NameCensus.

UK surname

Count

A title of nobility referring to one who possesses a certain rank or status.

In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Count surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #18,597 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Rotherham and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Count is 201 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.4%.

1881 census count

111

Ranked #18,597

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

1911

201 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Count had 111 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,597 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 201 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Count surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Count surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Count 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 163 #14,242
1881 historical 111 #18,597
1891 historical 162 #17,390
1901 historical 101 #22,726
1911 historical 201 #14,905
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 95 #28,536
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 89 #29,683
2006 modern 84 #30,665
2007 modern 86 #30,808
2008 modern 88 #30,857
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 89 #31,745
2011 modern 86 #32,006
2012 modern 85 #32,395
2013 modern 81 #32,996
2014 modern 83 #32,910
2015 modern 81 #32,975
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

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Where Counts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, London parishes, Hucknall Torkard and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Rotherham, West Lindsey, Doncaster and North Kesteven. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hucknall Torkard Nottinghamshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 026 Barnsley
2 Rotherham 012 Rotherham
3 West Lindsey 010 West Lindsey
4 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
5 North Kesteven 004 North Kesteven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Count

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Count

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Count surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Count household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Count is most associated with areas classed as Young Asian Family Terraces, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 households with dependent children typically live in terraced housing and are of (non-Chinese) Asian extraction. Individuals with Bangladeshi origins are particularly in evidence. Employment is often in elementary occupations or as process, plant or machine operatives, and part-time work is common. Students are much in evidence.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Count 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

Count falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Count is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Count

The surname Count originated in England during the medieval period, around the 11th century. It is derived from the Old French word "conte," which means "count" or "earl." This title was bestowed upon noblemen who held significant authority and lands within the feudal system.

The name can be traced back to Normandy, France, where it was common among the Norman nobility. After the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many Norman counts and their descendants settled in various parts of the country, bringing their surnames with them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Count appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. This document mentions individuals with the surname Count holding lands in various counties, including Gloucestershire and Lincolnshire.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the surname Count was prominent in several regions of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. It was associated with influential families who held positions of power and influence within the local communities.

Notable individuals with the surname Count include Sir John Count (c. 1250 - 1315), a prominent knight and landowner in Oxfordshire during the reign of Edward I. Another noteworthy figure was William Count (c. 1370 - 1440), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the Count surname was linked to several place names, such as Countesthorpe in Leicestershire and Counthorpe in Lincolnshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or were associated with individuals bearing the name.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Count surname appeared in various historical records, including parish registers and court documents. Prominent individuals from this period include Sir Thomas Count (1605 - 1672), a prominent lawyer and judge during the English Civil War, and John Count (1680 - 1748), a renowned clockmaker in London.

Throughout its history, the surname Count has been associated with individuals from various social strata, ranging from nobility and gentry to merchants and tradesmen. While its origins can be traced back to the Norman nobility, the name has evolved and spread across different regions of England over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Count families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Count 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. Surrey leads with 22 Counts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.37x.

County Total Index
Surrey 22 4.37x
Nottinghamshire 17 12.20x
Lincolnshire 12 7.26x
Middlesex 11 1.06x
Lancashire 9 0.73x
Yorkshire 9 0.88x
Derbyshire 7 4.32x
Suffolk 6 4.76x
Norfolk 4 2.52x
Northumberland 3 1.95x
Gloucestershire 2 0.99x
Bedfordshire 1 1.87x
Durham 1 0.33x
Essex 1 0.49x
Somerset 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 8 Counts recorded in 1881 and an index of 57.10x.

Place Total Index
Bury 8 57.10x
Hucknall Torkard 7 198.30x
Newington 7 18.33x
North Wingfield 7 972.22x
Penge 7 106.06x
New Sleaford 6 566.04x
Newark Upon Trent 6 119.76x
Newmarket St Mary 5 515.46x
East Dereham 4 199.01x
Kimberworth 4 70.30x
Nottingham St Mary 4 11.10x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 4 171.67x
Wombwell 4 133.78x
Bermondsey 3 9.75x
Elswick 3 24.43x
Kensington London 3 5.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 10.48x
Camberwell 2 3.03x
Chelsea London 2 6.42x
Hampstead London 2 12.42x
St George Hanover Square 2 10.98x
Bedminster 1 6.39x
Chelmsford 1 28.57x
Crossgate 1 74.63x
Croydon 1 3.58x
Ipswich St Lawrence 1 588.24x
Islington London 1 1.00x
Leasingham 1 769.23x
Luton 1 10.79x
Paddington London 1 2.63x
Sheffield 1 3.07x
Southwark St Saviour 1 18.83x
Streatham 1 13.04x
Sutterton 1 303.03x
West Derby 1 2.79x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 6
John 5
George 4
Arthur 3
Thomas 3
William 3
Frank 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Augustas 1
Chas. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Geo.J. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jesse 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Robt.Jas. 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Thos.Ld. 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Count surname: questions and answers

How common was the Count surname in 1881?

In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Count surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Count surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Count a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Count surname mean?

A title of nobility referring to one who possesses a certain rank or status.

What does the Count map show?

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