NameCensus.

UK surname

Pay

A surname derived from an occupational term referring to someone employed as a toll collector or tax receiver.

In the 1881 census there were 984 people recorded with the Pay surname, ranking it #3,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,096, ranked #5,352, down from #3,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary and Buckland-near-Dover. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chichester, Rother and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pay is 1,186 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.4%.

1881 census count

984

Ranked #3,955

Modern count

1,096

2016, ranked #5,352

Peak year

1999

1,186 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pay had 984 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,096 in 2016, ranked #5,352.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,161 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pay surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pay surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pay 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 716 #3,652
1881 historical 984 #3,955
1891 historical 4 #34,098
1901 historical 1,161 #4,201
1997 modern 1,176 #4,801
1998 modern 1,174 #4,968
1999 modern 1,186 #4,985
2000 modern 1,186 #4,955
2001 modern 1,173 #4,912
2002 modern 1,179 #4,975
2003 modern 1,124 #5,083
2004 modern 1,132 #5,067
2005 modern 1,135 #5,000
2006 modern 1,143 #4,962
2007 modern 1,142 #5,014
2008 modern 1,150 #5,022
2009 modern 1,160 #5,094
2010 modern 1,167 #5,160
2011 modern 1,125 #5,268
2012 modern 1,127 #5,180
2013 modern 1,132 #5,243
2014 modern 1,132 #5,279
2015 modern 1,104 #5,336
2016 modern 1,096 #5,352

Geography

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Where Pays are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Dover St James, Dover St Mary, Buckland-near-Dover, Margate and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chichester, Rother, Canterbury, Dover and Cornwall. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Dover St James, Dover St Mary Kent
3 Buckland-near-Dover Kent
4 Margate Kent
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chichester 012 Chichester
2 Rother 011 Rother
3 Canterbury 011 Canterbury
4 Dover 001 Dover
5 Cornwall 040 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pay

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pay

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pay is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pay 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pay

The surname PAY has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "paye," which means a region or territory. This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who resided in a specific area or came from a particular place.

Early mentions of the PAY surname can be found in various historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from the late 13th century. These rolls documented names and landholdings, indicating that the PAY family held properties in the region.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname PAY was John Pay, who was born around 1270 in Hertfordshire, England. He was a landowner and served as a local magistrate during the reign of King Edward I.

During the 14th century, the PAY name appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, which were administrative records of the county. This suggests that members of the PAY family held lands or positions of authority in that area.

In the 15th century, a notable figure named Robert Pay lived in Buckinghamshire. He was a prominent merchant and served as a alderman in the town of Aylesbury. Records indicate that he was involved in local politics and trade affairs.

The PAY surname has been associated with several place names over the centuries, including Paynswick in Gloucestershire and Payton in Devon. These places may have influenced the spelling variations of the name, such as Payne, Payn, and Payton.

Another noteworthy individual bearing the PAY surname was Sir Edward Pay, who lived in the 16th century. He was a lawyer and served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was also a landowner and held estates in Kent.

In the 17th century, the PAY family had established roots in various parts of England, including Oxfordshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire. Records from this period mention individuals such as Thomas Pay, a prominent merchant in Bristol, and William Pay, a scholar and author from Oxford.

Throughout history, the PAY surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, merchants, scholars, and politicians. While the name may have originated from a specific geographical location, it has since spread and become a part of the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pay families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pay 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. Kent leads with 449 Pays recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.57x.

County Total Index
Kent 449 13.57x
Sussex 128 7.83x
Middlesex 124 1.28x
Surrey 92 1.95x
Hampshire 68 3.42x
Yorkshire 20 0.21x
Gloucestershire 13 0.68x
Lancashire 12 0.10x
Wiltshire 11 1.28x
Cheshire 9 0.42x
Staffordshire 9 0.28x
Shropshire 8 0.96x
Devon 7 0.35x
Essex 7 0.37x
Hertfordshire 7 1.05x
Suffolk 6 0.51x
Channel Islands 4 1.39x
Lanarkshire 4 0.13x
Cumberland 3 0.36x
Dorset 2 0.31x
Midlothian 2 0.15x
Royal Navy 2 1.73x
Warwickshire 2 0.08x
Bedfordshire 1 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.17x
Denbighshire 1 0.27x
Norfolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Harting in Sussex leads with 53 Pays recorded in 1881 and an index of 1247.06x.

