NameCensus.

UK surname

Pavey

An English surname derived from the French place name "Pavie", referring to a person from that location.

In the 1881 census there were 1,283 people recorded with the Pavey surname, ranking it #3,182 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,588, ranked #3,910, down from #3,182 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Combe St Nicholas, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, East Devon and Weymouth and Portland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pavey is 1,777 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.8%.

1881 census count

1,283

Ranked #3,182

Modern count

1,588

2016, ranked #3,910

Peak year

1999

1,777 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pavey had 1,283 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,182 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,588 in 2016, ranked #3,910.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,764 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pavey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pavey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pavey 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 840 #3,231
1861 historical 835 #3,303
1881 historical 1,283 #3,182
1891 historical 1,288 #3,359
1901 historical 1,498 #3,425
1911 historical 1,764 #2,786
1997 modern 1,727 #3,451
1998 modern 1,771 #3,498
1999 modern 1,777 #3,518
2000 modern 1,762 #3,533
2001 modern 1,715 #3,547
2002 modern 1,722 #3,613
2003 modern 1,673 #3,633
2004 modern 1,679 #3,620
2005 modern 1,626 #3,677
2006 modern 1,615 #3,709
2007 modern 1,600 #3,771
2008 modern 1,604 #3,789
2009 modern 1,619 #3,843
2010 modern 1,651 #3,853
2011 modern 1,613 #3,893
2012 modern 1,580 #3,895
2013 modern 1,643 #3,822
2014 modern 1,636 #3,865
2015 modern 1,615 #3,874
2016 modern 1,588 #3,910

Geography

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Where Paveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Combe St Nicholas, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Cheddar, Nyland with Batcombe, Rodney Stoke. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, East Devon, Weymouth and Portland and Taunton Deane. 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 Combe St Nicholas Somerset
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Cheddar, Nyland with Batcombe, Rodney Stoke Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 001 Sedgemoor
2 East Devon 010 East Devon
3 Weymouth and Portland 003 Weymouth and Portland
4 Taunton Deane 005 Taunton Deane
5 Weymouth and Portland 009 Weymouth and Portland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pavey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pavey

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pavey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pavey is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pavey

The surname PAVEY originated in England, likely emerging in the late medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to be a locational surname derived from the place name "Pavey" or "Paveley", which may have referred to a particular region or settlement.

The name's roots can be traced back to the Old French word "pavé", meaning "paved" or "paved road". This suggests that the surname may have initially been given to someone who lived near a paved road or path, or perhaps worked as a paver or road builder.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled as "Pavelee". This document lists landowners and tenants in various counties of England at the time.

In the 16th century, the PAVEY surname is found in various parish records and tax rolls across southern England, particularly in counties like Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset. For example, the christening of John Pavey is recorded in the parish registers of Stourton, Wiltshire, in 1587.

A notable bearer of the PAVEY surname was Sir Walter Pavey (c. 1540-1629), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Wiltshire. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1612 and was knighted by King James I.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Pavey (1598-1668), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire during the English Civil War. He supported the Parliamentarian cause and played a role in the trial and execution of King Charles I.

In the 17th century, the PAVEY surname appears in various colonial records of the British colonies in North America, indicating that some individuals with this name emigrated to the New World during this period.

One interesting example is John Pavey (c. 1650-1722), an early settler in Virginia who acquired a significant amount of land and served as a justice of the peace and member of the House of Burgesses.

The PAVEY surname has also been borne by several notable scholars and authors, including Robert Pavey (1798-1877), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works.

Overall, the surname PAVEY has a rich history spanning multiple centuries, with its roots firmly planted in medieval England and its bearers contributing to various fields throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pavey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pavey 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. Somerset leads with 260 Paveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.93x.

