NameCensus.

UK surname

Paice

A surname derived from the Old English word for "peace".

In the 1881 census there were 939 people recorded with the Paice surname, ranking it #4,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,194, ranked #4,988, down from #4,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Rotherhithe and West Meon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waverley, Basingstoke and Deane and Worthing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paice is 1,435 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.2%.

1881 census count

939

Ranked #4,103

Modern count

1,194

2016, ranked #4,988

Peak year

1911

1,435 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paice had 939 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,194 in 2016, ranked #4,988.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,435 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Paice surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paice surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Paice 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 771 #3,468
1861 historical 855 #3,238
1881 historical 939 #4,103
1891 historical 1,037 #4,028
1901 historical 1,271 #3,904
1911 historical 1,435 #3,373
1997 modern 1,251 #4,553
1998 modern 1,280 #4,642
1999 modern 1,291 #4,625
2000 modern 1,280 #4,643
2001 modern 1,266 #4,592
2002 modern 1,285 #4,619
2003 modern 1,220 #4,739
2004 modern 1,181 #4,876
2005 modern 1,155 #4,928
2006 modern 1,149 #4,937
2007 modern 1,138 #5,030
2008 modern 1,159 #4,974
2009 modern 1,214 #4,893
2010 modern 1,229 #4,943
2011 modern 1,210 #4,931
2012 modern 1,193 #4,937
2013 modern 1,216 #4,935
2014 modern 1,229 #4,917
2015 modern 1,222 #4,885
2016 modern 1,194 #4,988

Geography

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Where Paices are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Rotherhithe, West Meon and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waverley, Basingstoke and Deane, Worthing, South Gloucestershire and West Dorset. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Mary Rotherhithe London (South Districts)
4 West Meon Hampshire
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waverley 018 Waverley
2 Basingstoke and Deane 001 Basingstoke and Deane
3 Worthing 010 Worthing
4 South Gloucestershire 031 South Gloucestershire
5 West Dorset 012 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Paice

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Paice

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Paice is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Paice 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

Paice falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Paice is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Paice

The surname Paice has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "peace," which was often used as a nickname for a peaceful or mild-tempered person. The name may also have been used as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a peacekeeper or a mediator.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Paice can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a census-like record compiled in 1279. This document mentions a Richard le Peys, an early spelling variation of the name. The name also appears in other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Surrey and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, under various spellings like Peys, Peyse, and Payse.

In the 16th century, the surname began to take on its more modern spelling of Paice. One notable individual from this time was John Paice, a merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London, born around 1520. He is recorded as having traded in various goods, including cloth and spices.

Another early bearer of the name was William Paice, born in 1602 in Wiltshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a magistrate in his local community. His descendants continued to hold significant property and influence in the area for several generations.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Captain Thomas Paice fought on the Parliamentarian side. He was involved in several battles, including the Battle of Naseby in 1645, and was known for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield.

In the 18th century, the surname Paice became associated with the town of Paice's Woodside in Gloucestershire. This place name likely derived from an early Paice family who had settled and owned land in the area.

Another notable individual from this period was Sir Robert Paice, born in 1725 in Somerset. He was a successful merchant and philanthropist, known for his charitable work and contributions to various causes, including the establishment of schools and hospitals in his local community.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Paice surname continued to be found across England, with individuals from various backgrounds and professions bearing the name. Some examples include William Paice, a renowned architect born in 1841 in Devon, and Alice Paice, a celebrated author and poet born in 1876 in Oxfordshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Paice families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paice 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. Hampshire leads with 376 Paices recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.16x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 376 20.16x
Surrey 168 3.79x
Middlesex 132 1.45x
Berkshire 71 10.39x
Kent 27 0.87x
Sussex 24 1.56x
Worcestershire 20 1.68x
Oxfordshire 16 2.85x
Wiltshire 15 1.86x
Buckinghamshire 11 2.00x
Dorset 10 1.67x
Essex 9 0.50x
Warwickshire 8 0.35x
Fife 7 1.30x
Derbyshire 6 0.42x
Lincolnshire 6 0.41x
Somerset 6 0.41x
Brecknockshire 4 2.20x
Gloucestershire 4 0.22x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Bedfordshire 2 0.42x
Cheshire 2 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.32x
Devon 1 0.05x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Northumberland 1 0.07x
Shropshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishops Waltham in Hampshire leads with 41 Paices recorded in 1881 and an index of 527.67x.

