NameCensus.

UK surname

George

A patronymic surname derived from the Greek given name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker."

In the 1881 census there were 17,545 people recorded with the George surname, ranking it #218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26,954, ranked #208, up from #218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for George is 27,363 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.6%.

1881 census count

17,545

Ranked #218

Modern count

26,954

2016, ranked #208

Peak year

2014

27,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • George had 17,545 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 26,954 in 2016, ranked #208.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22,921 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

George surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

George surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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George 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 12,759 #188
1861 historical 14,752 #157
1881 historical 17,545 #218
1891 historical 19,500 #202
1901 historical 21,584 #218
1911 historical 22,921 #187
1997 modern 23,632 #237
1998 modern 24,651 #233
1999 modern 24,871 #231
2000 modern 24,692 #236
2001 modern 24,075 #235
2002 modern 24,669 #232
2003 modern 24,250 #229
2004 modern 24,589 #226
2005 modern 24,498 #224
2006 modern 24,903 #218
2007 modern 25,198 #218
2008 modern 25,615 #215
2009 modern 26,400 #211
2010 modern 27,129 #211
2011 modern 26,798 #211
2012 modern 26,447 #208
2013 modern 27,051 #208
2014 modern 27,363 #207
2015 modern 27,058 #207
2016 modern 26,954 #208

Geography

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Where Georges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 001 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 003 Pembrokeshire
5 Cornwall 069 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with George

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for George

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, George is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

George is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

George falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of George

The surname George originated from the personal name George, which itself derived from the Greek name Georgios meaning "earth-worker" or "farmer". The name first appeared in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, introduced by knights and retainers from France.

The earliest recorded spelling of the surname George is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Georgi and Georgius. These entries refer to landholders in Cambridgeshire and Hampshire. Over time, the name evolved into various spellings such as Georgs, Georgge, and George.

In the 12th century, the surname George was particularly prevalent in the south of England, especially in counties like Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. This may have been due to the influence of the St George's Cross, which became the national emblem of England during the Crusades.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname George was Sir John George, a knight who fought alongside Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade (1189-1192). Another notable figure was Robert George (c.1325-1392), a prominent merchant and alderman of London who served as Lord Mayor in 1376.

During the 15th century, the surname George was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, where the George family of Sewerby held estates. One member of this family, Sir Robert George (1455-1522), served as a courtier to Henry VII and Henry VIII.

In Scotland, the surname George can be traced back to the 14th century, with records showing a John George who held lands in Aberdeenshire in the 1360s. The George family of Balgonie in Fife was also notable, with Andrew George (1575-1647) serving as Lord Bishop of Raphoe in Ireland.

