NameCensus.

UK surname

Parris

A locational surname derived from the French city of Paris, originally denoting a person who came from there.

In the 1881 census there were 809 people recorded with the Parris surname, ranking it #4,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,886, ranked #3,373, up from #4,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Easthothly and Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tonbridge and Malling, East Devon and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parris is 1,929 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 133.1%.

1881 census count

809

Ranked #4,612

Modern count

1,886

2016, ranked #3,373

Peak year

1999

1,929 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parris had 809 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,886 in 2016, ranked #3,373.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,303 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Parris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parris surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parris 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 447 #5,511
1861 historical 770 #3,574
1881 historical 809 #4,612
1891 historical 1,091 #3,873
1901 historical 1,129 #4,295
1911 historical 1,303 #3,656
1997 modern 1,872 #3,218
1998 modern 1,921 #3,258
1999 modern 1,929 #3,270
2000 modern 1,890 #3,317
2001 modern 1,857 #3,305
2002 modern 1,890 #3,322
2003 modern 1,869 #3,281
2004 modern 1,827 #3,353
2005 modern 1,807 #3,361
2006 modern 1,818 #3,341
2007 modern 1,841 #3,332
2008 modern 1,846 #3,355
2009 modern 1,882 #3,377
2010 modern 1,908 #3,404
2011 modern 1,890 #3,397
2012 modern 1,871 #3,371
2013 modern 1,899 #3,383
2014 modern 1,915 #3,374
2015 modern 1,902 #3,361
2016 modern 1,886 #3,373

Geography

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Where Parris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Easthothly, Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset) and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tonbridge and Malling, East Devon, Brent and Cardiff. 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 Easthothly Sussex
4 Chardstock, Membury, Yarcombe (Combe St Nicholas, Somerset) Devon
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tonbridge and Malling 002 Tonbridge and Malling
2 East Devon 001 East Devon
3 Brent 027 Brent
4 Cardiff 049 Cardiff
5 Tonbridge and Malling 001 Tonbridge and Malling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parris

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Parris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Parris 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Parris 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

Parris 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

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

Meaning and origin of Parris

The surname Parris is of English origin, derived from the French word "parra," meaning a small enclosed area or park. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name was initially associated with individuals who lived near or worked in enclosed parks or estates. It may have been used as an occupational surname for those employed as park keepers or groundskeepers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a "Robert de Parris." This suggests that the name was already in use in the 12th century.

The Parris surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which contains records of landowners in England after the Norman Conquest. The name is listed as "Parres," which is likely an early spelling variation.

During the 13th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a "William de Parris." This indicates the name's widespread use across different regions of England.

Notable individuals with the surname Parris throughout history include Samuel Parris (1653-1720), a Puritan minister in Salem, Massachusetts, who played a significant role in the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692-1693.

Another prominent figure was John Parris (1567-1635), an English composer and organist who served as the Master of the Choristers at St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Sir Walter Parris (1571-1622) was an English merchant and diplomat who served as the first English ambassador to the Mughal Empire in India during the reign of King James I.

John Parris (1765-1849) was a noted English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Guildhall in York and the Theatre Royal in Bath.

Lastly, John Parris (1776-1849) was an American politician and lawyer who served as the 22nd Governor of Massachusetts from 1822 to 1827.

The Parris surname has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Paris, Parres, and Parry. It is also associated with certain place names, such as Parris Island in South Carolina, which was named after Alexander Parris, a prominent landowner in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parris 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. Sussex leads with 195 Parris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.84x.

County Total Index
Sussex 195 14.84x
Kent 154 5.79x
Middlesex 92 1.18x
Surrey 79 2.08x
Hampshire 53 3.32x
Dorset 48 9.38x
Devon 41 2.53x
Bedfordshire 24 5.95x
Somerset 22 1.75x
Essex 14 0.91x
Hertfordshire 11 2.05x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.91x
Northamptonshire 9 1.23x
Gloucestershire 8 0.52x
Cheshire 7 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.22x
Warwickshire 6 0.31x
Lanarkshire 5 0.20x
Berkshire 3 0.51x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.94x
Northumberland 3 0.26x
Angus 1 0.14x
Durham 1 0.04x
East Lothian 1 0.97x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 1.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 41 Parris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.45x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 41 19.45x
Eastbourne 33 54.57x
East Hoathly 32 1397.38x
Brighton 28 10.56x
Chardstock 20 564.97x
Framfield 20 491.40x
Halling 14 402.30x
Shoreditch London 14 4.14x
Bedford St Paul 13 46.97x
Sevenoaks 13 60.30x
Chard 12 78.95x
Hammersmith London 12 6.25x
Chelsea London 11 4.68x
Dartford 11 40.46x
Islington London 11 1.46x
St Pancras London 11 1.75x
Compton Vallence 10 2941.18x
Hastings St Mary In The 10 35.68x
Lambeth 10 1.47x
Monkleigh 10 694.44x
Chislehurst 9 63.11x
Erith 9 34.35x
Kettering 9 30.35x
Lyme Regis 9 146.82x
Offham 9 937.50x
Rochester St Margaret 9 32.10x
Clist Hydon 8 1081.08x
Goudhurst 8 108.70x
Harrietsham 8 441.99x
Herriard 8 740.74x
Kensington London 8 1.85x
Birkenhead 7 5.10x
Broadhembury 7 388.89x
Chipstead 7 406.98x
Lavendon 7 330.19x
Offwell 7 786.52x
Old Alresford 7 530.30x
Roxwell 7 322.58x
Willingdon 7 210.21x
Addington 6 857.14x
Carlton 6 476.19x
Cheltenham 6 5.09x
Cliddesden 6 674.16x
Hellingly 6 136.36x
Northiam 6 186.34x
Watford 6 14.41x
Barony 5 0.78x
Chatham 5 6.83x
Hastings St Leonards 5 25.88x
Hoo 5 141.64x
Ringmer 5 135.14x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.19x
Trottiscliffe 5 632.91x
Alton 4 33.22x
Battersea 4 1.39x
Churchill 4 200.00x
Frindsbury 4 39.92x
Guestling 4 186.92x
Hannington 4 533.33x
Hastings St Andrew 4 84.93x
Hook 4 975.61x
Hove 4 6.94x
Milton In Milton 4 35.40x
North Waltham 4 360.36x
St George Hanover 4 3.93x
Swanscombe 4 33.47x
White Roothing 4 353.98x
Barcombe 3 95.24x
Camberwell 3 0.60x
Chiddingly 3 126.58x
Colyton 3 48.15x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.46x
Harrold 3 109.89x
Lasham 3 555.56x
Loders 3 118.11x
Seaford 3 67.11x
Snodland 3 39.79x
Southampton St Mary 3 2.99x
St Neots 3 35.67x
Woolwich 3 3.05x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 43
George 42
John 24
Alfred 21
James 20
Thomas 18
Robert 17
Albert 15
Charles 15
Edward 14
Richard 13
Henry 12
Frederick 9
Arthur 8
Joseph 6
David 5
Walter 5
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Harry 4
Amos 3
Benjamin 3
Earnest 3
Ernest 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Edmund 2
Emanuel 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Josiah 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Percival 2
Philip 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Cyrel 1
Ebeneza 1
Eliam 1
Euseby 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Jas. 1
Immanuel 1
J. 1
Jabeth 1
Jabez 1
Luther 1
Wm.Ernest 1

FAQ

Parris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 809 people were recorded with the Parris surname. That placed it at #4,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,886 in 2016. That gives Parris a modern rank of #3,373.

What does the Parris surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the French city of Paris, originally denoting a person who came from there.

What does the Parris map show?

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