NameCensus.

UK surname

Norfolk

An English regional surname denoting someone from the county of Norfolk.

In the 1881 census there were 824 people recorded with the Norfolk surname, ranking it #4,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,326, ranked #4,528, up from #4,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and West Ham,Wanstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bridgend, Leeds and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norfolk is 1,352 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.9%.

1881 census count

824

Ranked #4,559

Modern count

1,326

2016, ranked #4,528

Peak year

2010

1,352 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norfolk had 824 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,326 in 2016, ranked #4,528.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,224 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Norfolk surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norfolk surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Norfolk 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 568 #4,481
1861 historical 639 #4,192
1881 historical 824 #4,559
1891 historical 925 #4,467
1901 historical 1,075 #4,494
1911 historical 1,224 #3,859
1997 modern 1,265 #4,504
1998 modern 1,324 #4,481
1999 modern 1,303 #4,592
2000 modern 1,289 #4,614
2001 modern 1,243 #4,664
2002 modern 1,284 #4,621
2003 modern 1,273 #4,562
2004 modern 1,269 #4,583
2005 modern 1,269 #4,534
2006 modern 1,267 #4,549
2007 modern 1,270 #4,572
2008 modern 1,299 #4,513
2009 modern 1,316 #4,557
2010 modern 1,352 #4,535
2011 modern 1,337 #4,524
2012 modern 1,302 #4,571
2013 modern 1,318 #4,599
2014 modern 1,352 #4,520
2015 modern 1,334 #4,526
2016 modern 1,326 #4,528

Geography

Back to top

Where Norfolks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, West Ham,Wanstead and White Colne, Colne Engain. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bridgend, Leeds, Cornwall, Tendring and North East Lincolnshire. 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 3
2 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 2
4 West Ham,Wanstead Essex
5 White Colne, Colne Engain Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bridgend 016 Bridgend
2 Leeds 076 Leeds
3 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
4 Tendring 011 Tendring
5 North East Lincolnshire 019 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Norfolk

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Norfolk

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Norfolk surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Norfolk household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Norfolk is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Norfolk 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

Norfolk falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Norfolk

The surname Norfolk originated in the county of Norfolk in England. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Norfolk, which itself comes from the Old English words "Norþ" meaning north and "folc" meaning people or folk. The county was named for being the northernmost region of the Kingdom of East Anglia during the Anglo-Saxon period.

The earliest recorded mention of the Norfolk surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "de Norfolc". This Latin form indicated someone from the county of Norfolk. In the 12th century, the surname was often spelled as "de Norfolchia" or "de Northfolc".

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Norfolk surname was Roger de Norfolc, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1176. Another early bearer of the name was William de Norfolc, who was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1198.

In the 13th century, the Norfolk surname began to be spelled more consistently as "Norfolk" or "Norffolk". A notable individual from this period was Sir John Norfolk, a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence under King Edward I of England in the late 13th century.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Norfolk surname was well-established in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. One prominent bearer of the name was John Norfolk, who served as the Mayor of Norwich, the county town of Norfolk, in 1436.

In the 16th century, the Norfolk surname gained further prominence with the rise of the Howard family, who were Dukes of Norfolk. The most famous member of this family was Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473-1554), who played a significant role in the English Reformation and was briefly imprisoned in the Tower of London for his Catholic beliefs.

