NameCensus.

UK surname

Ough

A surname derived from a place name containing the word "ough," meaning a stretch of elevated ground.

In the 1881 census there were 188 people recorded with the Ough surname, ranking it #13,379 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 190, ranked #20,262, down from #13,379 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes and Morval. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, Bradford and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ough is 303 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.1%.

1881 census count

188

Ranked #13,379

Modern count

190

2016, ranked #20,262

Peak year

1911

303 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ough had 188 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,379 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016, ranked #20,262.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 303 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ough surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ough surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ough 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 140 #13,593
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 188 #13,379
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 271 #12,462
1911 historical 303 #11,372
1997 modern 180 #18,812
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 206 #17,905
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 186 #18,773
2002 modern 178 #19,671
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 164 #20,715
2007 modern 168 #20,634
2008 modern 172 #20,523
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 180 #20,649
2012 modern 177 #20,836
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 186 #20,664
2015 modern 185 #20,641
2016 modern 190 #20,262

Geography

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Where Oughs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), London parishes, Morval, Liskeard, St Cleer and Menheniot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, Bradford, Cornwall and Mendip. 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 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Morval Cornwall
4 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall
5 Menheniot Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 009 Torridge
2 Bradford 013 Bradford
3 Cornwall 022 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 026 Cornwall
5 Mendip 010 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ough

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ough

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ough surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ough household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Ough 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

Ough 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

Ough falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ough

The surname "OUGH" is believed to have originated in the British Isles, specifically in England, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "hoh," which means "heel" or "ridge." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to describe someone who lived near a ridge or a hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "OUGH" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named "Wulfric Ough" in the county of Berkshire.

In the 13th century, historical records show a person named "Robert de Ough" who was a prominent landowner in the county of Norfolk. This suggests that the name had spread to different regions of England by this time.

During the 14th century, there are references to a family called "Ough" residing in the village of Oughtibridge, located in the West Riding of Yorkshire. It is believed that the name of the village may have been derived from this family's name, indicating their presence in the area.

One notable bearer of the surname "OUGH" was Sir William Ough, a knight who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377). He is recorded as having participated in the Hundred Years' War against France and was granted lands in recognition of his military service.

Another historically significant figure with this surname was John Ough, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1556 during the reign of Queen Mary I for his religious beliefs. He has been commemorated as one of the Marian Martyrs, a group of Protestants who were persecuted for their faith during this period.

In the 17th century, there are records of a family named "Ough" residing in the county of Staffordshire. One member, Thomas Ough (1617-1692), was a prominent Puritan clergyman and author who wrote several religious works.

During the 18th century, a notable bearer of the name was Robert Ough (1736-1821), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several battles during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, there are records of a family named "Ough" residing in the county of Lancashire. One of its members, William Ough (1812-1892), was a successful industrialist who owned several cotton mills in the region.

While the surname "OUGH" is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ough families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ough 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. Cornwall leads with 101 Oughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.39x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 101 48.39x
Devon 16 4.17x
Yorkshire 15 0.82x
Surrey 12 1.34x
Middlesex 10 0.54x
Kent 9 1.43x
Essex 7 1.92x
Durham 6 1.09x
Herefordshire 5 6.61x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Lincolnshire 2 0.68x
Channel Islands 1 1.83x
Oxfordshire 1 0.88x
Somerset 1 0.34x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Landrake in Cornwall leads with 20 Oughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 4347.83x.

Place Total Index
Landrake 20 4347.83x
Liskeard 16 458.45x
Quethiock 11 3548.39x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 10 150.83x
Morval 9 2093.02x
St Stephen 8 1081.08x
Bromley 7 72.99x
Stoke Damerel 7 26.06x
West Ham 7 8.71x
Esh 6 150.38x
Hackney London 6 5.80x
Saltash 6 370.37x
Bodmin 5 144.93x
East Looe 5 588.24x
Hereford All Sts 5 144.51x
Wakefield 5 35.64x
Battersea 4 5.90x
Camberwell 4 3.40x
Lambeth 4 2.49x
Menheniot 4 459.77x
Sheviock 4 1142.86x
East Stonehouse 3 39.68x
West Looe 3 545.45x
Great Grimsby 2 10.69x
Harmondsworth 2 175.44x
Lanlivery 2 227.27x
Margate St John Baptist 2 17.36x
North Hill 2 298.51x
Totnes 2 89.29x
West Derby 2 3.13x
Woolfardisworthy 2 357.14x
Ambrosden 1 222.22x
Bath St James 1 32.26x
Botus Fleming 1 714.29x
Compton Gifford 1 83.33x
Kensington London 1 0.98x
Mabe 1 232.56x
Mylor 1 71.43x
Patshull 1 833.33x
Pillaton 1 476.19x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.38x
St Mabyn 1 312.50x
St Peter Port 1 9.89x
Truro St Mary 1 57.14x
Westminster St John 1 4.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 14
Richard 6
Charles 5
Henry 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Philip 3
Saml. 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Lewis 2
Manks 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Benedict 1
Charlie 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Llewellyn 1
Nicholas 1
Richd. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ough surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ough surname in 1881?

In 1881, 188 people were recorded with the Ough surname. That placed it at #13,379 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ough surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 190 in 2016. That gives Ough a modern rank of #20,262.

What does the Ough surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name containing the word "ough," meaning a stretch of elevated ground.

What does the Ough map show?

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