NameCensus.

UK surname

Murfin

A locational surname from places named Murfen, which likely referred to someone living near a marshy area.

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Murfin surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 998, ranked #5,811, down from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, Leek and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Amber Valley and Derby.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Murfin is 1,134 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 59.4%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

998

2016, ranked #5,811

Peak year

1999

1,134 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Murfin had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 998 in 2016, ranked #5,811.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 936 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Murfin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Murfin surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Murfin 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 342 #6,879
1861 historical 272 #9,167
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 672 #5,804
1901 historical 839 #5,422
1911 historical 936 #4,799
1997 modern 1,068 #5,201
1998 modern 1,122 #5,169
1999 modern 1,134 #5,166
2000 modern 1,127 #5,166
2001 modern 1,105 #5,150
2002 modern 1,121 #5,209
2003 modern 1,112 #5,127
2004 modern 1,084 #5,258
2005 modern 1,087 #5,174
2006 modern 1,056 #5,311
2007 modern 1,056 #5,360
2008 modern 1,053 #5,413
2009 modern 1,059 #5,508
2010 modern 1,067 #5,574
2011 modern 1,046 #5,603
2012 modern 1,026 #5,622
2013 modern 1,052 #5,597
2014 modern 1,047 #5,643
2015 modern 1,013 #5,749
2016 modern 998 #5,811

Geography

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Where Murfins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, Leek, St Werburgh, Eaton Socon with Wyboston and Brailsford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Amber Valley and Derby. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Eaton Socon with Wyboston Huntingdonshire
5 Brailsford Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 006 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Derby 029 Derby
5 Derby 012 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Murfin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Murfin

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Murfin is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Murfin is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Murfin falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Murfin

The surname Murfin is believed to have originated from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture that once thrived in England. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "murc" or "mure," which referred to marshland or a swampy area, and "fen," meaning a low, marshy region. This suggests that the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a marshy or swampy area.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Murfin can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Murefenn." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and taxable resources in England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name was documented as "Murfyn" in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire, indicating its presence in that region during the medieval period. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form of "Murfin."

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Murfin, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and local magistrate in his community.

Another notable figure with this surname was Sir Thomas Murfin (1560-1628), a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London during the reign of King James I.

In the 17th century, William Murfin (1616-1699) was a prominent Puritan minister and author who served as the rector of Stratfield Mortimer in Berkshire.

The name Murfin is also associated with the historical place name "Murfen," which was a small village in Derbyshire, England. This village likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

During the 18th century, Elizabeth Murfin (1735-1812) was a well-known philanthropist and benefactor who supported various charitable causes in her hometown of Bristol, England.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname Murfin throughout history, highlighting its rich heritage and connections to various regions and narratives within England's past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Murfin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Murfin 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. Derbyshire leads with 232 Murfins recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.34x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 232 24.34x
Staffordshire 101 4.92x
Yorkshire 101 1.67x
Nottinghamshire 42 5.12x
Bedfordshire 33 10.47x
Surrey 16 0.54x
Cambridgeshire 15 3.89x
Huntingdonshire 15 12.41x
Lancashire 14 0.19x
Middlesex 12 0.20x
Leicestershire 11 1.63x
Durham 6 0.33x
Northamptonshire 6 1.05x
Shropshire 6 1.14x
Gloucestershire 3 0.25x
Warwickshire 3 0.20x
Lincolnshire 2 0.21x
Worcestershire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Devon 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Kent 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burton Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 46 Murfins recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.69x.

Place Total Index
Burton Upon Trent 46 95.69x
Ripley 36 305.60x
Brailsford 33 2426.47x
Eaton Socon 26 525.25x
Leek Lowe 26 95.10x
Ecclesfield 25 56.52x
Derby St Werburgh 20 36.34x
Ecclesall Bierlow 18 14.67x
Allestree 16 1311.48x
Nottingham St Mary 16 7.54x
Mansfield 14 49.31x
Melbourne 14 215.05x
Brightside Bierlow 13 10.99x
Derby St Peter 13 42.83x
Horninglow 13 134.30x
Hasland 12 123.71x
Kirk Langley 11 774.65x
March 11 85.21x
Battersea 9 4.02x
Hucknall Torkard 9 43.27x
Litchurch 9 23.47x
Shottle 8 1951.22x
Hugglescote 7 70.49x
Leeds 7 2.06x
Pentrich 7 130.60x
Burton Extra 6 50.93x
Camberwell 6 1.54x
Darlington 6 8.58x
Great Barford 6 365.85x
Holbrook 6 280.37x
Muggington 6 1463.41x
Upwood 6 845.07x
Wem 6 76.73x
Ashover 5 105.49x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 3.17x
Borough Fen 5 1612.90x
Darton 5 80.91x
Duffield 5 66.58x
Eynesbury 5 178.57x
Sheffield 5 2.60x
Shoreditch London 5 1.89x
Swinton In Rotherham 5 31.35x
Waterfall 5 574.71x
Wentworth 5 134.05x
Ashby De La Zouch 4 25.58x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 4 55.56x
Offcote Underwood 4 404.04x
Weston Underwood 4 1111.11x
York Holy Trinity 4 76.78x
Boxworth 3 566.04x
Draycott In Clay 3 319.15x
Greasbrough 3 37.64x
Great Staughton 3 128.21x
Liverpool 3 0.68x
Nether Hallam 3 3.68x
Oldham 3 1.29x
Windley 3 750.00x
Clerkenwell London 2 1.39x
Derby St Alkmund 2 7.00x
Great Malvern 2 12.06x
Ingleby 2 909.09x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 5.50x
Norton 2 25.48x
Paddington London 2 0.89x
Rotherham 2 5.88x
Salford 2 0.94x
Snenton 2 6.20x
Stanton By Bridge 2 606.06x
Westminster St John 2 2.70x
Alfreton 1 3.45x
Belper 1 5.41x
Horsley 1 17.45x
Ravensdale Park 1 1000.00x
Roxton 1 86.96x
Shardlow 1 55.25x
St Peterat Arches 1 90.09x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 7.30x
Turnditch 1 158.73x
Wilne 1 45.87x
Wormhill 1 50.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Sarah 36
Elizabeth 19
Emma 18
Ann 14
Eliza 12
Annie 10
Ellen 10
Hannah 10
Jane 9
Alice 8
Caroline 7
Harriet 6
Maria 6
Ada 5
Esther 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Harriett 3
Lucy 3
Adelaide 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Effie 2
Elisth. 2
Emily 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Anie 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizabth. 1
Elizath. 1
Elizneberth 1
Ellin 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgina 1
Hagar 1
Zilpah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 38
George 31
Charles 18
Joseph 15
Thomas 15
Samuel 13
Henry 12
James 12
Arthur 8
Frank 7
Walter 6
Albert 4
Edward 4
Harry 4
Robert 4
Thos. 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Enoch 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Archibald 2
Edwin 2
Frances 2
Fred 2
Godfrey 2
Oliver 2
Danial 1
Daniel 1
Danil 1
Elias 1
Ezra 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gervase 1
Jarvase 1
Jasper 1
Jesse 1
Joe. 1
Joel 1
Josh.Wm. 1
Josiah 1
Leader 1
Lee 1
Mark 1
Moses 1
Pharoah 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Murfin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Murfin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Murfin surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Murfin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 998 in 2016. That gives Murfin a modern rank of #5,811.

What does the Murfin surname mean?

A locational surname from places named Murfen, which likely referred to someone living near a marshy area.

What does the Murfin map show?

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