 4.81x
Tupsley 1 94.34x
Vainor Upper 1 277.78x
Westbury On Severn 1 42.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 14
Ann 10
Annie 8
Hannah 8
Jane 5
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Emily 4
Emma 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Sarah 4
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Maria 3
Rose 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Julia 2
Lizzie 2
Nellie 2
Rosina 2
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Elizebeth 1
Elvera 1
Eveline 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Jesse 1
Leah 1
Levinia 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marie 1
Susanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 16
James 12
Henry 7
Charles 6
George 6
Alfred 5
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
David 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Amos 1
Augustus 1
Bertrand 1
Cartwright 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Christpher 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Eli 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Everett 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Hezekiah 1
Israil 1
Job 1
Lewis 1
Milsome 1
Nathaniel 1
Reuben 1
Rowland 1
S. 1
Soloman 1
Solomon 1
Theophilus 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Constance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Constance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Constance surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Constance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 505 in 2016. That gives Constance a modern rank of #9,919.

What does the Constance surname mean?

A surname derived from the virtue name meaning constancy, firmness, or steadfastness.

What does the Constance map show?

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