NameCensus.

UK surname

Pill

A metaphorical surname possibly referring to someone of small stature.

In the 1881 census there were 555 people recorded with the Pill surname, ranking it #6,219 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 453, ranked #10,748, down from #6,219 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mevagissey, Truro St Mary and Millom, Muncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Vale of White Horse and Halton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pill is 750 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.4%.

1881 census count

555

Ranked #6,219

Modern count

453

2016, ranked #10,748

Peak year

1891

750 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pill had 555 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,219 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016, ranked #10,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 750 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pill surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pill 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 402 #6,020
1861 historical 575 #4,585
1881 historical 555 #6,219
1891 historical 750 #5,311
1901 historical 564 #7,397
1911 historical 586 #6,957
1997 modern 376 #11,533
1998 modern 417 #11,026
1999 modern 432 #10,827
2000 modern 428 #10,850
2001 modern 403 #11,163
2002 modern 410 #11,226
2003 modern 399 #11,284
2004 modern 404 #11,199
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 390 #11,459
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 412 #11,210
2009 modern 419 #11,282
2010 modern 433 #11,242
2011 modern 434 #11,096
2012 modern 445 #10,753
2013 modern 460 #10,661
2014 modern 453 #10,830
2015 modern 446 #10,898
2016 modern 453 #10,748

Geography

Back to top

Where Pills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mevagissey, Truro St Mary, Millom, Muncaster, Lanteglos by Fowey and Gorran. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Vale of White Horse and Halton. 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 Mevagissey Cornwall
2 Truro St Mary Cornwall
3 Millom, Muncaster Cumberland
4 Lanteglos by Fowey Cornwall
5 Gorran Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 062 Cornwall
2 Vale of White Horse 015 Vale of White Horse
3 Vale of White Horse 009 Vale of White Horse
4 Halton 012 Halton
5 Cornwall 041 Cornwall

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pill

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pill

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Pill is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pill 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pill

The surname Pill has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "pyll," which means a stream or a brook. This suggests that the name may have been initially given as a descriptive name for someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Pill can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279, where it appears as "Pill." This document was a census-like record that listed individuals and their occupations, providing valuable insight into the prevalence of surnames during that time.

In the 14th century, the surname Pill appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1332, where it was spelled "Pille." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as there were no standardized rules for writing surnames.

The Pill surname has also been linked to place names, such as Pill in Somerset, which is derived from the Old English word "pyll," meaning a creek or an inlet. This connection suggests that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of residence or origin.

Notable individuals with the surname Pill throughout history include:

1. Richard Pill (c. 1540 - 1625), an English clergyman and author who wrote a book titled "A Protestant's Reason for Renouncing the Protestant Religion."

2. John Pill (1718 - 1785), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was involved in various naval battles.

3. Thomas Pill (1789 - 1863), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bristol, including the Bristol Athenaeum and the Bristol Exchange.

4. Jane Pill (1816 - 1892), a British author and poet who wrote several works, including "Rhymes from a Recluse" and "Gleanings from Nature."

5. Henry Pill (1846 - 1920), an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

While the Pill surname may have originated from humble beginnings, referring to those residing near streams or brooks, it has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout history, leaving an indelible mark on their respective communities and disciplines.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pill 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. Cornwall leads with 219 Pills recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.22x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 219 35.22x
Berkshire 44 10.67x
Warwickshire 30 2.17x
Cumberland 23 4.86x
Lancashire 22 0.34x
Middlesex 22 0.40x
Devon 21 1.84x
Gloucestershire 21 1.95x
Kent 17 0.91x
Glamorgan 16 1.67x
Staffordshire 16 0.86x
Hampshire 12 1.07x
Worcestershire 12 1.67x
Essex 11 1.01x
Channel Islands 10 6.14x
Surrey 9 0.34x
Somerset 8 0.91x
Sussex 8 0.86x
Northamptonshire 7 1.36x
Northumberland 5 0.61x
Wiltshire 5 1.03x
Yorkshire 5 0.09x
Derbyshire 4 0.47x
Lincolnshire 4 0.46x
Oxfordshire 4 1.18x
Herefordshire 3 1.33x
Royal Navy 2 3.06x
Suffolk 2 0.30x
Monmouthshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gorran in Cornwall leads with 29 Pills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1657.14x.

