NameCensus.

UK surname

Metcalfe

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked with or bred calves or cattle.

In the 1881 census there were 6,851 people recorded with the Metcalfe surname, ranking it #619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,496, ranked #519, up from #619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Bradford and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, Eden and South Lakeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Metcalfe is 12,982 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.4%.

1881 census count

6,851

Ranked #619

Modern count

12,496

2016, ranked #519

Peak year

1999

12,982 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Metcalfe had 6,851 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,496 in 2016, ranked #519.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 12,141 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Metcalfe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Metcalfe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Metcalfe 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 3,336 #866
1861 historical 3,681 #765
1881 historical 6,851 #619
1891 historical 7,782 #570
1901 historical 10,597 #495
1911 historical 12,141 #404
1997 modern 12,443 #489
1998 modern 12,848 #498
1999 modern 12,982 #494
2000 modern 12,927 #491
2001 modern 12,610 #491
2002 modern 12,750 #501
2003 modern 12,441 #502
2004 modern 12,390 #504
2005 modern 12,158 #509
2006 modern 12,164 #508
2007 modern 12,249 #507
2008 modern 12,329 #510
2009 modern 12,592 #510
2010 modern 12,799 #510
2011 modern 12,542 #515
2012 modern 12,315 #518
2013 modern 12,702 #512
2014 modern 12,712 #517
2015 modern 12,587 #517
2016 modern 12,496 #519

Geography

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Where Metcalfes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Bradford, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Aysgarth and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, Eden and South Lakeland. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Aysgarth Yorkshire, North Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
2 Eden 007 Eden
3 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire
4 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
5 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Metcalfe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Metcalfe

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

Metcalfe is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Metcalfe

The surname Metcalfe originates from the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire, and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "mete" meaning food or provisions, and "calf" referring to a small island or dry area of land surrounded by marsh or streams. This suggests that the name may have been an occupational name for someone who kept food stores or cattle on such a dry patch of land.

The earliest known record of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Metcalfe". Other early spellings include Metcalf, Medcalfe, and Metcalf. The name is believed to have originated in the area around the village of Nidderdale in North Yorkshire, which was once part of a larger region known as Metcalfe.

In the 13th century, a Richard Metcalfe is mentioned in the Records of the Borough of Nottingham, indicating the name's presence in that area. Another early bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Metcalfe (c.1390-1472), a member of the English gentry from Yorkshire who served as a Member of Parliament.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Metcalfe family became established in various parts of England, including Lancashire, Westmorland, and Northumberland. Notable individuals from this period include Sir John Metcalfe (c.1525-1615), a prominent merchant and Member of Parliament, and Roger Metcalfe (1592-1672), an English clergyman and author.

In the 18th century, Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor-General of India from 1835 to 1836. Another notable figure was John Metcalfe (1717-1810), a British soldier and colonial governor of Fort St. George in Madras, India.

The 19th century saw the birth of several distinguished individuals with the surname Metcalfe, including Charles Theophilus Metcalfe (1785-1856), a British colonial administrator and Governor of Jamaica, and Sir Courtney Metcalfe (1843-1933), a British army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valor in the British armed forces.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Metcalfe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Metcalfe 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. Yorkshire leads with 3,829 Metcalfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.79x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 3,829 5.79x
Lancashire 807 1.02x
Durham 711 3.58x
Middlesex 239 0.36x
Westmorland 139 9.48x
Surrey 111 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 107 2.53x
Cumberland 105 1.83x
Lincolnshire 76 0.71x
Kent 58 0.25x
Staffordshire 55 0.24x
Northumberland 47 0.47x
Cheshire 44 0.30x
Norfolk 38 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 32 0.36x
Suffolk 32 0.39x
Hertfordshire 31 0.67x
Derbyshire 30 0.29x
Lanarkshire 28 0.13x
Essex 25 0.19x
Aberdeenshire 23 0.37x
Shropshire 22 0.38x
Hampshire 21 0.15x
Gloucestershire 16 0.12x
Oxfordshire 16 0.39x
Devon 15 0.11x
Channel Islands 14 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 13 0.32x
Herefordshire 13 0.48x
Somerset 12 0.11x
Berkshire 9 0.18x
East Lothian 9 1.02x
Warwickshire 9 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 7 0.26x
Cardiganshire 7 0.43x
Worcestershire 7 0.08x
Brecknockshire 6 0.45x
Leicestershire 6 0.08x
Monmouthshire 6 0.12x
Montgomeryshire 6 0.39x
Renfrewshire 6 0.12x
West Lothian 6 0.60x
Banffshire 5 0.36x
Denbighshire 5 0.20x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.28x
Bedfordshire 4 0.12x
Merionethshire 4 0.33x
Kincardineshire 3 0.37x
Midlothian 3 0.03x
Sussex 3 0.03x
Dorset 2 0.05x
Flintshire 2 0.11x
Northamptonshire 2 0.03x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.09x
Royal Navy 2 0.25x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Rutland 1 0.20x
Stirlingshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hawes in Yorkshire leads with 284 Metcalfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 657.10x.

