NameCensus.

UK surname

Papworth

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Cambridgeshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 1,161 people recorded with the Papworth surname, ranking it #3,458 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,674, ranked #3,734, down from #3,458 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Islington and Over. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fenland, Huntingdonshire and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Papworth is 1,864 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.2%.

1881 census count

1,161

Ranked #3,458

Modern count

1,674

2016, ranked #3,734

Peak year

1999

1,864 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Papworth had 1,161 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,458 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,674 in 2016, ranked #3,734.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,669 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Papworth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Papworth surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Papworth 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 786 #3,393
1861 historical 772 #3,566
1881 historical 1,161 #3,458
1891 historical 1,340 #3,252
1901 historical 1,533 #3,359
1911 historical 1,669 #2,925
1997 modern 1,778 #3,366
1998 modern 1,846 #3,380
1999 modern 1,864 #3,376
2000 modern 1,831 #3,411
2001 modern 1,789 #3,410
2002 modern 1,818 #3,422
2003 modern 1,766 #3,450
2004 modern 1,776 #3,438
2005 modern 1,744 #3,463
2006 modern 1,699 #3,545
2007 modern 1,721 #3,537
2008 modern 1,724 #3,556
2009 modern 1,773 #3,550
2010 modern 1,798 #3,571
2011 modern 1,784 #3,560
2012 modern 1,722 #3,607
2013 modern 1,728 #3,651
2014 modern 1,720 #3,686
2015 modern 1,688 #3,711
2016 modern 1,674 #3,734

Geography

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Where Papworths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Islington, Over and Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Fenland, Huntingdonshire, South Cambridgeshire, Dacorum and Braintree. 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 3
2 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
3 London parishes London 2
4 Over Huntingdonshire
5 Somersham, Colne, Bluntisham Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fenland 006 Fenland
2 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire
3 South Cambridgeshire 001 South Cambridgeshire
4 Dacorum 001 Dacorum
5 Braintree 014 Braintree

Forenames

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First names often paired with Papworth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Papworth

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

Papworth is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Papworth falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Papworth

The surname Papworth has its origins in England and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words "pap" meaning "priest" and "worth" meaning "enclosure or homestead". This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked on the lands belonging to a priest or church.

Papworth is a locational surname, meaning it originated from a place name. The name is believed to have come from the village of Papworth in Cambridgeshire, England. This village was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Papeorde". Over time, the spelling evolved to the modern form of Papworth.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Papworth can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1202, where a Richard de Pappeworth is mentioned. In the 14th century, a John Papworth was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1327.

Notable individuals with the surname Papworth include John Papworth (1775-1847), an English architect and landscape gardener who designed several buildings in London and surrounding areas. Another prominent figure was Wyatt Papworth (1822-1894), a renowned English writer, architect, and art historian who authored several books on architecture and heraldry.

Other historical figures with the Papworth surname include Robert Papworth (1619-1694), an English clergyman and author who wrote on theological subjects, and Thomas Papworth (1603-1659), a member of the English Parliament and supporter of the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War.

In the 19th century, John Woodyer Papworth (1820-1870) was a respected English artist and engraver known for his illustrations in books and periodicals. His works can be found in the collections of various museums and libraries across England.

The surname Papworth has a rich history rooted in the English countryside, with its earliest origins linked to the lands and estates of the clergy. While the name has evolved over the centuries, it continues to reflect a connection to the village of Papworth in Cambridgeshire, where it first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Papworth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Papworth 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 353 Papworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.08x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 353 49.08x
Middlesex 209 1.84x
Huntingdonshire 169 74.96x
Bedfordshire 80 13.61x
Surrey 46 0.83x
Yorkshire 43 0.38x
Lincolnshire 36 1.98x
Kent 35 0.90x
Northamptonshire 31 2.90x
Essex 30 1.34x
Norfolk 26 1.49x
Hertfordshire 20 2.56x
Durham 12 0.36x
Lancashire 12 0.09x
Staffordshire 10 0.26x
Sussex 9 0.47x
Hampshire 8 0.34x
Rutland 5 6.00x
Suffolk 5 0.36x
Warwickshire 5 0.17x
Cheshire 3 0.12x
Gloucestershire 3 0.13x
Leicestershire 3 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.20x
Denbighshire 2 0.47x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.22x
Channel Islands 1 0.30x
Derbyshire 1 0.06x
Devon 1 0.04x
Somerset 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsey in Huntingdonshire leads with 49 Papworths recorded in 1881 and an index of 271.47x.

