NameCensus.

UK surname

Place

An English toponymic surname indicating one who lived near an open space, such as a courtyard or square.

In the 1881 census there were 1,559 people recorded with the Place surname, ranking it #2,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,716, ranked #3,637, down from #2,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hambleton, County Durham and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Place is 2,074 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.1%.

1881 census count

1,559

Ranked #2,709

Modern count

1,716

2016, ranked #3,637

Peak year

1911

2,074 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Place had 1,559 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,716 in 2016, ranked #3,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,074 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Place surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Place surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Place 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 1,140 #2,472
1861 historical 1,304 #2,188
1881 historical 1,559 #2,709
1891 historical 1,787 #2,562
1901 historical 1,836 #2,863
1911 historical 2,074 #2,407
1997 modern 1,802 #3,334
1998 modern 1,838 #3,394
1999 modern 1,819 #3,438
2000 modern 1,822 #3,425
2001 modern 1,769 #3,440
2002 modern 1,799 #3,450
2003 modern 1,732 #3,519
2004 modern 1,717 #3,546
2005 modern 1,669 #3,601
2006 modern 1,654 #3,630
2007 modern 1,664 #3,643
2008 modern 1,643 #3,710
2009 modern 1,700 #3,669
2010 modern 1,737 #3,674
2011 modern 1,715 #3,669
2012 modern 1,692 #3,661
2013 modern 1,710 #3,687
2014 modern 1,704 #3,712
2015 modern 1,701 #3,686
2016 modern 1,716 #3,637

Geography

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Where Places are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Gateshead, Blackburn and Mansfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hambleton, County Durham, Copeland and Wakefield. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Blackburn Lancashire
5 Mansfield Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hambleton 004 Hambleton
2 County Durham 059 County Durham
3 Hambleton 005 Hambleton
4 Copeland 004 Copeland
5 Wakefield 029 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Place

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Place

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Place surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Place household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Place 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

Place 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

Place falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Place

The surname Place originates from England and dates back to the late 11th century. It is a locational surname derived from the Old English word "plæce," meaning a small piece of ground or an open space. The name likely referred to someone who lived near an open area or a town square.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the famous Domesday Book, a record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "de Place" in this document, reflecting the French influence on English surnames during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "atte Place," "del Place," and "de la Place," indicating the person's association with a particular place or location. These variations were common during that time when surnames were still evolving.

Notable individuals with the surname Place include Sir Christopher Place (1524-1597), an English merchant and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Place (1590-1675), an English barrister and judge who served as a Justice of the King's Bench.

In the literary world, Francis Place (1647-1728) was a renowned English dramatist and author, best known for his play "The Orphan" (1680). His contemporaries included the poet John Place (1654-1723), who was celebrated for his lyrical works.

Moving forward in history, George Place (1779-1854) was a British army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a notable explorer and surveyor in Australia.