Other notable individuals with the Norfolk surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Roger de Norfolk (12th century), a knight and landowner in Norfolk. 2. Sir John Norfolk (c. 1260-1330), a knight who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence. 3. Thomas Norfolk (c. 1400-1475), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich. 4. Henry Norfolk (c. 1510-1580), an English Protestant reformer and author. 5. Edward Norfolk (1701-1786), a British naval officer and colonial governor of Virginia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Norfolk families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norfolk 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. Yorkshire leads with 254 Norfolks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.18x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 254 3.18x
Essex 196 12.31x
Middlesex 79 0.98x
Suffolk 62 6.31x
Surrey 48 1.22x
Kent 45 1.63x
Lincolnshire 23 1.78x
Leicestershire 15 1.68x
Cambridgeshire 14 2.74x
Durham 14 0.58x
Hampshire 10 0.60x
Lancashire 10 0.10x
Cheshire 9 0.51x
Warwickshire 9 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.55x
Staffordshire 6 0.22x
Herefordshire 5 1.51x
Berkshire 4 0.66x
Gloucestershire 3 0.19x
Wiltshire 3 0.42x
Channel Islands 2 0.84x
Hertfordshire 2 0.36x
Norfolk 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Somerset 1 0.08x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 41 Norfolks recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.08x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 41 9.08x
Marks Tey 30 2654.87x
Wivenhoe 20 316.46x
Guiseley 18 175.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 18 11.09x
Deptford St Paul 15 7.07x
Shadwell London 14 62.03x
Garmondsway Moor 13 3023.26x
Halstead 13 69.97x
Holy Trinity 13 6.76x
Manningham 13 13.20x
White Colne 13 1262.14x
Ardleigh 12 271.49x
Greenwich 12 9.34x
Pannal 12 156.45x
Birch 11 421.46x
Great Warley 11 304.71x
Hunslet 11 8.82x
Tockwith 11 691.82x
Chertsey 10 39.37x
Great Grimsby 10 12.21x
Islington London 10 1.28x
Lewisham 10 6.81x
Nayland 10 401.61x
Aldham 9 762.71x
Clapham 9 8.92x
Pollington 9 841.12x
Burstall 8 1403.51x
Elmstead 8 312.50x
Ipswich St Clement 8 32.03x
Leicester St Margaret 8 3.67x
Wilburton 8 547.95x
Bilton 7 149.25x
Castleford 7 24.05x
Feering 7 333.33x
Kensington London 7 1.56x
Knighton 7 138.61x
Portsea 7 2.16x
Southcoates 7 15.77x
Beverley St Mary 6 51.37x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 6 21.95x
Brightlingsea 6 65.93x
Chelsea London 6 2.47x
Great Bentley 6 237.15x
Headingley Cum Burley 6 11.66x
Inworth 6 340.91x
Leek Lowe 6 16.56x
Otley 6 30.91x
St Pancras London 6 0.92x
Stainburn 6 1250.00x
Tattingstone 6 394.74x
Boston 5 12.78x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 19.05x
Colchester St Giles 5 31.79x
Colchester St Peter 5 78.49x
Edmonton 5 7.69x
Ilkley 5 38.28x
Lambeth 5 0.71x
Llangarren 5 168.35x
Norton In Malton 5 51.60x
Sculcoates 5 3.95x
St Andrewthe Less 5 8.56x
Twickenham 5 14.46x
York St Mary 5 15.10x
Appleton 4 1379.31x
Belstead 4 454.55x
Bow London 4 3.89x
Bray 4 22.48x
East Donyland 4 104.17x
Eston 4 22.98x
Gainsborough 4 13.15x
Hadleigh 4 41.97x
Haverhill 4 45.82x
Ipswich St Mathew 4 14.52x
Lower Dunsforth 4 1428.57x
Mile End Old Town 4 3.14x
Plumstead 4 4.36x
Shipley 4 9.64x
Stanway 4 142.86x
Thornton In Fylde 4 19.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 55
John 38
George 27
Charles 22
James 21
Thomas 21
Frederick 17
Robert 17
Arthur 15
Joseph 12
Henry 11
Alfred 10
Harry 10
Walter 8
Ernest 7
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Christopher 6
Edward 6
Frank 5
Fred 5
Herbert 5
Richard 5
Benjamin 4
H. 3
David 2
Jas. 2
Jhon 2
Percy 2
Stanley 2
Alex. 1
Ashley 1
Charlie 1
Chas.W. 1
Colin 1
Cornelius 1
Edwd. 1
Fk. 1
Goodman 1
Gregory 1
Gustavus 1
H.C. 1
Isaac 1
Jas.R. 1
Jmes. 1
Jmes.L. 1
Jno. 1
Joe 1
Lanston 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Norfolk surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norfolk surname in 1881?

In 1881, 824 people were recorded with the Norfolk surname. That placed it at #4,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norfolk surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,326 in 2016. That gives Norfolk a modern rank of #4,528.

What does the Norfolk surname mean?

An English regional surname denoting someone from the county of Norfolk.

What does the Norfolk map show?

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