NameCensus.

UK surname

Office

An occupational surname referring to a government or clerical position.

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Office surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Office is 138 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.9%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

1999

138 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Office had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 78 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Office surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Office surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Office 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 54 #23,577
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 78 #27,035
1901 historical 66 #26,794
1911 historical 74 #25,423
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 124 #24,114
2002 modern 124 #24,616
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 115 #25,969
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 134 #25,263
2011 modern 130 #25,547
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 135 #25,581
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Offices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Tyneside. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
2 North Tyneside 027 North Tyneside
3 North Tyneside 022 North Tyneside
4 North Tyneside 020 North Tyneside
5 North Tyneside 016 North Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Office

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Office

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Office surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Office household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Office is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Office is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Office falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Office

The surname "OFFICE" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "oficia," which referred to an administrative position or duty within a household or estate. The name likely originated as a descriptive surname for someone who held such a position or was responsible for managing the affairs of a manor or noble household.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "OFFICE" can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is John Offyce, a landowner in Berkshire, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it is spelled as "Offys."

In the 15th century, the surname "OFFICE" was particularly prevalent in the counties of Sussex and Kent, where it is believed to have originated. During this time, the name was sometimes spelled as "Offish" or "Offishe," reflecting regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "OFFICE" was Sir John Offyce (c. 1420-1488), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Kent. He served as the Sheriff of Kent in 1466 and was knighted by King Edward IV in recognition of his service and loyalty.

Another notable figure was William Offyce (c. 1480-1542), a lawyer and member of the Inner Temple in London. He held various legal positions and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace for Sussex in 1522.

In the 16th century, the surname "OFFICE" appears in the records of several English parishes, including those in Kent, Sussex, and London. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Offyce (c. 1530-1595), a merchant and alderman in the City of London.

During the 17th century, the name "OFFICE" continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the southern counties. One prominent figure was Sir John Offyce (1609-1675), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Lewes in Sussex.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname "OFFICE" remained relatively uncommon but was still present in various parts of England, with concentrations in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey. Some notable individuals from this period included William Offyce (1740-1821), a successful merchant and ship owner from London, and John Offyce (1792-1867), a renowned architect who designed several prominent buildings in Kent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Office families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Office 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. Norfolk leads with 31 Offices recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.34x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 31 33.34x
Suffolk 10 13.58x
Northumberland 9 10.00x
Lanarkshire 4 2.05x
Yorkshire 4 0.67x
Surrey 2 0.68x
Essex 1 0.84x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tynemouth in Northumberland leads with 9 Offices recorded in 1881 and an index of 186.72x.

Place Total Index
Tynemouth 9 186.72x
Carbrooke 8 6153.85x
Dersingham 6 2857.14x
Ipswich St Clement 6 320.86x
West Bradenham 5 8333.33x
Govan 4 8.27x
Sculcoates 4 42.11x
Caston 3 2727.27x
Tottington 3 5000.00x
Trimley St Martin 3 2307.69x
Yaxham 3 3000.00x
Rotherhithe 2 26.77x
Wicklewood 2 1333.33x
Basildon 1 3333.33x
Brandon Parva 1 3333.33x
Gorleston 1 53.48x
Nottingham St Mary 1 4.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
William 5
George 4
Samuel 3
Abraham 2
John 2
Arthur 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Jesse 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Office households.

FAQ

Office surname: questions and answers

How common was the Office surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Office surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Office surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Office a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Office surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a government or clerical position.

What does the Office map show?

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