NameCensus.

UK surname

Player

An occupational surname for an actor, musician, or entertainer, or for someone who was playful or sporty.

In the 1881 census there were 1,151 people recorded with the Player surname, ranking it #3,478 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,240, ranked #4,811, down from #3,478 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Wiltshire and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Player is 1,448 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.7%.

1881 census count

1,151

Ranked #3,478

Modern count

1,240

2016, ranked #4,811

Peak year

1901

1,448 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Player had 1,151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,478 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,240 in 2016, ranked #4,811.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,448 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Player surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Player surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Player 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 824 #3,279
1861 historical 721 #3,771
1881 historical 1,151 #3,478
1891 historical 1,200 #3,569
1901 historical 1,448 #3,516
1911 historical 1,394 #3,466
1997 modern 1,255 #4,540
1998 modern 1,305 #4,553
1999 modern 1,333 #4,487
2000 modern 1,289 #4,614
2001 modern 1,261 #4,613
2002 modern 1,259 #4,707
2003 modern 1,222 #4,730
2004 modern 1,229 #4,705
2005 modern 1,187 #4,812
2006 modern 1,184 #4,829
2007 modern 1,194 #4,826
2008 modern 1,213 #4,802
2009 modern 1,233 #4,835
2010 modern 1,260 #4,844
2011 modern 1,253 #4,807
2012 modern 1,230 #4,814
2013 modern 1,244 #4,838
2014 modern 1,270 #4,786
2015 modern 1,246 #4,821
2016 modern 1,240 #4,811

Geography

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Where Players are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Wiltshire, Blaenau Gwent and South Gloucestershire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
2 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
3 Blaenau Gwent 002 Blaenau Gwent
4 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
5 Uttlesford 001 Uttlesford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Player

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Player

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Player surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Player 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Player is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Player is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Player falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Player

The surname PLAYER originated in England during the Middle Ages, derived from the Old English word 'plegere', meaning 'one who plays'. This name was often bestowed upon individuals whose occupation involved performing or entertaining through various forms of play or games.

During the 13th century, the name was predominantly found in regions like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, where it was commonly associated with travelling minstrels, jesters, and performers who roamed from town to town, providing entertainment at fairs, festivals, and royal courts.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PLAYER can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1279, where a certain Walter le Player is mentioned as a resident of the village of Longstanton.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various historical records, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a John le Player was listed as a tenant in 1348.

During the late medieval period, the PLAYER surname gained recognition through individuals like William Player, a renowned composer and musician who served at the court of King Henry VIII in the early 16th century (c. 1490 - c. 1560).

Another notable figure bearing this surname was Sir Thomas Player (c. 1530 - 1586), a wealthy merchant and philanthropist from London, known for his generous contributions towards the establishment of educational institutions and charitable foundations.

In the 17th century, the PLAYER name gained prominence in various parts of England, including the county of Gloucestershire, where a family of landowners and gentry resided. One of their descendants, John Player (1639 - 1719), became a respected figure in the local community and served as a Justice of the Peace.

During the 18th century, the PLAYER surname was further spread across England, with notable individuals like Jonathan Player (1737 - 1808), a prominent clockmaker from the city of Bristol, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by affluent clients.

Another significant figure from this era was Samuel Player (1758 - 1836), a successful merchant and entrepreneur from Liverpool, who played a pivotal role in the city's flourishing maritime trade and commerce.

