NameCensus.

UK surname

Pinkham

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead of Pink's people."

In the 1881 census there were 126 people recorded with the Pinkham surname, ranking it #17,245 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #17,245 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Willesden and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, South Somerset and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pinkham is 194 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.9%.

1881 census count

126

Ranked #17,245

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1998

194 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pinkham had 126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,245 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 162 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pinkham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pinkham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pinkham 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 81 #23,431
1881 historical 126 #17,245
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 160 #17,387
1911 historical 162 #17,003
1997 modern 193 #18,035
1998 modern 194 #18,451
1999 modern 193 #18,642
2000 modern 192 #18,683
2001 modern 192 #18,388
2002 modern 190 #18,889
2003 modern 186 #18,928
2004 modern 186 #19,059
2005 modern 187 #18,924
2006 modern 181 #19,466
2007 modern 178 #19,887
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 182 #20,201
2010 modern 185 #20,453
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 178 #20,758
2013 modern 188 #20,352
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 180 #20,997
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Pinkhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Willesden, London parishes, Stokeinteignhead, Combeinteignhead, Haccombe, St Nicholas and Plympton St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, South Somerset, Uttlesford, St Albans and Northampton. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stokeinteignhead, Combeinteignhead, Haccombe, St Nicholas Devon
5 Plympton St Mary Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 011 Neath Port Talbot
2 South Somerset 004 South Somerset
3 Uttlesford 008 Uttlesford
4 St Albans 007 St Albans
5 Northampton 020 Northampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pinkham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pinkham

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Pinkham 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

Pinkham is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pinkham falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pinkham 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 Pinkham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pinkham

The surname Pinkham has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "pinc" meaning "hill" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village". The name likely referred to a settlement or homestead located on a hill or elevated ground.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pinkham can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population conducted in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The document mentions a place called "Pyncham" in the county of Wiltshire, which is believed to be the origin of the surname.

In the 13th century, records show a Robert de Pyncham, who was a landowner in the village of Pyncham, now known as Pinkham near Sherborne, Dorset. This provides evidence of the surname's use and its connection to the place name.

Moving forward to the 16th century, there are records of a William Pinkham, born in 1547, who was a merchant and ship owner in the town of Sandwich, Kent. His involvement in maritime trade suggests that the name had spread beyond its original location.

Another notable figure is Richard Pinkham, born in 1635, who was a Puritan minister and one of the early settlers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He played a significant role in the establishment of the town of Hingham, Massachusetts, and his descendants continued to use the surname in the New World.

In the 18th century, Sir Robert Pinkham, born in 1712, was a prominent naval officer and served as the Governor of Newfoundland from 1776 to 1783. His contribution to the British Empire during this period highlights the surname's presence in positions of authority and influence.

Throughout history, variations in the spelling of the surname have been observed, including Pyncham, Pynkham, and Pinkum, reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pinkham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pinkham 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. Devon leads with 92 Pinkhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.96x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 35.96x
Kent 11 2.62x
Middlesex 6 0.49x
Lancashire 4 0.27x
Somerset 3 1.52x
Yorkshire 3 0.25x
Dorset 2 2.48x
Hampshire 2 0.79x
Glamorgan 1 0.47x
Surrey 1 0.17x
Warwickshire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Torrington in Devon leads with 27 Pinkhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1862.07x.

Place Total Index
Great Torrington 27 1862.07x
Bishopsteignton 9 1875.00x
Tormoham 8 73.94x
Ramsgate 7 102.34x
Wolborough 7 216.72x
Oakford 6 2857.14x
Plymouth Charles The 6 53.24x
Plympton St Mary 6 405.41x
Culcheth 4 416.67x
West Teignmouth 4 204.08x
Bedminster 3 16.14x
Exeter St Thomas The 3 114.94x
Middlesbrough 3 18.92x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 15.22x
Buckfastleigh 2 169.49x
Greenwich 2 10.22x
Hackney London 2 2.90x
Ilfracombe 2 76.05x
Lewisham 2 8.94x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 2 384.62x
Portland 2 46.08x
Stoke Damerel 2 11.17x
Bampton 1 128.21x
Barnstaple 1 24.88x
Camberwell 1 1.27x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.45x
Edgbaston 1 10.41x
Islington London 1 0.84x
Kensington London 1 1.46x
Portsea 1 2.03x
Portsmouth 1 17.24x
Roath 1 10.29x
Stokeinteignhead 1 357.14x
Tiverton 1 22.68x
Totnes 1 66.67x
Whitechapel London 1 8.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 9
Mary 8
Eliza 4
Lucy 4
Alice 3
Emma 3
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Alexandra 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Celia 1
E.E. 1
E.M. 1
Ellen 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Thomasine 1
Thomazine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
Richard 7
George 4
Charles 3
Frederick 3
Henry 3
James 3
Lewis 2
Thomas 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
C.F. 1
Cyprian 1
Edwd.J. 1
Edwin 1
H.M. 1
Jno. 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Robt. 1
Samuel 1
Willie 1
Wm 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Pinkham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pinkham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 126 people were recorded with the Pinkham surname. That placed it at #17,245 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pinkham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Pinkham a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Pinkham surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "homestead of Pink's people."

What does the Pinkham map show?

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