UK surname
A surname derived from a topographical feature, referring to someone who lived or worked at night.
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Night surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Night is 383 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.3%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
89
2016, ranked #32,297
Peak year
1851
383 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Night surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Night surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 383 | #6,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 308 | #8,233 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 149 | #18,420 |
| 1901 | historical | 75 | #25,852 |
| 1911 | historical | 55 | #27,313 |
| 1997 | modern | 36 | #34,071 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 19 | #36,041 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 11 | #36,727 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 17 | #36,628 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 27 | #36,045 |
| 2010 | modern | 45 | #35,130 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 89 | #32,297 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, St Pancras, Lambeth, Trevethin with Pontypool and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rowley Regis | Staffordshire |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Trevethin with Pontypool | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Night surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Night, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Night surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Night household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Night is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Night is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Night, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Night has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "niht," meaning "night," and was likely originally bestowed upon someone who worked or traveled at night, possibly a watchman or night guard.
One of the earliest documented instances of the Night surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1190, where a certain Roger Night is mentioned as a landowner. Another early reference can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a William Night as a resident of the county.
In the 14th century, the surname Night appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Night is listed as a taxpayer. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1332 also mention a Thomas Night residing in the area.
During the 15th century, the surname Night became more widespread across England. Notable individuals with this surname include Sir John Night (c. 1420 - 1487), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Berkshire. Another remarkable figure was Humphrey Night (1474 - 1536), a wealthy merchant and alderman from Bristol who played a significant role in the city's trade and governance.
In the 16th century, the Night surname continued to flourish. One notable figure was Sir Thomas Night (1515 - 1584), a distinguished military commander who served under Queen Elizabeth I and played a crucial role in the English campaign against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Other notable individuals with the Night surname throughout history include:
1. William Night (1633 - 1701), an English Puritan minister and influential theologian. 2. Richard Night (1675 - 1744), a renowned English architect and surveyor responsible for designing several notable buildings in London. 3. Elizabeth Night (1723 - 1789), a prominent writer and poet known for her satirical works criticizing social injustices. 4. John Night (1799 - 1865), a British explorer who led several expeditions to Africa and documented his travels extensively. 5. Sarah Night (1842 - 1917), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights who fought for equal educational opportunities for girls.
While the Night surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with descendants bearing this name found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Night surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 21 Nights recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.21x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 21 | 1.21x |
| Somerset | 16 | 6.79x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 0.96x |
| Kent | 12 | 2.40x |
| Hampshire | 11 | 3.67x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 0.76x |
| Staffordshire | 10 | 2.02x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.12x |
| Sussex | 7 | 2.84x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 2.76x |
| Worcestershire | 6 | 3.14x |
| Perthshire | 5 | 7.62x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 1.36x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.39x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 2.32x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.21x |
| Derbyshire | 2 | 0.87x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 0.79x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.42x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.31x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.33x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crayford in Kent leads with 7 Nights recorded in 1881 and an index of 321.10x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Night surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 8 |
| Eliza | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Christina | 1 |
| Dinna | 1 |
| E. | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Gorgina | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilest | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Pleasance | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Susanny | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Night surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Night households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| General Labourer | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| General Servant | 3 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Cotton Spinner | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Fruiterer | 2 |
| Leather Dresser | 2 |
| Waterman | 2 |
| ...Inge Dresser | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Ag Labr | 1 |
| Agl Labourer | 1 |
| Baker Journeyman | 1 |
| Boy | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labr | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| China Decorator | 1 |
| China Dipper | 1 |
| Coal Labourer | 1 |
| Coast Guard | 1 |
| Com Clerk | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cot Factory Worker (C M) | 1 |
| Cotton Bobbin Carrier | 1 |
| Cotton Sewer | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Fish Porter | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener (N D) | 1 |
| Gasbe ? (C) | 1 |
| Gen Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Groom (D) | 1 |
| House Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Iron Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourer Gas Works | 1 |
| Labourer On Sewerage | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Night surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Night a modern rank of #32,297.
A surname derived from a topographical feature, referring to someone who lived or worked at night.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Night bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.