NameCensus.

UK surname

Makepeace

A surname meaning "one who makes peace."

In the 1881 census there were 845 people recorded with the Makepeace surname, ranking it #4,463 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,437, ranked #4,264, up from #4,463 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, County Durham and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Makepeace is 1,458 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.1%.

1881 census count

845

Ranked #4,463

Modern count

1,437

2016, ranked #4,264

Peak year

1998

1,458 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Makepeace had 845 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,463 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016, ranked #4,264.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,302 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Makepeace surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Makepeace surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Makepeace 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 548 #4,617
1861 historical 577 #4,568
1881 historical 845 #4,463
1891 historical 921 #4,487
1901 historical 1,100 #4,393
1911 historical 1,302 #3,661
1997 modern 1,377 #4,195
1998 modern 1,458 #4,152
1999 modern 1,448 #4,198
2000 modern 1,445 #4,193
2001 modern 1,426 #4,155
2002 modern 1,457 #4,164
2003 modern 1,415 #4,186
2004 modern 1,399 #4,224
2005 modern 1,404 #4,178
2006 modern 1,368 #4,277
2007 modern 1,386 #4,258
2008 modern 1,408 #4,240
2009 modern 1,420 #4,284
2010 modern 1,436 #4,327
2011 modern 1,450 #4,250
2012 modern 1,430 #4,235
2013 modern 1,451 #4,248
2014 modern 1,457 #4,266
2015 modern 1,436 #4,275
2016 modern 1,437 #4,264

Geography

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Where Makepeaces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, County Durham and Maidstone. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
3 County Durham 064 County Durham
4 Maidstone 009 Maidstone
5 County Durham 055 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Makepeace

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Makepeace

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

Makepeace is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Makepeace

The surname Makepeace has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mak" meaning "to make" and "peace," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who played a role in mediating disputes or maintaining harmony within a community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a John Makepeace in Oxfordshire. The surname also appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1301, referring to a Richard Makepeace.

During the Middle Ages, the Makepeace family likely originated from the county of Warwickshire. The name is associated with several place names in the area, such as Makepeace Thicket and Makepeace Meadow, which may have been named after early bearers of the surname.

In the 16th century, the Makepeace name gained prominence with the birth of Sir Henry Makepeace (1516-1585), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and his support for the establishment of several grammar schools in the area.

Another notable figure was William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863), a famous English novelist and author of works such as "Vanity Fair" and "The Luck of Barry Lyndon." He was born in Calcutta, India, to a family with roots in Makepeace ancestry.

Other individuals of historical significance with the Makepeace surname include Thomas Makepeace (1680-1762), a renowned English silversmith and engraver, and Reverend William Makepeace (1734-1781), a clergyman and author of several religious works.

In the 19th century, the Makepeace family spread across various parts of England, with some members migrating to other parts of the British Empire, including Canada and Australia. Variants of the surname, such as Makepiece and Makepease, also emerged during this period.

The Makepeace name has been associated with various occupations throughout history, including merchants, craftsmen, clergymen, and landowners, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and roles played by those who bore this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Makepeace families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Makepeace 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. Durham leads with 247 Makepeaces recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.07x.

