NameCensus.

UK surname

Devenport

The place name, referring to one who came from Devonport.

In the 1881 census there were 560 people recorded with the Devenport surname, ranking it #6,184 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 375, ranked #12,457, down from #6,184 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Radcliffe, Dudley and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Amber Valley and Flintshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Devenport is 798 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 33.0%.

1881 census count

560

Ranked #6,184

Modern count

375

2016, ranked #12,457

Peak year

1851

798 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Devenport had 560 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,184 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 375 in 2016, ranked #12,457.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 798 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Devenport surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Devenport surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Devenport 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 798 #3,348
1861 historical 680 #3,951
1881 historical 560 #6,184
1891 historical 755 #5,278
1901 historical 638 #6,740
1911 historical 559 #7,195
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 400 #11,335
1999 modern 385 #11,771
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 382 #11,606
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 365 #12,038
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 369 #11,901
2006 modern 365 #12,076
2007 modern 375 #11,955
2008 modern 380 #11,942
2009 modern 399 #11,750
2010 modern 407 #11,824
2011 modern 403 #11,806
2012 modern 382 #12,127
2013 modern 386 #12,243
2014 modern 385 #12,340
2015 modern 377 #12,428
2016 modern 375 #12,457

Geography

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Where Devenports are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Radcliffe, Dudley, Wolstanton, Manchester and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Amber Valley, Flintshire, Lichfield and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Radcliffe Lancashire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 028 Salford
2 Amber Valley 011 Amber Valley
3 Flintshire 008 Flintshire
4 Lichfield 008 Lichfield
5 Cheshire West and Chester 016 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Devenport

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Devenport

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Devenport surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Devenport 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Devenport is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Devenport is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Devenport

The surname Devenport has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Devonport, which was originally known as "Plymouth Dock" and was a significant naval base and shipbuilding center in the county of Devon.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Deueneport." This early spelling suggests a Norman-French influence, with the prefix "de" indicating the place of origin. Over time, various spellings emerged, including Devenport, Devenporte, Deveneporte, and Devenporthe.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname was Sir John Devenport, who was born in the late 13th century and served as a member of parliament for the county of Devon in 1314 and 1321. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Devenport, who lived in the 15th century and was a prominent landowner in Devon.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with Sir Lewis Devenport, a successful merchant and shipowner who played a significant role in the expansion of the English navy during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in 1545 and died in 1616.

During the 17th century, the Devenport family continued to hold a prominent position in Devon. Sir William Devenport, born in 1625, was a respected lawyer and judge who served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1683 to 1686.

In the 18th century, Admiral George Devenport (1706-1783) was a distinguished naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He played a crucial role in several significant naval battles, including the Battle of Quiberon Bay in 1759.

