NameCensus.

UK surname

Constant

A surname derived from the Latin word "constans," meaning steadfast, resolute, or faithful.

In the 1881 census there were 299 people recorded with the Constant surname, ranking it #9,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 655, ranked #8,123, up from #9,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Bexley and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Constant is 680 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.1%.

1881 census count

299

Ranked #9,740

Modern count

655

2016, ranked #8,123

Peak year

1998

680 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Constant had 299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016, ranked #8,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 409 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Constant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Constant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Constant 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 208 #10,107
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 299 #9,740
1891 historical 337 #10,133
1901 historical 373 #9,948
1911 historical 409 #9,140
1997 modern 644 #7,714
1998 modern 680 #7,648
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 656 #7,883
2001 modern 663 #7,677
2002 modern 657 #7,880
2003 modern 652 #7,816
2004 modern 654 #7,796
2005 modern 640 #7,855
2006 modern 634 #7,958
2007 modern 640 #7,962
2008 modern 639 #8,020
2009 modern 652 #8,046
2010 modern 678 #7,975
2011 modern 671 #7,954
2012 modern 660 #7,975
2013 modern 673 #7,985
2014 modern 671 #8,046
2015 modern 670 #7,996
2016 modern 655 #8,123

Geography

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Where Constants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, Portsmouth, Portsea and Renhold. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Bexley, Weymouth and Portland, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford. 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 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Renhold Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Bexley 019 Bexley
3 Weymouth and Portland 004 Weymouth and Portland
4 Central Bedfordshire 006 Central Bedfordshire
5 Bedford 012 Bedford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Constant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Constant

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

Constant 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

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

Meaning and origin of Constant

The surname CONSTANT has its origins in France, with the earliest records dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Latin word "constans," meaning "constant" or "steadfast." The name was likely given to individuals who exhibited these qualities or had a reputation for being reliable and unwavering.

During the Middle Ages, the CONSTANT surname appeared in various French records and chronicles, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. One notable early reference is found in the "Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Wandrille," a medieval manuscript from the 13th century, which mentions a person named "Robertus Constans."

The earliest recorded bearer of the CONSTANT surname is believed to be Geoffroy Constant, who lived in the village of Bellencombre, Normandy, in the late 12th century. Another early example is Jean Constant, a prominent merchant from Rouen, Normandy, who was mentioned in local records around 1240.

As the surname spread across France, it evolved into different spellings, such as Constans, Constante, and Constante. Some of these variants were influenced by regional dialects and scribal errors in historical documents.

One notable figure with the CONSTANT surname was Jacques Constant (1550-1629), a French jurist and legal scholar who served as the President of the Parliament of Normandy. Another prominent individual was Benjamin Constant (1767-1830), a Swiss-born French novelist, philosopher, and political activist who played a significant role in the liberal movement during the French Revolution.

In England, the CONSTANT surname can be traced back to the 16th century, likely introduced by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. One of the earliest recorded instances is John Constant, who was born in London around 1590.

Other notable bearers of the CONSTANT surname include:

1. Louis Constant Wairy (1778-1845), a French painter known for his portraits and historical scenes. 2. Alphonse Constant (1810-1875), a French artist and engraver who specialized in portrait miniatures. 3. Émile Constant (1857-1936), a French composer and conductor who taught at the Paris Conservatory. 4. Ferdinand Victor Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), better known as Eugène Delacroix, a renowned French Romantic artist known for his exceptional use of color and dramatic compositions.

While the CONSTANT surname has French origins, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by immigrants and families over the centuries. However, this report focuses solely on the historical background and notable bearers of this surname from its inception until the 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Constant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Constant 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. Kent leads with 82 Constants recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.21x.

County Total Index
Kent 82 8.21x
Middlesex 43 1.47x
Surrey 34 2.38x
Devon 23 3.78x
Warwickshire 22 2.98x
Bedfordshire 17 11.22x
Hampshire 15 2.50x
Monmouthshire 15 7.09x
Sussex 9 1.82x
Gloucestershire 8 1.39x
Glamorgan 6 1.18x
Suffolk 6 1.68x
Leicestershire 5 1.54x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Royal Navy 3 8.60x
Lanarkshire 2 0.21x
Staffordshire 2 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.22x
Durham 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.21x
Northamptonshire 1 0.36x
Renfrewshire 1 0.44x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton In Gravesend in Kent leads with 24 Constants recorded in 1881 and an index of 160.32x.

