NameCensus.

UK surname

Cummings

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person of short stature, from the word "cumming" meaning small.

In the 1881 census there were 4,576 people recorded with the Cummings surname, ranking it #976 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,991, ranked #641, up from #976 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Copeland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Cummings is 10,682 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.3%.

1881 census count

4,576

Ranked #976

Modern count

9,991

2016, ranked #641

Peak year

2010

10,682 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Cummings had 4,576 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #976 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,991 in 2016, ranked #641.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,239 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Cummings surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Cummings surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Cummings 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 1,595 #1,803
1861 historical 1,982 #1,468
1881 historical 4,576 #976
1891 historical 4,708 #987
1901 historical 6,239 #888
1911 historical 5,476 #951
1997 modern 9,835 #634
1998 modern 10,180 #636
1999 modern 10,293 #633
2000 modern 10,164 #637
2001 modern 9,946 #635
2002 modern 10,133 #640
2003 modern 9,793 #647
2004 modern 9,874 #643
2005 modern 9,794 #639
2006 modern 9,867 #633
2007 modern 9,973 #628
2008 modern 10,054 #627
2009 modern 10,424 #624
2010 modern 10,682 #620
2011 modern 10,480 #623
2012 modern 10,045 #639
2013 modern 10,191 #639
2014 modern 10,206 #641
2015 modern 10,084 #639
2016 modern 9,991 #641

Geography

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Where Cummings' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Copeland, County Durham and Northumberland. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
2 Copeland 008 Copeland
3 County Durham 018 County Durham
4 County Durham 017 County Durham
5 Northumberland 007 Northumberland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Cummings

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Cummings

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Cummings 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

Cummings 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

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

Meaning and origin of Cummings

The surname Cummings has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "cuming," meaning "newcomer" or "stranger." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who had recently arrived in a particular area or village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1202, where a person named William Cuming is mentioned. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, documenting taxes and other payments made to the Crown.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed individuals with the surname Cuming or Cumming in counties like Oxfordshire and Huntingdonshire. This indicates that the name had spread across different regions of England by that time.

The Cummings surname has also been associated with several place names in England, including Compton (from the Old English "combing tun," meaning "valley town") and Cumdivock (from the Old English "cuming" and the Cumbric "divock," meaning "a hollow"). These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Historically, notable individuals with the Cummings surname include:

1. Sir John Cummings (c. 1325-1400), an English soldier and diplomat who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War.

2. Robert Cummings (c. 1508-1576), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral.

3. Francis Cummings (c. 1570-1647), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons during the reign of King Charles I.

4. Sir Abraham Cummings (1590-1670), an English merchant and philanthropist who funded the construction of several almshouses in London.

5. Thomas Cummings (1718-1791), an American patriot and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.

The Cummings surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Comyn, Cumin, and Cumming, reflecting the influence of regional dialects and scribal interpretation. Despite these variations, the name's roots can be traced back to its Old English origins, reflecting the rich history and evolution of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Cummings families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Cummings 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. Durham leads with 732 Cummings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.47x.

