NameCensus.

UK surname

Pilbeam

A surname derived from a geographical location.

In the 1881 census there were 663 people recorded with the Pilbeam surname, ranking it #5,426 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 832, ranked #6,692, down from #5,426 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Medway and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pilbeam is 950 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.5%.

1881 census count

663

Ranked #5,426

Modern count

832

2016, ranked #6,692

Peak year

1998

950 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pilbeam had 663 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,426 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 832 in 2016, ranked #6,692.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 901 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pilbeam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pilbeam surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pilbeam 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 350 #7,295
1881 historical 663 #5,426
1891 historical 658 #5,904
1901 historical 788 #5,711
1911 historical 901 #4,949
1997 modern 906 #5,939
1998 modern 950 #5,901
1999 modern 917 #6,115
2000 modern 915 #6,105
2001 modern 908 #6,045
2002 modern 929 #6,041
2003 modern 904 #6,065
2004 modern 878 #6,210
2005 modern 847 #6,325
2006 modern 830 #6,426
2007 modern 842 #6,419
2008 modern 845 #6,462
2009 modern 873 #6,429
2010 modern 889 #6,452
2011 modern 883 #6,419
2012 modern 854 #6,508
2013 modern 849 #6,643
2014 modern 865 #6,575
2015 modern 848 #6,619
2016 modern 832 #6,692

Geography

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Where Pilbeams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Tunbridge, Bidborough and Rotherfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Medway, Lewes, North Kesteven and Amber Valley. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Rotherfield Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 014 Wealden
2 Medway 018 Medway
3 Lewes 003 Lewes
4 North Kesteven 003 North Kesteven
5 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pilbeam

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pilbeam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pilbeam, 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 Pilbeam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pilbeam 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pilbeam is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pilbeam is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pilbeam

The surname Pilbeam is of English origin, originating from the county of Dorset in the southwest of England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pil" and "beam," which together mean "the pile or stake of a beam or tree trunk."

The earliest recorded instance of the Pilbeam surname dates back to the 13th century, with a record of a John Pilbeam appearing in the Hundred Rolls of Dorset in 1273. This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name or a descriptive surname, referring to someone who lived near or worked with beams or piles of wood.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a record exists of a place called "Pilebem" in Dorset, which is thought to be a precursor to the modern surname Pilbeam. This provides further evidence of the name's origin and its connection to the region.

One notable Pilbeam in history was Sir William Pilbeam (1582-1648), who was a Member of Parliament for Dorchester in the early 17th century. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

Another prominent figure with the Pilbeam surname was John Pilbeam (1708-1784), a renowned English clockmaker from Devizes, Wiltshire. He is known for creating some of the finest longcase clocks of the 18th century, which are highly sought after by collectors today.

In the 19th century, Richard Pilbeam (1834-1906) was a prominent businessman and philanthropist from Birmingham, England. He made his fortune in the iron and steel industry and donated generously to various charitable causes in the city.

William Pilbeam (1856-1937) was a British naval architect and engineer, known for his innovative ship designs. He worked for several prominent shipbuilding companies and contributed significantly to the development of modern shipbuilding techniques.

Finally, Gwen Pilbeam (1921-2001) was a British actress and singer who had a successful career in theater, film, and television. She was particularly known for her roles in several popular BBC television series in the 1960s and 1970s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pilbeam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pilbeam 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. Sussex leads with 351 Pilbeams recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.09x.

