NameCensus.

UK surname

Ince

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "island" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 1,497 people recorded with the Ince surname, ranking it #2,799 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,429, ranked #2,712, up from #2,799 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Clare, Winwick and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan, Isle of Wight and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ince is 2,592 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 62.3%.

1881 census count

1,497

Ranked #2,799

Modern count

2,429

2016, ranked #2,712

Peak year

2010

2,592 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ince had 1,497 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,799 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,429 in 2016, ranked #2,712.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,208 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ince surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ince surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ince 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 744 #3,548
1861 historical 711 #3,814
1881 historical 1,497 #2,799
1891 historical 1,628 #2,749
1901 historical 2,082 #2,577
1911 historical 2,208 #2,277
1997 modern 2,454 #2,559
1998 modern 2,507 #2,610
1999 modern 2,548 #2,585
2000 modern 2,529 #2,589
2001 modern 2,489 #2,572
2002 modern 2,524 #2,594
2003 modern 2,444 #2,615
2004 modern 2,426 #2,635
2005 modern 2,414 #2,621
2006 modern 2,395 #2,635
2007 modern 2,427 #2,632
2008 modern 2,447 #2,632
2009 modern 2,546 #2,604
2010 modern 2,592 #2,620
2011 modern 2,516 #2,660
2012 modern 2,420 #2,690
2013 modern 2,471 #2,696
2014 modern 2,493 #2,690
2015 modern 2,456 #2,702
2016 modern 2,429 #2,712

Geography

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Where Inces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Clare, Winwick, London parishes and Bromsgrove, Upton Warren. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan, Isle of Wight, St Edmundsbury, Mansfield and Babergh. 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 Clare Suffolk
2 Winwick Lancashire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bromsgrove, Upton Warren Worcestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 011 Wigan
2 Isle of Wight 012 Isle of Wight
3 St Edmundsbury 011 St Edmundsbury
4 Mansfield 009 Mansfield
5 Babergh 002 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ince

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ince

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ince is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ince 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

Ince falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ince is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ince

The surname INCE is believed to have originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "ince," which means "meadow" or "grassland." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or owned a meadow or grassland area.

The earliest recorded instances of the name INCE can be found in various historical documents, such as the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in multiple entries, indicating that it was already well-established by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name INCE was often associated with specific locations or manors, leading to variations such as "de Ince" or "atte Ince." These variations likely referred to individuals who resided in or were associated with places named Ince, which were derived from the same Old English root.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname INCE was Sir John Ince, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Robert Ince, a member of the English Parliament who served during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the name INCE gained recognition through the works of playwright and poet John Ince. He was born in Lancashire, England, in 1558 and is known for his contributions to the English Renaissance literary scene.

During the 17th century, the INCE surname was associated with several notable figures, including Joseph Ince, a renowned English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London. He was born in 1648 and is regarded as a significant figure in the Baroque architectural movement.

In the 18th century, the name INCE was carried by William Ince, a prominent British naval officer and explorer. He was born in 1737 and is remembered for his voyages to the South Pacific and his contributions to the exploration of the region.

As the INCE surname spread throughout England and other parts of the British Isles, it became associated with various locations and place names, such as Ince Blundell in Lancashire, Ince-in-Makerfield in Greater Manchester, and Ince in Cheshire, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ince families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ince 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 507 Inces recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.94x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 507 2.94x
Middlesex 210 1.44x
Suffolk 109 6.15x
Essex 89 3.10x
Worcestershire 76 4.00x
Staffordshire 74 1.51x
Yorkshire 71 0.49x
Cheshire 70 2.18x
Surrey 43 0.61x
Kent 34 0.68x
Sussex 25 1.02x
Hampshire 23 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 20 1.02x
Warwickshire 19 0.52x
Derbyshire 17 0.75x
Hertfordshire 17 1.69x
Durham 12 0.28x
Northumberland 12 0.55x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.98x
Radnorshire 9 7.66x
Shropshire 9 0.72x
Denbighshire 8 1.46x
Norfolk 5 0.22x
Renfrewshire 4 0.35x
Lanarkshire 3 0.06x
Berkshire 2 0.18x
Oxfordshire 2 0.22x
Westmorland 2 0.63x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.35x
Isle of Man 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 0.58x
Somerset 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorley in Lancashire leads with 66 Inces recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.10x.

Place Total Index
Chorley 66 68.10x
Clare 47 553.59x
Wigan 38 15.75x
Bromsgrove 36 56.28x
Bethnal Green London 34 5.38x
Great Bolton 33 14.43x
Ashton In Makerfield 31 63.03x
West Bromwich 29 10.31x
Bury 24 12.17x
Farndon 24 866.43x
Golborne 23 102.18x
Hindley 22 29.88x
Haverhill 21 133.33x
Westleigh 21 53.54x
Kensington London 19 2.35x
Limehouse London 18 11.27x
Great Yeldham 17 570.47x
Mile End Old Town London 16 5.17x
Tipton 16 10.64x
Widnes 16 12.85x
Hackney London 15 1.84x
Haydock 15 50.40x
Sturmere 15 806.45x
Pentlow 14 952.38x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 4.78x
Birkenhead 13 5.08x
Hampstead London 13 5.74x
Salford 13 2.56x
Gateshead 12 3.70x
Shoreditch London 12 1.90x
Coppull 11 119.57x
Kedington 11 234.54x
Ribbesford 11 69.53x
Shimpling 11 448.98x
Shipley 11 14.70x
Whalley 11 43.70x
Atherton 10 15.91x
Bromley London 10 3.12x
Great Lever 10 54.59x
Hemel Hempstead 10 22.12x
Ince In Makerfield 10 12.44x
Lambeth 10 0.79x
Stoke 10 628.93x
Stourbridge 10 20.45x
Wiswell 10 271.74x
Derby St Werburgh 9 6.84x
Hagley 9 146.34x
Hammersmith London 9 2.51x
Lewisham 9 3.40x
Lowton 9 76.60x
Mansfield 9 13.26x
Newhaven 9 45.16x
Pemberton 9 13.07x
St Andrewthe Less 9 8.55x
Toxteth Park 9 1.54x
Warrington 9 4.40x
Camberwell 8 0.86x
Charlton Next Woolwich 8 15.45x
Holt 8 157.17x
St George Bloomsbury 8 9.58x
St Marylebone London 8 1.03x
St Nicholas 8 457.14x
Stoke Newington London 8 7.06x
Baildon 7 25.77x
Bingley 7 7.62x
Bocking 7 40.51x
Broughton In Salford 7 4.43x
Deptford St Paul 7 1.83x
Everton 7 1.27x
Greasley 7 15.82x
Kingswinford 7 3.92x
Stoke 7 96.82x
Aston 6 0.59x
Bedlington 6 8.30x
Byker 6 5.60x
Handsworth 6 4.96x
Over Hulton 6 122.20x
Stayley 6 16.34x
Stoke By Clare 6 273.97x
Woodford 6 18.45x

FAQ

Ince surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ince surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,497 people were recorded with the Ince surname. That placed it at #2,799 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ince surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,429 in 2016. That gives Ince a modern rank of #2,712.

What does the Ince surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "island" in Old English.

What does the Ince map show?

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