NameCensus.

UK surname

Parrish

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old French word "pareisse," referring to someone who lived near a church.

In the 1881 census there were 1,046 people recorded with the Parrish surname, ranking it #3,764 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,831, ranked #2,379, up from #3,764 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Central Bedfordshire, Bridgend and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Parrish is 3,016 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.7%.

1881 census count

1,046

Ranked #3,764

Modern count

2,831

2016, ranked #2,379

Peak year

1999

3,016 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Parrish had 1,046 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,764 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,831 in 2016, ranked #2,379.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,544 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Parrish surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Parrish surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Parrish 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 534 #4,708
1861 historical 523 #5,015
1881 historical 1,046 #3,764
1891 historical 1,377 #3,156
1901 historical 1,982 #2,677
1911 historical 2,544 #2,008
1997 modern 2,835 #2,283
1998 modern 2,997 #2,247
1999 modern 3,016 #2,256
2000 modern 2,972 #2,264
2001 modern 2,883 #2,287
2002 modern 2,957 #2,274
2003 modern 2,880 #2,282
2004 modern 2,868 #2,296
2005 modern 2,838 #2,288
2006 modern 2,780 #2,332
2007 modern 2,793 #2,344
2008 modern 2,841 #2,324
2009 modern 2,923 #2,316
2010 modern 2,933 #2,353
2011 modern 2,911 #2,339
2012 modern 2,832 #2,357
2013 modern 2,877 #2,366
2014 modern 2,888 #2,369
2015 modern 2,861 #2,364
2016 modern 2,831 #2,379

Geography

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Where Parrishs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barking and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Central Bedfordshire, Bridgend, Torridge, Bassetlaw and Thurrock. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Barking Essex
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Central Bedfordshire 011 Central Bedfordshire
2 Bridgend 009 Bridgend
3 Torridge 008 Torridge
4 Bassetlaw 004 Bassetlaw
5 Thurrock 006 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Parrish

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Parrish

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Parrish is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Parrish is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Parrish

The surname Parrish originated in England and is a locational name derived from the Old English words 'parroc' or 'pearroc', meaning a small enclosed area or park. It is believed to have first emerged in the counties of Hampshire and Dorset in southern England during the late medieval period.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Parrok' and 'Paroch'. Other early spellings include 'Parrock', 'Parroc', and 'Parrok'. These variations likely reflect the different regional dialects and pronunciations of the time.

In the 13th century, the name Parrish began to appear in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a John de Parrok in Oxfordshire. The Pipe Rolls of 1195 also make reference to a Robert de Parrok in Gloucestershire.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Parrish include Sir John Parrish (1609-1675), an English diplomat and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles II. Another prominent figure was Joseph Parrish (1779-1840), an American Quaker minister and abolitionist who worked tirelessly to end slavery in the United States.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Parrish was often associated with certain place names, such as Parrish's Farm in Hertfordshire and Parrish's Manor in Norfolk. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers or landowners with the surname Parrish.

Other noteworthy individuals with this surname include Walter Parrish (1841-1904), an American architect known for designing several notable buildings in New York City, and Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966), a renowned American painter and illustrator renowned for his distinctive and vibrant style.

Throughout its history, the surname Parrish has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the southern counties, as well as in the United States, where it was carried by early English settlers and immigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Parrish families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Parrish 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 144 Parrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 144 1.41x
Essex 142 7.04x
Lincolnshire 116 7.10x
Staffordshire 92 2.67x
Yorkshire 81 0.80x
Northamptonshire 64 6.66x
Surrey 59 1.19x
Kent 32 0.92x
Cambridgeshire 30 4.64x
Warwickshire 29 1.13x
Worcestershire 28 2.10x
Lancashire 27 0.22x
Durham 21 0.69x
Flintshire 18 6.56x
Gloucestershire 17 0.85x
Hertfordshire 16 2.27x
Sussex 15 0.87x
Somerset 13 0.79x
Bedfordshire 12 2.27x
Denbighshire 12 3.11x
Devon 12 0.56x
Oxfordshire 10 1.59x
Cheshire 9 0.40x
Lanarkshire 9 0.27x
Berkshire 8 1.04x
Glamorgan 7 0.39x
Northumberland 6 0.39x
Monmouthshire 5 0.68x
Hampshire 3 0.14x
Derbyshire 2 0.13x
Fife 2 0.33x
Huntingdonshire 2 0.99x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 0.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barking in Essex leads with 50 Parrishs recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.76x.

