NameCensus.

UK surname

Pack

An English occupational surname referring to someone who carried loads or worked as a peddler or bundle maker.

In the 1881 census there were 1,418 people recorded with the Pack surname, ranking it #2,929 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,404, ranked #4,342, down from #2,929 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Ashwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, South Holland and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pack is 1,754 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

1,418

Ranked #2,929

Modern count

1,404

2016, ranked #4,342

Peak year

1911

1,754 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pack had 1,418 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,929 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,404 in 2016, ranked #4,342.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,754 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pack surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pack 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 1,010 #2,763
1861 historical 1,106 #2,536
1881 historical 1,418 #2,929
1891 historical 1,601 #2,783
1901 historical 1,622 #3,182
1911 historical 1,754 #2,801
1997 modern 1,490 #3,930
1998 modern 1,508 #4,024
1999 modern 1,547 #3,972
2000 modern 1,520 #4,018
2001 modern 1,485 #4,013
2002 modern 1,512 #4,044
2003 modern 1,449 #4,110
2004 modern 1,464 #4,077
2005 modern 1,410 #4,170
2006 modern 1,429 #4,128
2007 modern 1,411 #4,204
2008 modern 1,404 #4,253
2009 modern 1,434 #4,257
2010 modern 1,460 #4,271
2011 modern 1,423 #4,313
2012 modern 1,380 #4,352
2013 modern 1,409 #4,348
2014 modern 1,416 #4,352
2015 modern 1,410 #4,335
2016 modern 1,404 #4,342

Geography

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Where Packs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough, Ashwell and Egerton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, South Holland, Southampton, Kettering and Ashford. 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 1
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ashwell Hertfordshire
5 Egerton Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 006 East Northamptonshire
2 South Holland 008 South Holland
3 Southampton 028 Southampton
4 Kettering 007 Kettering
5 Ashford 010 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pack

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pack is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pack is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pack 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 Pack 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 Pack, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pack

The surname PACK is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "pac" or "pack," meaning a bundle or package. It likely originated as an occupational name for someone who worked as a packer or carrier of goods.

The earliest recorded instances of the PACK surname date back to the late 12th century. One of the first documented references is found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1198, where a person named William Pack is mentioned.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various forms, such as "le Pak" and "le Pakker," reflecting the occupational nature of the surname. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273 record a Richard le Pakker.

During the medieval period, the PACK surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire, where trade and transportation routes were well-established. This suggests that many individuals with this surname may have been involved in transporting goods or working in related trades.

One notable historical figure bearing the PACK surname was Sir Christopher Pack (c. 1593-1682), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1654-1655. He was a prominent figure in the City of London during the English Civil War and the Commonwealth period.

Another significant individual was Thomas Pack (1701-1768), an English composer and organist who served as the organist at the Church of St. Mary-le-Bow in London. He composed several anthems and other sacred works that were widely performed during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, John Pack (1809-1885), a British horticulturist and nurseryman, made significant contributions to the cultivation of pears and other fruits. He introduced several new varieties and published works on fruit cultivation.

William Pack (1879-1942), an English cricketer, played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and represented the English national team in Test matches against South Africa and Australia in the early 20th century.

Lastly, Judith Pack (1943-2012) was a prominent American writer and academic. She authored several acclaimed novels, including "Among Friends" and "Candida's Choice," and served as a professor of English at Yale University.

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the PACK surname throughout history, reflecting its English origins and occupational roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pack 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 246 Packs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 246 1.79x
Kent 219 4.68x
Devon 149 5.22x
Hampshire 127 4.52x
Northamptonshire 82 6.36x
Surrey 79 1.18x
Bedfordshire 60 8.45x
Sussex 58 2.51x
Huntingdonshire 52 19.09x
Norfolk 48 2.28x
Hertfordshire 40 4.23x
Cambridgeshire 36 4.14x
Yorkshire 30 0.22x
Essex 25 0.92x
Buckinghamshire 17 2.05x
Lancashire 17 0.10x
Suffolk 17 1.02x
Staffordshire 16 0.35x
Cheshire 11 0.36x
Derbyshire 10 0.47x
Lanarkshire 10 0.23x
Durham 9 0.22x
Lincolnshire 8 0.36x
Gloucestershire 6 0.22x
Leicestershire 5 0.33x
Monmouthshire 5 0.50x
Midlothian 4 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.69x
Roxburghshire 3 1.21x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.64x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.11x
Somerset 2 0.09x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.61x
Selkirkshire 1 0.81x
Westmorland 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tonbridge in Kent leads with 42 Packs recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.88x.

