NameCensus.

UK surname

Northover

A locational surname referring to someone from a northern manor or farmstead.

In the 1881 census there were 634 people recorded with the Northover surname, ranking it #5,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 956, ranked #6,006, down from #5,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Poorstock and Wool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, West Dorset and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Northover is 997 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.8%.

1881 census count

634

Ranked #5,595

Modern count

956

2016, ranked #6,006

Peak year

1999

997 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Northover had 634 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016, ranked #6,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 909 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Northover surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Northover surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Northover 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 424 #5,760
1861 historical 344 #7,422
1881 historical 634 #5,595
1891 historical 694 #5,646
1901 historical 817 #5,523
1911 historical 909 #4,909
1997 modern 915 #5,900
1998 modern 982 #5,757
1999 modern 997 #5,728
2000 modern 988 #5,745
2001 modern 973 #5,701
2002 modern 993 #5,725
2003 modern 969 #5,741
2004 modern 956 #5,817
2005 modern 922 #5,913
2006 modern 940 #5,843
2007 modern 929 #5,943
2008 modern 934 #5,959
2009 modern 960 #5,961
2010 modern 974 #5,996
2011 modern 972 #5,944
2012 modern 955 #5,946
2013 modern 980 #5,915
2014 modern 987 #5,924
2015 modern 973 #5,941
2016 modern 956 #6,006

Geography

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Where Northovers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Poorstock, Wool, Sturminster Newton Castle and Puncknowle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, West Dorset and Southampton. 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 Poorstock Dorset
3 Wool Dorset
4 Sturminster Newton Castle Dorset
5 Puncknowle Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 008 North Dorset
2 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
5 Southampton 012 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Northover

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Northover

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Northover is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Northover is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Northover falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Northover

The surname Northover originated in England, specifically in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "norð" meaning north and "ofer" meaning ridge or hill, suggesting that the name refers to someone who lived in a northern hilly or elevated area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Northover dates back to the 13th century in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset, where a Thomas de Northouere was listed as a taxpayer in 1327. This spelling variation highlights the evolving nature of surnames during that time.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in the Parish Registers of Gillingham, Dorset, with the baptism of John Northover in 1554. This record provides evidence of the surname's continued presence in the region.

During the 17th century, the name Northover was associated with a prominent family in Somerset. Sir John Northover (1630-1688) was a notable figure who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton and played a role in the English Civil War.

Another individual of note was Richard Northover (1790-1871), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Royal Navy surveyor. His contributions to charting and mapping various regions were significant.

In the 19th century, the surname gained further recognition with the birth of Thomas Northover (1836-1906), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes, particularly in Dorset and Somerset.

Throughout its history, the surname Northover has been associated with several notable individuals, including:

1. Sir John Northover (1630-1688), Member of Parliament for Taunton and participant in the English Civil War. 2. Richard Northover (1790-1871), British naval officer and surveyor. 3. Thomas Northover (1836-1906), English landscape painter. 4. William Northover (1880-1942), Australian cricketer who played for South Australia. 5. Cyril Northover (1913-1998), British actor known for his roles in films and television shows.

While the surname Northover is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, where it originated and maintained a significant presence over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Northover families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Northover 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. Dorset leads with 336 Northovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.87x.

County Total Index
Dorset 336 81.87x
Hampshire 74 5.77x
Middlesex 45 0.72x
Wiltshire 30 5.43x
Somerset 28 2.78x
Kent 21 0.98x
Surrey 20 0.66x
Lancashire 13 0.18x
Gloucestershire 11 0.90x
Devon 10 0.77x
Staffordshire 9 0.43x
Essex 7 0.57x
Northamptonshire 6 1.02x
Suffolk 5 0.66x
Yorkshire 5 0.08x
Cornwall 3 0.42x
Kincardineshire 3 3.94x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.53x
Glamorgan 2 0.18x
Monmouthshire 2 0.44x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.40x
Sussex 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swyre in Dorset leads with 45 Northovers recorded in 1881 and an index of 9782.61x.

Place Total Index
Swyre 45 9782.61x
Litton Cheney 26 2626.26x
Puncknowle 26 2574.26x
Millbrook 18 55.76x
Wool 18 1651.38x
Powerstock 16 909.09x
Bridport 15 177.51x
Burton Bradstock 14 693.07x
Chickerell 14 800.00x
Cerne Abbas 12 603.02x
Sturminster 12 301.51x
Warminster 11 90.76x
Southampton St Mary 10 12.41x
Maiden Newton 9 523.26x
Portsea 9 3.58x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 4.02x
Alderbury 8 307.69x
Hulme 8 5.16x
St Faith Winchester 8 134.00x
Cattistock 7 614.04x
Gillingham 7 15.91x
Holdenhurst 7 20.82x
Melcombe Regis 7 41.15x
St Pancras London 7 1.39x
Stratton 7 1093.75x
Sydling St Nicholas 7 583.33x
Wareham Lady St Mary 7 220.82x
Charlton Marshall 6 428.57x
Charterhouse Hinton 6 508.47x
Churchill 6 372.67x
East Tisbury 6 314.14x
Fordington 6 67.87x
Kenton 6 145.99x
Lexden 6 120.97x
Longfleet 6 126.32x
Newington 6 2.60x
Shadwell London 6 34.29x
Wimborne 6 120.72x
Winterborne Stickland 6 582.52x
Arne 5 1923.08x
Dorchester All Sts 5 255.10x
Evershot 5 467.29x
Huntspill 5 121.36x
Northampton St Peter 5 140.06x
South Stoneham 5 17.99x
Wyke Regis 5 84.89x
Beccles 4 32.63x
Bothenhampton 4 347.83x
Bristol St George 4 7.05x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.43x
Fifehead Neville 4 1538.46x
Isleworth 4 14.39x
Kensington London 4 1.15x
Liversedge 4 14.50x
Midsomer Norton 4 42.19x
Shipton George 4 597.01x
Southampton All Sts 4 18.19x
St Peters 4 40.53x
Uplyme 4 205.13x
Battersea 3 1.30x
Carisbrooke 3 16.86x
Christchurch 3 10.80x
Cirencester 3 18.07x
Corfe Castle 3 78.95x
Dunnottar 3 55.97x
East Stoke 3 240.00x
Hackney London 3 0.86x
Islington London 3 0.50x
Lee 3 9.68x
Milborne Port 3 74.44x
Preston 3 1.51x
St Giles In Fields 3 13.91x
Uny Lelant 3 78.33x
Acton 2 5.46x
Hordle 2 89.69x
Lambeth 2 0.37x
Parkstone 2 41.75x
St George Hanover 2 2.45x
St Marylebone London 2 0.60x
Twerton 2 19.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 32
Henry 26
George 25
James 21
Charles 13
Frederick 13
Joseph 12
Richard 11
Thomas 8
Walter 8
Robert 7
Edward 6
Herbert 6
Tom 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Fred 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Harry 3
Alexander 2
Cornelius 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Samuel 2
Theophilus 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Dennis 1
Earnest 1
Edwd.Jno. 1
Edwd.Wm. 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Geo. 1
Lot 1
Nichl. 1
Obadiah 1
Percy 1
R.J. 1
Rd. 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Samual 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Northover surname: questions and answers

How common was the Northover surname in 1881?

In 1881, 634 people were recorded with the Northover surname. That placed it at #5,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Northover surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 956 in 2016. That gives Northover a modern rank of #6,006.

What does the Northover surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a northern manor or farmstead.

What does the Northover map show?

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