NameCensus.

UK surname

Noyes

Derived from the Middle English word "noye," meaning "lively, cheerful, or bold."

In the 1881 census there were 694 people recorded with the Noyes surname, ranking it #5,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 665, ranked #8,025, down from #5,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Noyes is 907 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.2%.

1881 census count

694

Ranked #5,224

Modern count

665

2016, ranked #8,025

Peak year

1911

907 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Noyes had 694 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 665 in 2016, ranked #8,025.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 907 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Noyes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Noyes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Noyes 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 526 #4,768
1861 historical 358 #7,132
1881 historical 694 #5,224
1891 historical 702 #5,586
1901 historical 842 #5,407
1911 historical 907 #4,916
1997 modern 790 #6,602
1998 modern 795 #6,779
1999 modern 795 #6,832
2000 modern 775 #6,949
2001 modern 741 #7,040
2002 modern 752 #7,093
2003 modern 755 #6,982
2004 modern 728 #7,174
2005 modern 700 #7,344
2006 modern 677 #7,565
2007 modern 661 #7,764
2008 modern 661 #7,805
2009 modern 683 #7,791
2010 modern 683 #7,933
2011 modern 680 #7,863
2012 modern 676 #7,825
2013 modern 677 #7,949
2014 modern 666 #8,096
2015 modern 660 #8,101
2016 modern 665 #8,025

Geography

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Where Noyes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Pancras and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire and Test Valley. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 028 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 026 Wiltshire
4 Wiltshire 038 Wiltshire
5 Test Valley 006 Test Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Noyes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Noyes

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Noyes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Noyes is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Noyes falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Noyes

The surname Noyes is of English origin, and it is derived from the Old French word "noye," which means "walnut tree." The name is believed to have originated in the 12th or 13th century as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a walnut tree or a place with an abundance of walnut trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Noyes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de la Nuye." This entry suggests that the name was originally used as a locational surname, referring to a place called "la Nuye" or "Nuye," which could have been derived from the Old French word "noye."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "de la Noye," "de Noy," and "Noy." These variations reflect the evolution of the name over time and the influence of regional dialects.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Noyes was Robert de la Noye, who lived in Oxfordshire, England, in the late 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir William Noyes, a member of the English gentry who lived in the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name Noyes was associated with several prominent individuals, including Reverend William Noyes (1568-1622), a Puritan clergyman who played a significant role in the early settlement of New England. His son, Reverend James Noyes (1608-1673), was also a Puritan minister and co-founder of the town of Newbury, Massachusetts.

Another notable individual with the surname Noyes was Nicholas Noyes (1647-1717), a prominent merchant and politician in Massachusetts Bay Colony. He served as a member of the Governor's Council and was involved in various business ventures.

In the 18th century, the name Noyes was associated with John Humphrey Noyes (1811-1886), a utopian socialist and founder of the Oneida Community, a religious commune in New York. He is known for his controversial beliefs and practices, including the concept of "complex marriage," which involved multiple partners.