As the centuries progressed, the PLAYER surname continued to be associated with various professions and occupations, from artists and musicians to businessmen and professionals, reflecting the diverse talents and pursuits of those who carried this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Player families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Player 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 189 Players recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 189 1.68x
Surrey 134 2.45x
Somerset 111 6.14x
Essex 104 4.69x
Gloucestershire 89 4.04x
Warwickshire 81 2.86x
Wiltshire 72 7.24x
Kent 67 1.75x
Hertfordshire 41 5.29x
Glamorgan 31 1.58x
Dorset 29 3.93x
Hampshire 29 1.26x
Lancashire 29 0.22x
Sussex 24 1.27x
Devon 19 0.81x
Midlothian 18 1.20x
Yorkshire 14 0.13x
Angus 12 1.15x
Staffordshire 12 0.32x
Berkshire 7 0.83x
Monmouthshire 7 0.86x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.84x
Derbyshire 5 0.28x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.33x
Cornwall 3 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.29x
Cheshire 2 0.08x
Denbighshire 2 0.47x
Herefordshire 2 0.43x
Oxfordshire 2 0.29x
Durham 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.39x
Worcestershire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 43 Players recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.95x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 43 3.95x
Lambeth 40 4.08x
Edgbaston 30 34.14x
West Ham 27 5.51x
Winterbourne 26 213.46x
Coventry St Michael 25 27.46x
Warminster 21 96.42x
Croydon 20 6.58x
Stansted Mountfitchet 20 357.14x
Bedminster 19 11.18x
Hackney London 18 2.86x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 17 8.19x
Shoreditch London 17 3.49x
Camberwell 16 2.23x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 12 1.98x
Roath 12 13.50x
Aston 11 1.41x
Barking 11 16.95x
Combe St Nicholas 11 251.72x
Forcett With Carkin 11 506.91x
Hamworthy 11 428.02x
Rickling 11 632.18x
St Marylebone London 11 1.83x
St Pancras London 11 1.22x
Allesley 10 268.10x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 3.43x
Goudhurst 10 94.25x
Great Hadham 10 200.00x
Salisbury St Martin 10 96.71x
Battersea 9 2.18x
Deptford St Paul 9 3.04x
St George Hanover 9 6.14x
Stafford St Mary 9 16.76x
Westminster St 9 21.72x
Bethnal Green London 8 1.64x
Chard 8 36.51x
Hastings St Leonards 8 28.73x
Malmesbury St Paul 8 93.57x
St Anne Soho London 8 12.47x
Terwick 8 1126.76x
Wellow 8 150.38x
Westbury 8 34.48x
Dundee 7 1.80x
Kingston On Thames 7 5.32x
Milton Abbas 7 193.37x
Quendon 7 945.95x
Rhyndwyclydach 7 51.55x
Saffron Walden 7 29.86x
Sawbridgeworth 7 59.68x
Sherston Magna 7 116.86x
Silverton 7 143.74x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.10x
Stone In Tenterden 7 472.97x
Bishop Stortford 6 23.19x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 8.16x
Burlescombe 6 188.68x
Chatham 6 5.69x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 20.50x
Godalming 6 17.41x
Great Amwell 6 77.22x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 14.84x
Kensington London 6 0.96x
Margate St John Baptist 6 8.55x
Plumstead 6 4.69x
Portishead 6 44.64x
St Luke London 6 3.33x
Walcot 6 6.23x
Walton On Thames 6 23.87x
West Derby 6 1.54x
Westbury On Trym 6 8.04x
Wincanton 6 64.45x
Baldock 5 68.68x
Birchanger 5 273.22x
Chelsea London 5 1.48x
Eling 5 21.43x
Ilton 5 297.62x
Ryde 5 10.11x
Ware 5 22.52x
Winterbourne Earls 5 537.63x
Yatton 5 71.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 56
George 43
Charles 32
Thomas 30
James 28
Henry 22
Joseph 20
Alfred 18
Edward 18
Samuel 18
Frederick 15
Arthur 11
Albert 9
Walter 9
Richard 8
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Jacob 5
Robert 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
David 3
Ebenezer 3
Francis 3
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Lewis 2
Percy 2
Sidney 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Andrew 1
Charlie 1
Chas.S. 1
Daniel 1
Elgar 1
Eli 1
Elizth. 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Lot 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Player surname: questions and answers

How common was the Player surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,151 people were recorded with the Player surname. That placed it at #3,478 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Player surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,240 in 2016. That gives Player a modern rank of #4,811.

What does the Player surname mean?

An occupational surname for an actor, musician, or entertainer, or for someone who was playful or sporty.

What does the Player map show?

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