Place Total Index
Ramsey 49 271.47x
Over 39 913.35x
Islington London 33 3.00x
Histon 31 822.28x
Whittlesey St Mary St 23 91.56x
Arlesey 22 296.50x
Elsworth 22 839.69x
St Pancras London 22 2.41x
Bethnal Green London 20 4.05x
Hackney London 20 3.14x
St Andrewthe Less 18 21.91x
Sutton 16 1391.30x
Toft 16 1616.16x
Mile End Old Town 15 8.37x
Sutton 15 251.68x
Alconbury 14 522.39x
Godmanchester 14 164.13x
Holbeach 14 69.24x
March 14 58.14x
Chatteris 13 70.84x
Great Stukeley 13 802.47x
Chesterton 12 54.13x
Cottenham 12 125.52x
Lewisham 12 5.81x
Shoreditch London 12 2.44x
Bedford St Paul 11 27.28x
Great Braxted 11 758.62x
Lambeth 11 1.11x
Soham 10 64.60x
Witcham 10 666.67x
Witchford 10 581.40x
Biggleswade 9 46.75x
Bromley London 9 3.60x
Chelsea London 9 2.63x
Coveney 9 473.68x
Enfield 9 12.08x
Oakington 9 424.53x
Peterborough 9 11.64x
All Saints Cambridge 8 158.42x
Comberton 8 357.14x
Farnborough 8 32.73x
Hitchin 8 22.64x
Pontefract 8 33.00x
Stilton 8 316.21x
Tempsford 8 384.62x
Welney 8 200.50x
Willingham 8 130.29x
Boxworth 7 714.29x
Caddington 7 81.30x
Newington 7 1.67x
Barton 6 476.19x
Bermondsey 6 1.78x
Crigglestone 6 55.35x
Denver 6 184.62x
Eltham 6 26.43x
Harston 6 196.72x
Hartford 6 408.16x
Kimberworth 6 9.61x
Kirkby La Thorpe 6 606.06x
Milton 6 279.07x
Northampton All Sts 6 16.56x
Sandy 6 57.86x
Somersham 6 109.49x
St George Bloomsbury 6 9.21x
Battersea 5 1.20x
Cherry Hinton 5 147.93x
Eastbourne 5 5.68x
Flamstead 5 69.35x
Gorleston 5 14.23x
Great Cressingham 5 273.22x
Hardwick 5 649.35x
Little Stukeley 5 434.78x
Marchington 5 284.09x
Merrow 5 216.45x
Middlesbrough 5 3.41x
Otford 5 92.42x
Spotland 5 3.34x
St Ives 5 42.77x
Stibbington 5 236.97x
Walthamstow 5 6.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 63
Sarah 57
Elizabeth 48
Emma 32
Eliza 24
Ann 23
Alice 16
Emily 16
Jane 15
Annie 14
Ellen 13
Caroline 11
Louisa 11
Hannah 10
Harriet 10
Martha 10
Rebecca 10
Florence 9
Charlotte 7
Margaret 7
Ada 6
Agnes 6
Esther 6
Harriett 6
Susan 6
Frances 5
Lucy 5
Susannah 5
Amy 4
Clara 4
Fanny 4
Julia 4
Kate 4
Lydia 4
Maria 4
Anne 3
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Lizzie 3
Matilda 3
Ruth 3
Selina 3
Sophia 3
Lily 2
Lousia 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 78
John 61
Charles 52
George 46
James 22
Thomas 22
Richard 19
Alfred 16
Walter 16
Arthur 15
Henry 15
Stephen 13
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Robert 10
Edward 9
Fred 9
Harry 9
David 8
Herbert 6
Samuel 6
Philip 5
Phillip 5
Edgar 4
Ernest 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Ingle 3
Jonas 3
Richd. 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Elijah 2
Ephram 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Jabez 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Oliver 2
Radford 2
Sidney 2
Finston 1
Frederc 1
Zaachus 1

FAQ

Papworth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Papworth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,161 people were recorded with the Papworth surname. That placed it at #3,458 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Papworth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,674 in 2016. That gives Papworth a modern rank of #3,734.

What does the Papworth surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Cambridgeshire, England.

What does the Papworth map show?

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