Place Total Index
Bishops Waltham 41 527.67x
Basingstoke 20 93.20x
Easton 20 1324.50x
West Meon 20 803.21x
Lambeth 19 2.39x
Rotherhithe 19 16.90x
Islington London 18 2.04x
Croydon 16 6.50x
Bermondsey 15 5.54x
Egham 15 55.09x
Newington 15 4.46x
Privett 15 1875.00x
Herriard 14 1111.11x
Reading St Mary 14 25.58x
St George Hanover 14 11.78x
Battersea 13 3.88x
Godalming 13 46.56x
Portsea 13 3.56x
Aldermaston 12 714.29x
Droxford 12 168.54x
Feckenham 12 88.24x
St Maurice Winchester 12 154.84x
Chilbolton 11 1028.04x
Micheldever 11 339.51x
Chelsea London 10 3.65x
Hinton Ampner 10 840.34x
Pamber 10 462.96x
St Pancras London 10 1.37x
Winslade 10 2857.14x
Alverstoke 9 13.33x
Barton Stacey 9 520.23x
Cowley 9 51.31x
St Marylebone London 9 1.85x
Yateley 9 254.96x
Crayford 8 59.00x
Hackney London 8 1.57x
Mitcham 8 28.54x
Sidmonton 8 1311.48x
Southampton St Mary 8 6.82x
Wokingham 8 51.31x
Balsall 7 194.99x
Cupar 7 29.88x
Eton 7 56.13x
Kensington London 7 1.38x
Longfleet 7 101.16x
Sandhurst 7 52.91x
Wootton Rivers 7 578.51x
Bramdean 6 731.71x
Fareham 6 26.76x
Hambledon 6 95.39x
Hurstbourne Priors 6 472.44x
Lasham 6 952.38x
Lewisham 6 3.62x
Midhurst 6 119.28x
Salisbury St Martin 6 71.60x
Sevenoaks 6 23.83x
Speen 6 53.67x
St Luke London 6 4.11x
Willesden 6 6.99x
Acton 5 9.37x
Basing 5 143.27x
Beddington 5 29.15x
Bridgewater 5 12.57x
Bromley London 5 2.50x
Hawley 5 142.45x
Horsham 5 16.77x
Kingston On Thames 5 4.69x
Leyton 5 16.16x
Louth 5 14.99x
Oving 5 96.53x
Reading St Giles 5 7.46x
Tooting Graveney 5 40.52x
Westminster St John 5 4.51x
Alton 4 28.45x
Farnborough 4 20.42x
Kingsclere 4 46.95x
Kingsley 4 279.72x
Llangunider 4 35.27x
Streatham 4 5.92x
Upham 4 196.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 56
William 53
Charles 41
Henry 37
James 29
John 20
Thomas 18
Edward 17
Frederick 16
Walter 12
Alfred 11
Harry 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Frank 6
Joseph 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 6
Ernest 5
Richard 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Chas. 3
David 3
F. 3
Herbert 3
Nathaniel 3
Peter 3
Philip 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Lewis 2
Mathew 2
Nicholas 2
Samuel 2
Archibald 1
Arnold 1
Christopher 1
Cristopher 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
Geo. 1
Lea 1
Leonard 1
Wm.Alfred 1

FAQ

Paice surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paice surname in 1881?

In 1881, 939 people were recorded with the Paice surname. That placed it at #4,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paice surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,194 in 2016. That gives Paice a modern rank of #4,988.

What does the Paice surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word for "peace".

What does the Paice map show?

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