NameCensus.

UK surname

Paris

A locational surname derived from the French capital city, likely referring to an individual's place of origin.

In the 1881 census there were 940 people recorded with the Paris surname, ranking it #4,099 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,569, ranked #3,951, up from #4,099 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Uphall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carlisle, Epping Forest and Shotts.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paris is 1,590 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.9%.

1881 census count

940

Ranked #4,099

Modern count

1,569

2016, ranked #3,951

Peak year

2014

1,590 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Paris had 940 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,099 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,569 in 2016, ranked #3,951.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,114 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Paris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Paris surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Paris 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 778 #3,430
1861 historical 855 #3,238
1881 historical 940 #4,099
1891 historical 1,036 #4,031
1901 historical 1,114 #4,341
1911 historical 881 #5,051
1997 modern 1,405 #4,129
1998 modern 1,490 #4,079
1999 modern 1,529 #4,010
2000 modern 1,504 #4,058
2001 modern 1,466 #4,068
2002 modern 1,488 #4,098
2003 modern 1,455 #4,097
2004 modern 1,444 #4,125
2005 modern 1,469 #4,027
2006 modern 1,452 #4,073
2007 modern 1,452 #4,110
2008 modern 1,447 #4,143
2009 modern 1,472 #4,175
2010 modern 1,559 #4,052
2011 modern 1,517 #4,121
2012 modern 1,525 #4,016
2013 modern 1,556 #4,012
2014 modern 1,590 #3,959
2015 modern 1,558 #3,992
2016 modern 1,569 #3,951

Geography

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Where Paris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Uphall and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carlisle, Epping Forest, Shotts, Shawfair and Derby. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Uphall Linlithgow
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carlisle 006 Carlisle
2 Epping Forest 007 Epping Forest
3 Shotts North Lanarkshire
4 Shawfair Midlothian
5 Derby 023 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Paris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Paris

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

Paris 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

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

Meaning and origin of Paris

The surname PARIS originates from France, where it first appeared in the early 12th century. It is derived from the Latin name 'Parisii', referring to the Gaulish tribe that inhabited the region around the city of Paris. The name is closely tied to the city itself, with early bearers of the name likely coming from the area.

In medieval records, the name is often spelled as 'Parys' or 'Pareis', reflecting the pronunciation at the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as 'Parys'.

As the name spread throughout France, it took on various forms, such as 'Parisis' and 'Parisien', reflecting the different regional dialects. Some notable historical figures with the surname PARIS include:

1. Matthew Paris (c. 1200-1259), a Benedictine monk and chronicler from St. Albans Abbey in England. 2. Peter Parisiensis (fl. 1305-1310), a French philosopher and logician active in the early 14th century. 3. Jean de Paris (c. 1290-1306), a French Dominican friar and theologian known for his defense of Thomism. 4. Robert de Paris (fl. 1322-1326), a French architect responsible for the design of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. 5. Christine de Pizan (c. 1364-c. 1430), a renowned Italian-French author and poet, whose original surname was Pizan but was also known as Christine de Paris.