Other prominent individuals with the surname George include Sir Edward George (1628-1692), a judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, and Sir Samuel George (1787-1828), a British naval officer who participated in the Napoleonic Wars.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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George families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the George 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. Middlesex leads with 2,109 Georges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 2,109 1.23x
Glamorgan 1,313 4.40x
Surrey 1,003 1.20x
Cornwall 839 4.32x
Norfolk 832 3.16x
Kent 755 1.29x
Pembrokeshire 735 13.49x
Gloucestershire 628 1.87x
Lancashire 614 0.30x
Monmouthshire 494 3.99x
Warwickshire 430 0.99x
Staffordshire 412 0.71x
Shropshire 392 2.65x
Worcestershire 373 1.67x
Somerset 356 1.29x
Northamptonshire 355 2.20x
Yorkshire 338 0.20x
Hertfordshire 254 2.15x
Hampshire 250 0.71x
Carmarthenshire 243 3.36x
Lincolnshire 228 0.83x
Suffolk 216 1.03x
Buckinghamshire 209 2.02x
Cardiganshire 199 4.76x
Devon 199 0.56x
Essex 195 0.58x
Lanarkshire 193 0.35x
Bedfordshire 181 2.04x
Oxfordshire 177 1.67x
Durham 176 0.35x
Herefordshire 173 2.46x
Aberdeenshire 167 1.05x
Sussex 160 0.55x
Wiltshire 160 1.06x
Berkshire 151 1.17x
Cheshire 149 0.39x
Montgomeryshire 147 3.74x
Radnorshire 144 10.41x
Flintshire 126 2.73x
Banffshire 118 3.32x
Derbyshire 114 0.42x
Leicestershire 114 0.60x
Angus 106 0.67x
Dorset 96 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 94 0.41x
Brecknockshire 87 2.54x
Northumberland 84 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 83 0.76x
Morayshire 80 3.00x
Denbighshire 63 0.97x
Midlothian 46 0.20x
Cumberland 45 0.30x
Huntingdonshire 42 1.23x
Renfrewshire 38 0.29x
Perthshire 34 0.44x
Royal Navy 31 1.52x
Fife 25 0.25x
Anglesey 22 0.72x
Ayrshire 22 0.17x
Merionethshire 20 0.64x
Caernarfonshire 17 0.25x
Inverness-shire 17 0.33x
Isle of Man 16 0.50x
Kincardineshire 13 0.62x
Stirlingshire 12 0.19x
Caithness 11 0.47x
West Lothian 9 0.35x
Westmorland 9 0.24x
Ross-shire 7 0.15x
Argyllshire 6 0.13x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.11x
East Lothian 5 0.22x
Nairnshire 3 0.57x
Channel Islands 1 0.02x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.04x
Orkney 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 211 Georges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.27x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 211 1.27x
Camberwell 198 1.81x
Great Yarmouth 187 8.56x
Lambeth 162 1.08x
Aberdare 151 7.37x
Ystradyfodwg 148 5.65x
St Pancras London 147 1.07x
St Marylebone London 146 1.60x
Aston 140 1.18x
Birmingham 140 0.97x
Bethnal Green London 135 1.81x
Hackney London 119 1.24x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 118 3.73x
Newington 111 1.75x
Bedwellty 106 4.84x
Swansea Town 103 4.21x
Merthyr Tydfil 100 3.49x
Battersea 88 1.40x
Sennen 87 202.84x
Irchester 83 82.91x
Kensington London 83 0.87x
Hammersmith London 81 1.92x
Caron Ys Clawdd 80 78.72x
Toxteth Park 74 1.07x
Wolverhampton 73 1.64x
Chelsea London 71 1.37x
Trevethin 69 5.90x
Cardiff St Mary 68 4.14x
Shoreditch London 67 0.90x
Winterton 66 142.36x
Mullion 65 182.48x
Redruth 64 11.66x
Frome 63 9.55x
Mile End Old Town London 63 1.73x
Glasgow 62 0.63x
Manchester 62 0.68x
Pembroke St Mary 61 8.69x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 59 63.60x
Paddington London 57 0.90x
Fishguard 56 47.43x
Clase 55 4.96x
St Luke London 54 1.96x
Deptford St Paul 51 1.13x
Westbury On Trym 51 4.48x
Llantwit Major 49 84.18x
St George Hanover Square 49 1.62x
Clifton 47 2.77x
Croydon 46 0.99x
Liverpool 46 0.37x
Barony 45 0.32x
Clerkenwell London 45 1.11x
Keith 45 11.87x
Leeds 45 0.47x
Ealing 44 2.87x
Lewisham 43 1.38x
Westminster St John 42 2.01x
Brington 41 84.48x
Carmarthen St Peter 41 6.64x
Illogan 41 7.98x
Potter Heigham 41 168.79x
St Dogmells 41 28.32x
Beccles 40 11.90x
Brighton 40 0.69x
Bromley London 40 1.06x
St John Near Swansea 40 10.84x
Swansea Higher 40 12.87x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 39 6.34x
Llanidloes 39 13.39x
Llantrisant 39 5.18x
Mynyddyslwyn 39 7.98x
Watford 39 4.26x
Reading St Giles 38 3.01x
Wellington 38 4.57x
Llanwnda 37 62.81x
Portsea 37 0.54x
Southwark St George Martyr 37 1.07x
Camborne 36 4.50x
West Ham 36 0.48x
Poplar London 35 1.08x
West Bromwich 35 1.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,189
Elizabeth 716
Sarah 554
Jane 330
Ann 323
Eliza 277
Alice 237
Ellen 225
Emma 220
Margaret 215
Annie 198
Emily 188
Martha 165
Hannah 143
Louisa 126
Harriet 121
Edith 110
Catherine 107
Maria 104
Anne 102
Fanny 101
Charlotte 98
Florence 89
Caroline 87
Ada 73
Clara 62
Susan 60
Harriett 59
Frances 58
Kate 58
Agnes 56
Amelia 56
Lucy 52
Rachel 51
Rose 50
Esther 46
Minnie 43
Sophia 41
Lydia 40
Matilda 40
Eleanor 35
Rebecca 34
Grace 32
Isabella 32
Jessie 32
Laura 32
Amy 30
Anna 30
Julia 28
Susannah 28

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,169
John 871
Thomas 640
James 445
Henry 379
Charles 289
Edward 247
Alfred 224
David 211
Richard 198
Joseph 183
Frederick 172
George 171
Robert 159
Arthur 148
Walter 140
Samuel 139
Albert 119
Harry 93
Edwin 80
Ernest 76
Benjamin 69
Frank 67
Herbert 61
Francis 56
Wm. 52
Stephen 48
Daniel 47
Peter 34
Evan 32
Isaac 32
Fredrick 31
Thos. 30
Philip 25
Fred 24
Sidney 20
Abraham 18
Jonathan 18
Phillip 18
Edmund 17
Griffith 17
Lewis 17
Alexander 16
Percy 15
Tom 15
Fredk. 14
Hugh 13
Josiah 13
Jacob 12
Moses 12

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in George households.

FAQ

George surname: questions and answers

How common was the George surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17,545 people were recorded with the George surname. That placed it at #218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the George surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 26,954 in 2016. That gives George a modern rank of #208.

What does the George surname mean?

A patronymic surname derived from the Greek given name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth-worker."

What does the George map show?

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