Place Total Index
Hawes 284 657.10x
Darlington 136 17.75x
Leeds 120 3.22x
Bainbridge 108 692.31x
Bradford 108 6.75x
Bowling 97 14.82x
Richmond 78 75.53x
Stranton 70 10.48x
Muker 68 355.83x
Ripon 65 42.39x
Halifax 59 6.08x
Leyburn 58 260.79x
Stockton On Tees 56 5.85x
Hunslet 52 5.05x
Shildon 52 32.61x
Habergham Eaves 50 6.91x
Holy Trinity 48 3.02x
Manningham 46 5.65x
Sedburgh 44 159.77x
High Low Bishopside 41 69.92x
Horton In Bradford 41 3.97x
Melbecks 40 150.26x
Settle 39 77.08x
Everton 38 1.51x
Ingleton 38 102.15x
Keighley 38 5.39x
Skipton 37 17.79x
West Derby 36 1.55x
Askrigg 34 238.26x
Embsay Cum Eastby 34 127.29x
Salford 33 1.42x
St Pancras London 32 0.60x
Wortley In Bramley 32 6.11x
Colne 31 13.15x
Cleckheaton 30 12.32x
Lancaster 30 6.37x
Swavesey 30 110.78x
Bishopwearmouth 29 1.70x
Chorlton On Medlock 28 2.23x
Batley 27 4.30x
Ravenstonedale 27 132.09x
Aiskew 26 137.06x
Burnley 26 3.90x
Burton Cum Walden 26 256.41x
High Abbotside 26 230.91x
Northallerton 26 30.82x
Reeth 26 159.02x
Scarborough 26 4.33x
Aismunderby Cum 25 133.83x
Grewelthorpe 25 212.22x
Haddenham 25 62.92x
Buckden 23 339.23x
Cockerton 23 36.13x
Islington London 23 0.36x
Manchester 23 0.65x
Bishop Auckland 22 8.26x
Liverpool 22 0.46x
Shipley 22 6.41x
Clitheroe 21 9.01x
Coniston Cold 21 273.08x
Grinton 21 243.90x
Menwith Cum Darley 21 159.45x
Shitlington 21 30.71x
Ulverston 21 9.11x
York St Mary 21 7.67x
Lambeth 20 0.34x
Orton 20 45.64x
Sedbergh 20 82.10x
Bramley In Bramley 19 7.51x
Ecclesall Bierlow 19 1.41x
Hackney London 19 0.51x
Haworth 19 12.09x
St Marylebone London 19 0.53x
Westhoughton 19 8.99x
York St Cuthbert 19 31.40x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 18 7.96x
Doncaster 18 3.73x
Middlesbrough 18 2.09x
Redmire 18 227.27x
Sculcoates 18 1.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 556
Elizabeth 321
Margaret 221
Jane 219
Sarah 203
Ann 158
Annie 106
Hannah 104
Alice 94
Ellen 74
Isabella 72
Emma 66
Eliza 56
Martha 56
Agnes 51
Ada 37
Clara 31
Catherine 30
Emily 30
Anne 29
Harriet 29
Frances 28
Charlotte 25
Edith 23
Eleanor 22
Fanny 22
Rose 21
Dorothy 20
Louisa 20
Maria 20
Florence 19
Elizth. 18
Isabel 17
Kate 16
Esther 15
Lucy 14
Rebecca 14
Caroline 13
Nancy 13
Grace 12
Susannah 12
Ethel 11
Sophia 11
Christiana 10
Dinah 10
Julia 10
Amelia 9
Betsy 9
Betty 9
Matilda 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 464
William 405
Thomas 299
James 271
George 220
Robert 115
Joseph 99
Richard 95
Henry 80
Edward 59
Christopher 57
Charles 51
Alfred 49
Arthur 47
Francis 36
Frederick 36
Walter 33
Anthony 30
Fred 29
Harry 29
Matthew 28
Albert 26
Thos. 22
Herbert 21
Samuel 21
Wm. 20
Benjamin 16
Ernest 16
Edmund 15
David 14
Edwin 14
Tom 14
Frank 13
Leonard 13
Alexander 11
Jno. 10
Ralph 10
Michael 9
Geo. 8
Peter 8
Simon 8
Fred. 7
Isaac 7
Mark 7
Mathew 7
Robt. 7
Smith 7
Chas. 6
Harold 6
Sidney 6

FAQ

Metcalfe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Metcalfe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,851 people were recorded with the Metcalfe surname. That placed it at #619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Metcalfe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,496 in 2016. That gives Metcalfe a modern rank of #519.

What does the Metcalfe surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked with or bred calves or cattle.

What does the Metcalfe map show?

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