NameCensus.

UK surname

Parkhurst

From an English place name derived from Old English elements meaning "an enclosed park near a wooded hill."

In the 1881 census there were 312 people recorded with the Parkhurst surname, ranking it #9,451 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 309, ranked #14,442, down from #9,451 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parkhurst is 464 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

312

Ranked #9,451

Modern count

309

2016, ranked #14,442

Peak year

1891

464 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parkhurst had 312 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,451 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016, ranked #14,442.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 464 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Parkhurst surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parkhurst surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Parkhurst 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 336 #7,589
1881 historical 312 #9,451
1891 historical 464 #7,887
1901 historical 348 #10,484
1911 historical 324 #10,814
1997 modern 311 #13,217
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 322 #13,335
2000 modern 301 #13,873
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 297 #14,081
2003 modern 297 #13,917
2004 modern 291 #14,138
2005 modern 290 #14,140
2006 modern 290 #14,202
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 288 #14,537
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 323 #14,005
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 304 #14,388
2013 modern 311 #14,368
2014 modern 315 #14,334
2015 modern 312 #14,347
2016 modern 309 #14,442

Geography

Back to top

Where Parkhursts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Portsmouth, Chelmsford, Doncaster and East Lindsey. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 024 Brighton and Hove
2 Portsmouth 001 Portsmouth
3 Chelmsford 008 Chelmsford
4 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
5 East Lindsey 005 East Lindsey

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Parkhurst

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Parkhurst

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Parkhurst 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

Parkhurst is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Parkhurst falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Parkhurst is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Parkhurst, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Parkhurst

The surname Parkhurst is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "pearroc" meaning park or enclosure, and "hyrst" meaning a wooded hill or hillock. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or owned a wooded enclosure or park on a hill.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest known record of the name appears as "Parhurste" in Hampshire, England. This early spelling variation highlights the locational nature of the name, referring to a specific place called Parkhurst.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Roger de Parkhurst, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1230. Another early reference is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where a William de Parkhurst is listed.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was also associated with several places in England, such as Parkhurst in the Isle of Wight, Parkhurst in Dorset, and Parkhurst Forest in Hampshire. These place names likely contributed to the widespread use of the surname in different regions.

Notable individuals with the surname Parkhurst include:

1. John Parkhurst (c. 1511-1578), an English bishop and scholar who served as the Bishop of Norwich. 2. Nathaniel Parkhurst (1713-1797), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works. 3. Henry Parkhurst (1778-1856), an English naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and rose to the rank of Admiral. 4. John Adelbert Parkhurst (1861-1925), an American inventor and businessman best known for developing the first practical electric oven. 5. Helen Parkhurst (1887-1973), an American educator and pioneer of the Dalton Plan, an influential educational philosophy emphasizing student independence and self-directed learning.

The surname Parkhurst continues to be found in various regions of England, as well as in other English-speaking countries where descendants of early bearers have migrated over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Parkhurst families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parkhurst 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 108 Parkhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.54x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 3.54x
Surrey 67 4.50x
Sussex 48 9.32x
Kent 41 3.94x
Essex 22 3.65x
Devon 6 0.94x
Glamorgan 4 0.75x
Hampshire 3 0.48x
Monmouthshire 3 1.36x
Gloucestershire 2 0.33x
Lancashire 2 0.06x
Northamptonshire 2 0.70x
Somerset 2 0.41x
Hertfordshire 1 0.48x
Oxfordshire 1 0.53x
Royal Navy 1 2.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorking in Surrey leads with 19 Parkhursts recorded in 1881 and an index of 190.19x.

Place Total Index
Dorking 19 190.19x
Brighton 17 16.37x
Kensington London 16 9.43x
Mile End Old Town 15 31.13x
St Pancras London 13 5.29x
Horsham 12 120.00x
Battersea 9 8.01x
Newington 8 7.09x
Chelmsford 7 67.70x
Clerkenwell London 7 9.71x
Croydon 7 8.48x
East Ham 7 62.61x
St Marylebone London 7 4.29x
Westerham 7 291.67x
Bow London 6 15.44x
East Molesey 6 173.91x
Hammersmith London 6 7.98x
Islington London 6 2.03x
Keymer 6 165.29x
Stoke Damerel 6 13.49x
Shoreditch London 5 3.78x
Westminster St James 5 15.93x
Camberwell 4 2.05x
Charlwood 4 279.72x
Chelsea London 4 4.35x
Cliffe 4 170.21x
East Peckham 4 185.19x
Folkestone 4 19.79x
Lambeth 4 1.50x
Preston 4 44.49x
St George In East 4 19.26x
Swanscombe 4 85.47x
Swansea Town 4 9.18x
Bromley London 3 4.47x
Charlton Next Woolwich 3 27.62x
Dartford 3 28.17x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.73x
Hackney London 3 1.75x
Maidstone 3 9.67x
Panteg 3 86.21x
Walthamstow 3 13.83x
Brackley St Peter 2 101.52x
Capel 2 142.86x
Chipping Ongar 2 192.31x
Cranleigh 2 91.74x
Hampstead London 2 4.21x
North Meols 2 5.64x
South Stoneham 2 14.74x
Worth 2 53.48x
Admington 1 666.67x
Berkley 1 294.12x
Braintree 1 18.48x
Bristol St Paul In 1 6.27x
Broadwater 1 8.47x
Chislehurst 1 17.89x
Clevedon 1 19.57x
Heston 1 9.86x
Holy Trinity Minories 1 526.32x
Hornsey 1 2.59x
Hove 1 4.43x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.80x
Leybourne 1 344.83x
Leyton 1 9.63x
Linton 1 109.89x
Northfleet 1 10.89x
Oxford St Peter In East 1 136.99x
Paddington London 1 0.89x
Penge 1 5.13x
Royal Navy 1 3.22x
Rye 1 20.45x
Sevenoaks 1 11.83x
Slinfold 1 123.46x
Speldhurst 1 18.87x
St George Hanover 1 2.51x
St Maurice Winchester 1 38.46x
Teddington London 1 14.45x
Wadhurst 1 29.59x
Warnham 1 90.09x
Watford 1 6.13x
West Thurrock 1 50.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Elizabeth 12
Emily 11
Emma 9
Sarah 8
Louisa 7
Annie 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Martha 4
Harriett 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Maria 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Mable 2
Matilda 2
Ruth 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Elizabth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Ethel 1
F.M. 1
F.R. 1
Ida 1
Jain 1
Jemimima 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Letitia 1
Lucy 1
M.S. 1
Mabel 1
Wilhelminia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 13
Thomas 8
Charles 7
George 7
Henry 7
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Albert 4
Harry 4
James 4
Walter 4
Joseph 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Horatio 2
Hy. 2
Rodie 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Abel 1
Abraham 1
Alexn.H. 1
Alfred 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Ephraim 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Jabez 1
Jame 1
Jno. 1
L.Evan 1
Louis 1
Oliver 1
Pridouise 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Willie 1
Willm.Hoaratio 1

FAQ

Parkhurst surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parkhurst surname in 1881?

In 1881, 312 people were recorded with the Parkhurst surname. That placed it at #9,451 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parkhurst surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016. That gives Parkhurst a modern rank of #14,442.

What does the Parkhurst surname mean?

From an English place name derived from Old English elements meaning "an enclosed park near a wooded hill."

What does the Parkhurst map show?

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