NameCensus.

UK surname

Pass

An occupational surname for someone who lived near or worked at a mountain pass or narrow passage.

In the 1881 census there were 1,461 people recorded with the Pass surname, ranking it #2,854 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,897, ranked #3,351, down from #2,854 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burslem, Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, Staffordshire Moorlands and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pass is 2,009 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 29.8%.

1881 census count

1,461

Ranked #2,854

Modern count

1,897

2016, ranked #3,351

Peak year

1911

2,009 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pass had 1,461 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,854 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,897 in 2016, ranked #3,351.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,009 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pass surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pass surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pass 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 978 #2,853
1861 historical 884 #3,139
1881 historical 1,461 #2,854
1891 historical 1,597 #2,786
1901 historical 1,869 #2,816
1911 historical 2,009 #2,477
1997 modern 1,760 #3,396
1998 modern 1,950 #3,219
1999 modern 1,963 #3,223
2000 modern 1,957 #3,217
2001 modern 1,896 #3,245
2002 modern 1,934 #3,264
2003 modern 1,929 #3,207
2004 modern 1,909 #3,225
2005 modern 1,893 #3,220
2006 modern 1,879 #3,261
2007 modern 1,888 #3,271
2008 modern 1,878 #3,308
2009 modern 1,901 #3,338
2010 modern 1,943 #3,352
2011 modern 1,948 #3,312
2012 modern 1,886 #3,347
2013 modern 1,923 #3,344
2014 modern 1,952 #3,323
2015 modern 1,926 #3,327
2016 modern 1,897 #3,351

Geography

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Where Pass' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burslem, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Sheffield and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, Staffordshire Moorlands, Cheshire East and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Burslem Staffordshire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 039 Doncaster
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 004 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 002 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Cheshire East 028 Cheshire East
5 Stoke-on-Trent 017 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pass

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pass

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pass is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pass is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pass falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pass is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pass

The surname PASS is of English origin and dates back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "paes", meaning a pass or passage, particularly through a mountainous region or a narrow path. This connection suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who lived near a mountain pass or traveled frequently through such passages.

The earliest recorded instances of the name PASS can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is John le Pass, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297. Another early reference is to a Robert atte Passe, found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

In the 15th century, the name began to appear in various spellings, such as Passe, Passe, and Passe. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. One notable individual from this period was William Passe, a renowned English engraver and printer who lived from 1544 to 1622.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name PASS became more widely distributed throughout England. In 1586, a Thomas Passe was recorded in the Parish Registers of Wrington, Somerset. Another individual of note was Simon Pass, a prominent English cartographer who lived from 1632 to 1701 and is best known for his maps of England and Wales.

As the name spread, it also became associated with various place names, such as Pass Vale in Derbyshire and Pass Hill in Yorkshire. These locations may have contributed to the adoption of the surname by individuals living in or near those areas.

In the 18th century, the name PASS continued to be found in various regions of England. One notable figure was John Pass, a renowned sculptor and carver who lived from 1724 to 1807 and was responsible for much of the ornamental woodwork in the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

Throughout the 19th century, the PASS surname continued to be well-represented in England, with individuals bearing the name appearing in various professions and walks of life. One notable example was Alfred William Pass, an English landscape painter who lived from 1838 to 1915 and was known for his depictions of rural scenes.

While the surname PASS has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "paes" and its association with mountain passes and narrow passages in the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pass families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pass 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. Lancashire leads with 459 Pass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 459 2.71x
Staffordshire 170 3.53x
Derbyshire 142 6.36x
Cheshire 125 3.97x
Yorkshire 116 0.82x
Worcestershire 68 3.65x
Middlesex 66 0.46x
Warwickshire 66 1.84x
Nottinghamshire 45 2.34x
Surrey 25 0.36x
Durham 22 0.52x
Leicestershire 21 1.33x
Lincolnshire 20 0.88x
Buckinghamshire 18 2.09x
Kent 16 0.33x
Glamorgan 13 0.52x
Northamptonshire 13 0.97x
Bedfordshire 10 1.35x
Renfrewshire 9 0.81x
Midlothian 7 0.37x
Cumberland 6 0.49x
Suffolk 5 0.29x
Sussex 4 0.17x
Essex 3 0.11x
Gloucestershire 3 0.11x
Hertfordshire 3 0.31x
Isle of Man 3 1.13x
Devon 2 0.07x
Shropshire 2 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melbourne in Derbyshire leads with 65 Pass' recorded in 1881 and an index of 425.95x.