Place Total Index
Gorran 29 1657.14x
Mevagissey 25 605.33x
Perranzabuloe 24 447.76x
Shellingford 17 3469.39x
Aston 16 4.20x
Lanteglos By Fowey 14 553.36x
Truro St Mary 13 249.04x
Kenwyn 12 73.80x
Liskeard 11 105.77x
Millom 11 75.91x
South Hinksey 11 611.11x
St Clement 11 169.49x
Gwennap 10 85.25x
Pucklechurch 10 411.52x
St Austell 10 47.06x
St Peter Port 10 33.22x
Eskdale Wasdale 9 891.09x
Newton In Makerfield 9 45.09x
Redruth 9 51.17x
Coleshill 8 1379.31x
Llandaff 8 25.15x
St Ewe 8 425.53x
Portsea 7 3.17x
Wednesbury 7 15.11x
Cwmdu 6 51.50x
Deptford St Paul 6 4.15x
Exeter St Edmund 6 242.92x
Northampton St Sepulchre 6 22.83x
St Agnes 6 68.89x
West Ham 6 2.51x
Yate 6 254.24x
Chard 5 46.69x
Dalton In Furness 5 19.88x
Earsdon 5 75.19x
Great Faringdon 5 84.46x
Islington London 5 0.94x
Kidderminster Borough 5 11.91x
Little Hinton 5 1086.96x
St Keverne 5 146.20x
St Stithians 5 145.77x
Studley 5 84.46x
West Thurrock 5 138.89x
Alfreton 4 15.31x
Birmingham 4 0.87x
Carrington 4 714.29x
Everton 4 1.93x
Oversley 4 625.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 4.54x
Probus 4 156.86x
Saltash 4 82.99x
Shoreditch London 4 1.68x
St Gluvias 4 114.94x
Tidenham Beachley 4 341.88x
Veryan 4 165.98x
Balking 3 937.50x
Bideford 3 24.49x
Brighton 3 1.61x
Falmouth 3 13.63x
Handsworth 3 6.57x
Hartlebury 3 70.26x
Kensington London 3 0.98x
Lambeth 3 0.63x
Lodsworth 3 234.38x
Northwood 3 18.71x
Oxford St Peter Le Bailey 3 178.57x
South Mimms 3 39.84x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.71x
St Cuthbert W O 3 13.02x
Stoke Damerel 3 3.75x
West Bromwich 3 2.83x
Beddington 2 19.32x
Bures St Mary 2 122.70x
Feckenham 2 24.36x
Minster In Sheppey 2 6.44x
Seasalter 2 84.39x
Spotland 2 2.76x
St Gluvias Penryn 2 40.16x
St Lawrence 2 15.53x
Stretton Grandison 2 909.09x
Tormoham 2 4.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 43
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 15
Emma 13
Jane 13
Annie 10
Ellen 10
Eliza 8
Ann 7
Fanny 7
Maria 7
Emily 6
Susan 6
Louisa 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Grace 4
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Bessie 3
Elizh. 3
Martha 3
Nanny 3
Phoebe 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Avis 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Margret 2
Matilda 2
Rosa 2
Ruth 2
Angeline 1
Barbara 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Ellenor 1
Fannie 1
Florance 1
Leah 1
Lizzie 1
Lovdy 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 31
James 19
Thomas 16
George 14
Robert 12
Joseph 11
Richard 9
Alfred 8
Charles 8
Edwin 8
Henry 7
Nicholas 5
Philip 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
David 3
Hugh 3
Pearce 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Andrew 2
Cornelius 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Herbert 2
Jacob 2
Richd. 2
Willm. 2
Alexander 1
Israel 1
Isreal 1
Jno. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Nic. 1
Owen 1
Perece 1
Philliman 1
Phillip 1
R.William 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Pill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 555 people were recorded with the Pill surname. That placed it at #6,219 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 453 in 2016. That gives Pill a modern rank of #10,748.

What does the Pill surname mean?

A metaphorical surname possibly referring to someone of small stature.

What does the Pill map show?

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