UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the English word "page", referring to a messenger or attendant.
In the 1881 census there were 14 people recorded with the Pager surname, ranking it #31,604 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5, ranked #38,264, down from #31,604 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), St Leonard Shoreditch and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pager is 165 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.3%.
1881 census count
14
Ranked #31,604
Modern count
5
2016, ranked #38,264
Peak year
1861
165 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pager surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pager surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 12 | #31,134 |
| 1861 | historical | 165 | #14,112 |
| 1881 | historical | 14 | #31,604 |
| 1891 | historical | 122 | #21,053 |
| 1901 | historical | 28 | #30,951 |
| 1911 | historical | 50 | #27,806 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 1 | #38,771 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 3 | #38,372 |
| 2008 | modern | 4 | #38,216 |
| 2009 | modern | 5 | #38,122 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 6 | #38,049 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 5 | #38,264 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), St Leonard Shoreditch, Eccles, Lambeth and Lytham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) | Devon |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Lytham | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pager surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pager, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pager surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pager household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pager is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pager is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pager, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pager can be traced back to medieval England, emerging around the 12th to 13th centuries. It likely originated in regions such as Devonshire and Cornwall. The name Pager is derived from the Middle English word "page," which referred to a young servant or apprentice. This, in turn, has roots in the Old French "page" and the Latin "pagius." The surname was typically used to denote a person who worked as a page or servant in feudal households.
Historical references to the surname Pager are relatively scarce in medieval records. One of the earliest mentions appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Devon in 1327, where a John le Pager is documented. This suggests that by this time, the name had already been established as a hereditary surname. Other early instances can be found in various manorial records and court documents from the 14th and 15th centuries.
During the 16th century, the surname Pager continued to be relatively uncommon but can be found in parish registers. In 1540, a Richard Pager was recorded in the town of Tavistock, Devon. These chronicled entries mainly involved everyday individuals, with most bearing the name belonging to the lower classes or working in servile capacities.
Moving into the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname Pager began to appear more frequently in legal and civil documentation. William Pager, born in 1638, was one such individual who gained moderate prominence. He was a landowner in Cornwall and was documented in several property transactions during the late 1600s. Additionally, records from 1705 mention a Sarah Pager of Norfolk, who was involved in a notable court case regarding inheritance disputes.
Thomas Pager, born in 1722, was another noteworthy individual carrying the surname. He was mentioned in maritime records, serving as a shipwright in Plymouth. His contributions to shipbuilding were significant during a period when the Royal Navy was expanding its fleet. By the 19th century, the occurrence of the surname Pager had spread to other parts of England and even overseas, with small communities bearing the name found in the United States.
The surname Pager, while never attaining widespread popularity, has nonetheless maintained a presence in historical records from its likely feudal origins to its more dispersed instances in later centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pager surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Pagers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.60x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 6.60x |
| Essex | 1 | 3.71x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 5.44x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 2.17x |
| Surrey | 1 | 1.50x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.74x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 5 Pagers recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.82x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 5 | 37.82x |
| Harrow | 2 | 952.38x |
| Battersea | 1 | 19.92x |
| Farley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Felstead | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 46.51x |
| Nottingham St Nicholas | 1 | 400.00x |
| St George Bloomsbury | 1 | 128.21x |
| Swinton In Rotherham | 1 | 277.78x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pager surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pager surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pager households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| (2) | 1 |
| (3) | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Lace Worker | 1 |
| Laundrymaid Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Night Watchman | 1 |
| Railway Goods Guard | 1 |
| Railway Guard (2) | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 14 people were recorded with the Pager surname. That placed it at #31,604 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 5 in 2016. That gives Pager a modern rank of #38,264.
An occupational surname derived from the English word "page", referring to a messenger or attendant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pager bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.