NameCensus.

UK surname

Paine

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked as a servant or attendant.

In the 1881 census there were 4,124 people recorded with the Paine surname, ranking it #1,097 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,570, ranked #1,899, down from #1,097 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beckley, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Shepway and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paine is 4,360 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.4%.

1881 census count

4,124

Ranked #1,097

Modern count

3,570

2016, ranked #1,899

Peak year

1911

4,360 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paine had 4,124 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,097 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,570 in 2016, ranked #1,899.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,360 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Paine surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paine surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Paine 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 3,586 #795
1861 historical 2,951 #978
1881 historical 4,124 #1,097
1891 historical 3,687 #1,297
1901 historical 4,122 #1,364
1911 historical 4,360 #1,187
1997 modern 3,851 #1,690
1998 modern 3,987 #1,696
1999 modern 4,063 #1,671
2000 modern 4,022 #1,684
2001 modern 3,885 #1,707
2002 modern 3,897 #1,740
2003 modern 3,777 #1,760
2004 modern 3,734 #1,774
2005 modern 3,683 #1,770
2006 modern 3,684 #1,775
2007 modern 3,667 #1,794
2008 modern 3,590 #1,848
2009 modern 3,694 #1,836
2010 modern 3,755 #1,853
2011 modern 3,731 #1,841
2012 modern 3,629 #1,857
2013 modern 3,691 #1,855
2014 modern 3,738 #1,851
2015 modern 3,649 #1,871
2016 modern 3,570 #1,899

Geography

Back to top

Where Paines are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beckley, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Shepway, Hastings 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 Beckley Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 004 Rother
2 Shepway 013 Shepway
3 Hastings 006 Hastings
4 Shepway 011 Shepway
5 Ashford 005 Ashford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Paine

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Paine

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

Paine is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Paine

The surname Paine originated in England and is derived from the Old French word "peine", meaning pain or punishment. It is believed to have been an occupational name for a jailer or torturer. The name can be traced back to the 11th century, with records showing it as "Paine" and "Payne".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Paine" in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk. This suggests that the name was already well-established in those regions by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Payn", "Payne", and "Paine". These variations were due to regional dialects and spelling inconsistencies at the time.

In the 13th century, a prominent family by the name of Paine held lands in Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire. The name is also found in medieval records from Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname was Sir Thomas Paine (c. 1350-1419), a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire during the reigns of Richard II and Henry IV.

Another historical figure was Robert Paine (c. 1599-1658), a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America. He was among the first settlers of Ipswich, Massachusetts.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809), the famous political philosopher, is arguably the most renowned bearer of the surname. He was born in England but is best known for his influential writings during the American Revolution, including "Common Sense" and "The Rights of Man".

Robert Treat Paine (1731-1814) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a prominent lawyer in Massachusetts.

Charles C. Paine (1799-1853) was a notable architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Boston, including the Boston Athenaeum and the Massachusetts State House.