Throughout history, the surname Noyes has been spelled in various ways, including Noy, Noye, Noies, and Noyse. Some of these variations reflect regional dialects or scribal errors in historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Noyes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Noyes 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 186 Noyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 186 2.75x
Wiltshire 93 15.53x
Surrey 64 1.94x
Hampshire 56 4.04x
Berkshire 54 10.63x
Kent 41 1.78x
Lancashire 35 0.44x
Gloucestershire 26 1.96x
Glamorgan 22 1.87x
Cheshire 21 1.41x
Sussex 14 1.23x
Essex 8 0.60x
Somerset 8 0.73x
Rutland 7 14.08x
Dorset 6 1.35x
Yorkshire 6 0.09x
Buteshire 5 12.19x
Durham 5 0.25x
Hertfordshire 5 1.07x
Lanarkshire 4 0.18x
Monmouthshire 4 0.82x
Northamptonshire 4 0.63x
Oxfordshire 4 0.96x
Devon 3 0.21x
Staffordshire 3 0.13x
Warwickshire 3 0.18x
Leicestershire 2 0.27x
Shropshire 2 0.34x
Angus 1 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.24x
Herefordshire 1 0.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 21 Noyes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.53x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 21 5.53x
Pewsey 21 477.27x
St Pancras London 19 3.49x
Pamber 18 1118.01x
Kensington London 17 4.52x
Bromley London 16 10.74x
Poulshot 16 2025.32x
St Marylebone London 16 4.43x
Chelsea London 15 7.35x
Llandaff 14 35.70x
Stoke Newington London 14 26.55x
Newington 13 5.20x
Chester St John Baptist 11 40.95x
Lambeth 11 1.86x
Reading St Giles 11 22.07x
Southampton St Mary 11 12.61x
Burbage 10 327.87x
Easthampstead 10 367.65x
Wandsworth 10 15.34x
Warfield 10 216.92x
Ashton Under Lyne 9 5.13x
Bow London 9 10.44x
New Windsor 9 52.69x
Toxteth Park 9 3.31x
Trowbridge 9 34.01x
Westminster St John 9 10.92x
Clapham 8 9.45x
Poplar London 8 6.26x
Battersea 7 2.81x
Brighton 7 3.04x
Clifton 7 10.43x
Everton 7 2.73x
Hillingdon 7 32.44x
Painswick 7 74.55x
Reading St Mary 7 17.20x
Speldhurst 7 59.52x
Stanwell 7 139.72x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.04x
Bollington In 6 45.11x
Ketton 6 231.66x
Laycock 6 221.40x
York St Mary 6 21.60x
Bishop Auckland 5 18.50x
Bromley 5 14.20x
Cumbrae 5 116.01x
Llanwonno 5 11.81x
Market Lavington 5 154.32x
Tonbridge 5 6.00x
Andover 4 30.51x
Bedminster 4 3.91x
Chippenham 4 31.85x
Glasgow 4 1.03x
Gloucester Barton St 4 51.41x
Great Creaton 4 547.95x
Harwich St Nicholas 4 38.76x
Leckhampton 4 48.90x
Maidstone 4 5.81x
Putney 4 12.97x
Steeple Ashton 4 246.91x
Streatham 4 7.96x
Alverstoke 3 5.97x
Bedwellty 3 3.47x
Chirton 3 379.75x
Cowden 3 198.68x
Dorchester St Peter 3 93.17x
Lee 3 8.94x
Leyton 3 13.03x
Monk Sherborne 3 272.73x
Preshute 3 81.52x
Shotover 3 638.30x
St George Hanover 3 3.40x
Wapping London 3 58.03x
West Derby 3 1.28x
Wokingham 3 25.86x
Wolverhampton 3 1.71x
Woolwich 3 3.52x
Hove 2 3.99x
Milton In Gravesend 2 5.77x
Shoreditch London 2 0.68x
Stretford 2 4.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 61
Sarah 26
Elizabeth 22
Jane 14
Ann 13
Annie 13
Charlotte 11
Ellen 11
Alice 10
Eliza 10
Emily 10
Martha 9
Emma 8
Louisa 7
Catherine 6
Harriet 6
Amelia 5
Amy 5
Caroline 5
Fanny 5
Kate 5
Edith 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Clara 3
Jessie 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Sophia 3
Anna 2
Flora 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Theresa 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
C.A. 1
Elise 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.C. 1
Iris 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 34
Henry 28
George 22
James 17
Robert 17
Thomas 16
Charles 13
Arthur 10
Joseph 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Frederick 7
Walter 6
Albert 5
Harry 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Jno. 3
David 2
Francis 2
Giles 2
Herbert 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Septimus 2
Stephen 2
Benjamin 1
Conrad 1
Daniel 1
Ebenezer 1
Ebenzr. 1
Edmund 1
Eliott 1
Eliza 1
Fredk. 1
Frerderick 1
Geo. 1
Jhan 1
Jno.W. 1
Lewis 1
Louisa 1
Luis 1
Oscar 1
Philip 1
Ralf 1
Ralph 1
Sabastian 1
Wm.Jno.Pearce 1

FAQ

Noyes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Noyes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 694 people were recorded with the Noyes surname. That placed it at #5,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Noyes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 665 in 2016. That gives Noyes a modern rank of #8,025.

What does the Noyes surname mean?

Derived from the Middle English word "noye," meaning "lively, cheerful, or bold."

What does the Noyes map show?

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