NameCensus.

UK surname

Officer

A surname referring to a person holding a position of authority or public office.

In the 1881 census there were 299 people recorded with the Officer surname, ranking it #9,740 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 461, ranked #10,625, down from #9,740 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Renfrew West, Mearns South and Benholm and Plean and Rural SE.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Officer is 511 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 54.2%.

1881 census count

299

Ranked #9,740

Modern count

461

2016, ranked #10,625

Peak year

2010

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Officer had 299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,740 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016, ranked #10,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 316 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Officer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Officer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Officer 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 299 #9,740
1891 historical 316 #10,639
1901 historical 314 #11,285
1911 historical 180 #15,961
1997 modern 471 #9,732
1998 modern 483 #9,853
1999 modern 471 #10,098
2000 modern 493 #9,736
2001 modern 482 #9,717
2002 modern 498 #9,664
2003 modern 456 #10,179
2004 modern 460 #10,120
2005 modern 473 #9,841
2006 modern 485 #9,691
2007 modern 490 #9,704
2008 modern 495 #9,720
2009 modern 504 #9,788
2010 modern 511 #9,882
2011 modern 509 #9,821
2012 modern 464 #10,439
2013 modern 461 #10,634
2014 modern 461 #10,694
2015 modern 455 #10,734
2016 modern 461 #10,625

Geography

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Where Officers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Laurencekirk and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Renfrew West, Mearns South and Benholm, Plean and Rural SE, Hillside and Friockheim. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Laurencekirk Kincardine
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Renfrew West Renfrewshire
2 Mearns South and Benholm Aberdeenshire
3 Plean and Rural SE Stirling
4 Hillside Angus
5 Friockheim Angus

Forenames

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First names often paired with Officer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Officer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Officer, 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 Officer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Officer 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, Officer 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

Officer is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Officer 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 Officer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Officer

The surname OFFICER is an occupational name that originated in England during the Middle Ages. It derives from the Old French term "oficier," which in turn comes from the Latin word "officium," meaning "office" or "duty." The name refers to someone who held an official position or performed a specific duty, such as a member of the clergy, a court official, or a military officer.

In medieval England, the name OFFICER was often associated with individuals who served in administrative roles or held positions of authority within the church, government, or military. Early records from the 13th and 14th centuries mention individuals bearing this surname, although the exact origins and earliest recorded instances are somewhat obscure.

One of the earliest known references to the name OFFICER can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census-like records compiled by the English government. These rolls contain entries for individuals with the surname OFFICER, indicating that the name was already in use by that time.

During the 14th century, the surname OFFICER appeared in various historical documents, including court records and tax rolls. One notable individual was John Officer, a clergyman who lived in the late 14th century and served as the rector of a parish in Lincolnshire.

As the name spread throughout England, it took on various spellings, such as Offecer, Offiser, and Offycer, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time. These variations persisted until the standardization of English spelling in the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the 15th century, the name OFFICER became more prominent, with several individuals bearing this surname appearing in historical records. One such person was William Officer, a merchant from London who was active in the 1470s and participated in trade with the Hanseatic League.

The 16th century saw the rise of notable figures with the surname OFFICER, including Robert Officer (c. 1510-1580), a Scottish clergyman who played a role in the Scottish Reformation. Another individual of note was John Officer (c. 1545-1608), an English mathematician and astronomer who published works on astronomy and navigation.

As the centuries progressed, the OFFICER surname continued to be associated with individuals in various professions, including the military, civil service, and academia. Examples include Sir Robert Officer (1801-1879), a British naval officer and colonial administrator, and Sir John Officer (1868-1936), a British Army officer and military historian.

Throughout its history, the surname OFFICER has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds and occupations, reflecting its origins as an occupational name denoting a position of authority or responsibility.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Officer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Officer 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 67 Officers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.32x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 67 2.32x
Lancashire 54 1.56x
Kincardineshire 43 121.06x
Lanarkshire 27 2.86x
Angus 18 6.66x
Midlothian 15 3.84x
Aberdeenshire 10 3.70x
Nottinghamshire 10 2.54x
Kent 9 0.90x
Renfrewshire 9 3.98x
Dunbartonshire 7 8.93x
Durham 7 0.81x
Middlesex 5 0.17x
Perthshire 5 3.82x
Surrey 5 0.35x
Fife 3 1.74x
Buteshire 1 5.66x
Channel Islands 1 1.16x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.36x
Peeblesshire 1 7.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 19 Officers recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.21x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 19 12.21x
Laurencekirk 14 679.61x
Holy Trinity 13 18.70x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 7.63x
Govan 12 5.14x
Montrose 12 73.26x
Cottingham 11 176.57x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 9 85.71x
Atherton 9 71.43x
Glasgow 9 5.37x
Plumstead 9 27.13x
Radford 8 40.06x
Abbey 7 20.30x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 7 13.85x
Dumbarton 7 64.16x
Glenbervie 7 721.65x
Holy Trinity St Mary 7 159.09x
Wortley In Bramley 7 30.58x
Barony 6 2.51x
Benholm 6 392.16x
Great Bolton 6 13.09x
Heap 6 32.68x
Fettercairn 5 331.13x
Fordoun 5 251.26x
Perth East Church 5 40.52x
Sutton 5 151.98x
Birtle Cum Bamford 4 176.99x
Brightside Bierlow 4 7.06x
Dundee 4 3.97x
Gateshead 4 6.16x
Pendleton In Salford 4 9.70x
Reigate Borough 4 121.95x
Collessie 3 150.75x
Horton In Bradford 3 6.65x
Southcoates 3 18.69x
St Lawrence Jewry 3 3750.00x
Barrow In Furness 2 4.25x
Bradford 2 2.86x
Brechin 2 18.83x
Durham St Nicholas 2 93.90x
Kinneff Catterline 2 200.00x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.97x
South Leith 2 4.55x
Azerley 1 144.93x
Bervie 1 47.62x
Bridlington 1 15.11x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.16x
Camberwell 1 0.54x
Castleton 1 2.89x
Crossgate 1 26.39x
Dunnottar 1 40.00x
East Greenock 1 4.69x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 13.16x
Everton 1 0.91x
Fetteresso 1 17.95x
Gorton 1 3.07x
Lumphanan 1 87.72x
Marykirk 1 68.49x
Newlands 1 121.95x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 7.16x
Peterhead 1 7.00x
Rathen 1 35.34x
Richmond 1 22.12x
Rothesay 1 11.68x
Sale 1 12.66x
St Giles In Fields 1 9.94x
St Martin 1 18.90x
St Pancras London 1 0.43x
West Greenock 1 2.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 8
Margaret 7
Hannah 5
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Clara 3
Agnes 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Alma 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Constance 1
Dinah 1
Edith 1
Elizh. 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Lilian 1
Lily 1
Mareanne 1
Margeret 1
Marth 1
Matilda 1
Nellie 1
Polly 1
Pricella 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Selina 1
Susannah 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 8
George 5
James 5
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Albert 2
Alexander 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Nathaniel 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Allan 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Dickson 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Jno. 1
Lloyd 1
Morritt 1
Saml.K. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Officer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Officer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 299 people were recorded with the Officer surname. That placed it at #9,740 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Officer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 461 in 2016. That gives Officer a modern rank of #10,625.

What does the Officer surname mean?

A surname referring to a person holding a position of authority or public office.

What does the Officer map show?

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