NameCensus.

UK surname

Cuffley

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Hertfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 122 people recorded with the Cuffley surname, ranking it #17,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #17,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wandsworth and Great Yarmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Basildon and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cuffley is 148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

122

Ranked #17,602

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1911

148 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cuffley had 122 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Cuffley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cuffley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cuffley 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 81 #19,457
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 122 #17,602
1891 historical 109 #22,701
1901 historical 142 #18,633
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 128 #23,238
1998 modern 147 #21,935
1999 modern 143 #22,521
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 146 #21,857
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 140 #22,793
2005 modern 133 #23,502
2006 modern 129 #24,165
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 123 #26,561
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Cuffleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wandsworth, Great Yarmouth, Enfield 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 South Cambridgeshire, Basildon, Eastleigh, Great Yarmouth and East Devon. 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 3
2 Wandsworth London (South Districts)
3 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
4 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
2 Basildon 010 Basildon
3 Eastleigh 009 Eastleigh
4 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
5 East Devon 013 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cuffley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cuffley

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Young Asian Family Terraces

Within London, Cuffley 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

Cuffley is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Cuffley

The surname Cuffley originated in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "cuffan" and "leah," which collectively translate to "the dweller in the meadow by the cuff or hill." This suggests that the name's earliest bearers may have resided near a distinct geographical feature, possibly a cuff or hill surrounded by meadows.

One of the earliest references to the name Cuffley can be found in the parish records of Hertfordshire, where a Thomas Cuffley was documented in 1587. This county is also home to the village of Cuffley, which likely took its name from the surname rather than the other way around.

In the 17th century, the name appears in various forms, including Cuffly, Cuffleigh, and Cufflay, indicating regional variations in spelling and pronunciation. One notable figure from this era was Robert Cuffley, a merchant and landowner who lived in Bristol between 1620 and 1685.

As the Cuffley family spread throughout England, they left their mark in various historical records. For example, the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674 list a John Cuffley as a resident of Worcestershire, while the Poll Books of 1712 document a William Cuffley in Middlesex.

During the 18th century, the surname gained prominence with the birth of John Cuffley (1745-1821), a notable English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes. His works can be found in prestigious collections, including the Tate Gallery in London.

Another distinguished bearer of the name was Sir Edward Cuffley (1788-1869), a British diplomat and politician who served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1834 to 1841. His diplomatic efforts played a crucial role in maintaining peaceful relations between Britain and the Ottoman Empire during a turbulent period in European history.

In the 19th century, the Cuffley family continued to make their mark across various fields. One notable example is George Cuffley (1857-1935), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in London, including the Old Bailey and the Royal Courts of Justice.

Throughout its history, the surname Cuffley has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, from artists and politicians to merchants and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to the rolling meadows of England, the name has since spread worldwide, carried by those who share a connection to this rich heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cuffley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cuffley 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 39 Cuffleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.30x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 39 3.30x
Surrey 39 6.78x
Essex 15 6.44x
Kent 6 1.49x
Cheshire 4 1.54x
Lancashire 4 0.29x
Norfolk 4 2.20x
Devon 3 1.22x
Northamptonshire 3 2.70x
Warwickshire 2 0.67x
Derbyshire 1 0.54x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 16 Cuffleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.13x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 16 50.13x
Sutton 12 288.46x
Enfield 10 129.20x
Bromley London 7 26.95x
Cuddington 6 2727.27x
Harlow 6 600.00x
Plumstead 6 44.71x
Shoreditch London 6 11.73x
Islington London 5 4.37x
Bobbingworth 4 3333.33x
Dunham Massey 4 500.00x
Heigham 4 41.07x
Leyton Low 4 84.39x
Moss Side 4 54.27x
Kingsthorpe 3 243.90x
Banstead 2 128.21x
Exeter Holy Trinity 2 208.33x
Leamington Priors 2 27.32x
St George Hanover Square 2 9.62x
St Marylebone London 2 3.17x
Streatham 2 22.83x
Fulham London 1 5.84x
Glossop Dale 1 11.56x
Hackney London 1 1.51x
Hendon 1 23.53x
Kensington London 1 1.52x
Normanby In 1 31.95x
Paddington London 1 2.30x
Saffron Walden 1 40.65x
St Stephen Coleman Street 1 243.90x
Stoke Damerel 1 5.82x
Stoke Newington London 1 10.88x
Wandsworth 1 8.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Eliza 4
Maria 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Elizabeth 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Rosina 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Christian 1
Eva 1
Harriet 1
Harriott 1
Jeannett 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Millie 1
Minie 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Phoeby 1
Sibilla 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Cuffley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cuffley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 122 people were recorded with the Cuffley surname. That placed it at #17,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cuffley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Cuffley a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Cuffley surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Hertfordshire, England.

What does the Cuffley map show?

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