NameCensus.

UK surname

Modeste

A French surname meaning "modest" or "humble".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Brent and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Modeste is 230 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2013

230 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Modeste surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Modeste surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Modeste 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
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1901 historical 5 #33,728
1997 modern 159 #20,339
1998 modern 171 #19,956
1999 modern 158 #21,102
2000 modern 170 #20,120
2001 modern 170 #19,838
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 186 #18,985
2006 modern 187 #19,079
2007 modern 190 #19,088
2008 modern 195 #18,958
2009 modern 205 #18,722
2010 modern 226 #17,942
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 223 #17,852
2013 modern 230 #17,756
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Modestes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Brent, Bromley, Redbridge and Tower Hamlets. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 004 Westminster
2 Brent 020 Brent
3 Bromley 015 Bromley
4 Redbridge 027 Redbridge
5 Tower Hamlets 001 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Modeste

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Modeste

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Modeste surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Modeste 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Modeste is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Modeste 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

Modeste falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Modeste is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Modeste

The surname MODESTE has its origins in France, dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the French word "modeste," meaning modest or humble, which in turn comes from the Latin word "modestus."

The name was initially used as a descriptive surname, given to individuals who exhibited modest or humble behavior or demeanor. It was particularly common in the northern regions of France, particularly in the provinces of Normandy and Picardy.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MODESTE surname can be found in the parish records of Rouen, Normandy, in the year 1589, where a certain Jean MODESTE is mentioned. Another early reference is found in the records of the town of Amiens, Picardy, where a Nicolas MODESTE is listed in the year 1612.

Over the centuries, the MODESTE surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest was Pierre MODESTE (1608-1692), a French Jesuit priest and scholar who was renowned for his expertise in classical literature and philosophy.

In the 18th century, Jacques MODESTE (1722-1793) was a prominent French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Sulpice and the Panthéon.

During the French Revolution, Jean-Baptiste MODESTE (1759-1794) was a revolutionary leader who played a significant role in the events of the Reign of Terror. He was eventually guillotined for his involvement in the Jacobin regime.

In the 19th century, Marie MODESTE (1826-1908) was a French novelist and playwright who gained recognition for her works exploring the lives and struggles of women in French society.

Another notable bearer of the MODESTE surname was André MODESTE (1887-1963), a French cyclist who won several prestigious races, including the Tour de France in 1909 and 1910.

While the MODESTE surname has its roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and diaspora communities. However, the earliest recorded instances and historical references remain concentrated in the northern regions of France, where the name first gained prominence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Modeste surname: questions and answers

How common is the Modeste surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Modeste a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Modeste surname mean?

A French surname meaning "modest" or "humble".

What does the Modeste map show?

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