NameCensus.

UK surname

Pember

A locational English surname derived from a place named Pember or Pembor.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Pember surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 330, ranked #13,765, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ross Foreign and Ross Borough and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Herefordshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pember is 345 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.8%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

330

2016, ranked #13,765

Peak year

1911

345 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pember had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016, ranked #13,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 345 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pember surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pember surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pember 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 235 #9,206
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 339 #10,682
1911 historical 345 #10,358
1997 modern 313 #13,158
1998 modern 319 #13,330
1999 modern 307 #13,757
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 317 #13,228
2002 modern 320 #13,414
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 303 #13,812
2005 modern 300 #13,837
2006 modern 296 #14,030
2007 modern 295 #14,198
2008 modern 315 #13,686
2009 modern 325 #13,657
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 334 #13,556
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 328 #13,842
2014 modern 322 #14,113
2015 modern 329 #13,800
2016 modern 330 #13,765

Geography

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Where Pembers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ross Foreign and Ross Borough, St Pancras, Weobley, Bishopstone, Mansell Lacy, Dilwyn, Eardisland and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Herefordshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Ross Foreign and Ross Borough Herefordshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Weobley, Bishopstone, Mansell Lacy, Dilwyn, Eardisland Herefordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 006 Lichfield
2 Herefordshire 010 Herefordshire, County of
3 Herefordshire 013 Herefordshire, County of
4 Lichfield 009 Lichfield
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 021 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pember

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pember

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Pember surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pember household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Pember 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

Pember is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pember

The surname Pember is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Essex during the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "pæmor" or "pæmor-leah," which refer to a meadow or clearing where the plant known as "pæmor" or "paigle" grew.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex, dated 1292, where a certain John Pembre is mentioned. The Feet of Fines were legal documents used to record land transactions, and their records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

The name Pember also appears in the Subsidy Rolls for Essex in 1327, which were tax records documenting the names of individuals who were required to pay a particular tax or subsidy to the Crown. These records suggest that the Pember family had established itself in the county of Essex by the early 14th century.

In the late 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name Pember was Sir Edward Pember (c. 1550-1616), who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Bramber in Sussex during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played an active role in local affairs and held various positions within the county.

Another prominent individual with the surname Pember was William Pember (1592-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Eastington in Gloucestershire. He is best known for his influential work titled "A Treatise of the Grounds of the Christian Religion," published in 1645.

During the 17th century, the Pember family had established a presence in various parts of England, including Essex, Suffolk, and Somerset. One noteworthy member was John Pember (1615-1679), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Somerset, who served as the High Sheriff of Somerset in 1671.

In the 18th century, the surname Pember continued to be found in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Essex, Suffolk, and Somerset. One interesting individual from this period was Robert Pember (1734-1809), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Suffolk, who made significant contributions to the study of British flora and fauna.

Throughout its history, the surname Pember has been recorded with various spellings, such as Pembre, Pembar, and Pember, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in earlier periods. While the name has its roots in the county of Essex, it has since spread to other regions of England and beyond, reflecting the mobility and migration patterns of families over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pember families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pember 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. Herefordshire leads with 91 Pembers recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.28x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 91 79.28x
Middlesex 33 1.18x
Staffordshire 31 3.28x
Warwickshire 26 3.68x
Worcestershire 19 5.20x
Surrey 16 1.17x
Gloucestershire 12 2.19x
Monmouthshire 10 4.94x
Lancashire 9 0.27x
Glamorgan 8 1.64x
Devon 6 1.03x
Yorkshire 5 0.18x
Shropshire 4 1.65x
Brecknockshire 2 3.57x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Lincolnshire 2 0.45x
Radnorshire 2 8.85x
Royal Navy 2 6.00x
Berkshire 1 0.48x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Dorset 1 0.54x
Essex 1 0.18x
Kent 1 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x
Sussex 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 17 Pembers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.22x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 17 7.22x
St Pancras London 15 6.66x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 11.97x
Norton Canon 10 3225.81x
St Margarets 10 3703.70x
Aston 9 4.63x
Bodenham 8 952.38x
Handsworth 8 34.35x
Kinnersley 8 2758.62x
Worcester St Peter 8 115.61x
Halewood 7 393.26x
Stretton Sugwas 7 2413.79x
Westbury On Severn East 7 56.41x
East Budleigh 6 218.18x
Kimbolton 6 1000.00x
Kingston On Thames 6 18.31x
Mywyddyslwyn 6 1224.49x
Mitcham 5 58.00x
Saddleworth 5 23.36x
Bosbury 4 421.05x
Camberwell 4 2.24x
Cwmdu 4 67.34x
Islington London 4 1.47x
Kingsland 4 392.16x
Lichfield St Chad 4 187.79x
Ross 4 87.53x
Rowley Regis 4 15.19x
Stoke Edith 4 1481.48x
Stottesdon 4 363.64x
Dilwyn 3 297.03x
Dinedor 3 1250.00x
Hereford St Owen 3 79.16x
Heston 3 32.26x
Hornsey 3 8.47x
Ogley Hay 3 153.06x
Roath 3 13.55x
Abergavenny 2 26.39x
Boldre 2 97.09x
Bristol Temple 2 55.40x
Hereford All Sts 2 38.02x
Llanbadarn Fawr 2 338.98x
Lower Mitton 2 62.11x
Mansell Lacy 2 1052.63x
Newland 2 952.38x
Paddington London 2 1.94x
Ribbesford 2 65.79x
Royal Navy 2 7.01x
Skirbeck 2 79.68x
St Bartholomew Less 2 138.89x
Abbey Dore 1 196.08x
Battersea 1 0.97x
Bishopstone 1 416.67x
Buckhorn Weston 1 200.00x
Burghill 1 76.92x
Burnley 1 3.57x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.72x
Cheltenham 1 2.36x
Claines 1 9.97x
Crickhowell 1 77.52x
Cwmdu 1 108.70x
Eastnor 1 263.16x
Gloucester 1 526.32x
Hackney London 1 0.64x
Hereford St Martin 1 71.94x
Kidderminster Borough 1 4.67x
Leyton Low 1 8.90x
Llanvihangel Crucorney 1 232.56x
Lucton 1 666.67x
Much Birch 1 196.08x
New Windsor 1 14.16x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.02x
Orcop 1 188.68x
Pudlestone 1 357.14x
Salford 1 1.02x
St George Hanover 1 2.74x
St Marylebone London 1 0.67x
Turnastone 1 2000.00x
Whitechapel London 1 3.62x
Wotton St Mary 1 35.09x
Yazor 1 476.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 16
Henry 13
George 11
James 10
Thomas 10
Charles 7
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Allen 3
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Harry 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Joseph 2
Barnabas 1
Denis 1
Ebor 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Isaac 1
Jonathan 1
Mark 1
Peter 1
Rich.G. 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Thos.James 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Pember surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pember surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Pember surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pember surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 330 in 2016. That gives Pember a modern rank of #13,765.

What does the Pember surname mean?

A locational English surname derived from a place named Pember or Pembor.

What does the Pember map show?

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