County Total Index
Durham 247 10.07x
Warwickshire 133 6.40x
Northumberland 88 7.18x
Middlesex 70 0.85x
Yorkshire 42 0.51x
Leicestershire 39 4.27x
Gloucestershire 36 2.23x
Surrey 28 0.70x
Northamptonshire 24 3.10x
Bedfordshire 22 5.15x
Kent 17 0.60x
Lancashire 12 0.12x
Hampshire 11 0.65x
Worcestershire 10 0.93x
Staffordshire 9 0.32x
Cumberland 8 1.13x
Shropshire 8 1.12x
Monmouthshire 6 1.01x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.00x
Montgomeryshire 5 2.65x
Hertfordshire 4 0.70x
Norfolk 4 0.32x
Devon 3 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.83x
Royal Navy 2 2.04x
Somerset 2 0.15x
Anglesey 1 0.68x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 27 Makepeaces recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.12x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 27 12.12x
Coventry Holy Trinity 24 38.67x
Aston 21 3.67x
Heworth 21 43.46x
Gateshead 19 10.35x
Crook Billy Row 17 54.14x
Lamesley 17 128.79x
Wingate 17 101.13x
Leighton Buzzard 15 81.70x
Muggleswick 14 588.24x
Trimdon 14 161.48x
Brackley St Peter 13 244.36x
Clerkenwell London 13 6.68x
Hampton London 13 95.94x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 13 17.75x
Birtley 12 119.88x
Hunstonworth 12 845.07x
Leamington Priors 12 23.46x
Monks Kirby 12 262.58x
Shipton 12 1263.16x
Thorngrafton 12 1445.78x
Elswick 10 10.22x
Henshaw 10 709.22x
St George Hanover 10 9.29x
Coventry St Michael 9 13.48x
Hammersmith London 9 4.43x
Throckley 9 266.27x
Westbury On Trym 9 16.43x
Westoe 9 6.47x
Allendale 8 70.36x
Brightside Bierlow 8 4.99x
Dalton In Huddersfield 8 43.72x
Kings Norton 8 8.29x
Shadforth 8 168.07x
Allesley 7 256.41x
Battersea 7 2.31x
Birmingham 7 1.01x
Brandon Byshottles 7 22.79x
Chelsea London 7 2.82x
Cheltenham 7 5.61x
Crawcrook 7 551.18x
Edmondbyers 7 707.07x
Foleshill 7 32.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 6.59x
Pelton 7 59.98x
Stanhope 7 27.65x
Winlaton 7 29.75x
Wombwell 7 29.39x
Kingston On Thames 6 6.22x
Nether Hallam 6 5.43x
Nuneaton 6 24.92x
Whippingham 6 46.91x
Whitworth 6 33.43x
Bedwellty 5 4.75x
Belgrave 5 24.24x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.38x
Brancepeth 5 112.11x
Conside Knitsley 5 26.22x
Edgbaston 5 7.76x
Egremont 5 29.55x
Hexham 5 26.34x
Lambeth 5 0.70x
Leamington 5 36.31x
Leighton 5 458.72x
Litherland 5 24.45x
Melkridge 5 581.40x
Pittington 5 72.46x
Portsea 5 1.51x
Shrewsbury St Chad 5 20.01x
Warwick St Mary 5 27.70x
Wath On Dearne 5 30.67x
Chipping Campden 4 76.05x
Cowpen 4 14.16x
Dilhorne 4 86.39x
Foots Cray 4 74.35x
Great Yarmouth 4 3.81x
Leicester All Sts 4 22.28x
Manningham 4 3.98x
Richmond 4 7.11x
Rochester Castle 4 1142.86x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 64
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 24
Jane 21
Ann 20
Margaret 19
Emma 16
Annie 15
Eliza 11
Isabella 10
Alice 9
Hannah 9
Ellen 8
Martha 8
Anne 6
Frances 6
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Louisa 5
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Emily 4
Florence 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Dorothy 3
Eliz. 3
Esther 3
Rose 3
Susannah 3
Barbara 2
Clara 2
Ethel 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Margt. 2
Margt.J. 2
Maria 2
Marie 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Phillis 2
Rosa 2
Amelia 1
Beatrice 1
E.A. 1
Edie 1
Eleanor 1
Eley 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
William 52
Thomas 42
George 36
Joseph 18
James 17
Robert 16
Henry 14
Arthur 13
Charles 13
Edward 8
Harry 8
Samuel 7
Frederick 6
Wm. 6
Richard 5
Michael 4
Nicholas 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Matthew 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Harold 2
Herbert 2
Jno.B. 2
Mark 2
Reuben 2
Ridley 2
Sydney 2
Bernard 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Cornelious 1
Cornelius 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gabriel 1
Geo. 1
Jos. 1
Jose 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Luke 1

FAQ

Makepeace surname: questions and answers

How common was the Makepeace surname in 1881?

In 1881, 845 people were recorded with the Makepeace surname. That placed it at #4,463 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Makepeace surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,437 in 2016. That gives Makepeace a modern rank of #4,264.

What does the Makepeace surname mean?

A surname meaning "one who makes peace."

What does the Makepeace map show?

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