NameCensus.

UK surname

Petford

In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Petford surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 352, ranked #13,104, up from #16,091 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inkberrow, Dudley and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Petford is 411 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 149.6%.

1881 census count

141

Ranked #16,091

Modern count

352

2016, ranked #13,104

Peak year

1999

411 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Petford had 141 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,091 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016, ranked #13,104.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 287 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Petford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Petford surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Petford 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 103 #16,835
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 141 #16,091
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 232 #13,769
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 395 #11,106
1998 modern 405 #11,241
1999 modern 411 #11,231
2000 modern 397 #11,463
2001 modern 392 #11,384
2002 modern 389 #11,667
2003 modern 379 #11,714
2004 modern 368 #12,001
2005 modern 355 #12,243
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 344 #12,743
2008 modern 346 #12,813
2009 modern 342 #13,193
2010 modern 371 #12,679
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 374 #12,521
2014 modern 370 #12,712
2015 modern 368 #12,661
2016 modern 352 #13,104

Geography

Back to top

Where Petfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inkberrow, Dudley, St Pancras, White Ladies Aston and Dodderhill (Dodderhill), Hanbury. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire and Dudley. 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 Inkberrow Warwickshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 White Ladies Aston Worcestershire
5 Dodderhill (Dodderhill), Hanbury Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
2 Dudley 034 Dudley
3 Dudley 025 Dudley
4 Dudley 012 Dudley
5 Shropshire 029 Shropshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Petford

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Petford

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Petford is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Petford 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

Petford falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Petford is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Petford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Petford 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. Worcestershire leads with 69 Petfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 38.70x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 69 38.70x
Staffordshire 24 5.21x
Warwickshire 23 6.68x
Middlesex 9 0.66x
Surrey 7 1.05x
Yorkshire 5 0.37x
Shropshire 2 1.70x
Gloucestershire 1 0.37x

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 16 Petfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.94x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 16 13.94x
Dudley 15 69.19x
Inkberrow 12 1666.67x
Kingswinford 12 71.73x
St Pancras London 9 8.19x
Kings Norton 8 50.03x
White Ladies Aston 8 5333.33x
Battersea 7 13.93x
Hanbury 5 1041.67x
Handsworth 5 44.01x
Bromsgrove 4 66.67x
Harborne 4 27.08x
Wombwell 4 101.27x
Aston 3 3.16x
Edgbaston 3 28.09x
Hasbury 3 256.41x
Ombersley 3 303.03x
Dodderhill 2 263.16x
Halesowen 2 127.39x
Worfield 2 243.90x
Alvechurch 1 131.58x
Bayton 1 500.00x
Claines 1 20.45x
Hampton Lovett 1 1111.11x
Himbleton 1 476.19x
Hunnington 1 1666.67x
Hunslet 1 4.74x
Kempsey 1 147.06x
Mickleton 1 285.71x
Pillerton Hersey 1 1428.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.05x
Wednesfield 1 14.75x
West Bromwich 1 3.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Alice 4
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Sarah 4
Annie 3
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Jane 2
Kezia 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Janet 1
Levinia 1
Lucy 1
Mable 1
Marie 1
Mattie 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Petford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Petford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Petford surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Petford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 352 in 2016. That gives Petford a modern rank of #13,104.

What does the Petford map show?

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