NameCensus.

UK surname

Pilsbury

Originally denoted someone from Pillsbury, a place name meaning "speckled borough".

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Pilsbury surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 339, ranked #13,492, down from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington and Cannock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Lichfield and Wolverhampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pilsbury is 367 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 82.3%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

339

2016, ranked #13,492

Peak year

2011

367 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pilsbury had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016, ranked #13,492.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 272 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Pilsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pilsbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pilsbury 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 132 #14,174
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 272 #12,440
1911 historical 265 #12,422
1997 modern 342 #12,379
1998 modern 337 #12,859
1999 modern 351 #12,582
2000 modern 354 #12,460
2001 modern 346 #12,478
2002 modern 354 #12,490
2003 modern 359 #12,189
2004 modern 363 #12,131
2005 modern 355 #12,243
2006 modern 350 #12,448
2007 modern 358 #12,383
2008 modern 354 #12,591
2009 modern 363 #12,602
2010 modern 363 #12,878
2011 modern 367 #12,647
2012 modern 344 #13,121
2013 modern 353 #13,104
2014 modern 363 #12,908
2015 modern 347 #13,252
2016 modern 339 #13,492

Geography

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Where Pilsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Cannock, Newcastle-under Lyne and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Lichfield and Wolverhampton. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
3 Cannock Staffordshire
4 Newcastle-under Lyne Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 001 Shropshire
2 Lichfield 005 Lichfield
3 Lichfield 004 Lichfield
4 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton
5 Wolverhampton 002 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pilsbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pilsbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pilsbury, 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 Pilsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Pilsbury 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, Pilsbury 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

Pilsbury 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pilsbury

The surname Pilsbury originates from England and traces its roots back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pill" meaning a creek or stream, and "burgh" meaning a fortified town or dwelling place. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a creek or stream fortified settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Pilesbruge". This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in certain regions of England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Pilsbury, Pillsbury, Pyllesbury, and Pilesbury appearing in various historical records. Some of these variations may have been influenced by different regional dialects or scribal errors in transcription.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure named John Pilsbury served as the Sheriff of Lincolnshire, a county in eastern England. His tenure as a high-ranking official indicates that the Pilsbury family held a respected position in medieval English society.

Another notable individual with this surname was Sir William Pilsbury (1472-1535), a courtier and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII. He played a crucial role in negotiations with France and the Holy Roman Empire, reflecting the Pilsbury family's continued prominence in later periods.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, several Pilsbury families migrated to the American colonies, seeking new opportunities or fleeing religious persecution. One such individual was Josiah Pilsbury (1607-1678), who settled in Newbury, Massachusetts, and became a prominent figure in the local community.

In the 19th century, the Pilsbury name gained further recognition with the success of Charles Alfred Pilsbury (1842-1914), a businessman who co-founded the Pillsbury Company, one of the largest flour milling companies in the United States. His entrepreneurial achievements contributed to the family's enduring legacy in American business history.

Throughout its long history, the surname Pilsbury has been borne by individuals from diverse walks of life, from high-ranking officials and diplomats to settlers and entrepreneurs. Its origins can be traced back to the early days of England, reflecting the rich tapestry of cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped the evolution of English surnames over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pilsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pilsbury 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. Staffordshire leads with 119 Pilsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.43x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 119 19.43x
Warwickshire 31 6.78x
Cheshire 9 2.25x
Leicestershire 8 3.98x
Cambridgeshire 6 5.22x
Shropshire 5 3.19x
Worcestershire 4 1.69x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Berkshire 1 0.73x
Kent 1 0.16x

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 18 Pilsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.80x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 18 11.80x
Wolverhampton 16 33.98x
Bilston 14 117.94x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 20.02x
Aston 12 9.53x
Stafford St Mary 11 126.87x
Cannock 10 93.55x
Lichfield St Mary 10 564.97x
West Bromwich 8 22.82x
Bollington In 6 168.54x
Burslem 6 34.21x
Knighton 6 530.97x
Ogley Hay 6 472.44x
St Andrewthe Less 6 45.70x
Kinver 5 282.49x
Stone 5 63.86x
Hatherton 4 1538.46x
Shrewsbury St Chad 4 72.73x
Tenbury 4 307.69x
Lichfield St Michael 3 156.25x
Burton Upon Trent 2 13.96x
Cheadle 2 68.03x
Manchester 2 2.07x
Trentham 2 38.39x
Abingdon St Helen 1 25.13x
Bromley 1 10.60x
Buglawton 1 104.17x
Castle Church 1 27.17x
Chester St Michael 1 212.77x
Colwich 1 68.49x
Edgbaston 1 7.05x
Leicester St Mary 1 6.15x
Loughborough 1 10.95x
Nantwich 1 21.51x
Stanton Lacy 1 74.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 12
James 9
George 6
John 6
Thomas 5
Charles 4
Herbert 4
Wilmot 4
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
David 2
Edward 2
Henry 2
Lewis 2
Ralph 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Cecil 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Eward 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo 1
Harry 1
Jas. 1
Matthew 1
Roland 1

FAQ

Pilsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pilsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Pilsbury surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pilsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 339 in 2016. That gives Pilsbury a modern rank of #13,492.

What does the Pilsbury surname mean?

Originally denoted someone from Pillsbury, a place name meaning "speckled borough".

What does the Pilsbury map show?

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