NameCensus.

UK surname

Pharoah

An occupational surname related to the royal rulers or leaders of ancient Egypt.

In the 1881 census there were 182 people recorded with the Pharoah surname, ranking it #13,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 397, ranked #11,941, up from #13,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maldon, Chelmsford and East Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pharoah is 435 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.1%.

1881 census count

182

Ranked #13,647

Modern count

397

2016, ranked #11,941

Peak year

2011

435 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pharoah had 182 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016, ranked #11,941.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 233 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pharoah surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pharoah surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pharoah 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 91 #18,187
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 182 #13,647
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 233 #13,740
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 377 #11,508
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 375 #12,004
2000 modern 383 #11,779
2001 modern 388 #11,459
2002 modern 400 #11,443
2003 modern 382 #11,642
2004 modern 375 #11,820
2005 modern 385 #11,512
2006 modern 389 #11,476
2007 modern 382 #11,775
2008 modern 408 #11,292
2009 modern 412 #11,461
2010 modern 427 #11,379
2011 modern 435 #11,066
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 408 #11,740
2014 modern 413 #11,726
2015 modern 397 #11,973
2016 modern 397 #11,941

Geography

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Where Pharoahs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Newchurch, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maldon, Chelmsford, East Dorset and Gateshead. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maldon 007 Maldon
2 Chelmsford 016 Chelmsford
3 East Dorset 002 East Dorset
4 Gateshead 013 Gateshead
5 East Dorset 004 East Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pharoah

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pharoah

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pharoah is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pharoah is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pharoah

The surname Pharoah is derived from the ancient Egyptian word "Pr-aa", which means "great house" or "palace". It is believed to have originated in Egypt during the time of the ancient pharaohs, who were the rulers and kings of the land.

The name Pharoah is closely associated with the powerful and influential rulers of ancient Egypt, such as Ramses II, who reigned from 1279 to 1213 BC and was known for his extensive building projects, including the construction of the famous Ramesseum mortuary temple. Another notable figure was Tutankhamun, who ruled from 1332 to 1323 BC and is widely remembered for the discovery of his intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922.

In the Middle Ages, the name Pharoah appeared in various forms, including Farao and Faraho, in some European records and manuscripts. This suggests that the name may have been adopted by travelers or individuals who had connections to the Middle East or the Mediterranean region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pharoah can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England, completed in 1086 AD. The entry mentions a person named "Pharoah" who held land in the county of Norfolk.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Pharoah. One example is John Pharoah (1610-1685), an English merchant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Sandwich in Kent. Another is William Pharoah (1787-1867), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral.

In the literary world, Josiah Pharoah (1673-1743) was an English playwright and poet who wrote several works, including the tragedy "The Virgin Queen" and the comedy "The Beau Defeated". Additionally, Henry Pharoah (1806-1883) was a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

It is worth noting that the surname Pharoah is relatively uncommon, particularly outside of regions with historical connections to ancient Egypt or the Middle East. However, its unique origins and association with the powerful rulers of ancient Egypt have contributed to its enduring presence throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pharoah families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pharoah 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. Hampshire leads with 71 Pharoahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.41x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 71 19.41x
Cumberland 23 14.97x
Surrey 23 2.64x
Durham 16 3.01x
Middlesex 11 0.62x
Oxfordshire 8 7.26x
Essex 6 1.70x
Kent 6 0.99x
Yorkshire 6 0.34x
Suffolk 4 1.84x
Hertfordshire 2 1.63x
Norfolk 2 0.73x
Wiltshire 2 1.27x
Cornwall 1 0.49x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Royal Navy 1 4.70x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 57 Pharoahs recorded in 1881 and an index of 79.50x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 57 79.50x
Tanfield 11 174.33x
Nether Wasdale 8 6666.67x
Cleator 6 93.75x
Erith 6 100.00x
Hornsey 6 26.58x
Lamplugh 6 779.22x
Lofthouse 6 227.27x
Oxford St Giles 6 114.07x
Titchfield 6 217.39x
Wimbledon 6 61.41x
Beddington 5 148.81x
Braintree 5 158.23x
Gateshead 5 12.58x
Lambeth 5 3.21x
Wymering 5 833.33x
Newington 4 6.07x
Shoreditch London 3 3.88x
Stonham Aspall 3 681.82x
Ashby St Mary 2 1666.67x
Chelsea London 2 3.72x
Cheshunt 2 46.51x
Fareham 2 45.45x
No Mans Land 2 2500.00x
Oxford St Thomas 2 38.91x
Richmond 2 16.41x
Aldershot 1 8.16x
Camberwell 1 0.88x
Drigg Carleton 1 285.71x
Egremont 1 27.32x
Gosbeck 1 526.32x
Lower Holker 1 243.90x
Muncaster 1 303.03x
Royal Navy 1 5.50x
Talland 1 208.33x
West Ham 1 1.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
George 8
Charles 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Alfred 4
Thomas 4
Crispin 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
James 3
Samuel 3
Anthony 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Tyson 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Calvert 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Egerton 1
Henery 1
Henry 1
Josiah 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Stephen 1
Thos.J. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Pharoah surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pharoah surname in 1881?

In 1881, 182 people were recorded with the Pharoah surname. That placed it at #13,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pharoah surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 397 in 2016. That gives Pharoah a modern rank of #11,941.

What does the Pharoah surname mean?

An occupational surname related to the royal rulers or leaders of ancient Egypt.

What does the Pharoah map show?

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