NameCensus.

UK surname

Memory

A surname derived from the Old French word "memoire," possibly referring to someone with an exceptional memory or a mnemonic instructor.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Memory surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 185, ranked #20,652, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin and Dittisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Shropshire and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Memory is 236 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.8%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

185

2016, ranked #20,652

Peak year

1999

236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Memory had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016, ranked #20,652.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 228 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Memory surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Memory surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Memory 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 228 #13,929
1911 historical 215 #14,290
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 213 #17,267
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 202 #18,032
2004 modern 208 #17,758
2005 modern 198 #18,279
2006 modern 196 #18,512
2007 modern 199 #18,542
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 200 #19,028
2010 modern 207 #19,007
2011 modern 206 #18,907
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 199 #19,775
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 185 #20,652

Geography

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Where Memorys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin, Dittisham, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Shropshire, South Hams, Mendip and Birmingham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Dartmorth St Petrox, Dartmouth St Saviour, Townstall, Ashprington, Halwell, Blackawton, Stoke Flemin Devon
3 Dittisham Devon
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 026 Salford
2 Shropshire 024 Shropshire
3 South Hams 007 South Hams
4 Mendip 006 Mendip
5 Birmingham 128 Birmingham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Memory

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Memory

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Memory surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Memory household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Memory is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Memory is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Memory falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Memory is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Memory

The surname MEMORY is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the late Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "memor," meaning "mindful" or "remembering." The name likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone with an exceptional memory or a person known for their diligence and attentiveness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name MEMORY can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1230, where a person named Willmus Memorye is mentioned. This document, which served as a record of financial transactions, suggests that the name was already in use during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname MEMORY appeared in the Norfolk Feet of Fines, a legal record of property transactions, where a John Memorye was documented in 1345. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued use and spread across different regions of England.

The Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279 also contain an entry for a Hugo Memorie, indicating the presence of the name in that county during the late 13th century. This historical document recorded the proceedings of a royal inquiry into landholdings and feudal obligations.

Notable individuals bearing the surname MEMORY throughout history include:

1. Thomas Memory (c. 1595 - c. 1670), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Church of England" (1637).

2. John Memory (c. 1620 - 1688), an English merchant and landowner who played a significant role in the colonization of Virginia. He served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and owned plantations in York County.

3. Elizabeth Memory (c. 1640 - 1720), an English Quaker minister and writer. She was known for her religious tracts and her advocacy for women's rights within the Quaker community.

4. William Memory (1776 - 1858), a British soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a renowned military historian. His works include "The Campaigns of the Duke of Wellington" (1837).

5. Mary Memory (1810 - 1892), an English philanthropist and social reformer. She founded several charitable organizations and worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London's East End.

While the surname MEMORY is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, its historical presence and the individuals who bore it have left an indelible mark on various aspects of society, ranging from religion and literature to military affairs and social reform.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Memory families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Memory 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. Devon leads with 44 Memorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.21x.

County Total Index
Devon 44 13.21x
Leicestershire 44 24.81x
Lancashire 24 1.26x
Somerset 14 5.44x
Kent 13 2.38x
Nottinghamshire 11 5.10x
Essex 7 2.22x
Middlesex 5 0.31x
Cumberland 1 0.73x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dittisham in Devon leads with 26 Memorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7878.79x.

Place Total Index
Dittisham 26 7878.79x
Leicester St Mary 21 146.55x
Butterworth 17 367.17x
Leicester St Margaret 13 30.06x
Sundridge 13 1428.57x
Nottingham Standard 9 1636.36x
Leicester St Leonard 8 476.19x
Midsomer Norton 7 288.07x
Dartmouth Townstall 6 441.18x
Timsbury 6 769.23x
Theydon Bois 5 1041.67x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 27.99x
Buckfastleigh 3 194.81x
Willesden 3 19.89x
Churston Ferrers 2 571.43x
Cockington 2 1000.00x
East Ham 2 34.13x
Leicester Black Friars 2 173.91x
Manchester 2 2.34x
Snenton 2 23.61x
Ainstable 1 400.00x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.44x
Dartmouth St Saviour 1 105.26x
East Stonehouse 1 15.24x
Kensington London 1 1.12x
Keynsham 1 54.05x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.34x
Plymouth Charles The 1 6.82x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.90x
Tormoham 1 7.10x
West Derby 1 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 8
Emma 6
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Eliza 4
Ada 3
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Emily 2
Jane 2
Lucy 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Florance 1
Harriet 1
Isabella 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Minnie 1
Rachal 1
Rhoda 1
Susanna 1
Violletta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
Thomas 10
Henry 7
Edward 6
George 6
James 6
John 6
Arthur 4
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Samuel 2
Adrian 1
Edmun 1
Edwards 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Henery 1
Herberd 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Michael 1
Obed 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Steven 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Memory surname: questions and answers

How common was the Memory surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Memory surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Memory surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 185 in 2016. That gives Memory a modern rank of #20,652.

What does the Memory surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French word "memoire," possibly referring to someone with an exceptional memory or a mnemonic instructor.

What does the Memory map show?

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