Place Total Index
Harting 53 1247.06x
Hougham 41 208.44x
Charlton 29 132.00x
Margate St John Baptist 28 46.22x
Hackney London 27 4.97x
Ashford 25 77.59x
Buckland In Dover 25 228.10x
Portsea 23 5.90x
Dover St Mary Virgin 21 65.58x
Deptford St Paul 18 7.05x
Lambeth 17 2.01x
Chartham 14 169.90x
Ramsgate 13 24.07x
Paddington London 12 3.37x
Thanington Wilton In 12 774.19x
Bedhampton 11 468.09x
Nonington 11 416.67x
Throwley 11 533.98x
Alkham 10 523.56x
Bishops Waltham 10 120.77x
Folkestone 10 15.58x
Mile End Old Town 10 6.53x
Sandwich St Peter 10 287.36x
Wimbledon 10 18.85x
Boughton Under Blean 9 162.45x
Cheam 9 178.22x
Chillenden 9 1956.52x
Felpham 9 478.72x
St Marylebone London 9 1.74x
Bexley 8 27.35x
Cannock 8 14.01x
Downton 8 71.30x
Ealing 8 9.23x
Preston Next Faversham 8 102.83x
Bridge 7 246.48x
Faversham 7 22.19x
Hove 7 9.76x
Rogate 7 213.41x
Terwick 7 1147.54x
Tormoham 7 8.20x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 3.35x
Broadwater 6 16.00x
Chester St Mary On Hill 6 32.68x
Clapham 6 4.95x
East Ham 6 16.89x
Ellesmere 6 41.72x
Petham 6 262.01x
Reigate Foreign 6 11.73x
Sheldwich 6 283.02x
West Cliffe 6 1463.41x
Willesden 6 6.56x
Acton 5 8.80x
Battersea 5 1.40x
Camberwell 5 0.81x
Charlton Kings 5 37.99x
Croydon 5 1.91x
Eastbourne 5 6.65x
Edmonton 5 6.40x
Hammersmith London 5 2.09x
Ipswich St Clement 5 16.66x
Kennington 5 203.25x
Kensington London 5 0.93x
Liverpool 5 0.72x
Middlesbrough 5 4.00x
Newington 5 1.40x
St George Bloomsbury 5 8.99x
St Lawrence 5 21.98x
Streatham 5 6.95x
Bermondsey 4 1.39x
East Langdon Oxney 4 363.64x
Eastry 4 87.15x
Farlington 4 98.52x
Gillingham 4 5.86x
Glasgow 4 0.72x
Great Driffield 4 20.28x
Newhaven 4 30.12x
Rickmansworth 4 21.74x
Ringwould 4 141.34x
St Faith Winchester 4 43.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 61
John 54
George 42
Thomas 32
Edward 29
James 25
Henry 24
Charles 21
Frederick 17
Alfred 16
Ernest 10
Richard 10
Arthur 9
Albert 8
Harry 8
Frank 7
Edwin 6
Isaac 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Alexander 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Percy 3
Stephen 3
Daniel 2
Ebenezer 2
Fredk. 2
Nathaniel 2
Allan 1
Augustus 1
Auther 1
Brownlow 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Elias 1
F. 1
Fredrick 1
Huson 1
Jonathan 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Mark 1
N.Isaac 1
Norwood 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pay surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pay surname in 1881?

In 1881, 984 people were recorded with the Pay surname. That placed it at #3,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pay surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,096 in 2016. That gives Pay a modern rank of #5,352.

What does the Pay surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational term referring to someone employed as a toll collector or tax receiver.

What does the Pay map show?

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