NameCensus.

UK surname

Efford

An English habitational name derived from a location in Devon, England.

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Efford surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 178, ranked #21,160, down from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Snodland with Paddleworth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsmouth, St Edmundsbury and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Efford is 220 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.6%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

178

2016, ranked #21,160

Peak year

1911

220 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Efford had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016, ranked #21,160.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 220 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Efford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Efford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Efford 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 151 #12,840
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 217 #14,062
1901 historical 198 #15,213
1911 historical 220 #14,088
1997 modern 177 #19,018
1998 modern 186 #18,918
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 176 #19,698
2001 modern 175 #19,484
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 180 #19,347
2004 modern 190 #18,792
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 176 #19,787
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 176 #20,632
2010 modern 174 #21,259
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 179 #20,679
2013 modern 186 #20,502
2014 modern 188 #20,503
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 178 #21,160

Geography

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Where Effords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Snodland with Paddleworth, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsmouth, St Edmundsbury, Wycombe, South Cambridgeshire and Torbay. 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 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
2 Snodland with Paddleworth Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
2 St Edmundsbury 012 St Edmundsbury
3 Wycombe 018 Wycombe
4 South Cambridgeshire 001 South Cambridgeshire
5 Torbay 018 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Efford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Efford

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

Efford 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

Efford falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Efford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Efford

The surname Efford is of English origin, originating from the county of Devon in the southwest of England. The name is derived from the place name "Efford," which was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Eforde." This place name is thought to have originated from the Old English words "ēa," meaning river, and "ford," meaning a shallow crossing point in a river.

The earliest known recorded instance of the surname Efford dates back to the 13th century. One of the earliest documented references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Devonshire from 1242, which mentions a "Richard de Efford." This suggests that the surname likely emerged from the place name and was adopted by individuals who either lived in or were associated with the town of Efford.

Over the centuries, the surname has been spelled in various ways, such as Efforde, Edforde, and Edforth, reflecting the variations in local dialects and scribal practices. These variations were common before the standardization of spelling in the modern era.

One notable individual bearing the Efford surname was John Efford, a 15th-century English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Salisbury from 1427 until his death in 1443. Another prominent figure was Sir Thomas Efford (1525-1590), an English soldier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the Efford family held significant landholdings in Devonshire. One member of this family, Sir John Efford (1620-1685), was a prominent lawyer and served as the High Sheriff of Devon in 1673.

During the 18th century, the surname Efford appeared in various records, including parish registers and legal documents. One notable individual from this period was William Efford (1732-1809), an English merchant and philanthropist who made significant contributions to charitable causes in his hometown of Plymouth.

In the 19th century, the surname Efford continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the southwest. One notable bearer of the name was Reverend James Efford (1818-1892), an English clergyman and author who wrote several books on religious subjects.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the surname Efford throughout history, highlighting its long-standing presence and significance within English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Efford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Efford 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 57 Effords recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.01x.

County Total Index
Devon 57 17.01x
Kent 28 5.10x
Hampshire 26 7.88x
Middlesex 23 1.43x
Surrey 14 1.79x
Lincolnshire 6 2.33x
Channel Islands 3 6.29x
Monmouthshire 2 1.72x
Cornwall 1 0.55x
Flintshire 1 2.31x
Glamorgan 1 0.36x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 5.21x
Suffolk 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Snodland in Kent leads with 20 Effords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1282.05x.

Place Total Index
Snodland 20 1282.05x
Portsea 19 29.39x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 65.87x
Westminster St John 15 76.53x
Stoke Damerel 10 42.64x
Slapton 9 2647.06x
Newington 8 13.46x
Alverstoke 6 50.25x
Clee With Weelsby 6 106.57x
Bermondsey 5 10.44x
Dartmouth St Saviour 5 520.83x
East Malling 3 229.01x
Erith 3 55.45x
Hackney London 3 3.32x
Mile End Old Town London 3 8.76x
Plymouth Charles The 3 20.33x
St Peter Port 3 34.01x
Bedwellty 2 9.74x
Blackawton 2 344.83x
Compton Gifford 2 190.48x
Halling 2 277.78x
Halwell 2 540.54x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.43x
Bideford 1 27.86x
Brading 1 22.83x
Cornworthy 1 434.78x
Devonport 1 25.97x
East Teignmouth 1 72.99x
Hawarden 1 29.41x
Highweek 1 84.03x
Kensington London 1 1.12x
Llantwit Lower 1 40.65x
Lowestoft 1 10.80x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.78x
Plymstock 1 57.14x
Royal Navy 1 6.10x
Totnes 1 51.02x
Tregoney St James 1 294.12x
Woking 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
Thomas 11
Charles 8
John 6
George 5
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Nicholas 2
Thetford 2
Elbert 1
Eli 1
Fdk. 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Richd.Hy. 1

FAQ

Efford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Efford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Efford surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Efford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 178 in 2016. That gives Efford a modern rank of #21,160.

What does the Efford surname mean?

An English habitational name derived from a location in Devon, England.

What does the Efford map show?

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