NameCensus.

UK surname

Pastor

An occupational surname referring to a shepherd or pastor of a church.

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Pastor surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 168, ranked #21,984, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, West Lancashire and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pastor is 179 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1580.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

168

2016, ranked #21,984

Peak year

2014

179 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pastor had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016, ranked #21,984.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 36 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Pastor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pastor surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pastor 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 36 #29,463
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 8 #33,550
1901 historical 6 #33,591
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 83 #29,216
1998 modern 89 #29,026
1999 modern 99 #27,906
2000 modern 90 #29,068
2001 modern 84 #29,508
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 87 #29,897
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 124 #25,957
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 149 #23,372
2013 modern 178 #21,108
2014 modern 179 #21,186
2015 modern 171 #21,729
2016 modern 168 #21,984

Geography

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Where Pastors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, West Lancashire, Kensington and Chelsea and Brighton and Hove. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 012 Westminster
2 West Lancashire 007 West Lancashire
3 Kensington and Chelsea 008 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Kensington and Chelsea 016 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Brighton and Hove 019 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pastor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pastor

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Pastor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Pastor 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Pastor is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pastor 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

Pastor 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 Pastor 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Pastor

The surname "PASTOR" originated in Spain and Portugal during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "pastor," which means "shepherd" or "herdsman." The name likely referred to someone who tended flocks of sheep or other livestock as an occupation.

In medieval times, surnames were often based on professions, physical attributes, or places of origin. The name PASTOR likely emerged as a way to identify individuals who worked as shepherds or those who came from a particular region associated with pastoral activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname PASTOR can be found in the Catalan region of Spain. In the 13th century, a document from the town of Lleida mentions a man named Bernat Pastor. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time.

Another early record of the PASTOR surname comes from Portugal, where a document dated 1291 refers to a man named Martim Pastor. This indicates that the name was also present in the neighboring region during the same period.

Throughout the centuries, the PASTOR surname appeared in various historical records across the Iberian Peninsula. For example, in the 15th century, a man named Juan Pastor was recorded as a resident of the town of Cuenca, Spain.

One notable figure with the PASTOR surname was Andrés Pastor (born around 1460), a Spanish theologian and philosopher who taught at the University of Salamanca. He was known for his contributions to scholastic theology and his influential works on logic and metaphysics.

Another individual of note was Juan Pastor (1501-1566), a Spanish architect and sculptor who was responsible for the design and construction of several churches and monasteries in Spain, including the Church of San Esteban in Salamanca.

In the 18th century, a Spaniard named Manuel Pastor (1715-1785) gained recognition as a talented painter. He was particularly known for his religious works and portraits, many of which can be found in churches and museums throughout Spain.

As the PASTOR surname spread beyond the Iberian Peninsula, it also appeared in various parts of the Americas, particularly in regions colonized by Spain and Portugal. For instance, in the 19th century, a Venezuelan politician and diplomat named Miguel Pastor (1817-1888) played a significant role in the country's independence movement.

Another notable figure was Álvaro Pastor (1863-1933), a Uruguayan lawyer and politician who served as the President of Uruguay from 1920 to 1923.

While these are just a few examples, the PASTOR surname has a rich history spanning centuries and can be traced back to its origins as a occupational name in medieval Spain and Portugal.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pastor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pastor 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. Berkshire leads with 2 Pastors recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.40x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 2 30.40x
Lancashire 2 1.92x
Middlesex 2 2.28x
Yorkshire 2 2.30x
Lanarkshire 1 3.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abingdon St Nicholas in Berkshire leads with 2 Pastors recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.

Place Total Index
Abingdon St Nicholas 2 10000.00x
Salford 2 65.36x
Sheffield 2 72.46x
Govan 1 14.27x
Kensington London 1 20.53x
St Giles In Fields 1 333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Enrique 1
Francisco 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pastor households.

FAQ

Pastor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pastor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Pastor surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pastor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 168 in 2016. That gives Pastor a modern rank of #21,984.

What does the Pastor surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a shepherd or pastor of a church.

What does the Pastor map show?

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