NameCensus.

UK surname

Martyr

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Martyr surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bexley, Peterborough and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Martyr is 197 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

1911

197 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Martyr had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 197 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Martyr surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Martyr surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Martyr 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 66 #21,617
1861 historical 39 #29,099
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 142 #18,995
1901 historical 152 #17,916
1911 historical 197 #15,101
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 139 #22,855
2001 modern 131 #23,343
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 132 #25,303
2012 modern 119 #27,100
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 136 #25,452
2015 modern 131 #25,979
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Martyrs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Lewisham 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 Bexley, Peterborough, Exeter, Basildon and Mid Sussex. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 Lewisham London (South Districts)
4 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bexley 004 Bexley
2 Peterborough 021 Peterborough
3 Exeter 015 Exeter
4 Basildon 017 Basildon
5 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Martyr

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Martyr

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Martyr is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Martyr 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

Martyr falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Martyr 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 Martyr, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Martyr families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Martyr 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. Surrey leads with 30 Martyrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.31x.

County Total Index
Surrey 30 8.31x
Berkshire 10 17.98x
Kent 10 3.95x
Hampshire 9 5.92x
Middlesex 7 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 2 4.46x
Bedfordshire 1 2.61x
Channel Islands 1 4.55x
Cheshire 1 0.61x
Devon 1 0.65x
Essex 1 0.68x
Hertfordshire 1 1.96x
Oxfordshire 1 2.18x
Shropshire 1 1.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewisham in Kent leads with 10 Martyrs recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.18x.

Place Total Index
Lewisham 10 74.18x
Portsea 8 26.87x
Newington 7 25.57x
Longworth 6 4000.00x
Bethnal Green London 5 15.53x
Woking 5 229.36x
Camberwell 4 8.45x
Chertsey 4 171.67x
Lambeth 4 6.19x
Walton On Thames 3 180.72x
Weybridge 3 389.61x
Bray 2 122.70x
Marsworth 2 1666.67x
New Windsor 2 106.95x
Paddington London 2 7.34x
Caddington 1 178.57x
Chester Holy Trinity 1 129.87x
Condover 1 222.22x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 1 185.19x
Portsmouth 1 28.57x
St Saviour 1 82.64x
Stoke 1 161.29x
Tring 1 73.53x
West Ham 1 3.10x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 7
Henry 5
John 5
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
James 2
Albert 1
Cristopher 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Frederick 1
Gattie 1
Herbert 1
Paul 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Martyr surname: questions and answers

How common was the Martyr surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Martyr surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Martyr surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Martyr a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Martyr map show?

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