Throughout its history, the surname Devenport has been associated with various place names, particularly those derived from the town of Devonport, such as Devonport Park and Devonport Dockyard. The name has also been linked to other locations in Devon, including the village of Deveneport and the parish of Devenporte.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Devenport families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Devenport 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. Lancashire leads with 228 Devenports recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 228 3.54x
Staffordshire 95 5.18x
Worcestershire 39 5.50x
Cheshire 34 2.83x
Warwickshire 25 1.82x
Middlesex 18 0.33x
Yorkshire 17 0.32x
Derbyshire 15 1.76x
Nottinghamshire 11 1.50x
Durham 9 0.56x
Kent 9 0.49x
Herefordshire 8 3.59x
Leicestershire 8 1.33x
Shropshire 8 1.70x
Essex 6 0.56x
Lanarkshire 6 0.34x
Surrey 6 0.23x
Northumberland 4 0.49x
Cumberland 3 0.64x
Denbighshire 3 1.46x
Inverness-shire 3 1.85x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Norfolk 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. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 33 Devenports recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.86x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 33 15.86x
Dudley 29 33.62x
Stoke Upon Trent 22 11.31x
Barton Upon Irwell 18 37.08x
Pilkington 18 73.50x
Birmingham 14 3.07x
Wednesfield 14 51.87x
Wigan 14 15.54x
Wolstanton 13 23.34x
Everton 11 5.35x
Rowley Regis 10 19.57x
Warrington 10 13.08x
Manchester 9 3.10x
Shevington 9 305.08x
West Derby 9 4.77x
Leicester St Margaret 8 5.45x
Salford 8 4.22x
Stockport 8 12.96x
Wolstanton Knutton 8 71.43x
Belper 7 42.45x
Mile End Old Town London 7 6.05x
Tottington Lower End 7 22.85x
Altrincham 6 28.63x
Aston 6 1.59x
Clitheroe 6 31.61x
Edgeworth 6 173.41x
Hereford St Owen 6 81.52x
Hulme 6 4.46x
Liverpool 6 1.53x
Sutton In Macclesfield 6 48.19x
West Ham 6 2.53x
Belbroughton 5 135.87x
Brampton Bierlow 5 72.57x
Butterworth 5 31.83x
Kingswinford 5 7.51x
Sutton In Ashfield 5 31.47x
Almondbury 4 15.37x
Bilston 4 11.25x
Burslem 4 7.61x
Chesterfield 4 12.54x
Chiddingstone 4 165.29x
Hale 4 96.62x
Litherland 4 29.67x
Marston 4 322.58x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 12.68x
Newton 4 8.05x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 4 20.80x
Rock 4 141.34x
St Pancras London 4 0.91x
Tipton 4 7.12x
Whitchurch Alkington 4 1739.13x
Broughton In Salford 3 5.09x
Droylsden 3 14.27x
Glasgow 3 0.96x
Guiseley 3 43.54x
Halford 3 652.17x
Harpurhey 3 33.52x
Hollingworth 3 60.61x
Kilmorack 3 60.98x
Kirkdale 3 2.77x
Little Bolton 3 3.62x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.58x
Old Monkland 3 4.30x
Preston 3 1.74x
Stockton On Tees 3 3.85x
Wolverhampton 3 2.13x
Ashover 2 47.28x
Birtle Cum Bamford 2 47.51x
Blackburn 2 1.17x
Chirton 2 10.93x
Harwood 2 59.35x
Hendon 2 10.23x
Lambeth 2 0.42x
Maidstone 2 3.62x
Napton On Hill 2 121.21x
Newington 2 1.00x
Ruddington 2 40.73x
Sutton 2 9.25x
Wavertree 2 9.69x
Wingate 2 18.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 30
Elizabeth 22
Eliza 12
Hannah 11
Martha 11
Alice 10
Ann 9
Ada 8
Annie 8
Jane 8
Margaret 8
Emma 7
Ellen 6
Edith 5
Lucy 5
Caroline 4
Emily 4
Amy 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Harriet 3
Amelia 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Eunice 2
Flora 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Julia 2
Louisa 2
Lydia 2
Rebecca 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Carillin 1
Carne. 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabth. 1
Ellan 1
Elleaner 1
Emaly 1
Hope 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jemmia 1
Katurah 1
Levina 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
James 30
John 28
Thomas 21
George 15
Joseph 14
Charles 12
Henry 12
Samuel 8
Edward 6
Robert 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
David 4
Frank 3
Albert 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
Christopher 1
Davis 1
Digby 1
Earnes 1
Eli 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geog. 1
Gerold 1
Greenwood 1
Guy 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Henry 1
Jasper 1
Jno. 1
Jonah 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Roland 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Devenport surname: questions and answers

How common was the Devenport surname in 1881?

In 1881, 560 people were recorded with the Devenport surname. That placed it at #6,184 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Devenport surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 375 in 2016. That gives Devenport a modern rank of #12,457.

What does the Devenport surname mean?

The place name, referring to one who came from Devonport.

What does the Devenport map show?

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