NameCensus.

UK surname

Noah

A biblical name referring to the patriarch who built the ark during the Great Flood.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Noah surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 252, ranked #16,699, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Botolph Aldgate, London parishes and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Lambeth and Lewisham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Noah is 252 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.9%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

252

2016, ranked #16,699

Peak year

2016

252 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Noah had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016, ranked #16,699.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 205 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Noah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Noah surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Noah 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 121 #15,049
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 205 #14,649
1901 historical 135 #19,203
1911 historical 144 #18,325
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 181 #19,229
1999 modern 181 #19,380
2000 modern 186 #19,055
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 195 #18,411
2004 modern 195 #18,500
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 201 #18,226
2007 modern 194 #18,855
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 210 #18,426
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 235 #17,515
2014 modern 232 #17,761
2015 modern 236 #17,477
2016 modern 252 #16,699

Geography

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Where Noahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Botolph Aldgate, London parishes, St Mary Whitechapel and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Lambeth, Lewisham, Croydon and Merton. 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 St Botolph Aldgate London (Central Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 031 Brent
2 Lambeth 011 Lambeth
3 Lewisham 020 Lewisham
4 Croydon 011 Croydon
5 Merton 019 Merton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Noah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Noah

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Noah, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Noah surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Noah 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Noah is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Noah is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Noah falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Noah is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Noah, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Noah

The surname NOAH is of Hebrew origin, deriving from the Biblical figure Noah, whose name means "rest" or "comfort" in Hebrew. It is believed to have been adopted as a surname by Jewish families, particularly in Eastern Europe, during the late Middle Ages when surnames were becoming more common.

NOAH traces its roots to the ancient Hebrew language and the Old Testament, where Noah is the central figure in the story of the Great Flood. As a surname, it first appeared in historical records in the 15th and 16th centuries, primarily in Jewish communities across Eastern Europe, including Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname NOAH can be found in the Pinkas Kehillat Krakow, a record book of the Jewish community in Krakow, Poland, dating back to the late 15th century. The document mentions a certain Judah ben Noah, suggesting the use of NOAH as a patronymic surname.

In the 17th century, the surname NOAH was documented in various Jewish communities across Europe, including in the Netherlands, where a prominent rabbi and scholar, Jacob Noah, lived in Amsterdam (1635-1695). Another notable figure from this period was Jacob Noah Segal (1670-1740), a Polish-born rabbi and author.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the NOAH surname spread beyond Jewish communities as some families adopted it as a non-Jewish surname, particularly in parts of Germany and England. One notable example is the English painter, John Noah (1780-1835), who was born in Yorkshire and exhibited his works at the Royal Academy.

Other historical figures bearing the surname NOAH include:

1. Mordecai Manuel Noah (1785-1851), an American playwright, journalist, and diplomat, known for his efforts to establish a Jewish homeland on Grand Island, New York. 2. Joseph Noah (1835-1909), a British-born Australian politician and businessman who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. 3. Mordecai Noah (1868-1940), an American lawyer and judge who served as a judge in the New York Supreme Court. 4. Noah Beery Sr. (1884-1946), an American actor and patriarch of the Beery acting family, known for his roles in numerous silent films and early sound pictures.

While the surname NOAH has its roots in the Hebrew language and Jewish heritage, it has since been adopted by families across various cultures and ethnicities, carrying with it a rich historical significance and biblical connection.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Noah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Noah 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 66 Noahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 66 4.08x
Hertfordshire 26 23.29x
Surrey 11 1.39x
Warwickshire 11 2.69x
Glamorgan 8 2.84x
Bedfordshire 6 7.16x
Lancashire 6 0.31x
Berkshire 5 4.11x
Cheshire 5 1.40x
Staffordshire 4 0.73x
Yorkshire 4 0.25x
Derbyshire 3 1.18x
Wiltshire 3 2.09x
Hampshire 2 0.60x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.02x
Dorset 1 0.94x
Essex 1 0.31x
Kent 1 0.18x
Lincolnshire 1 0.39x
Worcestershire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Berkhampstead in Hertfordshire leads with 21 Noahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 836.65x.

Place Total Index
Berkhampstead 21 836.65x
Chelsea London 11 22.54x
Edgbaston 10 78.99x
Whitechapel London 9 56.39x
Coedfrank 8 410.26x
Mile End Old Town 8 31.30x
Bow London 7 33.96x
Clapham 6 29.64x
St Pancras London 6 4.60x
Bollin Fee 5 314.47x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 12.25x
Hindley 4 48.84x
Leek Lowe 4 55.02x
Sandhurst 4 170.21x
Spitalfields London 4 32.84x
St George Hanover 4 18.92x
Bethnal Green London 3 4.26x
Chaddesden 3 882.35x
Hackney London 3 3.30x
Totternhoe 3 769.23x
Wheathampstead 3 232.56x
Bermondsey 2 4.15x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.23x
Eaton Bray 2 235.29x
Hampton London 2 75.19x
Kensington London 2 2.22x
Liverpool 2 1.71x
Salisbury St Thomas 2 176.99x
Aldershot 1 8.99x
Amersham 1 71.94x
Battersea 1 1.68x
Camberwell 1 0.97x
Cookham 1 26.39x
Hammersmith London 1 2.51x
Hampstead London 1 3.97x
Hound 1 44.44x
Lambeth 1 0.71x
Luton 1 6.89x
Melcombe Regis 1 22.73x
Milton In Gravesend 1 12.06x
Northchurch 1 84.03x
Salisbury St Martin 1 67.11x
Solihull 1 34.01x
St Albans 1 43.67x
St Maryle Wigford 1 49.75x
St Marylebone London 1 1.16x
Twickenham 1 14.41x
Walthamstow 1 8.69x
Westminster St James 1 6.01x
Yardley 1 18.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 9
James 5
John 5
Joseph 5
Samuel 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
Charles 3
George 3
Francis 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alexander 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edward 1
Enoch 1
F.N. 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.A. 1
Geo.E. 1
Grant 1
Heline 1
Henry 1
Jas.S. 1
Mark 1
Montegue 1
Moses 1
Oliver 1
Solomon 1
Thos.Jno. 1
W. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Noah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Noah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Noah surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Noah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 252 in 2016. That gives Noah a modern rank of #16,699.

What does the Noah surname mean?

A biblical name referring to the patriarch who built the ark during the Great Flood.

What does the Noah map show?

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