NameCensus.

UK surname

Newport

A locational surname referring to someone from one of several places called Newport in England or Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 1,520 people recorded with the Newport surname, ranking it #2,763 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,833, ranked #3,460, down from #2,763 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Wokingham and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Newport is 2,045 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.6%.

1881 census count

1,520

Ranked #2,763

Modern count

1,833

2016, ranked #3,460

Peak year

1999

2,045 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Newport had 1,520 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,763 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,833 in 2016, ranked #3,460.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,019 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Newport surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Newport surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Newport 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 1,106 #2,541
1861 historical 1,135 #2,475
1881 historical 1,520 #2,763
1891 historical 1,735 #2,622
1901 historical 1,915 #2,755
1911 historical 2,019 #2,466
1997 modern 1,904 #3,171
1998 modern 2,037 #3,112
1999 modern 2,045 #3,131
2000 modern 2,011 #3,152
2001 modern 1,949 #3,174
2002 modern 1,990 #3,185
2003 modern 1,970 #3,154
2004 modern 1,939 #3,194
2005 modern 1,896 #3,217
2006 modern 1,876 #3,264
2007 modern 1,891 #3,266
2008 modern 1,897 #3,281
2009 modern 1,935 #3,303
2010 modern 1,945 #3,348
2011 modern 1,924 #3,346
2012 modern 1,853 #3,402
2013 modern 1,874 #3,412
2014 modern 1,874 #3,439
2015 modern 1,847 #3,452
2016 modern 1,833 #3,460

Geography

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Where Newports are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes and Compton Pauncefoot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Wokingham, Cheshire East, Monmouthshire and West Berkshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Compton Pauncefoot Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 002 South Somerset
2 Wokingham 019 Wokingham
3 Cheshire East 007 Cheshire East
4 Monmouthshire 008 Monmouthshire
5 West Berkshire 017 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Newport

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Newport

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Newport is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Newport 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

Newport falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Newport

Newport is an English surname that originated in the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the various places named Newport found across Britain. The name refers to a new town or village that was established near a port or harbor.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Newport can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire from 1272, there is a mention of a John de Neuport. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 13th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Newport surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Shropshire, Gloucestershire, and Buckinghamshire, where several towns and villages bore the name Newport. However, the name also appeared in other parts of England, indicating that people with this surname migrated from their original locations.

One notable historical figure with the surname Newport was Sir Andrew Newport (c. 1565-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire. He was also appointed as High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1597 and later became Vice-Admiral of Shropshire.

Another prominent individual was Sir Francis Newport (1555-1623), an English lawyer and politician who served as Speaker of the House of Commons from 1604 to 1611. He played a significant role in the early years of the reign of King James I.

In the 17th century, Christopher Newport (c. 1561-1617) was an English mariner and privateer. He is best known for his role in the early colonization of Virginia, leading the first permanent English settlers to Jamestown in 1607.

During the English Civil War, Sir Richard Newport (c. 1587-1675) was a prominent Royalist military commander who fought for King Charles I. He was appointed as the Governor of Shropshire and played a crucial role in defending the county against Parliamentary forces.

Another figure with this surname was Walter Newport (c. 1625-1688), an English MP and lawyer who served as a Justice of the Court of Common Pleas from 1677 until his death.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the surname Newport, which has its roots in the medieval English towns and villages that were established near ports and harbors.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Newport families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Newport 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. Middlesex leads with 248 Newports recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 248 1.67x
Somerset 206 8.61x
Kent 188 3.71x
Gloucestershire 171 5.86x
Berkshire 121 10.84x
Cheshire 105 3.20x
Lancashire 71 0.40x
Hampshire 70 2.30x
Oxfordshire 70 7.62x
Surrey 48 0.66x
Essex 31 1.06x
Wiltshire 31 2.36x
Yorkshire 29 0.20x
Warwickshire 22 0.59x
Monmouthshire 16 1.49x
Dorset 15 1.54x
Sussex 15 0.60x
Worcestershire 12 0.62x
Hertfordshire 11 1.07x
Devon 7 0.23x
Lanarkshire 7 0.15x
Staffordshire 7 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 5 0.53x
Glamorgan 3 0.12x
Leicestershire 3 0.18x
Channel Islands 2 0.45x
Norfolk 2 0.09x
Perthshire 2 0.30x
Suffolk 2 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Lincolnshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Compton Pauncefoot in Somerset leads with 39 Newports recorded in 1881 and an index of 4020.62x.

