NameCensus.

UK surname

Parnaby

In the 1881 census there were 345 people recorded with the Parnaby surname, ranking it #8,852 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 643, ranked #8,243, up from #8,852 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Haughton-le-Skerne and Darlington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Selby and Stockton-on-Tees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parnaby is 698 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 86.4%.

1881 census count

345

Ranked #8,852

Modern count

643

2016, ranked #8,243

Peak year

2002

698 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parnaby had 345 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,852 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 643 in 2016, ranked #8,243.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 555 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Parnaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parnaby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parnaby 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 188 #10,939
1861 historical 257 #9,629
1881 historical 345 #8,852
1891 historical 413 #8,638
1901 historical 534 #7,683
1911 historical 555 #7,231
1997 modern 658 #7,596
1998 modern 679 #7,657
1999 modern 681 #7,677
2000 modern 655 #7,893
2001 modern 676 #7,563
2002 modern 698 #7,530
2003 modern 677 #7,596
2004 modern 666 #7,705
2005 modern 649 #7,781
2006 modern 630 #7,995
2007 modern 632 #8,044
2008 modern 634 #8,060
2009 modern 644 #8,137
2010 modern 667 #8,082
2011 modern 651 #8,148
2012 modern 642 #8,142
2013 modern 652 #8,204
2014 modern 658 #8,175
2015 modern 656 #8,136
2016 modern 643 #8,243

Geography

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Where Parnabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Haughton-le-Skerne, Darlington, Hull Holy Trinity and Monkwearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Selby and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Haughton-le-Skerne Durham
3 Darlington Durham
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Monkwearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 044 County Durham
2 County Durham 050 County Durham
3 County Durham 018 County Durham
4 Selby 001 Selby
5 Stockton-on-Tees 020 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parnaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parnaby

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Parnaby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Parnaby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Parnaby 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

Parnaby is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Parnaby falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Parnaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parnaby 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. Yorkshire leads with 181 Parnabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.44x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 181 5.44x
Durham 146 14.63x
Northumberland 4 0.80x
Derbyshire 3 0.57x
Hampshire 3 0.44x
Kent 3 0.26x
Middlesex 2 0.06x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Lancashire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. New Malton in Yorkshire leads with 19 Parnabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 477.39x.

Place Total Index
New Malton 19 477.39x
Bishopwearmouth 17 19.84x
Monkwearmouth Shore 15 76.96x
Holy Trinity 14 17.50x
Haughton Le Skerne 13 1585.37x
Harraton 12 615.38x
Pickering 12 286.40x
Shildon 12 149.63x
Penshaw 11 366.67x
Sadberge 9 2093.02x
Thorp Arch 8 1777.78x
Masham 7 569.11x
Stockton On Tees 7 14.55x
Wetherby 7 322.58x
Constable Burton 6 2400.00x
Crook Billy Row 6 46.95x
Husthwaite 6 1200.00x
Middlesbrough 6 13.86x
Marton Le Moor 5 2631.58x
Morton Palms 5 4166.67x
Normanby In 5 56.24x
Pittington 5 177.94x
Throston 5 260.42x
Wolsingham 5 54.95x
Chapel Allerton 4 80.32x
Croft 4 645.16x
Crossgate 4 91.74x
Lynesack Softley 4 148.15x
Ripon 4 51.88x
Sawley In Ripon 4 930.23x
Thornaby 4 32.21x
Wallsend 4 25.27x
Brandsby Cum Stearsby 3 882.35x
Fewston 3 810.81x
Hartlepool 3 21.14x
Hovingham 3 434.78x
Kelloe 3 277.78x
Leeds 3 1.60x
Linthorpe 3 15.12x
Long Eaton 3 43.29x
Monkwearmouth 3 31.38x
Otley 3 37.17x
Pelton 3 63.16x
Richmond 3 57.69x
Sinnington 3 833.33x
South Kilvington 3 1000.00x
St Mary Extra 3 54.15x
Thirkleby In Thirsk 3 1000.00x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 3 483.87x
Wortley In Bramley 3 11.39x
York St Giles In 3 95.85x
Balk 2 2500.00x
Greenwich 2 3.74x
Hudswell 2 952.38x
Rothwell 2 29.76x
Shadforth 2 103.09x
Sherburn 2 73.26x
Well 2 540.54x
York St Lawrence 2 57.64x
Amotherby 1 312.50x
Benfieldside 1 15.22x
Cottingham 1 13.95x
Downholme 1 769.23x
Fearby 1 400.00x
Gilling 1 100.00x
Great Habton Little 1 400.00x
Healey With Sutton 1 344.83x
Laverton 1 285.71x
Lewisham 1 1.64x
Madron Penzance 1 7.24x
Marton In Pickering 1 454.55x
Ormesby 1 11.19x
Paddington London 1 0.81x
Preston 1 0.94x
Sessay 1 270.27x
Skircoat 1 7.63x
St George Hanover 1 2.28x
Staindrop 1 65.79x
West Tanfield 1 158.73x
York St Mary 1 7.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 15
Ann 12
Jane 12
Annie 7
Hannah 7
Margaret 6
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Martha 4
Alice 3
Isabella 3
Betsy 2
Dorothy 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Francis 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Betsey 1
Catherine 1
Christiana 1
Christiania 1
Clara 1
Elenor 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Elsa 1
Enith 1
Ethz. 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Lena 1
Lillie 1
Margaretta 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Margt.Ann 1
Prudence 1
Rachel 1
Robenna 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 22
James 13
Robert 13
Thomas 13
George 12
Henry 9
Christopher 5
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Ralph 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Robt. 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Carly 1
Davies 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hodgson 1
Jas. 1
Jefferson 1
Matthew 1
Oswald 1
Ralf 1
Ramond 1
Roger 1
Sam 1
Stephen 1
Thoms 1
Ths.H.H. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Parnaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parnaby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 345 people were recorded with the Parnaby surname. That placed it at #8,852 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parnaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 643 in 2016. That gives Parnaby a modern rank of #8,243.

What does the Parnaby map show?

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