NameCensus.

UK surname

Neave

An English surname derived from the Old English word "næfu" meaning nephew.

In the 1881 census there were 1,413 people recorded with the Neave surname, ranking it #2,940 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,580, ranked #3,925, down from #2,940 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Forfar and Arbroath and St. Vigeans. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Norwich and Forfar Central.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neave is 1,731 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.8%.

1881 census count

1,413

Ranked #2,940

Modern count

1,580

2016, ranked #3,925

Peak year

1901

1,731 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neave had 1,413 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,940 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,580 in 2016, ranked #3,925.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,731 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Neave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neave 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 904 #3,044
1861 historical 796 #3,455
1881 historical 1,413 #2,940
1891 historical 1,440 #3,039
1901 historical 1,731 #2,993
1911 historical 1,496 #3,224
1997 modern 1,610 #3,680
1998 modern 1,656 #3,718
1999 modern 1,673 #3,712
2000 modern 1,693 #3,654
2001 modern 1,637 #3,695
2002 modern 1,649 #3,735
2003 modern 1,589 #3,789
2004 modern 1,606 #3,771
2005 modern 1,592 #3,742
2006 modern 1,570 #3,795
2007 modern 1,596 #3,778
2008 modern 1,577 #3,836
2009 modern 1,637 #3,806
2010 modern 1,654 #3,851
2011 modern 1,621 #3,871
2012 modern 1,578 #3,900
2013 modern 1,591 #3,935
2014 modern 1,599 #3,941
2015 modern 1,575 #3,954
2016 modern 1,580 #3,925

Geography

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Where Neaves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Forfar, Arbroath and St. Vigeans and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Norwich, Forfar Central, North Norfolk and Montrose South. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Forfar Forfar
3 London parishes London 3
4 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 006 Breckland
2 Norwich 001 Norwich
3 Forfar Central Angus
4 North Norfolk 014 North Norfolk
5 Montrose South Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neave

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

Neave is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Neave

The surname "NEAVE" is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "nafu" or "naefu", meaning "nave" or "hub of a wheel". The name is believed to have originated as an occupational surname for a wheelwright or someone who made or repaired wagon wheels.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Neve". This document was a comprehensive survey of land and property in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the Middle Ages, the name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk in eastern England. Variations in spelling included "Neve", "Neves", and "Neavis". These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling at the time.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was William Neve, who was recorded as a landowner in the village of Danesbury, Hertfordshire, in 1275. Another early record is that of Henry Neve, who was mentioned in the Suffolk Assize Rolls of 1286.

One of the earliest known places associated with the name is the village of Navestock, located in Essex. The name "Navestock" is believed to be derived from the Old English words "nafu" and "stoc", meaning "nave" and "place", respectively.

In the 16th century, Richard Neve (1574-1640) was a notable English clergyman and author. He served as the rector of Middleton, Norfolk, and wrote several religious works, including "The City and Country Purchaser and Builder" (1703).

Another noteworthy bearer of the name was John Neve (1636-1718), an English antiquarian and author. He wrote "Monumenta Anglicana", a detailed account of English monastic antiquities, published in 1719.

In the 19th century, Timothy Neve (1792-1848) was a prominent English architect and civil engineer. He is best known for his work on the construction of the London Bridge, which was completed in 1831.

The name "NEAVE" continued to be prominent in various parts of England throughout the centuries, and several notable individuals have carried this surname. However, it is important to note that this historical overview focuses primarily on the origins and early records of the name, rather than more recent census data or modern-day bearers of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neave 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. Norfolk leads with 446 Neaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.13x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 446 21.13x
Angus 196 15.41x
Middlesex 137 1.00x
Lincolnshire 110 5.01x
Suffolk 71 4.25x
Surrey 65 0.97x
Kent 40 0.85x
Durham 39 0.96x
Hampshire 36 1.28x
Lancashire 33 0.20x
Yorkshire 30 0.22x
Essex 29 1.07x
Aberdeenshire 24 1.89x
Perthshire 18 2.92x
Cambridgeshire 14 1.61x
Midlothian 14 0.76x
Cheshire 13 0.43x
Hertfordshire 12 1.27x
Lanarkshire 9 0.20x
Leicestershire 9 0.59x
Sussex 9 0.39x
Dorset 7 0.78x
Northumberland 7 0.34x
Berkshire 5 0.49x
Devon 4 0.14x
Glamorgan 3 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.16x
Somerset 3 0.14x
Wiltshire 3 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.24x
Buteshire 2 2.41x
Cornwall 2 0.13x
Shropshire 2 0.17x
Staffordshire 2 0.04x
Worcestershire 2 0.11x
Kincardineshire 1 0.60x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Rutland 1 0.99x
Selkirkshire 1 0.81x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Forfar in Angus leads with 67 Neaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.31x.

