UK surname
A French occupational surname referring to a peasant or country dweller.
In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Payan surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8, ranked #37,829, down from #32,416 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, East Grinstead and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Payan is 102 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.1%.
1881 census count
9
Ranked #32,416
Modern count
8
2016, ranked #37,829
Peak year
1861
102 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Payan surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Payan surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 24 | #29,038 |
| 1861 | historical | 102 | #20,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 9 | #32,416 |
| 1891 | historical | 26 | #32,189 |
| 1901 | historical | 4 | #33,876 |
| 1911 | historical | 10 | #32,609 |
| 1997 | modern | 12 | #36,785 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 14 | #36,372 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 12 | #36,835 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 10 | #37,224 |
| 2007 | modern | 10 | #37,335 |
| 2008 | modern | 10 | #37,371 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 10 | #37,509 |
| 2013 | modern | 11 | #37,435 |
| 2014 | modern | 11 | #37,462 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 8 | #37,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, East Grinstead, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Edinburgh and Mouswald. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tipton otherwise Tibington | Staffordshire |
| 2 | East Grinstead | Sussex |
| 3 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 5 | Mouswald | Dumfries |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Payan surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Payan, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Payan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Payan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Payan is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Payan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Payan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Payan originated in France, with its earliest recorded instances dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Old French word "paien," which means "pagan" or "non-Christian." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to refer to someone who was not of the Christian faith or was perceived as such.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Jean Payan, a French Protestant who lived in the late 16th century. He was a member of the Huguenot community, which faced persecution in Catholic France during that time period. Records indicate that Jean Payan was forced to flee his home in Provence due to religious persecution.
In the 17th century, the name Payan appeared in the records of the French Protestant Church in London, indicating that some bearers of the name had sought refuge in England from religious persecution in France. One such individual was Pierre Payan, who was born in Marseille in 1632 and later settled in London.
The Payan name can also be found in historical records from the French region of Languedoc, particularly in the area around the city of Montpellier. One notable bearer of the name from this region was Jacques Payan, a 17th-century Protestant minister who was active in the Cévennes region during the French Wars of Religion.
In the 18th century, the name Payan appeared in the records of the French colony of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name in this region was Jean-Baptiste Payan, a plantation owner who was born in Marseille in 1725 and later settled in Saint-Domingue.
Another notable figure with the surname Payan was Pierre Payan, a French revolutionary who lived during the late 18th century. He was a member of the Jacobin Club and played a role in the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution. Pierre Payan was born in Marseille in 1766 and was executed by guillotine in 1794.
Other historical figures with the surname Payan include: - Juan Payan (1590-1670), a Spanish poet and playwright from Seville. - Francisco Payan (1711-1789), a Spanish painter known for his religious works. - Emilio Payan (1855-1928), a Mexican politician and diplomat who served as Governor of Puebla. - Margarita Payan (1901-1985), a Colombian writer and poet known for her works exploring themes of feminism and social justice.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Payan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 9 Payans recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.27x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 9 | 10.27x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Botolph Bishopsgate in Middlesex leads with 9 Payans recorded in 1881 and an index of 7500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Botolph Bishopsgate | 9 | 7500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Payan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Payan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Payan households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Payan surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 8 in 2016. That gives Payan a modern rank of #37,829.
A French occupational surname referring to a peasant or country dweller.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Payan bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.