Throughout history, the Paine surname has been associated with various occupations, including clergymen, politicians, lawyers, and architects. Its origins as an occupational name reflect the diverse backgrounds and roles of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Paine families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paine 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 777 Paines recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.93x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 777 1.93x
Kent 657 4.79x
Surrey 505 2.58x
Sussex 499 7.36x
Hampshire 148 1.79x
Lancashire 121 0.25x
Northamptonshire 97 2.56x
Essex 94 1.18x
Bedfordshire 79 3.79x
Warwickshire 74 0.73x
Huntingdonshire 69 8.64x
Dorset 67 2.54x
Somerset 66 1.02x
Staffordshire 66 0.49x
Suffolk 66 1.35x
Buckinghamshire 64 2.63x
Cambridgeshire 62 2.43x
Gloucestershire 58 0.74x
Yorkshire 55 0.14x
Devon 47 0.56x
Oxfordshire 43 1.73x
Berkshire 40 1.32x
Worcestershire 37 0.70x
Wiltshire 33 0.93x
Hertfordshire 30 1.08x
Cornwall 29 0.64x
Monmouthshire 27 0.93x
Glamorgan 26 0.37x
Herefordshire 19 1.15x
Leicestershire 19 0.43x
Cheshire 18 0.20x
Durham 17 0.14x
Lanarkshire 16 0.12x
Norfolk 16 0.26x
Lincolnshire 13 0.20x
Northumberland 13 0.22x
Sutherland 9 2.91x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.13x
Shropshire 7 0.20x
Westmorland 6 0.68x
Derbyshire 5 0.08x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.11x
Cumberland 4 0.12x
Radnorshire 4 1.23x
Royal Navy 3 0.63x
Rutland 3 1.02x
Channel Islands 2 0.17x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
Cardiganshire 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 92 Paines recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.58x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 92 3.58x
Brighton 84 6.14x
Islington London 78 2.00x
Beckley 74 436.58x
Lambeth 67 1.91x
St Pancras London 67 2.07x
Kensington London 63 2.82x
St Marylebone London 62 2.89x
Portsea 58 3.59x
Shoreditch London 54 3.10x
Bethnal Green London 49 2.80x
Hackney London 44 1.95x
Broadwater 43 27.64x
Newington 42 2.83x
Ramsgate 33 14.73x
Waresley 32 1003.13x
Bermondsey 31 2.59x
Greenwich 30 4.68x
Battersea 29 1.96x
Mile End Old Town 29 4.57x
Paddington London 29 1.96x
Rye 29 44.99x
Northfleet 28 23.16x
Clerkenwell London 26 2.74x
Deptford St Paul 25 2.36x
Isleworth 25 13.98x
Maidstone 25 6.11x
Desborough 22 77.41x
Rotherfield 22 36.84x
Ashford 21 15.71x
Aston 21 0.75x
Crudwell 21 202.70x
Harpole 21 183.57x
Lee 21 10.54x
St George Hanover 21 4.00x
Walsall Foreign 21 2.99x
Wingrave 21 168.13x
New Shoreham 20 49.20x
Croydon 19 1.75x
Kingston On Thames 19 4.04x
Clapham 18 3.58x
St Luke London 18 2.79x
Hastings St Mary In The 17 11.75x
Hornsey 17 3.34x
North Weald Bassett 17 123.19x
Bentley 16 165.12x
Ebony 16 655.74x
Turvey 16 121.58x
Alton 15 24.14x
Eynesbury 15 81.04x
Mile End New Town 15 27.31x
Northiam 15 90.20x
Stratford On Avon 15 26.66x
West Ham 15 0.86x
Dover St Mary Virgin 14 10.54x
Birmingham 13 0.38x
Headcorn 13 63.23x
Heathfield 13 47.29x
Heston 13 9.73x
Lewes St John Southover 13 28.54x
Milton Ernest 13 224.14x
Oldham 13 0.84x
Penge 13 5.06x
Reigate Foreign 13 6.12x
Blockley 12 40.40x
Burton Upon Trent 12 3.78x
Chatham 12 3.18x
Chorlton On Medlock 12 1.58x
Folkestone 12 4.51x
Gravesend 12 10.33x
Guildford St Nicholas 12 34.65x
Hythe St Leonard 12 24.74x
Liverpool 12 0.41x
Lydd 12 40.83x
Sevenoaks 12 10.78x
Stroud 12 7.82x
Tiverton 12 8.32x
Ystradyfodwg 12 1.95x
East Sutton 11 205.99x
St Neots 11 25.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 220
Elizabeth 147
Sarah 126
Jane 78
Emma 74
Emily 71
Ann 70
Eliza 70
Ellen 70
Alice 57
Annie 41
Louisa 40
Caroline 35
Harriet 32
Charlotte 31
Kate 31
Edith 27
Hannah 26
Florence 24
Martha 24
Ada 23
Catherine 22
Fanny 22
Harriett 21
Anne 19
Maria 18
Frances 17
Sophia 17
Anna 15
Margaret 15
Matilda 15
Agnes 14
Clara 13
Esther 13
Rose 13
Eleanor 12
Grace 9
Julia 9
Lucy 9
Amy 8
Beatrice 8
Elizth. 8
Helen 8
Isabella 8
Minnie 8
Susan 8
Amelia 7
Ethel 7
Laura 7
Rebecca 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 231
George 172
John 147
Charles 143
James 122
Henry 117
Thomas 103
Edward 77
Alfred 69
Arthur 51
Frederick 47
Joseph 41
Albert 40
Walter 37
Harry 29
Frank 28
Ernest 25
Richard 25
Herbert 24
Samuel 23
Robert 21
Edwin 17
Daniel 14
Francis 14
Wm. 13
David 11
Chas. 9
Lewis 9
Stephen 9
Benjamin 8
Jabez 8
Percy 8
Thos. 8
Geo. 7
Sidney 7
Willm. 7
Clement 6
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Jesse 6
Edmund 5
Fred 5
Matthew 5
Cornelius 4
Edgar 4
Edwd. 4
Infant 4
Louis 4
Tom 4
Robt. 3

FAQ

Paine surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paine surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,124 people were recorded with the Paine surname. That placed it at #1,097 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paine surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,570 in 2016. That gives Paine a modern rank of #1,899.

What does the Paine surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who worked as a servant or attendant.

What does the Paine map show?

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