NameCensus.

UK surname

Margrave

A hereditary title for a nobleman who ruled a frontier province.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Margrave surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 196, ranked #19,848, down from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Luddington, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) and Llanelly. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Warwick and Dacorum.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Margrave is 223 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.9%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

196

2016, ranked #19,848

Peak year

1998

223 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Margrave had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016, ranked #19,848.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Margrave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Margrave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Margrave 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 205 #11,769
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 169 #16,824
1911 historical 182 #15,859
1997 modern 214 #16,893
1998 modern 223 #16,936
1999 modern 213 #17,550
2000 modern 217 #17,296
2001 modern 215 #17,159
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 212 #17,540
2005 modern 199 #18,198
2006 modern 203 #18,105
2007 modern 206 #18,142
2008 modern 204 #18,403
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 214 #18,601
2011 modern 204 #19,040
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 196 #19,848

Geography

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Where Margraves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Luddington, Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft), Llanelly, Hemel Hempstead and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Warwick, Dacorum, Doncaster and Bury. 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 Luddington Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Hatfield, Fishlake, Thorne, Crowle (Eastoft) Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Llanelly Carmarthenshire
4 Hemel Hempstead Hertfordshire
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 041 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Warwick 015 Warwick
3 Dacorum 021 Dacorum
4 Doncaster 003 Doncaster
5 Bury 004 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Margrave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Margrave

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Margrave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Margrave household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Margrave is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Margrave 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

Margrave falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Margrave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Margrave

The surname Margrave originated in Germany during the medieval period, derived from the German title "Markgraf," which translates to "Count of the Marches" or "Marquis." The title was given to noblemen who governed border territories or marches of the Holy Roman Empire.

In the 11th century, the name Margrave appeared in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus, which documented land grants and legal proceedings in the region. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Margrave Leopold I of Austria, who lived from around 1073 to 1141.

During the 12th century, the Margrave family played a prominent role in the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire. Margrave Hermann III of Baden, born around 1135, was a notable figure who served as a military leader and participated in the Third Crusade.

The name Margrave was also associated with the region of Brandenburg in northern Germany. In the 13th century, Otto III, the Margrave of Brandenburg, lived from 1215 to 1267 and was known for his efforts in expanding and consolidating the Margraviate of Brandenburg.

Another significant bearer of the name was Margrave Albrecht Achilles of Brandenburg, who lived from 1414 to 1486. He was a powerful and influential figure in the region and played a crucial role in the formation of the modern state of Brandenburg-Prussia.

Over time, the name Margrave evolved into various spellings and variations, such as Markgraf, Markgrave, and Marchgrave, reflecting regional dialects and linguistic changes. While the title itself fell out of use after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, the surname Margrave continued to be carried by descendants of these noble families.

It's worth noting that several villages and towns in Germany bear the name Margrave or variations of it, reflecting the historical significance of the title and its association with specific territories and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Margrave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Margrave 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. Hertfordshire leads with 31 Margraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.09x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 31 40.09x
Yorkshire 27 2.43x
Lincolnshire 15 8.36x
Lancashire 10 0.75x
Carmarthenshire 6 12.69x
Staffordshire 6 1.58x
Glamorgan 4 2.05x
Kent 4 1.05x
Surrey 3 0.55x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Midlothian 2 1.33x
Somerset 2 1.11x
Durham 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 7.48x
Warwickshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire leads with 16 Margraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 459.77x.

Place Total Index
Hemel Hempstead 16 459.77x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 34.38x
Darton 9 789.47x
Berkhampstead 8 459.77x
Lichfield St Michael 6 504.20x
Llanelly 6 56.34x
Atterby 5 12500.00x
Hitchin 5 143.27x
Garthorpe 4 1818.18x
Milton In Gravesend 4 69.69x
Swansea Town 4 24.98x
Adlingfleet 3 3750.00x
Althorpe 3 731.71x
Bellasize 3 7500.00x
Bermondsey 3 8.98x
Bradford 3 11.15x
Holy Trinity 3 11.22x
Doncaster 2 24.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 3.31x
Midsomer Norton 2 117.65x
St Albans St Michael 2 232.56x
Belton 1 136.99x
Crowle 1 91.74x
Goole 1 53.76x
Hook 1 40.82x
Howell 1 3333.33x
Leeds 1 1.59x
Milverton 1 120.48x
Poplar London 1 4.72x
Royal Navy 1 8.75x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 181.82x
Stockton On Tees 1 6.22x
Whitechapel London 1 9.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Sarah 6
Alice 4
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Ann 3
Beatrice 3
Fanny 3
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Aline 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Eliz.Phoebe 1
Enid 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Isabella 1
J. 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
M.A. 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
George 5
Frederick 4
John 4
Thomas 4
Enoch 3
Ernest 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Daniel 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
J.S.D. 1
James 1
Leonard 1
Lorenzo 1
Percival 1
S. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Margrave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Margrave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Margrave surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Margrave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 196 in 2016. That gives Margrave a modern rank of #19,848.

What does the Margrave surname mean?

A hereditary title for a nobleman who ruled a frontier province.

What does the Margrave map show?

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