NameCensus.

UK surname

Culver

An English occupational surname for a keeper of doves or pigeons.

In the 1881 census there were 664 people recorded with the Culver surname, ranking it #5,418 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 729, ranked #7,469, down from #5,418 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sturry, London parishes and Dunkirk. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Dover and North West Leicestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Culver is 962 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.8%.

1881 census count

664

Ranked #5,418

Modern count

729

2016, ranked #7,469

Peak year

1911

962 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Culver had 664 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,418 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 729 in 2016, ranked #7,469.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 962 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Culver surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Culver surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Culver 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 467 #5,314
1861 historical 411 #6,248
1881 historical 664 #5,418
1891 historical 759 #5,250
1901 historical 925 #5,041
1911 historical 962 #4,695
1997 modern 857 #6,203
1998 modern 865 #6,347
1999 modern 874 #6,351
2000 modern 880 #6,272
2001 modern 840 #6,401
2002 modern 864 #6,390
2003 modern 812 #6,575
2004 modern 814 #6,572
2005 modern 776 #6,764
2006 modern 746 #7,013
2007 modern 750 #7,061
2008 modern 750 #7,104
2009 modern 764 #7,147
2010 modern 772 #7,221
2011 modern 763 #7,209
2012 modern 730 #7,377
2013 modern 757 #7,289
2014 modern 756 #7,326
2015 modern 744 #7,345
2016 modern 729 #7,469

Geography

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Where Culvers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sturry, London parishes, Dunkirk and Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Dover, North West Leicestershire, Hart and East Hertfordshire. 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 Sturry Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Dunkirk Kent
5 Yalding, Aylesford, Burham, Mereworth, Wateringbury, Nettlestead Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 011 Wealden
2 Dover 002 Dover
3 North West Leicestershire 013 North West Leicestershire
4 Hart 004 Hart
5 East Hertfordshire 002 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Culver

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Culver

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Culver is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Culver is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Culver falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Culver 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 Culver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Culver

The surname Culver originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "culfre" or "culfor," which were the terms used for a dove or pigeon. The name may have initially been given as a nickname to someone who had a particular affinity for these birds or possibly as an occupational name for someone who raised or caught doves or pigeons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Culver surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named William Culverd is mentioned. The Culver name also appears in various other historical records from medieval England, such as the Pipe Rolls, the Subsidy Rolls, and the Hearth Tax Returns.

The Culver surname is thought to have originated in the counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Gloucestershire, where there are several places with names derived from the Old English word "culfre," such as Culverton and Culworth. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname.

In terms of notable historical figures bearing the Culver surname, one example is Robert Culver, a 16th-century English farmer and landowner from Oxfordshire, who lived from around 1520 to 1580. Another is Thomas Culver, a 17th-century English clergyman and author who was born in 1640 and wrote several theological works.

Moving forward in time, John Culver (1721-1804) was an American farmer and Revolutionary War soldier from Connecticut. Erastus Culver (1826-1899) was a prominent American businessman and politician who served as a U.S. Representative from New York in the late 19th century.

Additionally, William Culver (1758-1844) was an American lawyer and judge who served as the fourth Governor of New York from 1825 to 1828. He was born in Oxfordshire, England, before his family immigrated to the American colonies when he was a child.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the Culver surname, which has its roots in medieval England and is believed to have originated as a nickname or occupational name related to doves or pigeons.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Culver families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Culver 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 204 Culvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.20x.

County Total Index
Kent 204 9.20x
Middlesex 187 2.88x
Surrey 126 3.98x
Hertfordshire 35 7.82x
Hampshire 31 2.33x
Suffolk 14 1.77x
Essex 11 0.86x
Yorkshire 9 0.14x
Lanarkshire 8 0.38x
Sussex 8 0.73x
Norfolk 7 0.70x
Lancashire 6 0.08x
Berkshire 5 1.03x
Devon 3 0.22x
Lincolnshire 3 0.29x
Bedfordshire 2 0.59x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Somerset 2 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.78x
Royal Navy 1 1.29x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 36 Culvers recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.61x.

Place Total Index
Bermondsey 36 18.61x
Dunkirk 24 1454.55x
Islington London 23 3.65x
Folkestone 17 39.54x
Sawbridgeworth 17 250.74x
Hackney London 16 4.39x
Ramsgate 16 44.22x
St Marylebone London 16 4.61x
Faversham 15 70.96x
Sturry 15 572.52x
St Pancras London 13 2.49x
Battersea 12 5.02x
Boughton Under Blean 12 323.45x
Fulham London 12 12.74x
Ash Next Sandwich 11 224.49x
Croydon 11 6.26x
Teddington London 11 74.73x
Ashford 10 46.32x
Aylesford 10 162.87x
Halesworth 10 178.25x
Hammersmith London 9 5.62x
Mile End Old Town London 9 6.51x
Banstead 8 93.24x
Barony 8 1.50x
Clerkenwell London 8 5.22x
Eastchurch 8 365.30x
Hartley Wintney 8 200.00x
Lambeth 8 1.41x
Merton 8 144.40x
Newington 8 3.33x
Sunbury 8 102.56x
Kensington London 7 1.94x
Kingsley 7 686.27x
Margate St John Baptist 7 17.25x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 7 115.13x
Penge 7 16.87x
Portsea 7 2.68x
Ringwould 7 368.42x
Rochester St Margaret 7 29.95x
Willesden 7 11.43x
Chelsea London 6 3.06x
Lower Hardres 6 952.38x
Mile End New Town London 6 46.73x
Rotherhithe 6 7.47x
Sculcoates 6 5.88x
Crondall 5 69.93x
Tottenham 5 4.83x
Wandsworth 5 7.99x
Ware 5 38.94x
West Ham 5 1.77x
Wokingham 5 44.92x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.42x
Bobbing 4 380.95x
Edmonton 4 7.64x
Hove 4 8.32x
Sheering 4 330.58x
St Peters 4 39.02x
Walkern 4 212.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 1.78x
Bromley London 3 2.10x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.75x
Farnborough 3 21.44x
Farnham 3 12.19x
Great Mongeham 3 288.46x
Hampstead London 3 2.97x
Hythe St Leonard 3 38.31x
Poplar London 3 2.45x
Preston Next Wingham 3 300.00x
Richmond 3 6.76x
St George Hanover Square 3 2.62x
Wigton 3 535.71x
Acton 2 5.25x
Barnes 2 14.94x
Eastry 2 65.15x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 8.56x
Pendlebury 2 12.29x
Shoreditch London 2 0.71x
St Sepulchre London 2 21.03x
Stalisfield 2 263.16x
Stanton 2 106.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 40
George 31
John 28
Edward 22
Thomas 20
Charles 14
Henry 13
James 13
Alfred 12
Albert 8
Arthur 8
Robert 8
Walter 8
Joseph 6
Harry 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Ambrose 3
Frederick 3
Percival 3
Aquila 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Infant 2
Leonard 2
Mark 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Chas.Edd. 1
Cuthbert 1
D.W. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Elias 1
Elisha 1
Finch 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.C.W. 1
Gilbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jasred 1
Lonis 1

FAQ

Culver surname: questions and answers

How common was the Culver surname in 1881?

In 1881, 664 people were recorded with the Culver surname. That placed it at #5,418 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Culver surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 729 in 2016. That gives Culver a modern rank of #7,469.

What does the Culver surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a keeper of doves or pigeons.

What does the Culver map show?

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