NameCensus.

UK surname

Neeves

A surname originating from an old English or Anglo-Norman word meaning "nephew."

In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Neeves surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 225, ranked #18,105, down from #14,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Halton and Medway.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Neeves is 268 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.8%.

1881 census count

161

Ranked #14,801

Modern count

225

2016, ranked #18,105

Peak year

1901

268 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Neeves had 161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016, ranked #18,105.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 268 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Neeves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Neeves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Neeves 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 126 #17,569
1881 historical 161 #14,801
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 268 #12,553
1911 historical 251 #12,870
1997 modern 240 #15,678
1998 modern 242 #16,037
1999 modern 243 #16,094
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 239 #15,963
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 239 #16,144
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 229 #16,941
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 233 #17,426
2012 modern 230 #17,479
2013 modern 239 #17,307
2014 modern 236 #17,577
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 225 #18,105

Geography

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Where Neeves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Witchling, Otterden, Lenham, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Linstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Halton, Medway, Eden and Cheshire West and Chester. 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 Witchling, Otterden, Lenham Kent
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Linstead Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 005 Wealden
2 Halton 004 Halton
3 Medway 003 Medway
4 Eden 002 Eden
5 Cheshire West and Chester 043 Cheshire West and Chester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Neeves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Neeves

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Neeves is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Neeves 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

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

Meaning and origin of Neeves

The surname Neeves is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "neefe," meaning "nephew" or "niece." This suggests that the name was initially a descriptive nickname referring to someone's familial relationship.

In the early medieval period, the Neeves surname was concentrated primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where it gained prominence. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which document a Richard Neve in Buckinghamshire.

As time passed, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including Neave, Neve, Neeve, and Neevis, reflecting the inconsistencies in record-keeping during the Middle Ages. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the interpretation of scribes.

The Neeves surname has a notable association with the Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is mentioned in connection with landholdings in several counties, including Cambridgeshire and Norfolk.

One of the earliest prominent figures bearing the Neeves surname was Sir Thomas Neville (1484-1542), a notable English courtier and politician during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a member of Parliament and held positions of influence within the Tudor court.

Another individual of historical significance was Richard Neville (1428-1471), known as the Kingmaker, who played a pivotal role in the Wars of the Roses. As the Earl of Warwick, he was a powerful nobleman and a key figure in the conflict between the Houses of York and Lancaster.

In the realm of literature, the Neeves surname found recognition through the works of Henry Neville (1620-1694), an English politician and author. His most notable work, "The Isle of Pines," was a significant contribution to the utopian fiction genre.

The Neeves name also gained prominence in the field of architecture through the accomplishments of Ralph Neville (1733-1794), an English architect known for his neoclassical designs. He was responsible for the construction of notable buildings such as the Holkham Hall in Norfolk.

Throughout the centuries, the Neeves surname has been associated with various place names and locations, including Neville's Cross in County Durham, which commemorates a significant battle during the Scottish Wars of Independence in 1346.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Neeves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Neeves 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. Sussex leads with 68 Neeves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.68x.

County Total Index
Sussex 68 25.68x
Kent 52 9.70x
Cambridgeshire 15 15.08x
Middlesex 8 0.51x
Surrey 7 0.91x
Essex 6 1.94x
Hertfordshire 2 1.85x
Yorkshire 2 0.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rye in Sussex leads with 23 Neeves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 912.70x.

Place Total Index
Rye 23 912.70x
Lenham 17 1588.79x
Haslingfield 10 2439.02x
St Lawrence 9 244.57x
Peasmarsh 8 1777.78x
Battle 7 391.06x
Brede 5 909.09x
Iden 5 1666.67x
Kensington London 5 5.73x
Lewes St John Southover 5 280.90x
Tonbridge 5 25.87x
Wanstead 5 92.08x
Staplegate 4 2857.14x
Ticehurst 4 246.91x
Banstead 3 144.93x
Beckenham 3 42.86x
Burwash 3 243.90x
Canterbury St Alphage 3 526.32x
Dover St James 3 127.66x
Fulham London 3 13.17x
Harston 3 714.29x
Lambeth 3 2.19x
Charlton 2 56.18x
Chesterton 2 65.15x
Hastings St Leonards 2 51.41x
Hitchin 2 40.90x
Subdeanary 2 281.69x
Brighton 1 1.87x
Chartham 1 74.63x
Eckington 1 16.75x
Goudhurst 1 67.57x
Hastings All Sts 1 40.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 15.17x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 17.70x
Herne 1 42.19x
Otterden 1 1111.11x
Sculcoates 1 4.05x
Sheffield 1 2.02x
South Weald 1 37.59x
St Peters 1 40.32x
Tilmanstone 1 500.00x
Walton On Hill 1 303.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Emily 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Lousia 3
Sarah 3
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Maria 2
Nellie 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Debra 1
Emma 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Frowney 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Nelly 1
Rettie 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
James 11
John 9
Henry 7
George 5
Thomas 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Robert 4
Alfred 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Ben 1
Benjamin 1
C. 1
Charles 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Neeves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Neeves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Neeves surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Neeves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 225 in 2016. That gives Neeves a modern rank of #18,105.

What does the Neeves surname mean?

A surname originating from an old English or Anglo-Norman word meaning "nephew."

What does the Neeves map show?

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