County Total Index
Durham 732 5.47x
Lancashire 538 1.01x
Middlesex 522 1.16x
Northumberland 280 4.18x
Surrey 276 1.26x
Lanarkshire 271 1.86x
Yorkshire 216 0.48x
Gloucestershire 155 1.76x
Hampshire 124 1.34x
Devon 120 1.28x
Midlothian 97 1.61x
Glamorgan 95 1.21x
Kent 93 0.61x
Renfrewshire 67 1.92x
Cheshire 65 0.65x
Fife 64 2.40x
Warwickshire 53 0.47x
Essex 49 0.55x
Somerset 49 0.68x
Aberdeenshire 46 1.10x
Staffordshire 45 0.30x
Westmorland 42 4.25x
Cumberland 39 1.01x
Lincolnshire 39 0.54x
Berkshire 34 1.01x
Sussex 33 0.44x
Monmouthshire 32 0.98x
Wiltshire 32 0.80x
Angus 31 0.74x
Oxfordshire 31 1.12x
Stirlingshire 30 1.81x
Channel Islands 26 1.95x
Perthshire 25 1.24x
Leicestershire 24 0.48x
Worcestershire 23 0.39x
Ayrshire 19 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 19 0.70x
Roxburghshire 16 1.96x
Norfolk 14 0.20x
Wigtownshire 14 2.34x
Derbyshire 13 0.18x
Dorset 11 0.37x
Royal Navy 10 1.86x
Argyllshire 9 0.72x
Denbighshire 9 0.53x
Dumfriesshire 9 0.91x
Clackmannanshire 8 2.15x
Flintshire 7 0.58x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.50x
Hertfordshire 6 0.19x
Northamptonshire 6 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.42x
Suffolk 5 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.07x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.16x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.46x
Morayshire 3 0.43x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.11x
Isle of Man 2 0.24x
Shropshire 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.13x
Banffshire 1 0.11x
Brecknockshire 1 0.11x
Caithness 1 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Herefordshire 1 0.05x
Kincardineshire 1 0.18x
Merionethshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 77 Cummings' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.68x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 77 7.68x
Lambeth 72 1.84x
Bishopwearmouth 71 6.18x
Glasgow 66 2.55x
Liverpool 66 2.04x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 58 14.50x
Manchester 54 2.25x
Barony 53 1.44x
Camberwell 50 1.74x
Govan 48 1.33x
Shoreditch London 45 2.31x
Toxteth Park 44 2.43x
Cheltenham 37 5.43x
Paddington London 37 2.24x
St Marylebone London 35 1.46x
Preston 34 2.38x
Chelsea London 33 2.43x
Islington London 32 0.73x
Aston 30 0.96x
Haswell 30 31.27x
Byker 29 8.76x
Hackney London 28 1.11x
Pittington 28 74.37x
Oldham 27 1.57x
Witton Gilbert 27 51.09x
Dawdon 26 15.79x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 26 1.07x
St Luke London 26 3.60x
Westoe 26 3.43x
Blantyre 25 16.50x
Brandon Byshottles 25 14.91x
Stockton On Tees 25 3.87x
West Ham 25 1.27x
Westgate 25 6.03x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 24 2.89x
Mile End Old Town London 24 2.51x
Leeds 23 0.91x
Little Bolton 23 3.35x
Merthyr Tydfil 23 3.05x
Workington 23 10.37x
Aldershot 22 7.12x
Darlington 22 4.26x
East Rainton 22 84.91x
Southampton St Mary 22 3.79x
Stoke Damerel 22 3.36x
Aberdeen Old Machar 21 2.41x
Bermondsey 21 1.57x
Dundee 21 1.35x
Everton 21 1.23x
Heworth 21 7.96x
Kirkdale 21 2.34x
Rotherhithe 21 3.78x
St Helier 21 4.84x
West Derby 21 1.34x
Westminster St James 21 4.54x
East Murton 20 79.81x
Elvet 20 20.70x
Muiravonside 20 47.44x
Pelton 20 31.40x
Battersea 19 1.15x
Elswick 19 3.56x
Port Glasgow 19 11.27x
Bethnal Green London 18 0.92x
Dukinfield 18 3.92x
Kendal 18 9.94x
Old Monkland 18 3.12x
Stranton 18 3.99x
Portsea 17 0.94x
St Pancras London 17 0.47x
Swansea Town 17 2.65x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 16 48.60x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 16 2.76x
Birmingham 15 0.40x
Cardiff St Mary 15 3.48x
Croydon 15 1.23x
Edinburgh Canongate 15 9.78x
Ferryhill 15 32.05x
Plymouth St Andrew 15 2.08x
Seaham 15 30.74x
Wemyss 15 13.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 328
Elizabeth 166
Sarah 114
Margaret 100
Jane 96
Ann 86
Annie 63
Ellen 57
Eliza 51
Catherine 44
Emma 35
Alice 34
Hannah 34
Emily 31
Isabella 30
Maria 28
Agnes 26
Bridget 22
Harriet 21
Anne 19
Kate 19
Louisa 19
Martha 19
Charlotte 18
Clara 17
Caroline 16
Florence 16
Ada 15
Lucy 15
Elizth. 14
Frances 14
Rebecca 13
Susan 13
Edith 12
Julia 11
Fanny 10
Jessie 10
Amelia 9
Eleanor 8
Ethel 8
Anna 7
Dorothy 7
Esther 7
Margt. 7
Susannah 7
E. 6
Harriett 6
Matilda 6
Rose 6
Amy 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 268
William 226
Thomas 162
James 153
George 122
Charles 75
Joseph 70
Robert 67
Richard 45
Henry 43
Edward 41
Alfred 38
Michael 30
Arthur 23
Patrick 22
Frederick 21
Peter 21
Alexander 19
Albert 18
David 15
Andrew 13
Walter 13
Harry 12
Wm. 12
Stephen 11
Samuel 10
Benjamin 9
Ernest 9
Herbert 9
Francis 8
Anthony 7
Daniel 7
Frank 7
Geo. 7
Thos. 7
Dennis 6
Fredrick 6
Abraham 5
Chas. 5
Cornelius 5
Luke 5
Martin 5
Matthew 5
Frances 4
Hugh 4
Jno. 4
Ralph 4
Robt. 4
Sidney 4
W. 4

FAQ

Cummings surname: questions and answers

How common was the Cummings surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,576 people were recorded with the Cummings surname. That placed it at #976 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Cummings surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,991 in 2016. That gives Cummings a modern rank of #641.

What does the Cummings surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person of short stature, from the word "cumming" meaning small.

What does the Cummings map show?

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