NameCensus.

UK surname

Pinnock

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a pinnock, a small hill or peak.

In the 1881 census there were 943 people recorded with the Pinnock surname, ranking it #4,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,973, ranked #3,261, up from #4,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Attleburgh, London parishes and Heyford, Nether. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Manchester and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pinnock is 2,033 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 109.2%.

1881 census count

943

Ranked #4,088

Modern count

1,973

2016, ranked #3,261

Peak year

2010

2,033 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pinnock had 943 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,973 in 2016, ranked #3,261.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,362 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Pinnock surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pinnock surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pinnock 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 650 #4,003
1861 historical 480 #5,436
1881 historical 943 #4,088
1891 historical 951 #4,353
1901 historical 1,166 #4,190
1911 historical 1,362 #3,525
1997 modern 1,803 #3,327
1998 modern 1,884 #3,322
1999 modern 1,906 #3,308
2000 modern 1,903 #3,298
2001 modern 1,846 #3,320
2002 modern 1,927 #3,272
2003 modern 1,926 #3,210
2004 modern 1,913 #3,220
2005 modern 1,889 #3,227
2006 modern 1,867 #3,284
2007 modern 1,917 #3,228
2008 modern 1,940 #3,219
2009 modern 1,996 #3,216
2010 modern 2,033 #3,232
2011 modern 1,963 #3,285
2012 modern 1,909 #3,314
2013 modern 1,975 #3,280
2014 modern 1,978 #3,289
2015 modern 1,973 #3,273
2016 modern 1,973 #3,261

Geography

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Where Pinnocks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Attleburgh, London parishes, Heyford, Nether and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Manchester, Slough and Wellingborough. 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 Attleburgh Norfolk
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Heyford, Nether Northamptonshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
2 Manchester 024 Manchester
3 Slough 013 Slough
4 Wellingborough 001 Wellingborough
5 Manchester 019 Manchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pinnock

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pinnock

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pinnock, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Pinnock surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pinnock 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pinnock is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Pinnock 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

Pinnock falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pinnock is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Pinnock, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pinnock

The surname Pinnock originates from England, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the late 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "pin" meaning "hill" and "hoc" meaning "hook" or "point," suggesting a descriptive name for someone who lived on or near a hooked or pointed hill.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a John Pynok is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1275, with the spelling "Pynock."

In the 14th century, the name was recorded as "Pynok" in the Pipe Rolls of Essex in 1344. During this period, the name was primarily concentrated in the southern counties of England, particularly in Sussex, Surrey, and Kent.

One notable person with this surname was Sir Robert Pinnock (c.1562-1638), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Arundel in 1601. Another prominent figure was John Pinnock (1786-1862), an English writer and publisher known for his educational works, including "Pinnock's Catechisms" and "Pinnock's Goldsmith's Histories."

In the 17th century, the name appears in various parish records, such as the marriage of William Pinnock and Jane Steere in Portslade, Sussex, in 1631. During this time, the name also began to spread to other parts of England, including London and the Midlands.

Another notable figure was William Pinnock (1783-1832), an English engraver and author of several educational works, including "Pinnock's Improved Edition of Dr. Goldsmith's History of England" and "Pinnock's Improved Edition of Dr. Goldsmith's History of Rome."

In the 19th century, the surname gained further prominence with individuals like William Henry Pinnock (1801-1863), an English architect and surveyor, and William Pinnock (1828-1887), a British journalist and author.

Throughout its history, the surname Pinnock has been associated with various place names, such as Pinnock Hill in Worcestershire and Pinnock Bridge in Kent, further reinforcing its geographical roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pinnock families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pinnock 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. Middlesex leads with 171 Pinnocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.85x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 171 1.85x
Northamptonshire 96 11.07x
Surrey 77 1.71x
Berkshire 62 8.96x
Hampshire 60 3.18x
Wiltshire 56 6.87x
Gloucestershire 41 2.27x
Oxfordshire 41 7.20x
Essex 40 2.20x
Hertfordshire 33 5.19x
Kent 33 1.05x
Norfolk 33 2.33x
Staffordshire 30 0.96x
Yorkshire 24 0.26x
Leicestershire 21 2.05x
Lancashire 20 0.18x
Sussex 15 0.97x
Warwickshire 14 0.60x
Durham 12 0.44x
Buckinghamshire 9 1.61x
Suffolk 8 0.71x
Huntingdonshire 7 3.82x
Bedfordshire 6 1.26x
Glamorgan 6 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.48x
Somerset 6 0.40x
Lanarkshire 5 0.17x
Lincolnshire 4 0.27x
Devon 2 0.10x
Dorset 2 0.33x
Royal Navy 2 1.82x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Irthlingborough in Northamptonshire leads with 53 Pinnocks recorded in 1881 and an index of 623.53x.