Place Total Index
Milton In Gravesend 24 160.32x
Renhold 15 2884.62x
Lambeth 11 4.31x
Portsea 9 7.66x
Canterbury St Mary N 8 1194.03x
Ilfracombe 8 127.59x
Reigate Foreign 8 51.81x
Selsey 8 879.12x
Tonbridge 8 22.22x
Plumstead 7 21.03x
Deal 6 70.42x
Fulham London 6 14.14x
Hammersmith London 6 8.32x
Kenilworth 6 144.23x
Oldcastle 6 12000.00x
Swansea St Thomas 6 117.19x
Walton 6 468.75x
Belgrave 5 68.31x
Camberwell 5 2.67x
Chelsea London 5 5.67x
Croydon 5 6.32x
Llanhennock 5 2272.73x
Newbold Upon Avon 5 714.29x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 10.66x
St George Hanover Square 5 9.70x
Woolwich 5 13.55x
Bromley 4 26.28x
Canterbury St Mary 4 59.70x
East Budleigh 4 139.37x
Gloucester St Michael 4 305.34x
Gravesend 4 47.34x
Newland 4 82.99x
Paddington London 4 3.72x
Rugby 4 40.08x
Aston 3 1.48x
Friern Barnet 3 46.51x
Meavy 3 1071.43x
Penshurst 3 178.57x
Plymouth Charles The 3 11.18x
Royal Navy 3 10.06x
South Mimms 3 74.81x
Whitstable 3 61.22x
Atherstone 2 53.05x
Brading 2 25.09x
Govan 2 0.85x
Maidstone 2 6.72x
Millbrook 2 13.24x
Newington 2 1.85x
Northfleet 2 22.73x
Shoreditch London 2 1.58x
St Giles In Fields London 2 13.93x
St Pancras London 2 0.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.91x
Trelleck Grange 2 1538.46x
Battersea 1 0.93x
Bedford St Paul 1 9.62x
Caterham 1 15.87x
Cheetham 1 3.86x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.81x
Cosgrove 1 156.25x
Coventry St Michael 1 4.22x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.30x
Eastry 1 72.46x
Frant 1 28.57x
Gateshead 1 1.53x
Islington London 1 0.35x
Nuneaton 1 11.70x
Penge 1 5.35x
Portsmouth 1 7.24x
Riseley 1 104.17x
Shorwell 1 161.29x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.71x
St Martin Lincoln 1 23.04x
Staveley 1 12.30x
Trevethin 1 5.01x
Twickenham 1 7.97x
Usk 1 57.14x
West Greenock 1 2.46x
Westminster St John 1 2.81x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Elizabeth 9
Alice 8
Emily 7
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Florence 6
Caroline 5
Emma 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Fanny 4
Annie 3
Eleanor 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Harriet 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Susannah 2
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
Celia 1
Elivra 1
Elizebeth 1
Faith 1
Flora 1
Georgiana 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Jassier 1
Juliette 1
Katie 1
Lilly 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1
Rebecca 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 16
James 9
Thomas 9
Charles 8
Edward 8
Frederick 6
Alfred 5
Henry 5
Amos 4
Ernest 4
George 4
Francis 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edgar 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Nelson 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
(Mr) 1
Augustus 1
Chas. 1
Claude 1
David 1
Ebeneazer 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Gibbson 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Israel 1
Jesse 1
Montague 1
Morgan 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Rudolph 1
Stephen 1
Willie 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Constant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Constant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 299 people were recorded with the Constant surname. That placed it at #9,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Constant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 655 in 2016. That gives Constant a modern rank of #8,123.

What does the Constant surname mean?

A surname derived from the Latin word "constans," meaning steadfast, resolute, or faithful.

What does the Constant map show?

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