NameCensus.

UK surname

Culf

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Culf surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manningtree, Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Sheffield and Bolton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Culf is 158 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.0%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1998

158 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Culf had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Culf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Culf surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Culf 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 35 #29,571
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 90 #25,399
1901 historical 98 #23,119
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 158 #20,992
1999 modern 154 #21,455
2000 modern 152 #21,603
2001 modern 155 #21,047
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 148 #21,866
2004 modern 151 #21,720
2005 modern 145 #22,253
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 140 #23,231
2008 modern 142 #23,270
2009 modern 146 #23,352
2010 modern 136 #25,009
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Culfs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manningtree, Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock, Sheffield, Ipswich St Mary Stoke and Mistley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Sheffield, Bolton and Bolsover. 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 Manningtree Essex
2 Orsett, Little Thurrock, Stock Essex
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Ipswich St Mary Stoke Suffolk
5 Mistley Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
2 Sheffield 025 Sheffield
3 Sheffield 004 Sheffield
4 Bolton 028 Bolton
5 Bolsover 005 Bolsover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Culf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Culf

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Culf, 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 Culf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Culf 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Culf is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Culf is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Culf 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 Culf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Culf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Culf 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. Essex leads with 22 Culfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.11x.

County Total Index
Essex 22 14.11x
Yorkshire 22 2.81x
Suffolk 18 18.71x
Middlesex 15 1.90x
Warwickshire 3 1.51x
Cheshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 16 Culfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.21x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 16 64.21x
Ipswich St Margaret 11 337.42x
Hammersmith London 8 41.11x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 5 561.80x
Mistley 5 1190.48x
Braintree 4 285.71x
Manningtree 4 1600.00x
Mile End Old Town London 4 23.80x
Birmingham 3 4.52x
Colchester St Botolph 3 225.56x
Earls Colne 3 697.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 18.84x
Nether Hallam 3 28.33x
Barking 2 43.86x
Freston 2 2857.14x
Birkenhead 1 7.19x
Bradfield 1 454.55x
Clerkenwell London 1 5.36x
Mile End New Town London 1 64.10x
St Pancras London 1 1.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Charles 2
Daniel 2
Edward 2
George 2
John 2
Carrington 1
Frederick 1
Gentrey 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Nathan 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Culf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Culf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Culf surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Culf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Culf a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Culf map show?

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