Place Total Index
Compton Pauncefoot 39 4020.62x
Frome 38 66.40x
Bristol St George 34 25.21x
Islington London 33 2.29x
Liverpool 28 2.61x
Barrow 25 679.35x
Bedminster 24 10.67x
Margate St John Baptist 24 25.84x
Paddington London 23 4.21x
St Pancras London 23 1.92x
Castle Cary 22 210.93x
Mile End Old Town 20 8.52x
Oxford St Clement 20 86.32x
Portsea 18 3.01x
St Marylebone London 18 2.27x
Walcot 18 14.12x
Highworth 17 101.13x
Ramsgate 17 20.53x
Kensington London 16 1.94x
Horsley 14 108.36x
Newbury 14 39.17x
Winson 13 1585.37x
Bermondsey 12 2.71x
Childrey 12 456.27x
Barkham 11 982.14x
St Peters 11 46.89x
Stapleton 11 19.89x
West Derby 11 2.13x
Wye 11 140.13x
Alton 10 43.54x
Camberwell 10 1.05x
Clerkenwell London 10 2.85x
Earls Colne 10 123.46x
Eastleach Turville 10 450.45x
Hartford 10 134.77x
Herne 10 44.52x
Hillingdon 10 21.10x
Ince 10 588.24x
Leeds 10 1.20x
Oxford St Thomas 10 23.34x
Vernham Dean 10 328.95x
Cassington 9 529.41x
Chadderton 9 10.44x
Clifton 9 6.11x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.30x
Speen 9 49.29x
Ash Next Sandwich 8 71.30x
Birmingham 8 0.64x
Eddisbury 8 634.92x
Folkestone 8 8.13x
Hackney London 8 0.96x
Hammersmith London 8 2.18x
Linkenholt 8 2162.16x
Reading St Giles 8 7.31x
Tadmarton 8 439.56x
Aberystruth 7 7.39x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.08x
Enfield 7 7.18x
Hampstead Marshall 7 551.18x
Littlebourne 7 181.35x
Monks Kirby 7 84.85x
Shepton Mallet 7 26.07x
Sherborne 7 24.36x
St Woollos 7 5.84x
Bibury 6 170.45x
Bray 6 18.30x
Clewer 6 13.13x
Dunkerton 6 115.61x
Earley 6 32.28x
Halton 6 81.97x
Helsby 6 145.28x
Lewes St John Southover 6 35.65x
Manningham 6 3.31x
Petham 6 170.94x
Southrop 6 337.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 2.01x
Willenhall 6 6.38x
Willesborough 6 43.99x
Wyke Regis 6 42.86x
Yarlington 6 560.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 94
Sarah 62
Elizabeth 53
Emily 37
Ann 32
Eliza 31
Ellen 30
Annie 25
Emma 24
Martha 22
Jane 21
Louisa 21
Alice 19
Fanny 16
Margaret 12
Maria 12
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Harriet 11
Lucy 11
Agnes 10
Ada 8
Clara 8
Florence 8
Kate 8
Rose 8
Charlotte 7
Frances 7
Catherine 6
Hannah 6
Harriett 6
Anne 5
Esther 5
Amelia 4
Beatrice 4
Elizth. 4
Eva 4
Gertrude 4
Julia 4
Lydia 4
Matilda 4
Susan 4
Helen 3
Lizzie 3
Mabel 3
Rachel 3
Susannah 3
Anna 2
Cathrine 2
Margret 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 103
John 76
George 59
Henry 45
Charles 44
James 43
Thomas 41
Albert 21
Alfred 17
Arthur 16
Samuel 15
Edward 14
Joseph 14
Robert 14
Frederick 13
Walter 11
Ernest 9
Francis 9
Harry 8
Herbert 8
Richard 8
Edwin 6
Stephen 5
David 4
Fredrick 4
Reuben 4
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Frank 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Chas. 2
Earnest 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Henery 2
Hubert 2
Jas. 2
Leonard 2
Norton 2
Percival 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Raymond 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Wm. 2
Ezra 1
Fk. 1

FAQ

Newport surname: questions and answers

How common was the Newport surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,520 people were recorded with the Newport surname. That placed it at #2,763 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Newport surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,833 in 2016. That gives Newport a modern rank of #3,460.

What does the Newport surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from one of several places called Newport in England or Wales.

What does the Newport map show?

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