NameCensus.

UK surname

Pagan

A descriptive surname referring to someone who adhered to pre-Christian, polytheistic religious beliefs.

In the 1881 census there were 467 people recorded with the Pagan surname, ranking it #7,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 810, ranked #6,839, up from #7,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey and Moffat. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Upper Nithsdale, Annan West and Carlisle.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pagan is 848 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 73.4%.

1881 census count

467

Ranked #7,122

Modern count

810

2016, ranked #6,839

Peak year

2000

848 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pagan had 467 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 810 in 2016, ranked #6,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 548 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Pagan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pagan surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pagan 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 340 #6,905
1861 historical 397 #6,460
1881 historical 467 #7,122
1891 historical 476 #7,720
1901 historical 548 #7,547
1911 historical 326 #10,763
1997 modern 828 #6,362
1998 modern 837 #6,515
1999 modern 833 #6,587
2000 modern 848 #6,468
2001 modern 811 #6,576
2002 modern 815 #6,668
2003 modern 768 #6,880
2004 modern 767 #6,908
2005 modern 767 #6,830
2006 modern 780 #6,764
2007 modern 767 #6,926
2008 modern 791 #6,816
2009 modern 796 #6,922
2010 modern 804 #6,994
2011 modern 790 #7,023
2012 modern 787 #6,938
2013 modern 796 #6,996
2014 modern 808 #6,936
2015 modern 812 #6,843
2016 modern 810 #6,839

Geography

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Where Pagans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey, Moffat, Dumfries and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Upper Nithsdale, Annan West, Carlisle and Lochside and Lincluden. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Carlisle St Mary, Eaglesfield Abbey Cumberland
3 Moffat Dumfries
4 Dumfries Dumfries
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Upper Nithsdale Dumfries and Galloway
2 Annan West Dumfries and Galloway
3 Carlisle 008 Carlisle
4 Lochside and Lincluden Dumfries and Galloway
5 Carlisle 007 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pagan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pagan

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pagan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pagan is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pagan 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 Pagan 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pagan

The surname Pagan originated in the British Isles, specifically in England and Scotland, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Latin word "paganus," which means "villager" or "rustic." The name was likely given to someone who lived in a rural or village area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pagan can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was spelled "Paganell" at the time.

In the 12th century, a prominent Norman family in England bore the name Pagan or Paynell. William Pagan, who lived around 1150, was a landowner and nobleman in Lincolnshire. Another notable figure was Ralph Pagan, a Scottish cleric who served as the Bishop of Aberdeen from 1256 to 1281.

During the 13th century, the surname Pagan was also found in various records in Scotland. One example is Walter Pagan, who was a witness to a charter granted by Alexander III, King of Scotland, in 1262.

In the 14th century, a place called Pagan's Hall existed in Norfolk, England, which may have been named after someone with the surname Pagan. John Pagan, a Scottish scholar and philosopher, lived from around 1360 to 1430 and was known for his work on logic and metaphysics.

In the 16th century, a prominent family with the surname Pagan resided in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England. One member, Thomas Pagan (1545-1626), was a wealthy merchant and benefactor who helped establish a grammar school in the town.

Other notable individuals with the surname Pagan throughout history include Robert Pagan (1610-1664), an English mathematician and astronomer; Blaise François Pagan (1604-1665), a French philosopher and historian; and James Pagan (1811-1870), a Scottish landscape painter known for his depictions of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pagan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pagan 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. Dumfriesshire leads with 157 Pagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.02x.

County Total Index
Dumfriesshire 157 156.02x
Lancashire 59 1.09x
Lanarkshire 51 3.46x
Cumberland 29 7.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 23 34.88x
Yorkshire 19 0.42x
Durham 16 1.18x
Northumberland 15 2.21x
Midlothian 12 1.97x
Ayrshire 11 3.23x
Fife 9 3.34x
Cheshire 7 0.70x
Argyllshire 6 4.73x
Middlesex 6 0.13x
Morayshire 6 8.48x
Pembrokeshire 6 4.14x
Devon 5 0.53x
Dorset 5 1.67x
Perthshire 5 2.45x
Renfrewshire 3 0.85x
Channel Islands 2 1.48x
Kent 2 0.13x
Roxburghshire 2 2.42x
Selkirkshire 2 4.85x
Angus 1 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.11x
Peeblesshire 1 4.67x
Ross-shire 1 0.80x
Somerset 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Stirlingshire 1 0.60x
West Lothian 1 1.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dryfesdale in Dumfriesshire leads with 43 Pagans recorded in 1881 and an index of 926.72x.

