UK surname
From the Old English, meaning a person who sings at night like the nightingale bird.
In the 1881 census there were 67 people recorded with the Nightengale surname, ranking it #24,104 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #24,104 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Minster, Tipton otherwise Tibington and Duffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nightengale is 351 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.0%.
1881 census count
67
Ranked #24,104
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1891
351 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nightengale surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nightengale surname density by area, 1901 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 | 207 | #10,148 |
| 1861 | historical | 234 | #10,463 |
| 1881 | historical | 67 | #24,104 |
| 1891 | historical | 351 | #9,809 |
| 1901 | historical | 195 | #15,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 74 | #25,423 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 3 | #38,530 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Minster, Tipton otherwise Tibington, Duffield, Stockport and Lambeth. 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 | Minster | Kent |
| 2 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Duffield | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nightengale 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 Nightengale, 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 Nightengale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nightengale 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, Nightengale 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 Nightengale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nightengale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Nightengale is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "niht" meaning night and "galan" meaning to sing. It emerged during the medieval period, likely as a nickname for someone who was known for singing at night, or perhaps as a descriptive name for a night watchman.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record of landowners in England compiled in 1273, where a Walter Nightengale is listed in Cambridgeshire. The name also appears in various other medieval records throughout England, such as the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 which mention a John Nightyngale in Worcestershire.
The Nightengale surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. In the late 14th century, a Richard Nightengale was a prominent merchant and member of the Guild of Pepperers in London. During the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century, a Sir Robert Nightengale fought for the Yorkist cause and was knighted for his service.
In the 16th century, a Thomas Nightengale (c.1490-1550) was a renowned printer and publisher based in London, responsible for producing several notable works including the first English edition of Sir Thomas More's "Utopia" in 1551. Another notable figure was the Puritan clergyman Robert Nightengale (1572-1645), who served as the vicar of Cheshunt in Hertfordshire and was known for his religious writings.
In more recent centuries, the Nightengale surname has been borne by several esteemed individuals, such as the British novelist Florence Nightengale (1820-1910), best known for her pioneering work in nursing during the Crimean War. Another prominent figure was the British ornithologist and naturalist Thomas Henry Nightengale (1815-1890), who made significant contributions to the study of bird migration and behavior.
The surname Nightengale has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Nightengale Valley in Gloucestershire and Nightengale Farm in Kent, further reinforcing its longstanding presence in the country's history and geography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nightengale 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 12 Nightengales recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.55x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 12 | 1.55x |
| Surrey | 10 | 3.14x |
| Cambridgeshire | 9 | 21.74x |
| Kent | 8 | 3.59x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 4.68x |
| Cornwall | 5 | 6.76x |
| Berkshire | 4 | 8.15x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.46x |
| Dumfriesshire | 2 | 13.85x |
| Huntingdonshire | 2 | 15.41x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.98x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.22x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.00x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.26x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.73x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton in Cambridgeshire leads with 9 Nightengales recorded in 1881 and an index of 12857.14x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barton | 9 | 12857.14x |
| Faversham | 7 | 328.64x |
| Didbrook | 6 | 12000.00x |
| Elton | 5 | 186.57x |
| Lanlivery | 5 | 1612.90x |
| Preston | 5 | 24.10x |
| Dorking | 3 | 140.19x |
| Merton | 3 | 535.71x |
| Woolhampton | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Hoddam | 2 | 571.43x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.51x |
| Newington | 2 | 8.29x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 8.32x |
| Salford | 2 | 8.77x |
| Yaxley | 2 | 666.67x |
| Bradford On Avon | 1 | 54.05x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 5.81x |
| Glossop Dale | 1 | 20.88x |
| Hertford St John | 1 | 149.25x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.58x |
| Norwich St John Timberhill | 1 | 370.37x |
| Stockport | 1 | 13.48x |
| Winkfield | 1 | 123.46x |
| Withersfield | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nightengale surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Nightengale 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 Nightengale households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 14 |
| Cotton Weaver | 4 |
| Agr Lab | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Ag La | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Arg Lab | 1 |
| Assurance Agent | 1 |
| Butler Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Carrier | 1 |
| Cotton Gasser | 1 |
| Curate In Charge Of Lanlivery | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Farm Wife | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gas Maker | 1 |
| General Servt | 1 |
| Gentleman | 1 |
| Gloves & Hosiery Coml Traveller | 1 |
| Laborer In Garden | 1 |
| Labourer (G) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Page (D & S) | 1 |
| Ploughboy | 1 |
| Sheperd | 1 |
| Shop Keeper (Genl) | 1 |
| Shop Keeper Wife | 1 |
| Wharf Labourer | 1 |
| Wood Sawyer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 67 people were recorded with the Nightengale surname. That placed it at #24,104 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Nightengale a modern rank of #38,419.
From the Old English, meaning a person who sings at night like the nightingale bird.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nightengale 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.