NameCensus.

UK surname

Parham

From the English place name, referring to a homestead or enclosure where pears were grown.

In the 1881 census there were 452 people recorded with the Parham surname, ranking it #7,304 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, down from #7,304 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Compton Abbas and East and West Tisbury, Wardour. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Havant, Chichester and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parham is 661 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.3%.

1881 census count

452

Ranked #7,304

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

1911

661 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parham had 452 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,304 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 661 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parham 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 311 #8,151
1881 historical 452 #7,304
1891 historical 473 #7,758
1901 historical 601 #7,068
1911 historical 661 #6,353
1997 modern 599 #8,153
1998 modern 605 #8,343
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 621 #8,225
2001 modern 590 #8,392
2002 modern 597 #8,494
2003 modern 578 #8,546
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 550 #8,784
2006 modern 545 #8,875
2007 modern 552 #8,883
2008 modern 560 #8,835
2009 modern 567 #8,959
2010 modern 578 #9,021
2011 modern 560 #9,130
2012 modern 566 #8,981
2013 modern 580 #8,955
2014 modern 574 #9,078
2015 modern 564 #9,119
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Parhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Compton Abbas, East and West Tisbury, Wardour, Bishopstrow and Havant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Havant, Chichester and Bromley. 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 Compton Abbas Dorset
3 East and West Tisbury, Wardour Wiltshire
4 Bishopstrow Wiltshire
5 Havant Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Havant 013 Havant
2 Chichester 007 Chichester
3 Chichester 009 Chichester
4 Bromley 030 Bromley
5 Havant 015 Havant

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parham

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Parham is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Parham is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Parham

The surname Parham has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Parham, which is found in various locations across the country, including West Sussex, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire.

The name Parham itself is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "pearroc" meaning a small enclosed area or paddock, and "ham" which referred to a homestead or village. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname may have lived near or were associated with a small enclosed settlement or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Parham can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, dated 1230, where a Robert de Parham is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also document a John de Parham in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, which list a Thomas Parham. The Sussex Feet of Fines from 1396 mentions a John Parham, while the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1524 record a William Parham.

One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir John Parham (c. 1567-1624), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Arundel in Sussex. Another prominent individual was Robert Parham (1613-1679), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Pettistree in Suffolk.

In the 17th century, the Parham name gained further recognition with Edward Parham (1630-1695), an English politician and landowner who served as the High Sheriff of Sussex in 1680. Additionally, John Parham (1654-1720) was an English clergyman and author who held the position of Archdeacon of Rochester from 1702 until his death.

Furthermore, the surname Parham has been associated with various place names, such as Parham in West Sussex, which was once home to Parham Park and the historic Parham House, dating back to the 16th century. The village of Parham in Suffolk also bears this name, as does a parish in Cambridgeshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parham 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. Kent leads with 83 Parhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.51x.

County Total Index
Kent 83 5.51x
Wiltshire 71 18.17x
Hampshire 60 6.62x
Sussex 51 6.85x
Dorset 36 12.41x
Surrey 33 1.53x
Somerset 32 4.50x
Essex 19 2.18x
Middlesex 17 0.38x
Berkshire 16 4.82x
Nottinghamshire 15 2.52x
Gloucestershire 6 0.69x
Monmouthshire 4 1.25x
Warwickshire 3 0.27x
Oxfordshire 2 0.73x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Devon 1 0.11x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 1.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Warblington in Hampshire leads with 34 Parhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 947.08x.

Place Total Index
Warblington 34 947.08x
Westbourne 20 539.08x
West Ham 18 9.35x
Lewisham 17 21.14x
Bishopstrow 11 2972.97x
Donhead St Andrew 11 916.67x
Lyncombe Widcombe 10 53.71x
Midhurst 10 409.84x
Woolwich 10 17.95x
Broad Chalk 9 810.81x
Compton Abbas 9 1267.61x
Milton In Milton 9 140.41x
Reading St Giles 9 27.66x
Lonbridge Deverill 8 583.94x
Mansfield 8 38.82x
Wardour 8 695.65x
West Tisbury 8 666.67x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 44.53x
Gillingham 7 22.52x
Gillingham 7 140.56x
Ibberton 7 2500.00x
Kingston On Thames 7 13.53x
Portchester 7 598.29x
Bathwick 6 76.24x
Bruton 6 214.29x
Croydon 6 5.02x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 37.83x
Hungerford 6 133.63x
Leominster 6 250.00x
Newington 6 3.68x
Orchardleigh 6 10000.00x
Plumstead 6 11.94x
Portsmouth 6 28.78x
Battersea 5 3.08x
Brighton 5 3.33x
Deptford St Paul 5 4.30x
Frinstead 5 1562.50x
Hackney London 5 2.02x
Littlehampton 5 84.03x
Teynham 5 183.82x
Alverstoke 4 12.20x
Alvesdiston 4 1111.11x
Bermondsey 4 3.04x
Eastbourne 4 11.67x
Islington London 4 0.93x
Llanover 4 36.66x
St Thomas Winchester 4 62.50x
Sutton Waldron 4 1379.31x
Aston 3 0.98x
Bulwell 3 23.17x
Chatham 3 7.23x
Northfleet 3 22.59x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.95x
Pitcombe 3 468.75x
Portsea 3 1.69x
St Marylebone London 3 1.27x
Wandsworth 3 7.05x
Clarendon Park 2 606.06x
Cowley 2 23.47x
Dibden 2 263.16x
Donhead St Mary 2 100.50x
Faversham 2 13.91x
Marnhull 2 94.79x
St George In East 2 6.65x
Stalbridge 2 72.46x
Sutton Veney 2 181.82x
Warminster 2 23.36x
Broadwinsor 1 52.63x
Camberwell 1 0.35x
Foots Cray 1 34.60x
Fugglestone St Peter 1 64.52x
Hammersmith London 1 0.92x
Harwick St Nicholas 1 72.99x
Hillingdon 1 7.10x
Lynsted 1 51.28x
Netherhampton 1 357.14x
Sherborne 1 11.71x
Swaffham 1 18.08x
Tarrant Hinton 1 322.58x
Winkfield 1 18.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Elizabeth 19
Ann 12
Emma 10
Eliza 9
Annie 7
Caroline 7
Charlotte 7
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Emily 6
Maria 6
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Sarah 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Rebecca 3
Selina 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
E. 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Katherine 2
Lilly 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Naomi 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Adeline 1
Amy 1
Avery 1
Betsy 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Joyce 1
Julia 1
Lairmia 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 26
William 23
Henry 20
John 18
Charles 17
Thomas 15
James 13
Albert 7
Frederick 7
Ernest 5
Alfred 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Frank 3
Harry 3
Henery 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Edmund 2
Leonard 2
Willie 2
Blunett 1
Dick 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elbert 1
Enock 1
Francis 1
Geo. 1
Geo.B. 1
H. 1
Hezakiah 1
Hubert 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Leo 1
Matilda 1
Morgan 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Rice 1
Richard 1
Romain 1
Rowland 1
Sam 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Parham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 452 people were recorded with the Parham surname. That placed it at #7,304 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Parham a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Parham surname mean?

From the English place name, referring to a homestead or enclosure where pears were grown.

What does the Parham map show?

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