Place Total Index
Dryfesdale 43 926.72x
Liverpool 24 7.31x
Govan 17 4.67x
Keir 17 1465.52x
Troqueer 16 184.97x
Barony 15 4.02x
Moffat 13 283.22x
Caldewgate 11 51.19x
Lochmaben 11 249.43x
West Derby 11 6.96x
Bothwell 10 25.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 4.07x
Milfield 10 3703.70x
Ruthwell 10 735.29x
Stockton On Tees 9 13.78x
Tinwald 9 671.64x
Kirkdale 8 8.80x
St Cuthbert W O 8 41.84x
Cockermouth 7 84.75x
Cupar 7 59.68x
Glasgow 7 2.68x
Kirkmichael 7 526.32x
Kirkpatrick Fleming 7 304.35x
Monks Coppenhall 7 18.45x
Tundergarth 7 958.90x
Carlaverock 6 365.85x
Cromdale 6 105.45x
Cummertrees 6 350.88x
Dunoon Kilmun 6 60.67x
Heeley 6 43.73x
Pembroke St Mary 6 32.19x
Batley 5 11.66x
Crieff 5 65.79x
Holy Trinity 5 4.60x
Hutton 5 393.70x
Hutton Henry 5 175.44x
Kilmarnock 5 12.32x
Shipton George 5 1020.41x
Wear Gifford 5 714.29x
Accrington 4 8.14x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 3.39x
Kirkpatrick Juxta 4 242.42x
Manchester 4 1.65x
Mauchline 4 102.04x
Rochester 4 754.72x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 3 7.13x
Cathcart 3 15.71x
Harrow On The Hill 3 32.97x
Kirkgunzeon 3 294.12x
Litherland 3 26.55x
Durrisdeer 2 115.61x
Maxton 2 281.69x
Middlebie 2 66.23x
Milton In Gravesend 2 8.58x
Selkirk 2 17.23x
Sorn 2 29.85x
St Peter Port 2 8.01x
Annan 1 11.57x
Birtley 1 18.08x
Branxton 1 294.12x
Cramond 1 21.65x
Duddingston 1 8.16x
Dumfries 1 10.07x
Kells 1 66.23x
Kirkandrews On Esk 1 75.19x
Kirkcaldy 1 7.48x
Lesmahagow 1 6.42x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.39x
Okeover 1 769.23x
Paddington London 1 0.60x
Parton 1 89.29x
Peebles 1 15.80x
Rickergate 1 12.05x
Scaleby 1 136.99x
St Andrews 1 8.15x
Terregles 1 136.99x
Torthorwald 1 64.52x
Ventnor 1 11.26x
Walcot 1 2.56x
Wamphray 1 140.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 10
Jane 8
Agnes 3
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Ethelda 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Margret 2
Violet 2
Adeline 1
Agness 1
Alexandrina 1
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Bridget 1
Delia 1
Eleanor 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Jenet 1
Letty 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Ruth 1
Susan 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 14
Thomas 12
Robert 7
Joseph 5
James 4
Alexander 3
George 3
Archibald 2
David 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alen 1
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Andrew 1
Archd. 1
Archis 1
Arthur 1
Ben 1
Charles 1
Donald 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jefferson 1
Michael 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1

FAQ

Pagan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pagan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 467 people were recorded with the Pagan surname. That placed it at #7,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pagan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 810 in 2016. That gives Pagan a modern rank of #6,839.

What does the Pagan surname mean?

A descriptive surname referring to someone who adhered to pre-Christian, polytheistic religious beliefs.

What does the Pagan map show?

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