NameCensus.

UK surname

Inge

Derived from a Germanic personal name meaning "Ing's people," referring to descendants of an ancestor called Ing or Inga.

In the 1881 census there were 242 people recorded with the Inge surname, ranking it #11,333 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #11,333 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Northbourne and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale and East Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Inge is 295 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.9%.

1881 census count

242

Ranked #11,333

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1911

295 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Inge had 242 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,333 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 295 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Inge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Inge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Inge 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 178 #11,397
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 242 #11,333
1891 historical 237 #13,242
1901 historical 279 #12,225
1911 historical 295 #11,597
1997 modern 231 #16,049
1998 modern 244 #15,947
1999 modern 252 #15,707
2000 modern 262 #15,272
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 230 #16,643
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 234 #16,706
2008 modern 236 #16,736
2009 modern 233 #17,241
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 245 #16,874
2012 modern 236 #17,187
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Inges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Northbourne, St Mary Islington and St Dunstan. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale and East Dorset. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northbourne Kent
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 St Dunstan Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Swale 010 Swale
3 Swale 014 Swale
4 East Dorset 003 East Dorset
5 Swale 009 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Inge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Inge

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Inge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Inge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Inge 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

Inge is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Inge

The surname Inge originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period, derived from the Old English personal name Inga. This name is thought to have been a contracted form of various longer names containing the element "ing," which meant "son" or "descendant."

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Inge can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Inge" and "Inges." These entries likely refer to individuals residing in areas such as Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

In the medieval period, the surname Inge was particularly prevalent in the East Midlands region of England. It was often associated with place names like Ingham, which is derived from the Old English words "inga" (meaning "people of") and "ham" (meaning "homestead" or "village").

One notable bearer of the surname Inge was William Inge (c. 1312-1368), an English philosopher and theologian who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was a prominent figure in the scholastic tradition and wrote extensively on various philosophical and theological topics.

Another historically significant figure with the surname Inge was Sir William Inge (1857-1954), a British author, philosopher, and clergyman. He served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and was known for his works on mysticism and Christianity's role in modern society.

In the 16th century, the surname Inge appeared in various records related to the English Reformation. For instance, Hugh Inge (c. 1520-1558) was an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake for his religious beliefs during the reign of Queen Mary I.

The surname Inge has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. For example, William Ralph Inge (1860-1954), known as the "Gloomy Dean," was an English author, philosopher, and Anglican priest who wrote extensively on theological and social issues.

Another prominent bearer of the surname Inge was William Vavasour Inge (1813-1858), an English artist and painter known for his landscape and genre paintings. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious institutions during the Victorian era.

While the surname Inge has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to emigration and migration patterns over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Inge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Inge 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. Kent leads with 91 Inges recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.30x.

County Total Index
Kent 91 11.30x
Middlesex 36 1.53x
Berkshire 13 7.34x
Surrey 12 1.04x
Yorkshire 12 0.51x
Staffordshire 11 1.38x
Northamptonshire 10 4.50x
Warwickshire 10 1.68x
Essex 8 1.72x
Lincolnshire 8 2.12x
Sussex 6 1.51x
Suffolk 5 1.74x
Bedfordshire 4 3.27x
Hampshire 4 0.83x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.34x
Northumberland 2 0.57x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.70x
Dorset 1 0.65x
Durham 1 0.14x
Leicestershire 1 0.38x
Monmouthshire 1 0.59x
Norfolk 1 0.28x
Royal Navy 1 3.55x
Wiltshire 1 0.48x

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 24 Inges recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.49x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 24 10.49x
Northbourne 12 1558.44x
Whitstable 10 253.16x
Birmingham 9 4.54x
Gayton Le Marsh 8 4000.00x
Brabourne 7 1166.67x
Canterbury St Mary N 7 1296.30x
Culworth 7 1842.11x
High Ongar 7 813.95x
Farnham 6 67.11x
Faversham 6 78.13x
Preston Next Faversham 6 317.46x
Seaton Wassand 6 1764.71x
Alrewas 5 649.35x
Bray 5 95.97x
Canterbury St Mary 5 92.59x
Lowestoft 5 36.82x
Wingham 5 537.63x
Birchington 4 353.98x
Bromley 4 32.57x
Little Coxwell 4 2000.00x
Oakley 4 1666.67x
Ramsgate 4 30.42x
Chelsea London 3 4.22x
Deptford St Paul 3 4.83x
Eydon 3 833.33x
Horsham 3 38.81x
Seamer In Scarborough 3 400.00x
Thorpe Constantine 3 6000.00x
Whittington 3 184.05x
Alverstoke 2 11.42x
Charlton 2 37.38x
Dover St Mary Virgin 2 25.67x
Great Faringdon 2 78.43x
Herne 2 56.02x
Kensington London 2 1.52x
Northfleet 2 28.17x
Oare 2 487.80x
Rotherhithe 2 6.86x
Southwark Christchurch 2 18.08x
Tottenham 2 5.32x
Aberystruth 1 6.65x
Camberwell 1 0.66x
Canterbury St George 1 103.09x
Cowfold 1 119.05x
Deptford St Nicholas 1 15.65x
Doddington 1 90.91x
East Cliffe 1 454.55x
Eastry 1 89.29x
Eton 1 30.86x
Feltham 1 42.37x
Greenwich 1 2.66x
Hammersmith London 1 1.72x
Heigham 1 5.13x
Hollington 1 70.42x
Knapton 1 357.14x
Leicester St Mary 1 4.73x
Lighthorne 1 344.83x
Limehouse London 1 3.86x
North Shields 1 14.27x
Old Windsor 1 48.78x
Pevensey 1 344.83x
Portsea 1 1.05x
Royal Navy 1 4.16x
Shaftesbury St Peter 1 138.89x
St Edward Cambridge 1 208.33x
St Pancras London 1 0.53x
Staplegate 1 476.19x
Stone In Dartford 1 48.31x
Stranton 1 4.23x
Tilehurst 1 27.93x
Titchfield 1 27.40x
Wardour 1 163.93x
Warley 1 14.79x
West Matfen 1 400.00x
West Thurrock 1 64.52x
Westminster St James 1 4.12x
Woking 1 14.43x
Woolwich 1 3.36x
York St Maurice 1 22.73x

FAQ

Inge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Inge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 242 people were recorded with the Inge surname. That placed it at #11,333 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Inge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Inge a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Inge surname mean?

Derived from a Germanic personal name meaning "Ing's people," referring to descendants of an ancestor called Ing or Inga.

What does the Inge map show?

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