NameCensus.

UK surname

Drought

A surname referring to someone who lived in a dry region or area prone to drought conditions.

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Drought surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Milton Keynes and Knowsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Drought is 112 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.3%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

87

2016, ranked #32,476

Peak year

1997

112 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Drought had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016, ranked #32,476.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 64 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Drought surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Drought surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Drought 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 59 #26,466
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 56 #29,638
1901 historical 62 #27,252
1911 historical 64 #26,435
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 106 #26,689
1999 modern 108 #26,602
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 106 #26,985
2003 modern 98 #28,046
2004 modern 106 #27,045
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 93 #29,777
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 96 #30,854
2011 modern 102 #29,759
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 91 #32,219
2015 modern 84 #32,782
2016 modern 87 #32,476

Geography

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Where Droughts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Milton Keynes, Knowsley and North Somerset. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 004 St. Helens
2 Milton Keynes 002 Milton Keynes
3 Knowsley 001 Knowsley
4 St. Helens 020 St. Helens
5 North Somerset 015 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Drought

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Drought

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Drought surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Drought 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Drought 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

Drought is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Drought falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Drought is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Drought

The surname Drought is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged during the late 13th or early 14th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "drouht," which means a prolonged period of dry weather or lack of rain, indicating that the original bearers of this surname may have lived in an area prone to droughts or had some association with drought-related activities.

One of the earliest known references to the Drought surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, which mention a John Drought. This suggests that the name was already established in the West Midlands region of England during that time.

In the 15th century, the Drought surname appears in various historical records across England. For instance, in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1428, a John Drought is mentioned as a landowner. Additionally, the 1524 Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk list a Thomas Drought.

Some early bearers of the Drought surname include William Drought, born around 1530 in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, and John Drought, born in 1585 in Oxfordshire. Both individuals were involved in agricultural pursuits, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its potential association with drought-related activities.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Drought surname. One such figure was Sir Robert Drought, an English lawyer and judge who lived from 1635 to 1705. He served as a Baron of the Exchequer and was knighted in 1689.

Another prominent bearer of the Drought surname was Thomas Drought, a British military officer born in 1781. He served in the Royal Navy and participated in several notable battles during the Napoleonic Wars, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the 19th century, James Drought (1806-1888) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the British Virgin Islands from 1854 to 1866. He played a significant role in the development of the islands during his tenure.

More recently, the British actor and screenwriter John Drought (1925-2006) gained recognition for his contributions to television and film, including his work on the popular series "Doctor Who" in the 1960s.

While the Drought surname may have originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its roots can be traced back to the Old English language and the association with drought-related conditions or activities in the areas where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Drought families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Drought 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 24 Droughts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.84x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 24 3.84x
Middlesex 9 1.71x
Warwickshire 5 3.76x
Durham 2 1.28x
Hampshire 2 1.85x
Lincolnshire 2 2.37x
Yorkshire 2 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 1 3.00x
Channel Islands 1 6.41x
Cheshire 1 0.86x
Gloucestershire 1 0.97x
Kent 1 0.56x
Leicestershire 1 1.71x
Royal Navy 1 15.92x
Somerset 1 1.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Parr in Lancashire leads with 7 Droughts recorded in 1881 and an index of 312.50x.

Place Total Index
Parr 7 312.50x
Widnes 7 155.21x
Liverpool 6 15.81x
Birmingham 5 11.29x
Edmonton 5 117.92x
Frodingham 2 666.67x
Ingleby Greenhow 2 2857.14x
Manchester 2 7.11x
Newbottle 2 232.56x
Paddington London 2 10.33x
St Faith Winchester 2 400.00x
Acton 1 32.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 10.07x
Farnborough 1 384.62x
Girton 1 1111.11x
Gorton 1 17.01x
Horfield 1 96.15x
Royal Navy 1 18.62x
Runcorn 1 37.31x
Sheepshed 1 125.00x
St Helier 1 19.69x
St Pancras London 1 2.36x
Walcot 1 22.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Mary 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Bertha 1
Bridget 1
Dora 1
Elisabeth 1
Emily 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Mornitha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 2
Adolphus 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Eugene 1
Geo. 1
George 1
James 1
Jasper 1
Mary 1
Michael 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Drought surname: questions and answers

How common was the Drought surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Drought surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Drought surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Drought a modern rank of #32,476.

What does the Drought surname mean?

A surname referring to someone who lived in a dry region or area prone to drought conditions.

What does the Drought map show?

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