NameCensus.

UK surname

Neath

An English surname derived from the town of Neath in Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 378 people recorded with the Neath surname, ranking it #8,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 594, ranked #8,788, down from #8,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, Puriton with Woollavington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Somerset, Malvern Hills and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neath is 632 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.1%.

1881 census count

378

Ranked #8,288

Modern count

594

2016, ranked #8,788

Peak year

2000

632 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neath had 378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 594 in 2016, ranked #8,788.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 510 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Neath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neath surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neath 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 175 #11,542
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 378 #8,288
1891 historical 405 #8,789
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 510 #7,718
1997 modern 596 #8,188
1998 modern 601 #8,384
1999 modern 614 #8,314
2000 modern 632 #8,111
2001 modern 615 #8,138
2002 modern 626 #8,196
2003 modern 615 #8,169
2004 modern 606 #8,286
2005 modern 606 #8,216
2006 modern 599 #8,292
2007 modern 604 #8,310
2008 modern 603 #8,382
2009 modern 611 #8,478
2010 modern 621 #8,553
2011 modern 622 #8,447
2012 modern 618 #8,395
2013 modern 620 #8,515
2014 modern 624 #8,545
2015 modern 604 #8,692
2016 modern 594 #8,788

Geography

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Where Neaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, Puriton with Woollavington, London parishes, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill and Peterborough St John the Baptist. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Somerset, Malvern Hills and Dudley. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 Puriton with Woollavington Somerset
3 London parishes London 3
4 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset
5 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Somerset 007 North Somerset
2 North Somerset 012 North Somerset
3 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
4 Dudley 013 Dudley
5 North Somerset 015 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neath

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

Neath is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Neath falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Neath

The surname NEATH is of English origin, and it is believed to have derived from the place name Neath, a town located in the county of Glamorgan, Wales. The name Neath is thought to have originated from the Welsh word "Nedd," which means "calm river" or "tranquil stream," referring to the River Neath that flows through the town.

The earliest recorded mention of the name NEATH can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Nemet." This suggests that the name may have existed even before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, and it was likely used to identify individuals who hailed from the town of Neath or its surrounding areas.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname NEATH was Sir William Neath, a prominent Welsh landowner and knight who lived in the late 13th century. He was known for his involvement in several military campaigns and his service to King Edward I of England.

In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname NEATH was John Neath, a Welsh clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Windsor from 1560 to 1568. He was also a chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I and played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of England.

During the 17th century, the NEATH surname gained further recognition with the birth of Richard Neath (1637-1691), an English politician and Member of Parliament for the borough of Thetford. He was a staunch supporter of the Whig party and was involved in several political debates and controversies of his time.

In the 18th century, a prominent individual with the NEATH surname was Samuel Neath (1715-1792), a Welsh clergyman and author. He served as the vicar of Neath and wrote several religious works, including a commentary on the Book of Revelation.

Another notable figure with the NEATH surname was Sir John Neath (1805-1876), a British naval officer and explorer. He served in the Royal Navy and was known for his expeditions to the Arctic regions, where he made significant contributions to the exploration and mapping of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

While the NEATH surname has its roots in Wales and England, it has since spread to various parts of the world due to migration and immigration. The name continues to be associated with the town of Neath and its historical significance, serving as a testament to the rich heritage and cultural ties of those who bear this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neath 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. Somerset leads with 91 Neaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.33x.

County Total Index
Somerset 91 15.33x
Worcestershire 48 9.97x
Huntingdonshire 28 38.24x
Staffordshire 21 1.69x
Warwickshire 19 2.04x
Northamptonshire 18 5.19x
Yorkshire 18 0.49x
Kent 16 1.27x
Middlesex 16 0.43x
Gloucestershire 13 1.80x
Leicestershire 12 2.94x
Lancashire 11 0.25x
Surrey 11 0.61x
Monmouthshire 8 3.00x
Suffolk 8 1.78x
Derbyshire 7 1.21x
Herefordshire 7 4.63x
Durham 5 0.46x
Glamorgan 4 0.62x
Hampshire 4 0.53x
Essex 3 0.41x
Lincolnshire 3 0.51x
Devon 2 0.26x
Oxfordshire 2 0.88x
Berkshire 1 0.36x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.45x
Dunbartonshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Puriton in Somerset leads with 24 Neaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 2526.32x.

