NameCensus.

UK surname

Florence

Derived from the French place name, referring to someone from the city of Florence in Italy.

In the 1881 census there were 590 people recorded with the Florence surname, ranking it #5,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,130, ranked #5,212, up from #5,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rayne and St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North West, Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Florence is 1,142 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.5%.

1881 census count

590

Ranked #5,919

Modern count

1,130

2016, ranked #5,212

Peak year

2009

1,142 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Florence had 590 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,130 in 2016, ranked #5,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 956 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Florence surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Florence surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Florence 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 364 #6,509
1861 historical 445 #5,811
1881 historical 590 #5,919
1891 historical 843 #4,841
1901 historical 956 #4,913
1911 historical 807 #5,445
1997 modern 1,110 #5,032
1998 modern 1,129 #5,139
1999 modern 1,116 #5,235
2000 modern 1,134 #5,142
2001 modern 1,097 #5,185
2002 modern 1,141 #5,124
2003 modern 1,125 #5,079
2004 modern 1,118 #5,117
2005 modern 1,127 #5,029
2006 modern 1,127 #5,032
2007 modern 1,118 #5,115
2008 modern 1,129 #5,112
2009 modern 1,142 #5,160
2010 modern 1,140 #5,272
2011 modern 1,115 #5,316
2012 modern 1,092 #5,326
2013 modern 1,091 #5,411
2014 modern 1,104 #5,382
2015 modern 1,126 #5,244
2016 modern 1,130 #5,212

Geography

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Where Florences are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rayne, St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North West, Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells, Gwynedd, Howe of Alford and Mansfield. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Rayne Aberdeen
3 St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet London (East Districts)
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North West Highland
2 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells Aberdeenshire
3 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
4 Howe of Alford Aberdeenshire
5 Mansfield 009 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Florence

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Florence

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Florence surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Florence household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Florence 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

Florence is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Florence

The surname Florence is of Italian origin, derived from the Latin name "Florentius," which is related to the Latin word "flos," meaning flower. This name is particularly associated with the city of Florence, Italy, which was known as "Florentia" in ancient Roman times.

The earliest recorded instances of the Florence surname can be traced back to the 12th century in the region of Tuscany, Italy. In medieval records, variations of the spelling include Fiorenza, Fiorentino, and Fiorenti.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Florence was Pietro di Fiorenza, a Florentine merchant who lived in the 13th century. His name appears in several historical documents related to trade and commerce in Florence during that period.

In the 14th century, the Florence surname gained prominence with the rise of the powerful Medici family in Florence. Members of this family, such as Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464) and Lorenzo de' Medici (1449-1492), played pivotal roles in the Renaissance and the patronage of arts and culture.

Another notable individual bearing the Florence surname was Girolamo da Fiorenza, a 16th-century Italian engraver and printmaker known for his works depicting religious and mythological subjects.

During the 17th century, the surname spread beyond Italy as Italian immigrants and merchants settled in other parts of Europe and the Americas. One example is Joachim Florence, a French architect born in 1622, who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Louis-en-l'Île.

In the 18th century, William Florence (1718-1801) was a prominent English actor and playwright who performed in various theaters in London and wrote several popular comedies of his time.

Moving into the 19th century, William Jermyn Florence (1833-1891) was an American actor and playwright born in Albany, New York. He gained fame for his performances in various Shakespearean roles and wrote several successful plays.

