NameCensus.

UK surname

Packham

Derived from an English place name, possibly referring to a dweller near a pack horse route.

In the 1881 census there were 1,444 people recorded with the Packham surname, ranking it #2,884 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,983, ranked #3,245, down from #2,884 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bolney, Preston and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, Wealden and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Packham is 2,171 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

1,444

Ranked #2,884

Modern count

1,983

2016, ranked #3,245

Peak year

2002

2,171 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Packham had 1,444 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,884 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,983 in 2016, ranked #3,245.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,093 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Packham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Packham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Packham 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 883 #3,098
1861 historical 934 #2,968
1881 historical 1,444 #2,884
1891 historical 1,657 #2,704
1901 historical 1,877 #2,807
1911 historical 2,093 #2,393
1997 modern 2,071 #2,969
1998 modern 2,151 #2,977
1999 modern 2,144 #3,006
2000 modern 2,102 #3,037
2001 modern 2,090 #2,995
2002 modern 2,171 #2,958
2003 modern 2,060 #3,044
2004 modern 2,027 #3,079
2005 modern 1,987 #3,105
2006 modern 1,952 #3,161
2007 modern 1,988 #3,138
2008 modern 1,989 #3,161
2009 modern 2,072 #3,121
2010 modern 2,083 #3,171
2011 modern 2,053 #3,168
2012 modern 2,028 #3,156
2013 modern 2,088 #3,127
2014 modern 2,084 #3,150
2015 modern 2,040 #3,174
2016 modern 1,983 #3,245

Geography

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Where Packhams are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, Wealden, Maidstone, Adur and Brighton and Hove. 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 Bolney Sussex
2 Preston Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 009 South Lakeland
2 Wealden 015 Wealden
3 Maidstone 018 Maidstone
4 Adur 002 Adur
5 Brighton and Hove 017 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Packham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Packham

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Packham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Packham is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Packham falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Packham

The surname Packham is believed to have originated in England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place called Packham or Peckham, a former village that is now part of the London borough of Southwark.

The name Packham is likely derived from the Old English words "pæcc" or "pæcce," meaning a small bundle or package, and "ham," meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a settlement or homestead where bundles or packages were stored or traded.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Packham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a landowner named Theodric de Peccham in the county of Surrey. This entry provides evidence of the name's existence in the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as Peckham, Peccham, and Pekham, in historical records and documents from counties like Kent and Surrey. This variation in spelling was common during medieval times due to the lack of standardized spellings.

Notable individuals with the surname Packham throughout history include:

1. Sir Christopher Packham (1545-1625), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1601. 2. John Packham (1665-1737), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University from 1727 to 1731. 3. William Packham (1794-1867), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a prominent naval architect. 4. Mary Packham (1820-1892), an English writer and activist who campaigned for women's suffrage and education rights in the 19th century. 5. Alfred Packham (1879-1957), a British architect known for his work on several notable buildings in London, including the former headquarters of the London County Council.

The surname Packham has been associated with various places and settlements throughout England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Surrey, and London. Some of these place names include Peckham Rye, Peckham Pulse, and East Peckham, which further reinforces the locational origins of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Packham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Packham 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. Sussex leads with 748 Packhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.43x.

County Total Index
Sussex 748 31.43x
Kent 344 7.14x
Surrey 197 2.86x
Middlesex 64 0.45x
Devon 16 0.54x
Hampshire 11 0.38x
Yorkshire 11 0.08x
Essex 9 0.32x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.94x
Lancashire 7 0.04x
Warwickshire 7 0.20x
Royal Navy 4 2.38x
Angus 3 0.23x
Cheshire 3 0.10x
Norfolk 3 0.14x
Cumberland 2 0.16x
Northamptonshire 2 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.09x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.10x
Monmouthshire 1 0.10x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Suffolk 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 181 Packhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.70x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 181 37.70x
Cuckfield 63 262.06x
Tonbridge 50 28.79x
Croydon 43 11.26x
Worth 27 156.25x
Clayton 26 289.86x
Bolney 25 645.99x
Rotherfield 24 114.50x
Gillingham 23 23.16x
Reigate Foreign 23 30.88x
Camberwell 21 2.33x
Herstmonceaux 19 265.36x
Portslade 19 130.58x
Preston 19 45.72x
Hurstpierpoint 18 135.95x
Cranbrook 17 83.33x
Fletching 17 159.62x
Ringmer 16 238.45x
Wittersham 16 372.09x
Hove 15 14.37x
Milton In Milton 15 73.28x
Falmer 14 501.79x
Streatham 14 13.37x
Battersea 13 2.50x
Marden 13 115.15x
Rainham 13 98.26x
St Nicholas At Wade 13 462.63x
Uckfield 13 125.36x
Barcombe 12 210.16x
Wadhurst 12 76.78x
Brenenden 11 177.71x
Frant 11 65.24x
Rodmersham 11 531.40x
St Pancras London 11 0.97x
Thames Ditton 11 76.98x
Eastbourne 10 9.13x
Hellingly 10 125.47x
Mayfield 10 71.07x
Strood 10 36.40x
West Malling 10 92.25x
Ashford 9 19.19x
Burwash 9 81.52x
Exeter St Thomas The 9 30.05x
New Romney 9 181.45x
Sevenoaks 9 23.05x
Alfriston 8 282.69x
Icklesham 8 190.93x
Lewes All Sts 8 84.39x
Ninfield 8 274.91x
Paddington London 8 1.54x
Shipbourne 8 326.53x
Brede 7 140.28x
Chatham 7 5.28x
Chiddingly 7 163.17x
Exeter St Sidwell 7 10.40x
Eynsford 7 84.75x
Fulham London 7 3.42x
Heathfield 7 72.61x
Horley 7 60.71x
Keymer 7 41.67x
Kingston On Thames 7 4.24x
Mitcham 7 16.10x
Newnham 7 463.58x
Snodland 7 51.28x
St Paul Covent Garden 7 49.58x
Storrington 7 107.20x
Tandridge 7 236.49x
Battle 6 37.36x
Birmingham 6 0.51x
Leigh 6 237.15x
Limpsfield 6 91.19x
Maidstone 6 4.18x
Midhurst 6 76.92x
Newick 6 114.72x
Northfleet 6 14.14x
Rottingdean 6 73.80x
Skipton 6 13.63x
Southampton St Mary 6 3.30x
Dover St James 5 23.70x
Sittingbourne 5 13.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 109
George 80
John 47
James 46
Henry 40
Alfred 31
Charles 30
Thomas 23
Albert 22
Arthur 18
Joseph 18
Robert 17
Edward 14
Ernest 13
Frank 13
Frederick 13
Samuel 12
Harry 9
Edwin 8
Walter 7
David 6
Richard 6
Stephen 6
Benjamin 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Leonard 5
Reuben 4
Sydney 4
Fred 3
Fredrick 3
Horace 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Ambrose 2
Amos 2
Auther 2
Benjn. 2
Frances 2
Fredk. 2
Gideon 2
Jessie 2
Owen 2
Percival 2
Raymond 2
Sidney 2
Spencer 2
Thos. 2

FAQ

Packham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Packham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,444 people were recorded with the Packham surname. That placed it at #2,884 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Packham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,983 in 2016. That gives Packham a modern rank of #3,245.

What does the Packham surname mean?

Derived from an English place name, possibly referring to a dweller near a pack horse route.

What does the Packham map show?

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