Throughout the centuries, the surname Place has been associated with various regions and localities across England, reflecting its locational origins. While some variations in spelling occurred over time, the name has maintained its connection to the concept of a specific place or location.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Place families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Place 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. Yorkshire leads with 388 Places recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 388 2.56x
Lancashire 355 1.95x
Durham 269 5.90x
Nottinghamshire 88 4.26x
Middlesex 75 0.49x
Northumberland 41 1.80x
Norfolk 31 1.32x
Suffolk 29 1.55x
Cumberland 26 1.97x
Leicestershire 26 1.53x
Surrey 25 0.34x
Cheshire 24 0.71x
Cambridgeshire 20 2.06x
Warwickshire 20 0.52x
Somerset 17 0.69x
Kent 14 0.27x
Staffordshire 14 0.27x
Kirkcudbrightshire 13 5.86x
Devon 12 0.38x
Glamorgan 12 0.45x
Hampshire 10 0.32x
Isle of Man 7 2.46x
Channel Islands 6 1.32x
Sussex 6 0.23x
Westmorland 5 1.49x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.65x
Dorset 4 0.40x
Essex 4 0.13x
Berkshire 3 0.26x
Derbyshire 3 0.13x
Northamptonshire 3 0.21x
Bedfordshire 2 0.25x
Flintshire 2 0.49x
Rutland 2 1.78x
Brecknockshire 1 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.33x
Lanarkshire 1 0.02x
Monmouthshire 1 0.09x
Oxfordshire 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 0.55x
Shropshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 71 Places recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.68x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 71 14.68x
Mansfield 42 58.80x
Houghton Le Spring 29 92.06x
Wiggenhall St Mary 29 794.52x
Hunslet 26 10.99x
Habergham Eaves 24 14.45x
Stranton 24 15.65x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 23 118.43x
Bishopwearmouth 19 4.86x
Radford 19 18.12x
Hartlepool 18 27.80x
Barton Upon Irwell 17 12.43x
Melbecks 17 278.23x
Preston 17 3.50x
Alston 16 65.84x
Evenwood Barony 15 96.84x
Nottingham St Mary 15 2.81x
Armley 14 20.92x
Birmingham 14 1.09x
Exelby Leeming Newton 14 386.74x
Gateshead 14 4.10x
Keighley 14 8.65x
Lamesley 14 57.10x
Rishton 14 65.67x
Darlington 13 7.39x
Over Wyresdale 13 483.27x
Urr 13 45.08x
Over Darwen 12 8.27x
Pilton 12 204.08x
Shoreditch London 12 1.81x
Southwick 12 27.81x
Chelsea London 11 2.38x
Leeds 11 1.28x
Linthorpe 11 12.15x
Shildon 11 30.05x
Wortley In Bramley 11 9.15x
Coxlodge 10 57.70x
Crossgate 10 50.20x
Halifax 10 4.49x
Idle 10 14.21x
Kearsley 10 26.15x
Macclesfield 10 6.65x
Bury St Edmunds St James 9 18.07x
Castleford 9 16.28x
Gainford 9 191.49x
Holbeck 9 8.95x
Reddish 9 35.96x
Rhinefield 9 4285.71x
Warrington 9 4.18x
Camberwell 8 0.82x
Chippenham 8 235.99x
Croft 8 264.90x
Eriswell 8 346.32x
Folkestone 8 7.89x
Great Little Marsden 8 9.61x
Leicester St Margaret 8 1.93x
Rudby In Cleveland 8 1904.76x
Skelton In York 8 487.80x
Thirsk 8 45.69x
Arlecdon 7 19.96x
Beeston 7 45.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.42x
East Murton 7 82.06x
Elswick 7 3.85x
Great Langton 7 1000.00x
Higher Booths 7 21.37x
Isleham 7 78.65x
Liverpool 7 0.63x
Newchurch 7 4.71x
Newton Cap 7 99.01x
Northallerton 7 36.14x
Pilkington 7 10.14x
Rothwell 7 22.84x
Southcoates 7 8.31x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.19x
Stonegrave 7 886.08x
Walsall Foreign 7 2.62x
West Rainton 7 49.65x
Auckland St Helen 6 125.26x
St Peter Port 6 7.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 133
Elizabeth 69
Sarah 59
Jane 54
Ann 41
Margaret 31
Hannah 30
Annie 25
Eliza 18
Ellen 18
Emma 17
Alice 16
Edith 16
Maria 14
Martha 13
Emily 12
Louisa 12
Fanny 11
Isabella 11
Catherine 9
Anne 8
Esther 7
Florence 7
Kate 7
Caroline 6
Agnes 5
Charlotte 5
Eleanor 5
Harriett 5
Nancy 5
Clara 4
Ethel 4
Isabel 4
Lucy 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Bertha 3
Constance 3
Dorothy 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Helena 3
Lilly 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Amy 2
Ceciley 2
Eliz. 2
Margt. 2
May 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 120
William 92
Thomas 75
George 45
James 43
Joseph 36
Robert 27
Henry 21
Richard 17
Charles 14
Walter 14
Francis 13
Samuel 13
Edward 12
Christopher 10
Frederick 10
Alfred 8
Harry 8
Arthur 6
Matthew 6
Ernest 5
Ralph 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Hannam 4
Herbert 4
Alexander 3
Anthony 3
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
David 3
Elias 3
Fred 3
Robt. 3
Abraham 2
Andrew 2
Antony 2
Elijah 2
Fredrick 2
Isaac 2
Jabez 2
Jacob 2
Jas. 2
Lawrence 2
Mark 2
Smith 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Wilson 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Place surname: questions and answers

How common was the Place surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,559 people were recorded with the Place surname. That placed it at #2,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Place surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,716 in 2016. That gives Place a modern rank of #3,637.

What does the Place surname mean?

An English toponymic surname indicating one who lived near an open space, such as a courtyard or square.

What does the Place map show?

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