Place Total Index
Forfar 67 97.31x
Great Yarmouth 50 28.60x
Dundee 47 9.90x
West Rainham 31 1962.03x
Heigham 29 25.60x
Lambeth 29 2.42x
Lowestoft 25 31.66x
Fordingbridge 19 124.18x
East Tuddenham 18 845.07x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 16 6.73x
Neatishead 15 551.47x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 1.89x
Hackney London 13 1.69x
Honing 13 860.93x
St Marylebone London 13 1.77x
St Vigeans 13 18.94x
Edmonton 12 10.85x
Mile End Old Town 12 5.54x
Liff Benvie 11 5.70x
Southrepps 11 269.61x
Wymondham 11 50.97x
Camberwell 10 1.14x
Inverarity 10 245.10x
Islington London 10 0.75x
Barrow In Furness 9 4.06x
East Ruston 9 287.54x
Errol 9 78.88x
Lochee 9 79.37x
Aberdeen Old Machar 8 3.01x
Catfield 8 269.36x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 2.89x
Kensington London 8 1.05x
Mains 8 74.01x
North Pickenham 8 683.76x
Pittington 8 69.69x
Salford 8 1.67x
South Lynn 8 33.60x
Arbroath 7 16.61x
Barnetby Le Wold 7 175.44x
Bexley 7 16.91x
Carleton Forehoe 7 1129.03x
Chelmsford 7 15.06x
Fordington 7 36.08x
Greetham 7 1014.49x
Hampton London 7 31.03x
Long Melford 7 45.05x
Moss Side 7 8.17x
Orwell 7 185.68x
Rayleigh 7 112.18x
Redmarshall Carlton 7 492.96x
Wootton 7 257.35x
Bendochy 6 179.10x
Chester Le Street 6 19.13x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.85x
Cold Hanworth 6 1428.57x
Cringleford 6 566.04x
Eassie Nevay 6 227.27x
East Rudham 6 160.86x
Goxhill 6 110.91x
Hackford In Forehoe 6 638.30x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 3.39x
Hethersett 6 112.36x
Holdenhurst 6 8.13x
Lakenham 6 20.01x
Legsby 6 379.75x
Minster In Sheppey 6 7.73x
Norwich St James 6 36.23x
Ormesby St Margaret W 6 113.42x
Paddington London 6 1.19x
Plumstead 6 3.84x
Rainow 6 99.50x
Reepham 6 359.28x
Sittingbourne 6 16.23x
St Luke London 6 2.73x
Sutton 6 337.08x
Bacton 5 229.36x
Lewisham 5 2.00x
North Owersby 5 310.56x
Southcoates 5 6.62x
Tranmere 5 4.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 54
James 42
George 41
Robert 26
Charles 22
Thomas 22
Henry 21
Alfred 16
Edward 16
Walter 16
Arthur 12
Frederick 11
Joseph 10
Richard 10
Samuel 8
Herbert 7
Ernest 5
Aaron 4
Edwin 4
Jacob 4
Benjamin 3
Dan 3
Francis 3
Harry 3
Horace 3
Isaac 3
Jonathan 3
Augustus 2
Cecil 2
Charlie 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Digby 2
Ezra 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Matthew 2
Sheffield 2
Stephen 2
Arther 1
Barker 1
Basil 1
Chas.L. 1
Clara 1
Clifford 1
Conway 1
Croft 1
Curtis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Neave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,413 people were recorded with the Neave surname. That placed it at #2,940 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,580 in 2016. That gives Neave a modern rank of #3,925.

What does the Neave surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English word "næfu" meaning nephew.

What does the Neave map show?

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