UK surname
A mocking surname derived from the feudal terms "pinch" and "back", likely referring to petty theft.
In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Pinchback surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #25,733 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bury, St George in the East and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pinchback is 115 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.4%.
1881 census count
56
Ranked #25,733
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1891
115 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pinchback surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pinchback surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 62 | #22,232 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 56 | #25,733 |
| 1891 | historical | 115 | #21,878 |
| 1901 | historical | 80 | #25,251 |
| 1911 | historical | 83 | #24,531 |
| 1997 | modern | 51 | #32,545 |
| 1998 | modern | 53 | #32,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 60 | #31,985 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 48 | #34,245 |
| 2007 | modern | 47 | #34,558 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 48 | #34,798 |
| 2010 | modern | 48 | #34,946 |
| 2011 | modern | 46 | #35,047 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 42 | #35,325 |
| 2014 | modern | 44 | #35,241 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bury, St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 2 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | St Mary Whitechapel | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pinchback surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pinchback, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Pinchback surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pinchback household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Pinchback is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pinchback is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pinchback, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Pinchback originates from England, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pyncan," meaning "to pinch," and "bæc," signifying "back." This combination suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone with a distinctive physical trait, such as a curved or hunched back.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, a tax record compiled in 1273, which mentions a certain John Pinchebac. This document provides evidence of the name's existence during the 13th century in the English county of Oxfordshire.
The Pinchback surname also finds mention in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a Thomas Pynchebak is listed as a taxpayer. This record demonstrates the variant spelling of the name during that era, highlighting the fluidity of surname spellings in medieval times.
In the 16th century, the name appears in the Parish Registers of Croydon, Surrey, where a marriage between Robert Pinchbacke and Agnes Crowcher is recorded in 1581. This entry not only showcases another spelling variation but also provides insight into the geographic spread of the surname across different regions of England.
One notable figure bearing the Pinchback surname was Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (1837-1921), an American politician who served as the 24th Governor of Louisiana from 1872 to 1873. Born into a family of mixed racial heritage, he became the first person of African American descent to serve as a state governor in the United States.
Another individual of historical significance was Robert Pinchback (1710-1776), an English architect and surveyor who was actively involved in the redesign and reconstruction of several churches in the city of Bristol during the 18th century.
In the 19th century, John Pinchback (1831-1902), a British-born merchant and entrepreneur, made significant contributions to the development of the shipping industry in South Australia.
The Pinchback surname has also been associated with places, such as Pinchbeck, a village in Lincolnshire, England. The village's name, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pyncan" and "bæc," similar to the surname's origin.
While the Pinchback surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname, it has evolved over centuries, becoming a distinct family name with a rich history and notable bearers across various fields and regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pinchback surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 29 Pinchbacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.31x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 29 | 5.31x |
| Warwickshire | 12 | 8.71x |
| Surrey | 5 | 1.88x |
| Leicestershire | 4 | 6.61x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.37x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.93x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.15x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 2.97x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 8.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 9 Pinchbacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 242.59x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St George In East | 9 | 242.59x |
| Bromley London | 7 | 58.28x |
| Bow London | 6 | 86.33x |
| Mancetter | 6 | 1500.00x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 5 | 45.50x |
| Mile End Old Town | 4 | 46.40x |
| Ratcliffe Culey | 3 | 7500.00x |
| Atherstone | 2 | 285.71x |
| Polesworth | 2 | 307.69x |
| Austerfield | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Cuddesdon | 1 | 1111.11x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 7.69x |
| Hornchurch | 1 | 188.68x |
| Kirkby Stephen | 1 | 322.58x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 18.87x |
| Nuneaton | 1 | 62.50x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 9.70x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 4.22x |
| Sibson | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 18.59x |
| Wolvey | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pinchback surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Pinchback surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pinchback households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 12 |
| Coopers Labourer | 2 |
| Earthenware Dealer | 2 |
| Gen Lab | 2 |
| Tailoress | 2 |
| Bricklayers Laboror | 1 |
| Carpenters Apprentice | 1 |
| Clothiers Cutter (Tailor) | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Gen Dom Serv | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Genl Serv In Door | 1 |
| Governess (T) | 1 |
| Grocers Lab | 1 |
| Hair Dresser | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Hairdressers Wife | 1 |
| Horsebreaker | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer (Ag) | 1 |
| Miller & Publican | 1 |
| Publishers Clerk | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Tailors Cutter | 1 |
| Telegraph App Labourer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Pinchback surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Pinchback a modern rank of #35,224.
A mocking surname derived from the feudal terms "pinch" and "back", likely referring to petty theft.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pinchback bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.