UK surname
A topographic surname derived from living near a flat stretch of land or field.
In the 1881 census there were 46 people recorded with the Plate surname, ranking it #27,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #27,188 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Glossop and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plate is 167 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 41.3%.
1881 census count
46
Ranked #27,188
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1891
167 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Plate surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Plate 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 | 114 | #15,716 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 46 | #27,188 |
| 1891 | historical | 167 | #17,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 75 | #25,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 11 | #36,969 |
| 2005 | modern | 13 | #36,833 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 12 | #37,095 |
| 2008 | modern | 11 | #37,270 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 15 | #37,038 |
| 2011 | modern | 18 | #36,739 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 23 | #36,414 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 26 | #36,228 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Glossop, St Leonard Shoreditch, Burslem and Aldridge. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Glossop | Derbyshire |
| 3 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Burslem | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Aldridge | Staffordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Plate 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 Plate, 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 Plate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Plate 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, Plate 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 Plate is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Plate, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname PLATE originates from England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "platt", meaning a piece of level ground or a small meadow. The name was likely given to someone who lived near a flat area of land or worked on such terrain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PLATE can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1186, where a certain Richard Plat is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also reference a William le Plat residing in Oxfordshire.
During the medieval period, the PLATE surname was prevalent in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Norfolk. It is believed that the name may have originated from place names such as Platt in Lancashire or Platt in Kent.
In the 16th century, notable individuals bearing the PLATE surname included John Plate (1525-1592), an English Protestant clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Oxford. Another figure was Richard Plate (1560-1635), a wealthy merchant and alderman from the city of Bristol.
The 17th century saw the rise of Sir Hugh Plate (1620-1683), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. Another prominent individual was Thomas Plate (1650-1718), a respected architect and surveyor who worked on several churches and estates in the southern counties of England.
In the 18th century, one of the most renowned individuals with the PLATE surname was Benjamin Plate (1725-1801), a renowned artist and engraver whose works are held in collections across Europe. He was particularly known for his landscapes and architectural engravings.
During the 19th century, the PLATE surname continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, with individuals such as John Plate (1810-1876), a successful businessman and landowner in Yorkshire, and Emily Plate (1845-1919), an accomplished writer and poet from Hertfordshire.
The PLATE surname has a rich history and has been associated with various notable figures throughout the centuries. While the name originated from a simple description of someone's proximity to a flat area of land, it has become a part of the tapestry of English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plate 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. Staffordshire leads with 11 Plates recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.26x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Staffordshire | 11 | 7.26x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.50x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 4.04x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 5.69x |
| Surrey | 4 | 1.83x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.67x |
| Sussex | 3 | 3.97x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 2.17x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 3.66x |
| Essex | 1 | 1.13x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.23x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.65x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.45x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Burslem in Staffordshire leads with 11 Plates recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Burslem | 11 | 253.46x |
| Rusholme | 5 | 352.11x |
| Hyde | 4 | 136.99x |
| Tideswell | 4 | 1333.33x |
| Broadwater | 3 | 172.41x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 14.97x |
| Portsea | 2 | 11.09x |
| Burnley | 1 | 22.32x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.49x |
| Caton | 1 | 588.24x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 9.44x |
| Cliffe | 1 | 285.71x |
| Eye | 1 | 285.71x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 3.97x |
| Hillington | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Little Ilford | 1 | 666.67x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 3.09x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 14.12x |
| Watford | 1 | 41.67x |
| Weybread | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 40.82x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 1 | 28.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Plate 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 Plate 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 Plate households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Farmers Daur | 2 |
| Ag Lab Widow | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Brewers Clerk | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Carpenter Unemployed | 1 |
| Collier | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Errand Girl (Messenger) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Farmer Of 46 Acres | 1 |
| Farmers Wife | 1 |
| Frame Maker | 1 |
| Garden Boy (M) | 1 |
| General Merchant | 1 |
| Home Duties | 1 |
| Housework | 1 |
| Merchant Export Continent | 1 |
| Moulder (Brass) | 1 |
| Office Boy (Errand) | 1 |
| Photographer | 1 |
| Potter | 1 |
| Potter Warehouse Girl | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 46 people were recorded with the Plate surname. That placed it at #27,188 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Plate a modern rank of #36,189.
A topographic surname derived from living near a flat stretch of land or field.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Plate 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.