Place Total Index
Irthlingborough 53 623.53x
Thatcham 44 412.76x
Islington London 31 3.47x
Croydon 29 11.63x
St Pancras London 28 3.77x
Nether Heyford 24 937.50x
St Marylebone London 21 4.27x
West Ham 16 3.98x
Attleborough 15 209.50x
Warblington 12 160.21x
Cottered 11 916.67x
Standlake 11 493.27x
Hatherop 10 909.09x
Melksham 10 70.62x
Newington 10 2.94x
Rothwell 10 114.81x
St Albans St Peter 10 46.64x
Stratton St Margaret 10 79.94x
Fryerning 9 405.41x
Swindon 9 14.23x
Aston 8 1.25x
Box 8 115.11x
Hackney London 8 1.55x
Hinton Waldrist 8 879.12x
Holy Trinity 8 3.64x
Horton 8 295.20x
Lavant Mid 8 625.00x
Sedgley 8 6.92x
Chelsea London 7 2.52x
Cricklade St Mary 7 538.46x
East Tisted 7 1186.44x
Farningham 7 249.11x
Hammersmith London 7 3.08x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 5.89x
Kensington London 7 1.37x
Leicester St Mary 7 8.48x
Minchinhampton 7 48.61x
Newport 7 68.29x
Newton Valence 7 608.70x
Sawtry All Sts 7 325.58x
Brighthampton 6 2608.70x
Camberwell 6 1.02x
Carisbrooke 6 22.87x
Enfield 6 9.92x
Erith 6 19.36x
Fulham London 6 4.49x
Hardwick 6 1071.43x
Lechlade 6 161.73x
Lewisham 6 3.58x
Paddington London 6 1.77x
Tipton 6 6.30x
Aldershot 5 7.90x
Barony 5 0.66x
Bilston 5 8.29x
Bradford On Avon 5 19.16x
Chigwell 5 29.10x
Eastwood 5 45.00x
Gorton 5 4.86x
Kingston On Thames 5 4.63x
Llanwonno 5 8.67x
Luton 5 6.05x
Mitcham 5 17.61x
Stockton On Tees 5 3.78x
Wolverhampton 5 2.09x
Ashby 4 1142.86x
Belgrave 4 17.34x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.00x
Catterick 4 195.12x
Drypool 4 28.59x
Ducklington 4 291.97x
Eastbourne 4 5.59x
Fulwood 4 33.84x
Kettering 4 11.41x
Kirkby Upon Bain 4 487.80x
Reading St Mary 4 7.22x
South Hamlet 4 35.75x
St George Hanover 4 3.32x
Thames Ditton 4 42.87x
Tottenham 4 2.72x
Wellingborough 4 9.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 59
John 42
George 39
James 35
Thomas 29
Henry 25
Charles 21
Frederick 21
Alfred 15
Frank 11
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Samuel 10
Ernest 9
Walter 9
Albert 8
Edward 7
Harry 7
Richard 7
Arthur 6
Stephen 6
Wm. 5
Edmund 4
Francis 4
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
Levi 3
Peter 3
Ralph 3
Reuben 3
Aaron 2
Edwin 2
Herbert 2
Jas.J. 2
Jesse 2
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Burton 1
Carey 1
Chas.H. 1
Ethelred 1
Fenning 1
Frances 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
J.W. 1
Jas.Cosway 1
Jas.H. 1
Josh. 1
Konealey 1

FAQ

Pinnock surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pinnock surname in 1881?

In 1881, 943 people were recorded with the Pinnock surname. That placed it at #4,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pinnock surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,973 in 2016. That gives Pinnock a modern rank of #3,261.

What does the Pinnock surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a pinnock, a small hill or peak.

What does the Pinnock map show?

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