NameCensus.

UK surname

Norrish

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 397 people recorded with the Norrish surname, ranking it #8,010 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 285, ranked #15,286, down from #8,010 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Tormoham with Torquay and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Norrish is 527 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.2%.

1881 census count

397

Ranked #8,010

Modern count

285

2016, ranked #15,286

Peak year

1911

527 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Norrish had 397 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,010 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016, ranked #15,286.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 527 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Norrish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Norrish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Norrish 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 443 #5,557
1861 historical 338 #7,541
1881 historical 397 #8,010
1891 historical 369 #9,447
1901 historical 437 #8,894
1911 historical 527 #7,533
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 304 #13,791
2001 modern 293 #13,933
2002 modern 298 #14,048
2003 modern 294 #14,002
2004 modern 299 #13,904
2005 modern 279 #14,480
2006 modern 261 #15,289
2007 modern 269 #15,123
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 287 #14,877
2010 modern 276 #15,637
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 277 #15,375
2013 modern 283 #15,401
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 285 #15,286

Geography

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Where Norrishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Tormoham with Torquay, Halifax, Sandford and Widecombe-in-the-Moor. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge and South Hams. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Sandford Devon
5 Widecombe-in-the-Moor Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 003 Teignbridge
2 Teignbridge 013 Teignbridge
3 Teignbridge 018 Teignbridge
4 South Hams 002 South Hams
5 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Norrish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Norrish

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Norrish is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Norrish is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Norrish falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Norrish is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Norrish

The surname Norrish has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "norrisc," which means "northern" or "northerly." This suggests that the name was initially given to individuals who hailed from or resided in the northern regions of the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive land survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Norris" and "Norreys," reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era.

The name Norrish has also been associated with several place names across England, including Norris Green in Liverpool and Norris Castle on the Isle of Wight. These place names likely originated from the surname itself, indicating the presence of families bearing this name in those areas.

Among the notable individuals who carried the Norrish surname throughout history are:

1. John Norrish (c. 1550-1622), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded the Norrish Foundation in London, which provided financial assistance to underprivileged individuals.

2. Sir William Norrish (1604-1684), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Hampshire during the 17th century.

3. Mary Norrish (1675-1738), a pioneering English botanist and illustrator who contributed significantly to the study and documentation of plant life in her era.

4. Thomas Norrish (1811-1886), a British architect known for his work on several iconic buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

5. Ronald George Woodford Norrish (1897-1978), a renowned British chemist who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1967 for his groundbreaking research on reaction mechanisms involving free radicals.

While the Norrish surname has been present throughout English history, it has also found its way into other parts of the world through migration and settlement patterns. Variations of the name, such as Norris and Norreys, have emerged over time, reflecting the diverse cultural influences and linguistic adaptations that have shaped surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Norrish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Norrish 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. Devon leads with 260 Norrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.25x.

County Total Index
Devon 260 32.25x
Middlesex 35 0.90x
Cornwall 20 4.56x
Somerset 19 3.05x
Gloucestershire 13 1.71x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.92x
Yorkshire 8 0.21x
Surrey 5 0.27x
Cheshire 4 0.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.41x
Hampshire 3 0.38x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.56x
Berkshire 2 0.69x
Essex 2 0.26x
Lancashire 2 0.04x
Monmouthshire 2 0.71x
Wiltshire 2 0.58x
Northamptonshire 1 0.27x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.81x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Sussex 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crediton in Devon leads with 17 Norrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 222.51x.

Place Total Index
Crediton 17 222.51x
Sandford 16 812.18x
Tiverton 16 115.19x
Stoke Damerel 13 23.04x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 17.71x
Tormoham 11 32.25x
Brixham 10 107.07x
Buckland St Mary 9 1111.11x
Cadeleigh 9 2812.50x
Broadhempston 8 1066.67x
Exeter St Sidwell 8 43.34x
Saltash 8 235.29x
Bow 7 648.15x
Islington London 7 1.86x
Stoke Climsland 7 250.00x
Thorverton 7 573.77x
Woolfardisworthy 7 598.29x
Holne 6 1500.00x
Hunslet 6 10.03x
Totnes 6 127.12x
Twickenham 6 36.14x
Bideford 5 57.94x
Branscombe 5 454.55x
Clifton 5 13.02x
Holcombe Rogus 5 515.46x
Lenton 5 40.68x
St George Martyr 5 76.57x
Tavistock 5 54.47x
Walkhampton 5 649.35x
Yarnscombe 5 1428.57x
Ashburton 4 103.90x
Bickington 4 1250.00x
Birmingham 4 1.23x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 4 57.80x
Cadbury 4 1142.86x
Exeter Allhallows On The 4 303.03x
Exeter St David 4 58.06x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.96x
Shobrooke 4 470.59x
Tranmere 4 12.73x
Widdecombeinthe Moor 4 370.37x
Burrington 3 291.26x
Chipstable 3 697.67x
Crowcombe 3 517.24x
Devonport 3 32.40x
Exeter Alphington 3 202.70x
Exeter Heavitree 3 49.92x
Farnborough 3 35.97x
Huntsham 3 1153.85x
Loxbear 3 1875.00x
Tottenham 3 4.86x
Battersea 2 1.40x
Calverleigh 2 1818.18x
Carhampton 2 232.56x
Colebrooke 2 212.77x
Exeter St Olave 2 192.31x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 24.33x
Hanwell 2 29.11x
Hornchurch 2 53.33x
Ilsington 2 141.84x
Kensington London 2 0.93x
Kirkdale 2 2.59x
Lidford 2 55.25x
Marldon 2 294.12x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 2 121.21x
Paddington London 2 1.40x
St Bride London 2 88.89x
St Stephens By Saltash 2 105.82x
Stokeinteignhead 2 229.89x
Tilehurst 2 34.07x
Warminster 2 26.67x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 1.40x
Cannington 1 54.05x
Dartington 1 119.05x
Exeter St Mary Steps 1 54.95x
Hackney London 1 0.46x
Putney 1 5.67x
Slapton 1 121.95x
St Pancras London 1 0.32x
Streatham 1 3.48x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
John 34
George 17
Thomas 15
James 13
Henry 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Albert 5
Robert 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Arthur 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
Elias 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Fargey 1
Frank 1
Harrison 1
Henery 1
Hugh 1
Israel 1
J.H. 1
Jethro 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Nicholas 1
Reginald 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Norrish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Norrish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 397 people were recorded with the Norrish surname. That placed it at #8,010 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Norrish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 285 in 2016. That gives Norrish a modern rank of #15,286.

What does the Norrish surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in England.

What does the Norrish map show?

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