NameCensus.

UK surname

Pembroke

A habitational name for someone from Pembroke in West Wales.

In the 1881 census there were 284 people recorded with the Pembroke surname, ranking it #10,100 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 457, ranked #10,690, down from #10,100 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Aldbourn and Lound. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chiltern, Great Yarmouth and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pembroke is 481 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.9%.

1881 census count

284

Ranked #10,100

Modern count

457

2016, ranked #10,690

Peak year

1999

481 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pembroke had 284 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,100 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016, ranked #10,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 432 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Pembroke surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pembroke surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pembroke 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 159 #14,553
1881 historical 284 #10,100
1891 historical 307 #10,914
1901 historical 360 #10,212
1911 historical 432 #8,779
1997 modern 438 #10,282
1998 modern 476 #9,974
1999 modern 481 #9,958
2000 modern 474 #10,029
2001 modern 471 #9,895
2002 modern 481 #9,923
2003 modern 443 #10,413
2004 modern 446 #10,391
2005 modern 433 #10,516
2006 modern 430 #10,624
2007 modern 424 #10,867
2008 modern 424 #10,952
2009 modern 453 #10,611
2010 modern 459 #10,739
2011 modern 473 #10,376
2012 modern 462 #10,470
2013 modern 461 #10,634
2014 modern 473 #10,509
2015 modern 463 #10,602
2016 modern 457 #10,690

Geography

Back to top

Where Pembrokes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Aldbourn, Lound, London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chiltern, Great Yarmouth, Kensington and Chelsea, Southwark and Reading. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Aldbourn Berkshire
3 Lound Suffolk
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chiltern 010 Chiltern
2 Great Yarmouth 012 Great Yarmouth
3 Kensington and Chelsea 004 Kensington and Chelsea
4 Southwark 004 Southwark
5 Reading 017 Reading

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pembroke

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pembroke

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Pembroke surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Pembroke household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pembroke is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pembroke is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pembroke falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pembroke is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pembroke, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pembroke

The surname Pembroke originated in England during the medieval period, deriving its name from the town of Pembroke in Wales. The name itself is a combination of the Welsh words "pen" meaning "head" and "bro" meaning "landing place" or "territory," referring to the location of the town at the head of a peninsula in Pembrokeshire.

The earliest recorded references to the surname Pembroke can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, including Penbroc and Pembroc, reflecting the evolution of the spelling over time.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Pembroke was Walter de Pembroke, who lived in the 12th century and served as a knight under King Henry II. He was granted lands in Pembrokeshire and played a significant role in the Welsh Marches, the border region between England and Wales.

Another notable figure with the Pembroke surname was Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke (c. 1265-1324), a powerful nobleman and military commander during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II. He was involved in various conflicts, including the Scottish Wars of Independence and the Baronial Wars against the Crown.

In the 15th century, Jasper Tudor, Earl of Pembroke (1431-1495), was a prominent figure and the uncle of King Henry VII. He played a crucial role in the Wars of the Roses and was instrumental in securing the Tudor dynasty's claim to the English throne.

William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (c. 1501-1570), was a prominent courtier and statesman during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Elizabeth I. He held several important positions, including Lord President of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586), a renowned poet, courtier, and soldier, was also a member of the Pembroke family. He was closely associated with the court of Elizabeth I and is remembered for his influential works, including "Astrophel and Stella" and "The Defence of Poesy."

Throughout its history, the Pembroke surname has been closely tied to the town and region of Pembrokeshire in Wales, reflecting the ancestral roots and territorial connections of those who bore the name. The name's enduring presence in historical records and its association with notable figures underscore its significance in English and Welsh history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pembroke families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pembroke 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. Berkshire leads with 60 Pembrokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.27x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 60 29.27x
Middlesex 53 1.94x
Suffolk 38 11.42x
Kent 30 3.22x
Surrey 29 2.18x
Wiltshire 15 6.21x
Lincolnshire 7 1.60x
Worcestershire 7 1.96x
Buckinghamshire 5 3.03x
Glamorgan 5 1.05x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Oxfordshire 5 2.96x
Essex 4 0.74x
Hampshire 4 0.71x
Norfolk 4 0.95x
Cheshire 3 0.50x
Warwickshire 3 0.44x
Hertfordshire 1 0.53x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.15x
Sussex 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. Burghfield in Berkshire leads with 18 Pembrokes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1487.60x.

Place Total Index
Burghfield 18 1487.60x
Sonning 13 575.22x
Aldbourn 11 780.14x
Hillingdon 11 126.29x
Lound 11 2682.93x
Mile End Old Town 10 23.20x
Camberwell 9 5.16x
Greenwich 9 20.70x
Bradwell 8 1538.46x
Denham 8 1951.22x
Deptford St Nicholas 8 108.11x
Lewisham 8 16.10x
Reading St Giles 7 34.81x
Willesden 7 27.18x
Dunston 6 821.92x
Kings Norton 6 18.76x
Lambeth 6 2.52x
New Windsor 6 87.08x
Clerkenwell London 5 7.76x
Corton 5 943.40x
Deptford St Paul 5 6.96x
Letcombe Bassett 5 2380.95x
Newington 5 4.96x
Barking 4 25.36x
Chalfont St Peter 4 294.12x
Gorleston 4 47.34x
Great Yarmouth 4 11.50x
Nettlebed 4 645.16x
Swansea Town 4 10.26x
Birkenhead 3 6.24x
Earley 3 87.72x
Hackney London 3 1.96x
Limehouse London 3 10.01x
Paddington London 3 2.99x
Southampton All Sts 3 31.22x
St Clement Danes 3 67.87x
Charney 2 952.38x
Cholsey 2 123.46x
Clapham 2 5.86x
Edgbaston 2 9.36x
Norwood 2 32.00x
Reading St Mary 2 12.18x
Tilehurst 2 48.31x
Wilton 2 116.96x
Alderbury 1 88.50x
Alverstoke 1 4.94x
Battersea 1 1.00x
Belton 1 172.41x
Birmingham 1 0.44x
Blundeston 1 149.25x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 3.89x
Charterhouse London 1 77.52x
Coyty Lower 1 32.36x
Ealing 1 4.10x
Edmonton 1 4.54x
Epsom 1 15.41x
Filkins 1 181.82x
Great Grimsby 1 3.61x
Great Malvern 1 13.44x
Hatfield 1 26.18x
Horley 1 44.84x
Isleworth 1 8.24x
Iver 1 46.95x
Little Bedwyn 1 212.77x
Liverpool 1 0.51x
Penally 1 175.44x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.59x
Reigate Foreign 1 6.94x
Shoreditch London 1 0.84x
St Marylebone London 1 0.69x
Treyford 1 714.29x
Turton 1 18.83x
Wandsworth 1 3.80x
Weybridge 1 34.97x
Wimbledon 1 6.69x
Withington 1 9.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 14
Thomas 13
Charles 11
George 11
John 11
Henry 9
James 8
Arthur 6
Luke 5
Walter 5
Samuel 4
Alfred 2
Chas. 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Sydney 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Arnold 1
Aubrey 1
Clarence 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Franklin 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Joel 1
Jonas 1
Lindsay 1
Marc 1
Noah 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Rose 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pembroke surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pembroke surname in 1881?

In 1881, 284 people were recorded with the Pembroke surname. That placed it at #10,100 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pembroke surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 457 in 2016. That gives Pembroke a modern rank of #10,690.

What does the Pembroke surname mean?

A habitational name for someone from Pembroke in West Wales.

What does the Pembroke map show?

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