Place Total Index
Puriton 24 2526.32x
Dudley 20 34.16x
Morborn 16 14545.45x
Yatton 16 692.64x
Bridgewater 15 93.11x
Pawlett 11 1641.79x
Pensax 11 1833.33x
Oundle 9 231.96x
Wombwell 9 84.51x
Great Bowden 8 215.05x
Stilton 8 975.61x
Woolwich 8 17.21x
Bearley 7 2592.59x
Maiseyhampton 7 1627.91x
Rowley Regis 7 20.18x
Aldeburgh 6 225.56x
Birmingham 6 1.94x
Byford 6 2222.22x
Leek Lowe 6 36.23x
Skelmersdale 6 82.30x
Trevethin 6 23.84x
Bleadon 5 641.03x
Burton Upon Trent 5 17.17x
Hackney London 5 2.42x
Halesowen 5 118.20x
Islington London 5 1.40x
Lambeth 5 1.56x
Whitworth 5 62.27x
Winscombe 5 312.50x
Abberley 4 526.32x
Almondsbury 4 144.93x
Axbridge 4 689.66x
Ilkeston 4 24.71x
Peterborough 4 15.93x
Plumstead 4 9.54x
Reigate Foreign 4 20.57x
Alverstoke 3 10.96x
Burnham 3 66.37x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 10.80x
Mexborough 3 41.38x
Newborough 3 340.91x
Nuneaton 3 27.86x
Over Darwen 3 8.58x
Stoke St Gregory 3 166.67x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 16.67x
Claines 2 15.13x
Cradley 2 45.98x
Deeping St Nicholas 2 115.61x
Elton 2 196.08x
Gelligaer 2 13.64x
Gradley 2 85.84x
Higham On The Hill 2 350.88x
Hoyland Nether 2 22.32x
Kensington London 2 0.98x
Lichfield Close 2 689.66x
Market Bosworth 2 135.14x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 3.38x
Prittlewell 2 19.82x
St Giles In Fields 2 15.72x
Warmington 2 229.89x
West Malling 2 70.67x
Alwalton 1 250.00x
Battersea 1 0.74x
Clase 1 4.19x
Clifton 1 2.74x
Colwall 1 53.48x
East Wykeham 1 2000.00x
Eltham 1 13.57x
Enfield 1 4.13x
Haddon 1 555.56x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 1 19.69x
Lockwood 1 7.60x
Middlesbrough 1 2.10x
Normanton 1 9.11x
Shrivenham 1 72.99x
Stapenhill 1 11.64x
Thame 1 24.15x
West Bromwich 1 1.40x
Wolverton 1 21.69x
Worle 1 81.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 12
Emma 11
Eliza 10
Jane 9
Ann 8
Emily 8
Alice 5
Ellen 5
Martha 5
Annie 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Bessie 2
Louisa 2
Sophia 2
Susan 2
Anne 1
Catharine 1
Clara 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fannie 1
Felicia 1
Hamesh 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Harrt. 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Janice 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Mahala 1
Margaretta 1
Matilda 1
Monica 1
Nelle 1
Pauline 1
Polly 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 20
Thomas 15
Charles 11
John 11
Joseph 11
Albert 7
Henry 7
James 7
Walter 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Robert 5
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Thos. 3
Eli 2
Elijah 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Reuben 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Anne 1
Arthur 1
Edley 1
Edward 1
Elizabeth 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Herod 1
Isiaih 1
Japthea 1
Japther 1
Jno. 1
Levi 1
Montague 1
Noah 1
Simeon 1
Wallace 1

FAQ

Neath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 378 people were recorded with the Neath surname. That placed it at #8,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 594 in 2016. That gives Neath a modern rank of #8,788.

What does the Neath surname mean?

An English surname derived from the town of Neath in Wales.

What does the Neath map show?

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