UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "paine", meaning peasant or villager.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Paynes surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barking and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Paynes is 245 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 84.0%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
245 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Paynes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Paynes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 83 | #19,181 |
| 1861 | historical | 245 | #10,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 162 | #17,390 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 66 | #26,249 |
| 1997 | modern | 25 | #35,261 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 12 | #36,612 |
| 2002 | modern | 12 | #36,679 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 12 | #37,143 |
| 2009 | modern | 12 | #37,230 |
| 2010 | modern | 12 | #37,307 |
| 2011 | modern | 12 | #37,287 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 13 | #37,256 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barking, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and Oldswinford. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Barking | Essex |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Paynes 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 Paynes, 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 Paynes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Paynes 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, Paynes 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 Paynes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Paynes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Paynes is of Anglo-Saxon origin and has its roots in the Old English word "paen", which means "pagan" or "heathen". The name was likely given as a nickname to someone who lived among or was associated with non-Christians or pagans during the early days of Christianity in Britain.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname Paynes can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pagen" and "Paganell". These entries suggest that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Paynes was Sir Ralph Paynes, a Norman knight who accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. He was granted lands in Yorkshire and other parts of northern England for his service to the king.
Another notable figure was Sir John Paynes, who served as a member of the English Parliament in the 14th century. He was born in 1310 in Wiltshire and played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War against France.
During the 16th century, the Paynes family established themselves as prominent landowners in Leicestershire. Sir Robert Paynes (1516-1580) was a member of the English gentry and served as High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1569.
In the 17th century, the name Paynes was associated with the village of Painswick in Gloucestershire. This place name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pagan" and "wic", meaning "pagan dwelling or village". It is possible that some members of the Paynes family originated from or had connections to this area.
Thomas Paynes (1687-1773) was a notable figure in colonial America. He was born in London and immigrated to Virginia in the early 18th century, where he became a successful merchant and landowner. His descendants played influential roles in the American Revolutionary War and the formation of the United States.
Throughout history, the surname Paynes has been found in various spellings, including Paine, Payne, Payn, and Pagan, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences that shaped the development of surnames over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Paynes 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. Somerset leads with 10 Paynes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.49x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 10 | 8.49x |
| Herefordshire | 7 | 23.33x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 3.79x |
| Essex | 6 | 4.16x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 6.16x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.68x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 5.07x |
| Pembrokeshire | 5 | 21.51x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.40x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 2.79x |
| Staffordshire | 4 | 1.62x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.24x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 2.24x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.28x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.82x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.26x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.12x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.89x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.55x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston in Somerset leads with 9 Paynes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 989.01x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Weston | 9 | 989.01x |
| Birmingham | 7 | 11.39x |
| Barking | 6 | 142.18x |
| Hentland | 5 | 3571.43x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 5 | 25.28x |
| Rosemarket | 5 | 5555.56x |
| Snenton | 5 | 129.20x |
| Camberwell | 4 | 8.56x |
| Bilston | 3 | 62.63x |
| Fulham London | 3 | 28.28x |
| Clifton | 2 | 27.59x |
| Hoxne | 2 | 800.00x |
| Walford | 2 | 666.67x |
| Whitby | 2 | 81.97x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 45.45x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 20.92x |
| Chester St John Baptist | 1 | 34.48x |
| Clevedon | 1 | 81.97x |
| Clifton Reynes | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Ham | 1 | 625.00x |
| Hendon | 1 | 38.02x |
| Northfield | 1 | 55.25x |
| Norwich St Peter Mancroft | 1 | 178.57x |
| Poulton Cum Seacombe | 1 | 53.76x |
| St Clement Danes | 1 | 84.75x |
| Tutbury | 1 | 166.67x |
| Wantage | 1 | 113.64x |
| Westbury On Trym | 1 | 20.58x |
| Westport St Mary | 1 | 212.77x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Paynes 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 Paynes 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 Paynes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Laundress | 4 |
| Domestic Servant | 3 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| French Polisher | 2 |
| Barman | 1 |
| Box Maker (Paper) | 1 |
| Dairyman | 1 |
| Dairyman Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Firemans Wife | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gardener Or Ag Lab | 1 |
| General Dom Serv | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Servt | 1 |
| Hat Maker (Hatter) | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Labrour | 1 |
| Labrour (Genl) | 1 |
| Lace Factory Manager | 1 |
| Mariner (M I) | 1 |
| No Employment | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Potman | 1 |
| Property Owner | 1 |
| Serv (General) | 1 |
| Serv Dom | 1 |
| Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Shoe Fitter | 1 |
| Son Of Lousia Paynes | 1 |
| Stationers Aprentice | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Paynes surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Paynes a modern rank of #37,385.
A surname derived from the French word "paine", meaning peasant or villager.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Paynes 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.