NameCensus.

UK surname

Duckham

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the elements "duck" and "ham" (homestead).

In the 1881 census there were 308 people recorded with the Duckham surname, ranking it #9,542 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, down from #9,542 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Tiverton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Wiltshire and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Duckham is 411 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.9%.

1881 census count

308

Ranked #9,542

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

1911

411 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Duckham had 308 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,542 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 411 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Duckham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Duckham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Duckham 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 197 #10,535
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 308 #9,542
1891 historical 300 #11,119
1901 historical 362 #10,173
1911 historical 411 #9,112
1997 modern 232 #16,012
1998 modern 246 #15,864
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 236 #16,380
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 235 #16,495
2003 modern 232 #16,447
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 227 #17,544
2010 modern 230 #17,750
2011 modern 232 #17,481
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 227 #18,029
2015 modern 228 #17,899
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Duckhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tiverton, London parishes and Plympton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Wiltshire and Leeds. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Tiverton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Plympton St Mary Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 064 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
3 Wiltshire 062 Wiltshire
4 Leeds 097 Leeds
5 Cornwall 056 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Duckham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Duckham

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Duckham 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

Duckham 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

Duckham falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Duckham

The surname DUCKHAM is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "duc" meaning duck and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a duck pond or in a village where ducks were commonly found.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Ducheham" in the county of Oxfordshire.

In the 13th century, the name was also recorded as "Duckham" in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230. These were administrative records that documented financial transactions and taxation.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often associated with rural areas and villages, as it reflected the connection to duck farming or the presence of ducks in the local environment.

Some notable individuals with the surname DUCKHAM throughout history include:

1. Robert Duckham (born circa 1560), an English landowner and politician who served as a member of parliament for Wiltshire in the late 16th century.

2. William Duckham (1673-1741), a prominent English merchant and trader who established trading routes with the West Indies and North America.

3. Elizabeth Duckham (1779-1842), an English author and poet who wrote several collections of poems and hymns during the early 19th century.

4. John Duckham (1845-1913), a British architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

5. Henry Duckham (1892-1972), a British soldier who served in World War I and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

The name DUCKHAM has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Duckham Green in Hertfordshire and Duckham Farm in Gloucestershire, reflecting the origin and connection of the name to rural settlements and locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Duckham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Duckham 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. Devon leads with 68 Duckhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.84x.

County Total Index
Devon 68 10.84x
Middlesex 34 1.13x
Monmouthshire 33 15.14x
Somerset 28 5.77x
Warwickshire 23 3.03x
Cornwall 22 6.45x
Staffordshire 18 1.77x
Gloucestershire 14 2.37x
Denbighshire 12 10.54x
Surrey 12 0.82x
Worcestershire 9 2.29x
Kent 8 0.78x
Yorkshire 7 0.23x
Glamorgan 4 0.76x
Hertfordshire 4 1.93x
Northumberland 4 0.89x
Essex 2 0.34x
Herefordshire 2 1.62x
Bedfordshire 1 0.64x
Durham 1 0.11x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Oxfordshire 1 0.54x
Royal Navy 1 2.78x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 22 Duckhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 203.52x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 22 203.52x
Falmouth 14 115.89x
St Woollos 14 57.57x
Stoke 13 866.67x
Wrexham Regis 12 141.84x
Exeter St Thomas The 11 171.88x
Plympton St Mary 10 275.48x
Chiswick 9 54.64x
Newport 9 86.54x
Wednesbury 9 35.39x
Wolverhampton 9 11.50x
Newington 8 7.18x
Plymstock 8 243.16x
Bridgewater 7 53.15x
Greenwich 7 14.59x
Camborne 6 42.67x
Coventry St Michael 6 24.57x
Islington London 6 2.05x
Mile End Old Town London 6 9.35x
Stogumber 6 468.75x
Weare 6 895.52x
Bristol St Paul In 5 31.75x
Droitwich St Nicholas 5 342.47x
Bristol St Augustine 4 41.93x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 7.19x
East Brent 4 547.95x
Handsworth 4 50.63x
Magor 4 888.89x
Newburn 4 312.50x
Worcester All Sts 4 175.44x
Aston Cum Aughton 3 122.95x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.29x
Bushey 3 60.61x
Mortlake 3 45.80x
Napton On Hill 3 329.67x
Redwick 3 1111.11x
Tormoham 3 11.30x
Trevethin 3 14.58x
Bradninch 2 112.99x
Bromley London 2 3.02x
Chawleigh 2 289.86x
Hornsey 2 5.25x
Kentisbeare 2 232.56x
Llandaff 2 11.45x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 4.14x
Sellack 2 571.43x
Shoreditch London 2 1.53x
Weston Super Mare 2 16.33x
Banbury 1 26.81x
Battersea 1 0.90x
Bedminster 1 2.19x
Birmingham 1 0.39x
Chelsea London 1 1.10x
Halberton 1 68.49x
Hammersmith London 1 1.35x
Illogan 1 11.06x
Latton 1 416.67x
Llanwonno 1 5.30x
Marshfield 1 63.29x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.98x
Meshaw 1 588.24x
Pitminster 1 69.93x
Plymouth Charles The 1 3.62x
Ringwould 1 113.64x
Royal Navy 1 3.26x
Sharnbrook 1 116.28x
St Columb Major 1 35.34x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.78x
Stranton 1 3.31x
Topsham 1 33.78x
Uffculme 1 53.48x
Wembdon 1 69.44x
West Ham 1 0.76x
Whitechapel London 1 3.37x
Willand 1 285.71x
Withington 1 8.68x
Wormley 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
James 12
George 11
John 11
Henry 9
Joseph 6
Samuel 5
Thomas 5
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Edward 3
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Richard 2
Sidney 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Alex 1
Amos 1
Berry 1
Chas.G. 1
Fortescue 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Eliot 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geoge 1
Heber 1
Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1
Richd. 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
Saul 1
Simon 1
Talbot 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Duckham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Duckham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 308 people were recorded with the Duckham surname. That placed it at #9,542 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Duckham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Duckham a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Duckham surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the elements "duck" and "ham" (homestead).

What does the Duckham map show?

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