The name PARIS is also associated with various place names across France, such as Paris-la-Montagne, Paris-l'Hôpital, and Paris-sur-Cher, reflecting the widespread presence of bearers of this surname throughout the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Paris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paris 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 172 Paris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.86x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 172 1.86x
Sussex 111 7.13x
Hampshire 97 5.12x
Midlothian 84 6.79x
Kent 71 2.25x
Lanarkshire 62 2.08x
Surrey 56 1.24x
Lancashire 55 0.50x
West Lothian 49 35.22x
Angus 33 3.86x
Durham 21 0.76x
Berkshire 20 2.88x
Ross-shire 17 6.70x
Yorkshire 11 0.12x
Warwickshire 10 0.43x
Essex 9 0.49x
Gloucestershire 7 0.39x
Northumberland 7 0.51x
Channel Islands 5 1.83x
Cheshire 5 0.25x
Devon 5 0.26x
Northamptonshire 4 0.46x
Bedfordshire 3 0.63x
Glamorgan 3 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Royal Navy 3 2.73x
Huntingdonshire 2 1.09x
Pembrokeshire 2 0.68x
Perthshire 2 0.48x
Renfrewshire 2 0.28x
Somerset 2 0.13x
Worcestershire 2 0.17x
Ayrshire 1 0.14x
Banffshire 1 0.52x
Berwickshire 1 0.89x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.18x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Fife 1 0.18x
Herefordshire 1 0.26x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.10x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x
Stirlingshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 39 Paris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.41x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 39 12.41x
Uphall 31 202.61x
Mid Calder 30 559.70x
Barony 24 3.17x
Kensington London 19 3.70x
Lewisham 19 11.30x
Dundee 18 5.63x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 17 3.41x
Andover 15 83.85x
Chorlton On Medlock 15 8.61x
Islington London 14 1.56x
Liverpool 14 2.10x
St George In East 14 22.28x
Hammersmith London 11 4.83x
Clerkenwell London 10 4.59x
Hadlow 10 127.88x
Shoreditch London 10 2.50x
St Andrew Holborn 10 31.93x
Broughton In Salford 9 8.98x
East Hoathly 9 332.10x
Kirkliston 9 110.97x
Lambeth 9 1.12x
Rottingdean 9 169.17x
Sherborne St John 9 441.18x
Camberwell 8 1.36x
Eastbourne 8 11.16x
Greenwich 8 5.44x
Hornsey 8 6.85x
Mortimer West End 8 661.16x
Old Monkland 8 6.75x
Padworth 8 941.18x
St Marylebone London 8 1.62x
Bermondsey 7 2.55x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.74x
Bishopwearmouth 7 2.97x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 4.10x
Coventry St Michael 7 9.35x
Ellisfield 7 875.00x
Govan 7 0.95x
Lewes All Sts 7 112.90x
Logie Wester 7 153.51x
Martyr Worthy 7 886.08x
South Leith 7 5.03x
St Pancras London 7 0.94x
Tanfield 7 21.42x
Woolwich 7 6.01x
Chiswick 6 11.89x
Grately 6 740.74x
Inveresk 6 17.91x
Limehouse London 6 5.92x
Lochcarron 6 130.15x
Newington 6 1.76x
Overton 6 132.45x
Shotts 6 16.78x
St George Hanover 6 4.98x
Westoe 6 3.85x
Weston Patrick Weston 6 1132.08x
Whitechapel London 6 6.59x
Aldermaston 5 294.12x
Barnes 5 26.26x
Boness 5 26.07x
Cambusnethan 5 7.54x
Cowden 5 242.72x
Dalkeith 5 20.48x
Dartford 5 15.51x
Farnham 5 14.29x
Glasgow 5 0.94x
Hastings St Mary 5 12.90x
Kirknewton East 5 96.71x
Much Woolton 5 33.62x
South Stoneham 5 12.17x
St John Winchester 5 125.63x
West Ham 5 1.24x
Hanwell 4 24.42x
Lewes St John Southover 4 38.24x
Newburn Hall 4 154.44x
Ramsgate 4 7.77x
Richmond 4 6.34x
Selby 4 20.91x
St Vigeans 4 8.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 32
George 30
Henry 18
Charles 17
Thomas 15
James 14
Robert 9
Edward 8
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Harry 6
Richard 6
Walter 6
Peter 5
Arthur 4
David 4
Joseph 4
Alexander 3
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Louis 3
Robt. 3
Benjamin 2
Daniel 2
Emanuel 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Geo.J. 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Marshall 2
Matthew 2
Moses 2
Percy 2
Prosper 2
Richd. 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Sydney 2
Vincent 2
Willam 2
Archibald 1
Chas.A.T. 1
Cyril 1
Fredk.E. 1
Geo. 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Paris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Paris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 940 people were recorded with the Paris surname. That placed it at #4,099 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Paris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,569 in 2016. That gives Paris a modern rank of #3,951.

What does the Paris surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the French capital city, likely referring to an individual's place of origin.

What does the Paris map show?

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