Place Total Index
Tonbridge 42 24.88x
Bethnal Green London 39 6.55x
Egerton 35 857.84x
Tormoham 34 28.15x
Higham Ferrers 33 470.76x
Ashwell 30 404.31x
Portsea 28 5.08x
Minster In Sheppey 26 33.54x
Shoreditch London 23 3.87x
St Marylebone London 23 3.14x
Salehurst 21 209.79x
Millbrook 18 25.42x
Hackney London 17 2.21x
Lambeth 17 1.42x
Islington London 16 1.20x
Blackawton 15 301.20x
Berry Pomeroy 14 295.98x
Irthlingborough 14 110.67x
West Ham 14 2.34x
Brighton 13 2.79x
Chelsea London 13 3.15x
Hursley 13 199.39x
Newport Pagnell 13 74.97x
Bromley 12 16.83x
Chatteris 11 49.64x
Clerkenwell London 11 3.40x
Holy Trinity 11 3.36x
Spitalfields London 11 10.66x
Walpole St Andrew 11 334.35x
Hawnes 10 228.31x
Limehouse London 10 6.64x
Maidstone 10 7.17x
St George Hanover 10 5.59x
Dartford 9 18.81x
Govan 9 0.82x
Hammersmith London 9 2.66x
Highweek 9 88.41x
Northampton Priory St 9 11.63x
Totnes 9 53.89x
Camberwell 8 0.91x
Chatham 8 6.21x
Chester Le Street 8 25.53x
Colyton 8 72.99x
Croydon 8 2.16x
East Bradenham 8 519.48x
Harting 8 133.11x
Huntingdon St John 8 101.39x
Ipplepen 8 205.66x
Rotherhithe 8 4.72x
Ryde 8 13.25x
Sittingbourne 8 21.65x
Walpole St Peter 8 149.81x
Willesden 8 6.19x
Blunham 7 145.53x
Brampton 7 123.46x
Hove 7 6.90x
Kensington London 7 0.92x
Sevenoaks 7 18.45x
St Pancras London 7 0.63x
Barnsley 6 4.28x
Bedford St Paul 6 12.32x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 6.69x
Clowne 6 70.26x
Faversham 6 13.45x
Gillingham 6 6.22x
Great Stukeley 6 306.12x
Heigham 6 5.30x
Holbeach 6 24.57x
Kettering 6 11.50x
Litlington 6 189.27x
Luton 6 4.88x
Newton 6 177.51x
Southoe 6 468.75x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 2.17x
Streatham 6 5.90x
Sutton In Macclesfield 6 19.10x
Thelbridge 6 588.24x
Windle 6 6.55x
Wolborough 6 16.63x
Wolstanton Knutton 6 21.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 83
Elizabeth 59
Sarah 55
Emma 32
Ann 25
Annie 25
Eliza 23
Emily 23
Alice 22
Jane 21
Ellen 18
Caroline 13
Martha 13
Charlotte 11
Fanny 11
Hannah 11
Harriet 11
Louisa 11
Edith 9
Florence 9
Maria 8
Clara 7
Elizth. 6
Frances 6
Harriett 6
Margaret 6
Ada 5
Kate 5
Laura 5
Rosa 5
Anne 4
Julia 4
Lucy 4
Matilda 4
Rebecca 4
Rhoda 4
Selina 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Eleanor 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Amy 2
Deborah 2
May 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 101
George 65
John 63
James 52
Thomas 41
Charles 33
Henry 26
Edward 23
Arthur 19
Joseph 18
Harry 16
Frederick 15
Robert 15
Samuel 14
Albert 13
Richard 13
Walter 13
Alfred 10
Ernest 8
Benjamin 4
David 4
Herbert 4
Isaac 4
Philip 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Geo. 3
Horatio 3
J. 3
Abraham 2
Arnut 2
Daniel 2
Edmond 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Josiah 2
Lewis 2
Martin 2
Matthew 2
Richd. 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Charley 1
Chas 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Pack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,418 people were recorded with the Pack surname. That placed it at #2,929 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,404 in 2016. That gives Pack a modern rank of #4,342.

What does the Pack surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who carried loads or worked as a peddler or bundle maker.

What does the Pack map show?

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