Place Total Index
Melbourne 65 425.95x
Sheffield 43 9.56x
Oldham 42 7.69x
Horwich 35 189.60x
Burslem 31 22.48x
Radford 22 22.53x
Stoke Prior 22 191.47x
Coventry St Michael 20 17.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 5.14x
Ecclesall Bierlow 19 6.61x
Liverpool 19 1.85x
Aston 16 1.62x
Church Gresley 16 45.05x
Brightside Bierlow 15 5.41x
Kings Norton 15 8.98x
Ardwick 14 9.17x
Birmingham 14 1.17x
Burton Upon Trent 14 12.43x
Chadderton 14 16.92x
Congleton 14 25.74x
Greenwich 14 6.17x
Stretford 14 15.04x
Bradford 13 16.41x
Brimington 13 76.70x
Glossop Dale 13 12.43x
Hindley 13 18.02x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 2.55x
Wolverhampton 13 3.51x
Dukinfield 12 8.25x
Salford 12 2.41x
Chorley 11 11.58x
Derby St Alkmund 11 16.44x
Horton 11 186.76x
Macclesfield 11 7.86x
Westhoughton 11 24.36x
Wigan 11 4.65x
Bedford St Paul 10 19.74x
Didsbury 10 44.50x
Haughton 10 40.50x
Manchester 10 1.31x
Nantwich 10 27.34x
Oldbury 10 10.91x
Pendleton In Salford 10 4.96x
Whittington 10 32.37x
Worsley 10 9.59x
Bradwall 9 277.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 3.35x
Little Bolton 9 4.14x
Northampton St Sepulchre 9 13.19x
Renfrew 9 24.66x
Warrington 9 4.49x
Whittington 9 91.37x
Alfreton 8 11.79x
Biddulph 8 29.46x
Bilston 8 8.57x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 8 267.56x
Caythorpe 8 182.65x
Clerkenwell London 8 2.38x
Everton 8 1.48x
Newport Pagnell 8 44.37x
Polesworth 8 46.84x
St Marylebone London 8 1.05x
Tamworth 8 31.08x
Ashby De La Zouch 7 19.10x
Aylesbury 7 18.32x
Bayards Leap 7 292.89x
Broughton In Salford 7 4.52x
Camberwell 7 0.77x
Marton In Prestbury 7 466.67x
Newton 7 5.37x
Rusholme 7 15.51x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 7 24.98x
East Murton 6 75.57x
Greasley 6 13.83x
Moston 6 35.36x
Over Alderley 6 307.69x
Over Darwen 6 4.44x
Pownall Fee 6 42.61x
Shoreditch London 6 0.97x
Stone 6 9.75x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 88
John 84
James 52
Thomas 52
Joseph 46
George 38
Henry 25
Arthur 20
Charles 20
Richard 20
Samuel 20
Alfred 19
Ralph 14
Robert 12
Frederick 10
Edward 9
Edwin 9
Harry 9
Ernest 7
Peter 6
Walter 6
Wm. 6
Fred 5
Tom 5
Abraham 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Saml. 4
Daniel 3
Herbert 3
Horace 3
Horatio 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Enoch 2
Geo. 2
Joe 2
Lawrence 2
Michael 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Sam 2
Simon 2
Solomon 2
Stephen 2
Cain 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwd.Chas. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Pass surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pass surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,461 people were recorded with the Pass surname. That placed it at #2,854 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pass surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,897 in 2016. That gives Pass a modern rank of #3,351.

What does the Pass surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who lived near or worked at a mountain pass or narrow passage.

What does the Pass map show?

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