Throughout its history, the Florence surname has been associated with individuals from various fields, including art, architecture, literature, and theater, reflecting its Italian origins and the cultural richness of the city of Florence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Florence families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Florence 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 197 Florences recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.90x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 197 36.90x
Middlesex 78 1.35x
Norfolk 48 5.42x
Staffordshire 33 1.70x
Surrey 33 1.17x
Worcestershire 27 3.59x
Warwickshire 22 1.51x
Kent 19 0.97x
Lanarkshire 17 0.91x
Kincardineshire 14 19.94x
Angus 9 1.69x
Hampshire 9 0.76x
Herefordshire 9 3.81x
Lancashire 9 0.13x
Dorset 8 2.11x
Morayshire 8 8.93x
Midlothian 7 0.91x
Sussex 7 0.72x
Banffshire 5 4.18x
Brecknockshire 5 4.34x
Devon 5 0.42x
Orkney 4 6.31x
Channel Islands 3 1.76x
Essex 3 0.26x
Glamorgan 2 0.20x
Leicestershire 2 0.31x
Somerset 2 0.22x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.65x
Durham 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.25x
Perthshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 40 Florences recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.04x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 40 40.04x
Peterhead 21 74.39x
Rayne 17 669.29x
Halesowen 15 226.93x
Kincardine O Neil 15 393.70x
Norwich St Clement 15 145.91x
Aberdeen Old Machar 14 12.56x
Shoreditch London 13 5.20x
Methlick 12 281.03x
Oyne 12 631.58x
Govan 10 2.17x
Tutbury 10 210.97x
Kingston On Thames 9 13.34x
Monymusk 9 393.01x
Orcop 9 825.69x
Woolwich 9 12.38x
Bermondsey 8 4.66x
Burton Upon Trent 8 17.57x
Daviot 8 784.31x
Drainie 8 100.76x
Fettercairn 8 267.56x
Westminster St James 8 13.50x
Chapel Of Garioch 7 184.21x
Mile End Old Town London 7 5.71x
St George Hanover Square 7 6.89x
St Marylebone London 7 2.27x
Turriff 7 81.21x
Ardwick 6 9.72x
Culsalmond 6 365.85x
Guildford Holy Trinity 6 112.15x
Kings Norton 6 8.89x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 17.43x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 6 111.32x
Portsea 6 2.59x
Arbroath 5 28.25x
Barony 5 1.06x
Burgh St Margaret 5 458.72x
Crickhowell 5 187.27x
Kensington London 5 1.56x
Norwich St Swithin 5 326.80x
Ratcliffe London 5 15.70x
Yardley 5 25.96x
Birmingham 4 0.83x
Child Okeford 4 239.52x
Dundee 4 2.01x
Fetteresso 4 36.36x
Forgue 4 83.33x
Great Yarmouth 4 5.45x
Kenilworth 4 48.78x
Kirkwall St Ola 4 42.11x
Lakenham 4 31.77x
Premnay 4 217.39x
Sevenoaks 4 25.08x
Westminster St Margaret 4 14.38x
Whitechapel London 4 7.04x
Wroxhall 4 1142.86x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 3 96.15x
Camberwell 3 0.81x
Cruden 3 43.60x
Duddingston 3 19.35x
Foleshill 3 19.61x
Greenwich 3 3.27x
Harborne 3 4.81x
Heigham 3 6.31x
Inverurie 3 49.67x
Lambeth 3 0.60x
Rumbolds Wyke 3 168.54x
South Bersted 3 36.28x
St George In East London 3 5.53x
St Helier 3 5.39x
Banff 2 19.25x
Corfe Mullen 2 145.99x
Dawlish 2 22.35x
Glenmuick Tullich 2 51.95x
Kennethmont 2 101.01x
Leicester St Margaret 2 1.28x
Liverpool 2 0.48x
South Leith 2 2.30x
St George Martyr London 2 17.12x
Wolverhampton 2 1.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 30
George 18
John 16
Thomas 13
Henry 11
James 10
Charles 8
Samuel 6
Edward 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Willm. 3
Albert 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Nathaniel 2
Robert 2
Walter 2
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.H. 1
Martin 1
Milbourne 1
Paul 1
Phiny 1
Reuben 1
Sa. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Florence surname: questions and answers

How common was the Florence surname in 1881?

In 1881, 590 people were recorded with the Florence surname. That placed it at #5,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Florence surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,130 in 2016. That gives Florence a modern rank of #5,212.

What does the Florence surname mean?

Derived from the French place name, referring to someone from the city of Florence in Italy.

What does the Florence map show?

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