NameCensus.

UK surname

Inch

Scottish place name referring to an island, ridge, or flat area.

In the 1881 census there were 869 people recorded with the Inch surname, ranking it #4,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 661, ranked #8,066, down from #4,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edinburgh, St Austell and Kenwyn, Tregavethan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Torridge and Three Rivers.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inch is 974 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.9%.

1881 census count

869

Ranked #4,359

Modern count

661

2016, ranked #8,066

Peak year

1901

974 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inch had 869 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016, ranked #8,066.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 974 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Inch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inch 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 741 #3,555
1861 historical 660 #4,061
1881 historical 869 #4,359
1891 historical 862 #4,759
1901 historical 974 #4,855
1911 historical 640 #6,517
1997 modern 665 #7,542
1998 modern 720 #7,315
1999 modern 728 #7,302
2000 modern 731 #7,251
2001 modern 689 #7,461
2002 modern 715 #7,388
2003 modern 693 #7,444
2004 modern 685 #7,526
2005 modern 700 #7,344
2006 modern 697 #7,378
2007 modern 686 #7,549
2008 modern 690 #7,567
2009 modern 707 #7,585
2010 modern 707 #7,724
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 671 #7,869
2013 modern 682 #7,897
2014 modern 683 #7,933
2015 modern 680 #7,893
2016 modern 661 #8,066

Geography

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Where Inchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edinburgh, St Austell, Kenwyn, Tregavethan, London parishes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Torridge, Three Rivers, Teignbridge and New Town East and Gayfield. 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 Edinburgh Edinburgh
2 St Austell Cornwall
3 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
4 London parishes London 2
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
2 Torridge 004 Torridge
3 Three Rivers 012 Three Rivers
4 Teignbridge 017 Teignbridge
5 New Town East and Gayfield City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inch

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

Inch is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Inch

The surname Inch is of English origin and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ince," meaning a narrow strip of land or a small island.

The Inch name was initially concentrated in areas of England with waterways, marshes, or coastal regions, such as East Anglia, Essex, and Kent. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and Essex from the late 13th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are references to place names like "Ince" and "Inch," which may have influenced the surname's development. The name was also associated with landowners or people residing near such geographical features.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is John de Inch, who lived in Northamptonshire in the late 13th century. Another early bearer was Robert de Inch, mentioned in the Suffolk Feet of Fines in 1310.

Notable people with the surname Inch include:

1. Richard Inch (1572-1623), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. 2. Hendrick Inch (1670-1719), a Dutch painter known for his still-life paintings and landscapes. 3. William Inch (1793-1878), a Scottish poet and songwriter born in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. 4. Thomas Inch (1809-1882), a Scottish-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales. 5. John Inch (1836-1898), a British architect known for his work on churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The Inch surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Inch in Wiltshire, Inch Island in Donegal, Ireland, and Inch Abbey in County Down, Northern Ireland. Over time, the name has spread to other parts of the British Isles and beyond, reflecting the migration patterns of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inch 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. Cornwall leads with 207 Inchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.00x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 207 22.00x
Devon 127 7.34x
Middlesex 86 1.03x
Midlothian 64 5.75x
Essex 48 2.93x
Lanarkshire 43 1.60x
Morayshire 29 22.46x
Aberdeenshire 25 3.25x
Lancashire 25 0.25x
Yorkshire 24 0.29x
Gloucestershire 18 1.10x
Surrey 17 0.42x
Peeblesshire 14 35.81x
Renfrewshire 14 2.17x
Fife 9 1.83x
Suffolk 9 0.89x
Cumberland 8 1.12x
Somerset 7 0.52x
Stirlingshire 7 2.28x
Durham 6 0.24x
Angus 5 0.65x
Derbyshire 5 0.38x
Argyllshire 4 1.73x
Dunbartonshire 4 1.79x
Sussex 4 0.29x
Lincolnshire 3 0.23x
Norfolk 3 0.23x
Pembrokeshire 3 1.14x
Perthshire 3 0.80x
Royal Navy 3 3.03x
Banffshire 2 1.16x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.38x
Channel Islands 2 0.81x
Cheshire 2 0.11x
Hampshire 2 0.12x
Kent 2 0.07x
Monmouthshire 2 0.33x
Northamptonshire 2 0.26x
Staffordshire 2 0.07x
Warwickshire 2 0.10x
Anglesey 1 0.68x
East Lothian 1 0.91x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.61x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Roxburghshire 1 0.66x
Rutland 1 1.64x
West Lothian 1 0.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Austell in Cornwall leads with 47 Inchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.14x.

Place Total Index
St Austell 47 146.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 28 6.25x
Plymouth St Andrew 23 17.26x
Madron Penzance 18 52.60x
South Leith 18 14.37x
Advent 17 2698.41x
Tormoham 17 23.22x
Eastwood 14 35.29x
Kenwyn 14 56.89x
Winkleigh 14 403.46x
Mile End Old Town London 13 7.35x
Belchamp St Paul 12 597.01x
Foxearth 12 1052.63x
Stoke Damerel 11 9.08x
Redruth 10 37.57x
Dunfermline 9 11.90x
Elgin 9 35.83x
Lanteglos 9 206.90x
Perranzabuloe 9 110.84x
Poplar London 9 5.74x
St Ive 9 149.25x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 4.98x
Bristol St Paul In 8 18.42x
Crediton 8 48.81x
Great Crosby 8 29.75x
Lowestoft 8 16.73x
Millom 8 36.48x
Camberwell 7 1.32x
Cambusnethan 7 11.73x
Hackney London 7 1.50x
Hatch Beauchamp 7 679.61x
Liberton 7 40.72x
Malborough 7 101.74x
Scarborough 7 9.35x
St Marylebone London 7 1.58x
West Alvington 7 288.07x
Belchamp Otten 6 631.58x
Campsie 6 35.67x
Kensington London 6 1.30x
Kilbucho 6 1000.00x
Lesmahagow 6 21.10x
Penicuik 6 39.66x
Southcoates 6 13.12x
St Breock 6 118.11x
Uny Lelant 6 117.88x
Walthamstow 6 10.16x
West Herrington 6 69.28x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 3.47x
Bromley London 5 2.73x
East Putford 5 1111.11x
Edinkillie 5 148.37x
Glasgow 5 1.05x
Hampstead London 5 3.86x
Launcells 5 316.46x
Liff Benvie 5 4.28x
Ludgvan 5 66.67x
Newlands 5 213.68x
Newlyn 5 124.38x
Olveston 5 109.17x
St George Bloomsbury 5 10.49x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 21.22x
Towie 5 231.48x
Walston 5 515.46x
Cardross 4 14.91x
Carnwath 4 24.07x
Crawfordjohn 4 166.67x
Govan 4 0.60x
Gwennap 4 22.54x
Kilarrow 4 161.29x
Kingsbridge 4 91.95x
Lambeth 4 0.55x
Limehouse London 4 4.38x
Liskeard 4 25.41x
Little Bolton 4 3.15x
St Endellion 4 122.70x
St Luke London 4 3.00x
Tintagel 4 156.25x
Urquhart 4 65.57x
Wandell Lamington 4 444.44x
Wolborough 4 18.29x

FAQ

Inch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 869 people were recorded with the Inch surname. That placed it at #4,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 661 in 2016. That gives Inch a modern rank of #8,066.

What does the Inch surname mean?

Scottish place name referring to an island, ridge, or flat area.

What does the Inch map show?

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