Place Total Index
Barking 50 84.76x
Kingswinford 42 33.55x
Kettering 26 66.91x
West Ham 26 5.84x
Islington London 22 2.22x
Battersea 20 5.32x
Stoke Upon Trent 20 5.47x
Mile End Old Town 19 11.79x
Shoreditch London 19 4.29x
Hawarden 18 83.45x
Arkesden 16 1088.44x
Aston 13 1.83x
Croydon 13 4.71x
Theddlethorpe All Sts 13 1130.43x
Bromley London 12 5.34x
Chirk 12 157.89x
Peterborough 12 17.25x
Shelf 12 124.10x
Skidbrook 12 827.59x
St Pancras London 12 1.46x
Halifax 11 7.40x
Lambeth 11 1.24x
Pendleton In Salford 11 7.62x
Brandon Byshottles 10 26.27x
Burton By Lincoln 10 1010.10x
Chelsea London 10 3.25x
Lewisham 10 5.38x
Nassington 10 400.00x
Paddington London 10 2.66x
Camberwell 9 1.38x
Guilden Morden 9 261.63x
Harpenden 9 83.80x
Sutton St Mary 9 58.29x
Widdington 9 681.82x
Woolley 9 428.57x
Banbury 8 63.34x
Brighton 8 2.30x
Sale 8 28.92x
Scremby 8 1333.33x
Steeple Morden 8 232.56x
Amblecote 7 71.21x
Anderby 7 714.29x
Burslem 7 7.09x
Cradley 7 58.04x
Dagenham 7 58.33x
Esh 7 31.66x
Maidstone 7 6.74x
Reading St Giles 7 9.31x
Walthamstow 7 9.65x
Withington 7 17.93x
Wollescote 7 65.18x
Bassingbourn 6 63.09x
Bourn 6 45.49x
Bristol St Paul In 6 11.24x
Bromsgrove 6 13.37x
Exeter St Sidwell 6 12.32x
Holy Trinity St Mary 6 38.94x
Oundle 6 55.87x
Poplar London 6 3.11x
Redcar 6 74.72x
Roath 6 7.43x
Romford 6 18.83x
Scamblesby 6 472.44x
Stevenage 6 55.00x
Addlethorpe 5 581.40x
Barrow On Humber 5 52.74x
Bedwellty 5 3.84x
Cambuslang 5 15.02x
Drypool 5 32.28x
Hammersmith London 5 1.99x
Harborne 5 4.53x
Hornchurch 5 50.61x
Kensington London 5 0.88x
Louth 5 13.36x
Plumstead 5 4.30x
Stamford All Sts 5 54.70x
Staplegrove 5 250.00x
Stratford On Avon 5 34.99x
Wallsend 5 10.38x
Wrangle 5 122.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 68
John 57
George 48
James 45
Thomas 34
Charles 32
Henry 18
Joseph 15
Albert 12
Alfred 12
Edward 12
Richard 9
David 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Frank 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Isaac 6
Fred 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Chas. 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Fredrick 3
Herbert 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Nathan 2
Percy 2
Stephen 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Albie 1
Bertie 1
Caleb 1
Chas 1
Edgar 1
Edwd.Alex 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Hy.J.J. 1
J. 1
Jethro 1
Joab 1
Joel 1

FAQ

Parrish surname: questions and answers

How common was the Parrish surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,046 people were recorded with the Parrish surname. That placed it at #3,764 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Parrish surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,831 in 2016. That gives Parrish a modern rank of #2,379.

What does the Parrish surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from the Old French word "pareisse," referring to someone who lived near a church.

What does the Parrish map show?

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