NameCensus.

UK surname

Pentecost

A surname derived from the Christian feast day celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

In the 1881 census there were 303 people recorded with the Pentecost surname, ranking it #9,654 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 537, ranked #9,475, up from #9,654 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to East Grinstead, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tandridge, Cornwall and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pentecost is 582 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 77.2%.

1881 census count

303

Ranked #9,654

Modern count

537

2016, ranked #9,475

Peak year

1999

582 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pentecost had 303 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,654 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016, ranked #9,475.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 554 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Pentecost surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pentecost surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pentecost 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 215 #9,860
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 303 #9,654
1891 historical 402 #8,842
1901 historical 505 #7,988
1911 historical 554 #7,244
1997 modern 561 #8,538
1998 modern 563 #8,758
1999 modern 582 #8,615
2000 modern 566 #8,744
2001 modern 567 #8,610
2002 modern 565 #8,802
2003 modern 544 #8,922
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 542 #8,887
2006 modern 513 #9,305
2007 modern 519 #9,300
2008 modern 517 #9,405
2009 modern 544 #9,247
2010 modern 564 #9,185
2011 modern 546 #9,322
2012 modern 523 #9,555
2013 modern 543 #9,432
2014 modern 544 #9,476
2015 modern 535 #9,530
2016 modern 537 #9,475

Geography

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Where Pentecosts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around East Grinstead, London parishes, Lambeth, Probus and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tandridge, Cornwall, Brighton and Hove and Tunbridge Wells. 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 East Grinstead Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Probus Cornwall
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tandridge 010 Tandridge
2 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 064 Cornwall
4 Brighton and Hove 025 Brighton and Hove
5 Tunbridge Wells 005 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pentecost

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pentecost

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Pentecost surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Pentecost household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pentecost is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Pentecost is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pentecost falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pentecost 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 Pentecost, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pentecost

The surname Pentecost is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "Pentecost," which means "Whitsunday" or the Christian festival of Pentecost. This name was likely given to someone born or baptized during the Pentecost season, or perhaps someone who lived near a church dedicated to the Holy Ghost or Pentecost.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273, where a William Pentecost is mentioned. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, with a reference to a John Pentecost.

In the 14th century, the Pentecost family was well-established in the county of Worcestershire, with several members holding prominent positions in the local community. For instance, Richard Pentecost served as the Mayor of Worcester in 1367.

The Pentecost name is also linked to several place names across England, such as Pentecost Farm in Buckinghamshire and Pentecost Lane in Derbyshire. These place names likely originated from individuals bearing the Pentecost surname who once owned or resided in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Pentecost include:

1. Dorothy Pentecost (1698-1778), an English writer and educator from Nottinghamshire. 2. Joseph Pentecost (1715-1773), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War. 3. Thomas Pentecost (1778-1856), a British architect responsible for designing several churches in London and Kent. 4. Charles Pentecost (1824-1897), a Canadian politician and businessman who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 5. John Pentecost (1877-1951), an American evangelist and author who founded the Pentecostal Holiness Church.

While the name Pentecost is not as common today as it once was, its historical significance and connection to the Christian festival of Pentecost make it a unique and intriguing surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pentecost families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pentecost 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 68 Pentecosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.72x.

County Total Index
Kent 68 6.72x
Cornwall 60 17.87x
Sussex 60 12.00x
Middlesex 45 1.52x
Devon 29 4.70x
Surrey 16 1.11x
Essex 10 1.71x
Wiltshire 8 3.05x
Lancashire 5 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Leicestershire 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 21 Pentecosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.82x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 21 20.82x
Probus 16 1159.42x
Exeter St Sidwell 14 99.01x
Ashford 13 131.98x
Lambeth 13 5.03x
Fletching 10 446.43x
Pembury 9 629.37x
Sithney 9 265.49x
Strood 9 155.98x
West Ham 9 6.96x
Mawnan 8 1509.43x
Swindon 8 39.33x
Whitstable 8 161.29x
Ealing 7 26.42x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 111.29x
St Clement 7 200.00x
Stockbury 7 1111.11x
Tottenham 7 14.82x
Kensington London 6 3.64x
St George In East 6 29.75x
Tonbridge 6 16.44x
Uckfield 6 275.23x
Boxley 5 322.58x
Fulham London 5 11.63x
Illogan 5 56.24x
Poplar London 5 8.93x
Wendron 5 107.30x
Brenzett 4 1290.32x
Eastbourne 4 17.38x
Hammersmith London 4 5.48x
Littleham 4 88.69x
Preston 4 45.82x
St Keverne 4 216.22x
Camberwell 3 1.58x
Helston 3 85.96x
Maresfield 3 142.18x
Acton 2 11.51x
Broadwater 2 17.44x
East Grinstead 2 28.25x
Horsham 2 20.60x
Kingsnorth 2 322.58x
Liverpool 2 0.94x
Rainhill 2 88.89x
Arundel 1 35.71x
Bexley 1 11.17x
Bromley 1 6.49x
Buxted 1 51.02x
Chartham 1 39.68x
Exeter Heavitree 1 21.74x
Falmouth 1 8.42x
Hampstead London 1 2.17x
Hartland 1 52.08x
Herne 1 22.32x
Hove 1 4.56x
Ifield 1 47.85x
Islington London 1 0.35x
Kenton 1 51.28x
Landewednack 1 169.49x
Little Hallingbury 1 169.49x
Loughborough 1 6.70x
Ore 1 26.88x
Oxford St Thomas 1 11.70x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.39x
Ryde 1 7.66x
South Brent 1 75.19x
St Austell 1 8.71x
St Clement Danes 1 20.83x
Thakeham 1 181.82x
Thanington Wilton In 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 12
Jane 9
Ann 7
Sarah 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Frances 5
Alice 4
Emily 4
Bessie 3
Eliza 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Louise 2
Mabel 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Amey 1
Amy 1
Birdie 1
Blanche 1
Constance 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Honour 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Lursham 1
Olive 1
Unregistered 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
George 14
John 13
Thomas 10
James 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Edward 5
Robert 5
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Frederick 3
Horace 3
Sidney 3
Sydney 3
Arthur 2
Austin 2
Cornelius 2
Edwin 2
Fdk. 2
Harry 2
Nathaniel 2
Richard 2
(Samuel) 1
Ben 1
Chas 1
D. 1
Douglas 1
Elizabeth 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Frederick 1
Halse 1
Henry 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Miles 1
Percy 1
Richd.J. 1
Samuel 1
Spencer 1
Stephen 1
Steven 1
Willam 1

FAQ

Pentecost surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pentecost surname in 1881?

In 1881, 303 people were recorded with the Pentecost surname. That placed it at #9,654 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pentecost surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 537 in 2016. That gives Pentecost a modern rank of #9,475.

What does the Pentecost surname mean?

A surname derived from the Christian feast day celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles.

What does the Pentecost map show?

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