NameCensus.

UK surname

Nabb

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dwellers at the knob or headland".

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Nabb surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 97, ranked #31,585, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, Manchester and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Bolton and Rhins North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nabb is 193 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 46.4%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

97

2016, ranked #31,585

Peak year

1911

193 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Nabb had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016, ranked #31,585.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 193 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Nabb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nabb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nabb 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 147 #15,539
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 175 #16,467
1901 historical 172 #16,643
1911 historical 193 #15,294
1997 modern 98 #27,179
1998 modern 111 #25,990
1999 modern 117 #25,362
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 107 #26,849
2003 modern 99 #27,871
2004 modern 98 #28,297
2005 modern 92 #29,271
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 97 #29,156
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 94 #30,538
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 91 #31,442
2012 modern 95 #31,107
2013 modern 103 #30,235
2014 modern 105 #30,204
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 97 #31,585

Geography

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Where Nabbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, Manchester, Glasgow, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Bolton and Rhins North. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 004 Bury
2 Bolton 024 Bolton
3 Rhins North Dumfries and Galloway
4 Bury 008 Bury
5 Bolton 003 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nabb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nabb

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Nabb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Nabb 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 predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Nabb is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nabb 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

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

Meaning and origin of Nabb

The surname Nabb is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "cnaepp," which means "top" or "summit," possibly referring to someone who lived on or near a hilltop.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nabb surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled "Cnabba." This suggests that the name was already in use by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.

In the 13th century, records show a Simon de Nabb residing in Yorkshire, England. The "de" prefix indicates that he was likely associated with a specific place or region.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "Nabbe," "Nab," and "Nabbe," reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common in that era.

One notable figure bearing the Nabb surname was John Nabb (1615-1695), an English Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

Another historical figure was Benjamin Nabb (1760-1834), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was promoted to the rank of Admiral.

In the 19th century, James Nabb (1805-1874) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in the Midlands region.

The Nabb surname was also found in Scotland, where records show a William Nabb (1820-1892) who was a successful merchant and landowner in Dumfriesshire.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded instances of the Nabb surname in America was John Nabb (1745-1829), who served as a soldier in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

These examples illustrate the widespread distribution and historical significance of the Nabb surname, which has roots dating back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nabb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nabb 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. Lancashire leads with 157 Nabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 157 7.49x
Cheshire 6 1.54x
Warwickshire 5 1.12x
Surrey 4 0.47x
Lanarkshire 2 0.35x
Yorkshire 2 0.11x
Gloucestershire 1 0.29x
Norfolk 1 0.37x
Staffordshire 1 0.17x
Westmorland 1 2.58x
Wiltshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 68 Nabbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 284.16x.

Place Total Index
Bury 68 284.16x
Little Bolton 33 122.54x
Elton 26 359.12x
Salford 9 14.61x
Chester St Mary On Hill 6 179.64x
North Meols 6 29.25x
Aston 5 4.08x
Walton On Thames 4 101.27x
Everton 3 4.49x
Farnworth 3 23.90x
Openshaw 3 30.58x
Harpurhey 2 68.73x
Normanton 2 38.02x
Pendleton In Salford 2 8.01x
Bothwell 1 6.46x
Bradford On Avon 1 20.00x
Clifton 1 5.71x
Govan 1 0.71x
Haslingden 1 11.53x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 1 107.53x
Pilkington 1 12.56x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 1 147.06x
Wolverhampton 1 2.18x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Nabb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nabb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Nabb surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nabb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 97 in 2016. That gives Nabb a modern rank of #31,585.

What does the Nabb surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dwellers at the knob or headland".

What does the Nabb map show?

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