NameCensus.

UK surname

Paradise

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a park, garden, or other pleasant, idyllic place.

In the 1881 census there were 190 people recorded with the Paradise surname, ranking it #13,270 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 313, ranked #14,318, down from #13,270 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paradise is 314 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 64.7%.

1881 census count

190

Ranked #13,270

Modern count

313

2016, ranked #14,318

Peak year

2010

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paradise had 190 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,270 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016, ranked #14,318.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 272 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Paradise surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paradise surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Paradise 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 112 #15,913
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 190 #13,270
1891 historical 196 #15,163
1901 historical 216 #14,426
1911 historical 272 #12,205
1997 modern 279 #14,175
1998 modern 291 #14,155
1999 modern 291 #14,234
2000 modern 293 #14,141
2001 modern 286 #14,160
2002 modern 305 #13,865
2003 modern 300 #13,823
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 305 #13,689
2006 modern 301 #13,886
2007 modern 304 #13,927
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 299 #14,445
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 309 #14,322
2012 modern 308 #14,259
2013 modern 309 #14,451
2014 modern 308 #14,571
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 313 #14,318

Geography

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Where Paradises are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Trowbridge, Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bath and North East Somerset and Wiltshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Bedminster Somerset
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
5 London parishes London 1

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 010 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 008 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Wiltshire 018 Wiltshire
4 Wiltshire 026 Wiltshire
5 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Paradise

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Paradise

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

Paradise is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Paradise falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Paradise

The surname Paradise originated in England during the late Middle Ages. It is an English locational surname derived from the Old French phrase "paradis" meaning "paradise." This term likely referred to a pleasant or desirable location, suggesting that the earliest bearers of the surname hailed from a place with this descriptive name.

Records indicate that the Paradise surname first appeared in the historical county of Norfolk during the 13th century. One of the earliest known references is found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mentions a Ralph de Paradys residing in Norfolk. This spelling variation highlights the surname's French roots and its evolution into the modern English form.

By the 14th century, the Paradise surname had spread to other parts of England, including Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 list a John de Paradys in Yorkshire, while the Lincolnshire Subsidy Rolls of 1349 mention a Thomas Paradis, showcasing further spelling variations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Paradise surname was William Paradise, born around 1420 in Norwich, Norfolk. He was a prominent merchant and served as the Mayor of Norwich in 1471. Another notable figure was John Paradise, born in 1508 in Hertfordshire, who became a celebrated theologian and scholar at the University of Cambridge.

In the 16th century, the Paradise surname gained prominence with the birth of Thomas Paradise (1529-1585), a renowned English composer and musician. He served as the Master of the Choristers at the Cathedral Church of Christ in Oxford and contributed significantly to the development of English church music during the Renaissance period.

Another significant individual was Sir Benjamin Paradise (1591-1658), a wealthy English merchant and politician who served as the Member of Parliament for Sandwich, Kent, during the reign of King Charles I. He played a pivotal role in the English Civil War, initially supporting the Royalist cause before switching allegiance to the Parliamentarians.

The Paradise surname also found its way to the American colonies in the 17th century. One of the earliest recorded instances was that of John Paradise, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 and later became a prominent landowner and planter in the colony.

These examples illustrate the rich history and geographical spread of the Paradise surname, which has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including merchants, musicians, scholars, and politicians, throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Paradise families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paradise 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. Gloucestershire leads with 46 Paradises recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.52x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 46 12.52x
Wiltshire 34 20.53x
Somerset 33 10.95x
Middlesex 24 1.28x
Surrey 16 1.75x
Lincolnshire 10 3.34x
Kent 8 1.25x
Northamptonshire 5 2.84x
Staffordshire 5 0.79x
Huntingdonshire 4 10.76x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 1.03x
Glamorgan 1 0.31x
Hampshire 1 0.26x
Hertfordshire 1 0.77x
Yorkshire 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. West Dean in Gloucestershire leads with 18 Paradises recorded in 1881 and an index of 301.51x.

Place Total Index
West Dean 18 301.51x
Devizes St Mary 12 718.56x
Stamford St Mary 10 1639.34x
Trowbridge 9 122.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 20.24x
Croydon 7 13.82x
Islington London 7 3.86x
Kilmersdon 7 469.80x
Yatesbury 7 5000.00x
Bedminster 6 21.18x
Combe Hay 5 4166.67x
Dursley 5 331.13x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 5 581.40x
Harborne 5 24.68x
South Stoke 5 2000.00x
Huntingdon St Benedict 4 851.06x
Lambeth 4 2.45x
Northampton St Peter 4 373.83x
Stoke Newington London 4 27.42x
Awre 3 394.74x
Chippenham 3 86.46x
Eltham 3 80.21x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 176.47x
St Clement Danes 3 99.01x
Beckington 2 338.98x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 59.70x
Clerkenwell London 2 4.52x
Deptford St Paul 2 4.06x
Enfield 2 16.27x
Hornsey 2 8.45x
Martock 2 102.04x
Norton St Philip 2 606.06x
Pennington In Leigh 2 46.95x
Plumstead 2 9.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 5.31x
Uley 2 298.51x
Bath St James 1 31.85x
Battersea 1 1.45x
Bedford St Paul 1 15.04x
Berkeley 1 49.02x
Bradford 1 2.23x
Bradford On Avon 1 18.87x
Camberwell 1 0.84x
Charterhouse Hinton 1 285.71x
Dallington 1 96.15x
East Barnet 1 39.06x
Hammersmith London 1 2.17x
Long Ashton 1 66.67x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 12.67x
Melksham 1 34.72x
Milton 1 105.26x
Roath 1 6.75x
Shoreditch London 1 1.23x
Southwark St John 1 17.45x
St Marylebone London 1 1.00x
St Pancras London 1 0.66x
West Wickham 1 161.29x
Westwood 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 14
Mary 13
Sarah 10
Jane 6
Eliza 4
Florence 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Emily 2
Hester 2
Lily 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rose 2
Amealia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Blanche 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christiane 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliede 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
Levenia 1
Lydia 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Nina 1
Norah 1
Phoebe 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Sophia 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 11
John 10
William 10
George 9
Thomas 7
James 6
Charles 3
Edward 3
Abraham 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Chas. 1
Cornelius 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Job 1
Jos.Geo. 1
Richard 1
Saml. 1
Vincent 1
Willfred 1

FAQ

Paradise surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paradise surname in 1881?

In 1881, 190 people were recorded with the Paradise surname. That placed it at #13,270 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paradise surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 313 in 2016. That gives Paradise a modern rank of #14,318.

What does the Paradise surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a park, garden, or other pleasant, idyllic place.

What does the Paradise map show?

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