NameCensus.

UK surname

Passey

An English surname derived from the Old French "passeis", meaning a passer or traveler.

In the 1881 census there were 641 people recorded with the Passey surname, ranking it #5,556 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 972, ranked #5,937, down from #5,556 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tamworth, London parishes and Bromyard, Brockhampton, Saltmarsh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, North Warwickshire and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Passey is 1,090 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.6%.

1881 census count

641

Ranked #5,556

Modern count

972

2016, ranked #5,937

Peak year

2000

1,090 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Passey had 641 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,556 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 972 in 2016, ranked #5,937.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 974 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Passey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Passey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Passey 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 378 #6,315
1861 historical 366 #6,987
1881 historical 641 #5,556
1891 historical 653 #5,944
1901 historical 870 #5,262
1911 historical 974 #4,641
1997 modern 1,039 #5,323
1998 modern 1,077 #5,350
1999 modern 1,087 #5,338
2000 modern 1,090 #5,306
2001 modern 1,060 #5,323
2002 modern 1,075 #5,368
2003 modern 1,068 #5,300
2004 modern 1,034 #5,462
2005 modern 1,008 #5,510
2006 modern 1,028 #5,434
2007 modern 1,017 #5,533
2008 modern 1,028 #5,525
2009 modern 1,050 #5,552
2010 modern 1,052 #5,642
2011 modern 1,022 #5,718
2012 modern 1,002 #5,725
2013 modern 1,002 #5,812
2014 modern 999 #5,860
2015 modern 971 #5,953
2016 modern 972 #5,937

Geography

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Where Passeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tamworth, London parishes, Bromyard, Brockhampton, Saltmarsh, Tenbury and Kidderminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, North Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Malvern Hills. 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 Tamworth Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bromyard, Brockhampton, Saltmarsh Herefordshire
4 Tenbury Worcestershire
5 Kidderminster Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 011 South Oxfordshire
2 North Warwickshire 004 North Warwickshire
3 South Oxfordshire 007 South Oxfordshire
4 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
5 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills

Forenames

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First names often paired with Passey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Passey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Passey 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

Passey is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Passey

The surname Passey originates from England, with its earliest records dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "passe," meaning "pass" or "passage," suggesting that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a mountain pass or a narrow passage.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Passey can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named William Passey is mentioned. This document provides evidence that the name was already in use in medieval England.

During the 13th century, the name Passey appeared in various records across different counties in England, including Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Somerset. Some variations of the spelling included Passy, Passi, and Passye, reflecting the diverse phonetic interpretations of the name at the time.

In the 14th century, the surname Passey was found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, where a John Passey was listed as a taxpayer. This record highlights the presence of the name in southern England during this period.

One notable individual bearing the surname Passey was Sir John Passey, who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was a prominent figure in Gloucestershire and served as the Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1498. His name is recorded in various historical documents, including the Gloucestershire Inquisitions Post Mortem from 1515.

Another significant figure was Robert Passey, born in 1598 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned Puritan minister and author, known for his religious works such as "The Spiritual Chymist" and "The Faithful Minister." Passey played a significant role in the religious landscape of 17th-century England.

In the 18th century, the name Passey was linked to the village of Passey in Gloucestershire, suggesting a possible connection between the surname and a specific geographic location.

Among other notable individuals with the surname Passey were William Passey (1608-1679), an English clergyman and author from Gloucestershire, and John Passey (1636-1717), a prominent merchant and philanthropist from Wiltshire.