County Total Index
Somerset 260 12.93x
Middlesex 176 1.41x
Devon 159 6.11x
Surrey 119 1.95x
Hampshire 100 3.90x
Gloucestershire 81 3.31x
Dorset 78 9.51x
Kent 63 1.48x
Sussex 57 2.71x
Hertfordshire 32 3.72x
Warwickshire 23 0.73x
Berkshire 17 1.81x
Lancashire 17 0.11x
Yorkshire 17 0.14x
Essex 16 0.65x
Glamorgan 13 0.60x
Wiltshire 9 0.81x
Cheshire 7 0.25x
Oxfordshire 6 0.78x
Midlothian 5 0.30x
Denbighshire 3 0.64x
Monmouthshire 3 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.18x
Royal Navy 3 2.01x
Durham 2 0.05x
Staffordshire 2 0.05x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Brecknockshire 1 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.13x
Channel Islands 1 0.27x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.40x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 1.09x
Shropshire 1 0.09x
Stirlingshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cheddar in Somerset leads with 62 Paveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 612.65x.

Place Total Index
Cheddar 62 612.65x
Combe St Nicholas 36 740.74x
Alverstoke 28 30.20x
Melcombe Regis 28 82.38x
Lambeth 27 2.48x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 26 11.27x
Kensington London 23 3.31x
Clifton 21 16.95x
Axminster 20 164.07x
Little Amwell 20 664.45x
Yarcombe 20 668.90x
St Pancras London 18 1.79x
Camberwell 17 2.13x
Ilminster 17 121.00x
Durley 16 784.31x
Tonbridge 16 10.41x
Chard 15 61.58x
Hillfarrance 15 824.18x
Paddington London 15 3.26x
Billingshurst 14 202.90x
Chelsea London 14 3.72x
Wambrook 14 1250.00x
Fulham London 13 7.17x
Portland 13 29.48x
Southampton St Mary 13 8.07x
Stockland 13 345.74x
Brighton 12 2.82x
Kingston On Thames 12 8.20x
Newington 12 2.60x
Taunton St James 12 40.91x
Ware 12 48.60x
Aston 11 1.27x
Barnstaple 11 26.94x
Battersea 11 2.39x
Bethnal Green London 11 2.03x
Colyton 11 110.11x
Croydon 11 3.25x
Deptford St Paul 11 3.35x
Edmonton 11 10.93x
Bedminster 10 5.29x
Bishops Hull 10 153.85x
Burnham 10 65.23x
Sidbury 9 161.58x
Brenenden 8 145.99x
Bristol St Paul In 8 12.25x
Hackney London 8 1.14x
Norton Fitzwarren 8 282.69x
Ottery St Mary 8 46.89x
Portsea 8 1.59x
Sittingbourne 8 23.76x
Steyning 8 112.04x
Taunton St Mary 8 21.67x
Upottery 8 256.41x
Woodbury 8 103.76x
Bermondsey 7 1.88x
Birmingham 7 0.67x
Burghclere 7 214.72x
Everton 7 1.48x
Herriard 7 402.30x
Islington London 7 0.58x
Leeds 7 1.00x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.55x
Wilton 7 89.63x
Bredbury 6 37.59x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 7.34x
Crewkerne 6 28.09x
Haselbury Plucknett 6 237.15x
Llandaff 6 8.29x
Lympston 6 129.03x
Marshwood 6 419.58x
Abinger 5 98.81x
Bishopstoke 5 76.10x
Charmouth 5 186.57x
Cogan 5 154.80x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 11.74x
Honiton 5 34.75x
Mangotsfield 5 20.47x
Mile End New Town 5 29.31x
Reading St Mary 5 6.66x
St Botolph Aldersgate 5 34.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 81
John 71
James 47
George 46
Charles 44
Henry 29
Thomas 24
Frederick 21
Samuel 20
Alfred 17
Albert 15
Edward 12
Joseph 10
Harry 9
Richard 9
Walter 9
Arthur 8
Frank 8
Robert 8
Simon 7
Ernest 5
Edwin 4
Fredk. 4
Stephen 4
Daniel 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Frederic 3
Herbert 3
Leonard 3
Tom 3
Absalom 2
Alexander 2
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Clement 2
Earnest 2
Eli 2
Fred 2
Hy. 2
Peter 2
Sammuel 2
Sidney 2
W. 2
Bertie 1
C. 1
Erenest 1
Holford 1
Hubert 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pavey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pavey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,283 people were recorded with the Pavey surname. That placed it at #3,182 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pavey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,588 in 2016. That gives Pavey a modern rank of #3,910.

What does the Pavey surname mean?

An English surname derived from the French place name "Pavie", referring to a person from that location.

What does the Pavey map show?

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