NameCensus.

UK surname

Custance

A variant spelling of the surname Constance, which was an Old French personal name derived from the Latin "constans" meaning constant or steadfast.

In the 1881 census there were 362 people recorded with the Custance surname, ranking it #8,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 306, ranked #14,543, down from #8,561 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Milton Keynes, Norwich and Wrexham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Custance is 435 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 15.5%.

1881 census count

362

Ranked #8,561

Modern count

306

2016, ranked #14,543

Peak year

1911

435 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Custance had 362 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,561 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016, ranked #14,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 435 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Custance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Custance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Custance 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 276 #8,128
1861 historical 193 #12,371
1881 historical 362 #8,561
1891 historical 387 #9,122
1901 historical 403 #9,442
1911 historical 435 #8,724
1997 modern 357 #11,998
1998 modern 363 #12,228
1999 modern 359 #12,397
2000 modern 349 #12,585
2001 modern 340 #12,620
2002 modern 352 #12,557
2003 modern 334 #12,847
2004 modern 341 #12,673
2005 modern 341 #12,605
2006 modern 332 #12,970
2007 modern 322 #13,382
2008 modern 328 #13,319
2009 modern 333 #13,434
2010 modern 322 #14,034
2011 modern 305 #14,439
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 302 #14,690
2014 modern 300 #14,839
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 306 #14,543

Geography

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Where Custances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Warboys. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Milton Keynes, Norwich, Wrexham and Huntingdonshire. 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 St George Tombland, St Peter Mountergate, St John Timberhill, All Saints, St Michael at Thorn, St Ju Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Warboys Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Milton Keynes 032 Milton Keynes
2 Norwich 003 Norwich
3 Wrexham 009 Wrexham
4 Huntingdonshire 004 Huntingdonshire
5 Norwich 004 Norwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Custance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Custance

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Custance is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Custance is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Custance

The surname Custance has its origins in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the old English word "custance," which means "constancy" or "steadfastness." This name is believed to have been adopted as a surname by those who exhibited these qualities or virtues.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Custance can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive record of landowners and property holdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Custance, Custaunce, and Custaunces, indicating its long history and evolution.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named William Custance was mentioned in the records of Lincolnshire, England. He was a landowner and is believed to have been one of the earliest known individuals to bear the surname Custance.

The name Custance has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Custance Green in Nottinghamshire and Custance Manor in Lincolnshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the surname who owned or resided in these locations.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname Custance was Sir John Custance (1615-1693), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Lincolnshire. He was also a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War and played a significant role in supporting King Charles I.

Another notable individual was Edward Custance (1572-1629), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Vicar of Twickenham and wrote several influential works on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, John Custance (1742-1818) was a prominent English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Guildhall Library and the Church of St. James, Piccadilly.

Sir Thomas Custance (1795-1863) was a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the 19th century.

Finally, Olive Custance (1874-1944) was a British author and poet known for her works on nature and the countryside. She wrote several books, including "The Countryside Rambles" and "The Charm of the English Village," which celebrated the beauty and traditions of rural England.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Custance, demonstrating its longevity and significance within English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Custance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Custance 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 64 Custances recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 1.81x
Cambridgeshire 50 22.36x
Norfolk 40 7.37x
Huntingdonshire 35 49.92x
Bedfordshire 27 14.77x
Nottinghamshire 18 3.78x
Yorkshire 16 0.46x
Herefordshire 13 8.98x
Essex 12 1.72x
Surrey 12 0.70x
Kent 10 0.83x
Lincolnshire 9 1.59x
Rutland 9 34.71x
Lanarkshire 8 0.70x
Northumberland 8 1.52x
Hampshire 7 0.97x
Dorset 4 1.73x
Hertfordshire 3 1.23x
Lancashire 3 0.07x
Berkshire 2 0.75x
Derbyshire 2 0.36x
Northamptonshire 2 0.60x
Oxfordshire 2 0.92x
West Lothian 2 3.76x
Royal Navy 1 2.38x
Sussex 1 0.17x
Warwickshire 1 0.11x
Westmorland 1 1.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 26 Custances recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.15x.

Place Total Index
Luton 26 82.15x
Islington London 22 6.43x
St Andrewthe Less 13 50.88x
Warboys 13 640.39x
Colwall 11 614.53x
St Pancras London 11 3.87x
Chesterton 10 144.93x
Norwich St Julian 10 436.68x
Clerkenwell London 9 10.80x
Erith 9 75.82x
Oakham Lordshold 9 332.10x
Barony 8 2.77x
Fletton 8 357.14x
Putney 8 49.72x
Ranskill 8 1777.78x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 7 58.48x
Fordingbridge 7 177.67x
Godmanchester 7 264.15x
Huntingdon St Mary 7 400.00x
Kingston 7 2000.00x
Rotherham 7 35.48x
Skegness 7 432.10x
Comberton 6 857.14x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 6 61.54x
Norwich St John Timberhill 6 410.96x
Nottingham St Nicholas 6 92.59x
Tynemouth 6 21.32x
Harwich St Nicholas 5 92.94x
Hornchurch 5 146.20x
Little Abington 5 1562.50x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 5 151.52x
Ratcliffe London 5 25.64x
Kensington London 4 2.04x
Melcombe Regis 4 41.67x
Weston Longville 4 800.00x
Gorton 3 7.62x
Heigham 3 10.30x
Newark Upon Trent 3 17.53x
Wroxham 3 652.17x
Derby St Werburgh 2 6.27x
Earls Barton 2 70.67x
Hackney London 2 1.01x
Hessle In Sculcoates 2 64.72x
Hitchin 2 18.20x
Kirkliston 2 64.52x
New Sealford 2 172.41x
Norwich St Helen 2 298.51x
Norwich St Michael At 2 63.49x
Shoreditch London 2 1.31x
St Ann Blackfriars London 2 307.69x
Thuxton 2 1666.67x
Trumpington 2 175.44x
Walford 2 138.89x
West Ham 2 1.30x
Bermondsey 1 0.95x
Berwick Upon Tweed 1 8.98x
Birmingham 1 0.34x
Bloxham 1 46.73x
Bolton 1 204.08x
Bourn 1 102.04x
Bromley London 1 1.29x
Caddington 1 37.31x
Cromer 1 51.81x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.42x
Lambeth 1 0.32x
Lancing 1 60.98x
Lee 1 5.72x
Norwich St Benedict 1 41.32x
Norwich St Mary At Coslany 1 64.52x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.81x
Paddington London 1 0.77x
Reading St Mary 1 4.71x
Royal Navy 1 2.78x
Seaton Delaval 1 21.69x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.04x
St Albans 1 20.04x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 6.54x
St Giles In Fields London 1 5.77x
Teddington London 1 12.50x
Willesden 1 3.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 21
William 21
John 13
Charles 10
Henry 10
James 7
Thomas 6
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Chas. 2
Daniel 2
Frederic 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Geo.H. 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Mark 2
Norris 2
Wm. 2
Cecil 1
Chas.W.N. 1
Claude 1
Collis 1
Deneys 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
G.W. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
J.C. 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Myles 1
Nicholas 1
Noah 1
Obadiah 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Custance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Custance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 362 people were recorded with the Custance surname. That placed it at #8,561 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Custance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 306 in 2016. That gives Custance a modern rank of #14,543.

What does the Custance surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Constance, which was an Old French personal name derived from the Latin "constans" meaning constant or steadfast.

What does the Custance map show?

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