NameCensus.

UK surname

Parfrey

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

In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Parfrey surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #23,950 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chew Magna, Stowey and Willesden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Surrey Heath, Bath and North East Somerset and West Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parfrey is 170 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.6%.

1881 census count

68

Ranked #23,950

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

2003

170 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parfrey had 68 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,950 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 129 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Parfrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parfrey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parfrey 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 79 #19,712
1861 historical 61 #26,170
1881 historical 68 #23,950
1891 historical 87 #25,802
1901 historical 121 #20,444
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 154 #20,780
1998 modern 155 #21,227
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 164 #20,687
2003 modern 170 #20,023
2004 modern 166 #20,441
2005 modern 156 #21,221
2006 modern 155 #21,477
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 151 #22,323
2009 modern 152 #22,716
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 133 #25,655
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Parfreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Chew Magna, Stowey, Willesden, London parishes and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Surrey Heath, Bath and North East Somerset, West Somerset, Fenland and Bristol. 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 Chew Magna, Stowey Somerset
3 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Surrey Heath 008 Surrey Heath
2 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
3 West Somerset 003 West Somerset
4 Fenland 011 Fenland
5 Bristol 027 Bristol, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parfrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parfrey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Parfrey, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Parfrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Parfrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Parfrey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Parfrey 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

Parfrey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Parfrey

The surname Parfrey has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "parveu," which means "someone who has risen to a higher social status." This suggests that the name may have been initially given to someone who had achieved success or prosperity.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Parfrey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Parveu." This document was a survey of landholdings in England, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

In the 14th century, the name evolved to its more recognizable form of "Parfrey." This variation can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, which were tax records maintained by the government.

The Parfrey name was particularly prominent in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire, where several families bearing this surname were documented. One notable example is the Parfreys of Ribchester, a family of landowners who held estates in the area during the 16th and 17th centuries.

A famous bearer of the Parfrey name was Sir Robert Parfrey (1558-1632), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London. He was also a benefactor of several charitable causes and founded the Parfrey Almshouses in Islington, which provided housing for the poor.

Another notable figure was John Parfrey (1725-1793), a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Redmarshall in County Durham. He published several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Lord's Supper" and "Sermons on Various Subjects."

In the 19th century, the Parfrey surname was associated with the village of Parfrey, located in the county of Cheshire. This place name likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the family had a strong presence in the area.

One of the more prominent individuals from this era was William Parfrey (1836-1912), a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Parfrey Ironworks in Warrington and was known for his support of various charitable causes, including the founding of a hospital and a school for the deaf.

Throughout its history, the Parfrey surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Parfrye, Parfreye, and Parfry. However, the modern spelling of Parfrey has remained consistent since the 18th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parfrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parfrey 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 25 Parfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.77x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 3.77x
Gloucestershire 13 10.00x
Kent 9 3.98x
Somerset 7 6.56x
Norfolk 5 4.90x
Surrey 3 0.93x
Essex 1 0.76x
Glamorgan 1 0.87x
Hampshire 1 0.74x
Herefordshire 1 3.68x
Lancashire 1 0.13x
Lincolnshire 1 0.94x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 12 Parfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 199.34x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 12 199.34x
St Marylebone London 8 22.59x
Clerkenwell London 7 44.73x
Clutton 5 2173.91x
Greenwich 5 47.35x
Mile End Old Town 4 38.20x
West Walton 4 2000.00x
Deptford St Paul 2 11.46x
Newington 2 8.16x
Staines 2 190.48x
Teddington London 2 133.33x
Aberdare 1 12.61x
Bristol St Michael 1 89.29x
Cheetham 1 17.04x
Chelmsford 1 44.44x
Hereford St Peter 1 136.99x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 35.84x
Margate St John Baptist 1 24.15x
Milton In Gravesend 1 29.50x
Mitcham 1 49.02x
Paulton 1 204.08x
Southampton All Sts 1 42.92x
St George Hanover 1 11.55x
Terrington St Clement 1 217.39x
Tottenham 1 9.47x
Tydd St Mary 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 5
John 5
Edward 4
Charles 3
Henry 2
Abel 1
Alfred 1
Constantine 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Leonard 1
Richard 1
S.F. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Parfrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parfrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Parfrey surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parfrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Parfrey a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Parfrey surname mean?

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

What does the Parfrey map show?

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