NameCensus.

UK surname

Murfet

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Murfet surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 271, ranked #15,874, up from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Soham and Fordham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, South Holland and Forest Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murfet is 279 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 251.9%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

271

2016, ranked #15,874

Peak year

1998

279 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murfet had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016, ranked #15,874.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Murfet surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murfet surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Murfet 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 103 #22,444
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 274 #14,374
1998 modern 279 #14,592
1999 modern 277 #14,737
2000 modern 265 #15,143
2001 modern 265 #14,915
2002 modern 265 #15,197
2003 modern 269 #14,855
2004 modern 275 #14,717
2005 modern 264 #15,085
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 255 #15,687
2008 modern 262 #15,550
2009 modern 277 #15,260
2010 modern 275 #15,673
2011 modern 266 #15,937
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 271 #15,874

Geography

Back to top

Where Murfets are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Soham, Fordham, Tottenham and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, South Holland and Forest Heath. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Soham Cambridgeshire
3 Fordham Cambridgeshire
4 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 001 East Cambridgeshire
3 South Holland 003 South Holland
4 Forest Heath 008 Forest Heath
5 East Cambridgeshire 007 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Murfet

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Murfet

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

Murfet 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

Murfet falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Murfet families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murfet 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 39 Murfets recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.98x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 39 81.98x
Norfolk 14 12.12x
Middlesex 13 1.73x
Durham 6 2.69x
Surrey 4 1.09x
Yorkshire 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. Soham in Cambridgeshire leads with 36 Murfets recorded in 1881 and an index of 3529.41x.

Place Total Index
Soham 36 3529.41x
Wiggenhall St Mary Virgin 10 12500.00x
Tottenham 8 66.89x
Stranton 6 79.79x
Islington London 4 5.49x
Bermondsey 3 13.42x
Caston 3 2142.86x
Fordham 3 967.74x
Hackney London 1 2.37x
Ilkley 1 81.97x
Newington 1 3.60x
Stow Bardolph 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Robert 7
George 4
John 4
William 4
Alfred 3
Isaac 3
Thomas 3
Edward 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Auther 1
David 1
Frederic 1
Horace 1
James 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Murfet households.

FAQ

Murfet surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murfet surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Murfet surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murfet surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 271 in 2016. That gives Murfet a modern rank of #15,874.

What does the Murfet map show?

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