County Total Index
Sussex 351 32.09x
Kent 127 5.74x
Surrey 94 2.97x
Middlesex 61 0.94x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.80x
Bedfordshire 5 1.49x
Staffordshire 5 0.23x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.73x
Essex 3 0.23x
Berkshire 2 0.41x
Channel Islands 2 1.04x
Warwickshire 2 0.12x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.49x

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 44 Pilbeams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.94x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 44 19.94x
Croydon 38 21.66x
Withyam 26 555.56x
Dallington 18 1525.42x
Burwash 17 335.31x
Hastings St Mary 16 58.78x
Rotherfield 15 155.76x
Warbleton 14 429.45x
Herstmonceaux 13 395.14x
Hollington 12 308.48x
Hooe 12 1153.85x
Mile End Old Town 12 11.72x
Wadhurst 12 167.13x
Ashford 11 51.04x
Hawkhurst 11 159.88x
Maresfield 11 238.61x
Goudhurst 10 163.13x
Brenchley 9 113.64x
Camberwell 9 2.17x
Hellingly 9 245.90x
Lamberhurst 9 326.09x
Lambeth 9 1.59x
Reigate Foreign 9 26.30x
Rolvenden 9 313.59x
Beckenham 8 27.65x
Clapham 8 9.86x
Crayford 8 82.73x
Hastings St Leonards 8 49.75x
Ticehurst 8 119.58x
Willesden 8 13.08x
Bulwell 7 36.82x
Buxted 7 163.55x
Cranbrook 7 74.71x
Hamsey 7 569.11x
Horsham 7 32.94x
Lingfield 7 113.64x
Sevenoaks 7 39.02x
St Martin In Fields 7 18.02x
Yalding 7 125.22x
Hammersmith London 6 3.75x
Hastings All Sts 6 58.20x
Islington London 6 0.95x
Preston 6 31.41x
Tonbridge 6 7.52x
Beddington 5 40.92x
Boughton Under Blean 5 134.77x
Chiddingly 5 253.81x
Cuckfield 5 45.25x
Hastings St Clement 5 48.59x
Luton 5 8.60x
Minster In Thanet 5 108.46x
Ardingly 4 114.94x
Arlington 4 307.69x
Ditchling 4 134.23x
East Grinstead 4 25.84x
Eastbourne 4 7.95x
Frant 4 51.61x
Speldhurst 4 35.49x
Tottenham 4 3.87x
Tudeley 4 327.87x
Worth 4 50.38x
Brede 3 131.00x
Hove 3 6.25x
Pevensey 3 370.37x
Shoreditch London 3 1.07x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.30x
St Clement Cambridge 3 176.47x
St George Hanover 3 3.54x
St Marylebone London 3 0.87x
Sutton 3 13.12x
Teddington London 3 20.41x
Walsall Foreign 3 2.65x
Westfield 3 128.21x
Wivelsfield 3 70.26x
Appledore 2 138.89x
Biddenden 2 66.01x
Bolehall Glascote 2 28.86x
Heathfield 2 45.15x
Kensington London 2 0.55x
West Ham 2 0.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 21
Elizabeth 19
Emily 17
Ann 15
Emma 15
Ellen 14
Annie 12
Fanny 12
Charlotte 10
Harriet 10
Louisa 8
Alice 7
Caroline 7
Eliza 7
Frances 7
Jane 7
Lucy 7
Harriett 6
Amelia 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Maria 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Anne 3
Clara 3
Grace 3
Henrietta 3
Margaret 3
Rhoda 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Blanche 2
Celia 2
Francis 2
Honor 2
Julia 2
Lavinia 2
Lillian 2
Lizer 2
Maud 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Ethel 1
Ethelred 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
George 32
John 30
Thomas 29
James 20
Henry 18
Charles 14
Alfred 12
Harry 10
Frederick 8
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Robert 6
Stephen 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Richard 4
Francis 3
Jesse 3
Thos. 3
Alexander 2
Horace 2
Joseph 2
Oscar 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Chas.Willm. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Edwd 1
Frances 1
Fred.Henry 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Friend 1
Herbert 1
Jane 1
Joshua 1
Levi 1
Lewin 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thos.Jno. 1
Zebulon 1

FAQ

Pilbeam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pilbeam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 663 people were recorded with the Pilbeam surname. That placed it at #5,426 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pilbeam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 832 in 2016. That gives Pilbeam a modern rank of #6,692.

What does the Pilbeam surname mean?

A surname derived from a geographical location.

What does the Pilbeam map show?

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