Throughout its history, the surname Passey has been associated with various occupations and social standings, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Passey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Passey 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. Worcestershire leads with 148 Passeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.10x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 148 18.10x
Herefordshire 121 47.12x
Shropshire 78 14.42x
Middlesex 48 0.77x
Staffordshire 47 2.22x
Warwickshire 37 2.34x
Gloucestershire 35 2.85x
Surrey 30 0.98x
Lancashire 22 0.30x
Radnorshire 13 25.73x
Derbyshire 9 0.92x
Yorkshire 9 0.15x
Northamptonshire 7 1.19x
Oxfordshire 6 1.55x
Cheshire 5 0.36x
Hertfordshire 4 0.93x
Cumberland 3 0.56x
Glamorgan 3 0.28x
Lincolnshire 3 0.30x
Sussex 3 0.28x
Berkshire 2 0.43x
Essex 2 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Kent 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.22x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.70x
Royal Navy 1 1.34x
Stirlingshire 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 25 Passeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.75x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 25 4.75x
Tenbury 23 513.39x
Stanton Lacy 18 385.44x
Twining 17 918.92x
Widnes 16 29.85x
Ombersley 15 328.95x
Kidderminster Borough 13 27.16x
Aston 12 2.76x
Great Kyre 12 5217.39x
Worcester St John 12 122.83x
Ross 11 107.74x
Tamworth 11 97.35x
Bromsgrove 10 36.32x
Docklow 9 2142.86x
Loughton 9 5000.00x
Camberwell 8 2.00x
Hampton Charles 8 3809.52x
Kington 8 125.79x
Orleton 8 650.41x
Pembridge 8 282.69x
Islington London 7 1.15x
Knighton 7 171.57x
Leysters 7 1372.55x
Mile End Old Town 7 7.08x
Paddington London 7 3.04x
St Marylebone London 7 2.09x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 3.12x
Willenhall 7 17.68x
Winslow 7 786.52x
Battersea 6 2.60x
Eckington 6 413.79x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 6 26.70x
Handsworth 6 11.52x
Horsley 6 101.69x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 51.90x
Leintwardine 6 229.01x
Little Hereford 6 666.67x
Long Ditton 6 120.48x
Milson 6 2307.69x
Stoulton 6 759.49x
Upper Sapey 6 869.57x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.84x
Dymock 5 170.65x
Ealing 5 8.93x
Edvin Ralph 5 1428.57x
Elton 5 1851.85x
Lambeth 5 0.92x
Liverpool 5 1.11x
Lower Mitton 5 69.35x
Oxford St Ebbe 5 43.94x
Worcester St Clement 5 96.15x
Alveley 4 186.05x
Bolton In Bradford 4 100.50x
Bromfield 4 330.58x
Burton Upon Trent 4 8.09x
Cradley 4 106.38x
Culmington 4 336.13x
Eastnor 4 470.59x
Harborne 4 5.90x
Normanton 4 21.45x
Old Radnor 4 425.53x
Richards Castle 4 243.90x
Upperswinford 4 57.80x
Watford 4 11.95x
Weedon Beck 4 94.79x
Burghill 3 103.09x
Clun 3 78.13x
Elmbridge 3 416.67x
Fazeley 3 78.13x
Holy Cross 3 789.47x
Hoole 3 57.36x
Leigh 3 30.21x
Ludlow St Lawrence 3 27.88x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 2.86x
Millom 3 18.16x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 15.80x
St Martin Lincoln 3 32.29x
Worcester St Nicholas 3 77.52x
Brighton 2 0.94x
Presteigne 2 62.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 26
Ann 19
Jane 14
Emma 13
Ellen 11
Annie 9
Fanny 9
Hannah 9
Agnes 7
Charlotte 7
Eliza 7
Maria 7
Alice 6
Anne 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Florence 5
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Clara 4
Emily 4
Harriett 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Rose 3
Edith 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lucy 2
Naomi 2
Adeline 1
Augusta 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ester 1
Infant 1
Judith 1
Katrine 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 40
James 32
George 26
Thomas 26
Charles 17
Henry 17
Joseph 13
Samuel 10
Alfred 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Albert 5
Ernest 5
Frederick 4
Herbert 3
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Hubert 2
Philip 2
Simon 2
Thos. 2
Aaron 1
Cornelius 1
Dorothy 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
G. 1
Harley 1
Jabez 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Oliver 1
Oswald 1
Rawson 1
Reginald 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Undrew 1
Will 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Passey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Passey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 641 people were recorded with the Passey surname. That placed it at #5,556 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Passey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 972 in 2016. That gives Passey a modern rank of #5,937.

What does the Passey surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French "passeis", meaning a passer or traveler.

What does the Passey map show?

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