NameCensus.

UK surname

Paling

A topographic surname indicating a person living near a fence, boundary, or boundary marker.

In the 1881 census there were 677 people recorded with the Paling surname, ranking it #5,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 899, ranked #6,308, down from #5,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lowdham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Derbyshire, Bolsover and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paling is 996 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.8%.

1881 census count

677

Ranked #5,320

Modern count

899

2016, ranked #6,308

Peak year

1911

996 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paling had 677 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 899 in 2016, ranked #6,308.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 996 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Paling surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paling surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Paling 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 348 #6,765
1861 historical 281 #8,921
1881 historical 677 #5,320
1891 historical 749 #5,317
1901 historical 824 #5,486
1911 historical 996 #4,556
1997 modern 906 #5,939
1998 modern 941 #5,952
1999 modern 946 #5,971
2000 modern 916 #6,097
2001 modern 905 #6,058
2002 modern 908 #6,159
2003 modern 889 #6,146
2004 modern 892 #6,143
2005 modern 874 #6,164
2006 modern 862 #6,245
2007 modern 880 #6,198
2008 modern 884 #6,220
2009 modern 903 #6,247
2010 modern 928 #6,230
2011 modern 905 #6,300
2012 modern 899 #6,253
2013 modern 918 #6,254
2014 modern 913 #6,305
2015 modern 899 #6,330
2016 modern 899 #6,308

Geography

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Where Palings are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lowdham, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Derbyshire, Bolsover, Mansfield and Nottingham. 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 Lowdham Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Derbyshire 004 South Derbyshire
2 Bolsover 006 Bolsover
3 Mansfield 003 Mansfield
4 Nottingham 035 Nottingham
5 Mansfield 007 Mansfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Paling

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Paling

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Paling is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Paling 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

Paling falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Paling

The surname Paling has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pal," meaning a stake or pale, referring to a fence or boundary marker. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as an occupational surname to someone who worked with fences or boundary markers.

In the Domesday Book, a historical record of land ownership and taxation compiled in 1086, there are references to individuals with the surname Paling or similar spellings, such as "de la Paling" or "atte Paling," indicating their association with a particular location or occupation.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1166, where a certain Willelmus de Paling is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various spellings, such as "Palynge" and "Palyng," reflecting the variations common in that era. One notable example is John Palyng, a monk and chronicler from Yorkshire who lived during the reign of Edward III (1312-1377).

During the 15th century, the name Paling can be found in various records from different parts of England, indicating its widespread use. For instance, William Paling was a member of the Guild of Corpus Christi in York in 1459.

In the 16th century, the surname gained further prominence with individuals like Thomas Paling (c. 1530-1598), an English clergyman and Protestant reformer who served as a canon at Canterbury Cathedral.

Other notable figures bearing the Paling surname include: 1. Sir Everard Paling (1660-1734), an English politician and landowner from Nottinghamshire. 2. John Paling (1776-1847), an English engraver and landscape painter. 3. Walter Paling (1879-1956), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire and represented England in Test matches. 4. Dorothy Paling (1913-2005), a British aviator and one of the first female commercial pilots in the United Kingdom. 5. Peter Paling (born 1936), a British author and playwright known for his works on English folklore and history.

The surname Paling has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Paling in Nottinghamshire, Paling Dike in Yorkshire, and Paling Field in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its connection to boundaries and markers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Paling families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paling 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 190 Palings recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.44x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 190 21.44x
Leicestershire 104 14.27x
Yorkshire 83 1.27x
Derbyshire 57 5.54x
Lancashire 44 0.56x
Lincolnshire 35 3.33x
Warwickshire 24 1.45x
Middlesex 23 0.35x
Surrey 20 0.62x
Kent 17 0.76x
Cambridgeshire 13 3.12x
Staffordshire 11 0.50x
Norfolk 8 0.79x
Sussex 8 0.72x
Gloucestershire 7 0.54x
Huntingdonshire 6 4.60x
Rutland 6 12.43x
Berkshire 5 1.01x
Cheshire 2 0.14x
Durham 2 0.10x
Glamorgan 2 0.17x
Merionethshire 2 1.66x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.57x
Morayshire 1 0.98x
Northamptonshire 1 0.16x
Northumberland 1 0.10x
Shropshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 48 Palings recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.94x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 48 20.94x
Lowdham 36 2168.67x
Newark Upon Trent 24 75.35x
Birmingham 23 4.16x
Leicester St Margaret 22 12.38x
Melton Mowbray 15 114.42x
Beeston 14 137.52x
Linthorpe 14 36.01x
Houghton On The Hill 12 1290.32x
Swadlincote 12 1052.63x
Greenwich 10 9.55x
Hinckley 10 57.84x
Litchurch 10 24.14x
Snenton 10 28.72x
Arnold 9 69.55x
Derby St Werburgh 9 15.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 6.79x
Hindley 9 27.06x
Hoby 9 1285.71x
Lower Darwen 9 87.89x
Ripon 9 59.56x
Camberwell 8 1.90x
Brighton 7 3.13x
Bromley 7 20.47x
Gloucester Barton St 7 92.59x
Southcoates 7 19.35x
Spalding 7 33.56x
Thorney 7 151.52x
Almondbury 6 19.05x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.10x
Burton Joyce 6 397.35x
Frisby On The Wreake 6 674.16x
Fulham London 6 6.29x
Harborne 6 8.44x
Heeley 6 30.30x
Ilkeston 6 20.79x
Ilkestonderbypart 6 199.34x
Islington London 6 0.94x
Leicester All Sts 6 41.90x
Market Overton 6 689.66x
Rotherhithe 6 7.39x
Sculcoates 6 5.81x
Sutton 6 173.91x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 56.02x
Basford 5 12.24x
Cookham 5 32.51x
Gonalstone 5 1785.71x
Holy Trinity 5 3.19x
Manchester 5 1.43x
Newton With Scales 5 833.33x
Pinchbeck 5 74.18x
Ramsey 5 47.85x
Wolstanton 5 7.42x
Derby St Alkmund 4 12.97x
Droylsden 4 15.72x
Grantham 4 29.20x
Holbeck 4 9.27x
Kegworth 4 82.47x
Ollerton 4 217.39x
Pentrich 4 69.08x
Radford 4 8.88x
Scarborough 4 6.76x
Southwell 4 62.02x
Stretford 4 9.32x
Swinstead 4 506.33x
Thurgarton 4 540.54x
Waltham On The Wolds 4 298.51x
Walton On Hill 4 9.47x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 30.24x
Louth 3 12.45x
Newington 3 1.24x
Saxelby 3 2500.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.27x
Thorpe Arnold 3 909.09x
Trowell 3 315.79x
Wellow 3 361.45x
Bourn 2 23.56x
Leicester Newarke 2 52.63x
Weston 2 105.26x
Worksop 2 7.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 48
Thomas 24
George 21
Henry 17
James 16
Samuel 16
Robert 11
Frederick 10
Charles 8
Joseph 8
Arthur 7
Richard 7
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Tom 4
Walter 4
Francis 3
Fred 3
Harry 3
Reuben 3
Albert 2
Anthony 2
Arnold 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Geo. 2
Jos. 2
Josiah 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
Arther 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Henry 1
Harwood 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Josuah 1
Leonard 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Myers 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Wm.Josh.Heny. 1

FAQ

Paling surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paling surname in 1881?

In 1881, 677 people were recorded with the Paling surname. That placed it at #5,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paling surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 899 in 2016. That gives Paling a modern rank of #6,308.

What does the Paling surname mean?

A topographic surname indicating a person living near a fence, boundary, or boundary marker.

What does the Paling map show?

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