NameCensus.

UK surname

Pleasant

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a grassy area or an agreeable, likeable person.

In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Pleasant surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, down from #16,824 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Swindon and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pleasant is 298 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.3%.

1881 census count

131

Ranked #16,824

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

1911

298 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pleasant had 131 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,824 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 298 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Pleasant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pleasant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pleasant 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 102 #16,933
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 131 #16,824
1891 historical 235 #13,316
1901 historical 236 #13,616
1911 historical 298 #11,505
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 223 #16,936
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 223 #16,978
2001 modern 212 #17,324
2002 modern 213 #17,603
2003 modern 211 #17,513
2004 modern 201 #18,168
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 202 #18,359
2008 modern 205 #18,359
2009 modern 217 #18,070
2010 modern 213 #18,660
2011 modern 213 #18,502
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 213 #18,743
2014 modern 217 #18,645
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Pleasants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney and West Ham,Wanstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Swindon and Ealing. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 West Ham,Wanstead Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 021 Barnsley
2 Barnsley 018 Barnsley
3 Swindon 005 Swindon
4 Barnsley 017 Barnsley
5 Ealing 003 Ealing

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pleasant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pleasant

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pleasant, 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 Pleasant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Pleasant 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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pleasant is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pleasant is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pleasant 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 Pleasant is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pleasant

The surname Pleasant is derived from the Old English word 'plæsant', meaning agreeable or pleasing. It is thought to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely as a nickname or descriptive surname given to someone with a pleasant or agreeable disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the historical records of Oxfordshire, where a John le Plesaunte is mentioned in 1279. This early spelling variation highlights the surname's roots in the Old English language.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as Pleasaunt and Plesaunt, in several regions of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. This suggests that the name had become more widespread during this time.

The Pleasant surname is also closely associated with the village of Pleasant Stall in Somerset, which was originally known as 'Plesaunt Stelle' in the 13th century. This place name likely contributed to the surname's popularity in the region.

One notable individual with the surname was Sir Thomas Pleasant, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in London during the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1487.

Another historical figure with the surname was John Pleasant, a Puritan minister who emigrated from England to Massachusetts in the 1630s. He was one of the founders of the town of Watertown and played a significant role in the early religious life of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the 17th century, the Pleasant surname gained prominence in the county of Devon, where several members of the family held influential positions. One such individual was Sir Walter Pleasant (1594-1671), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament who served as the Attorney General of England and Wales.

During the English Civil War, Captain Thomas Pleasant (1617-1668) was a notable military figure who fought for the Parliamentarian cause. He served under Oliver Cromwell and is remembered for his role in the siege of Colchester in 1648.

Another individual worth mentioning is Samuel Pleasant (1634-1689), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Dean of Norwich Cathedral. He was a respected figure in the Church of England and made significant contributions to theological discourse during his lifetime.

The Pleasant surname has a rich history that can be traced back to its Old English roots and has been carried by notable individuals across various fields, including commerce, religion, law, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pleasant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pleasant 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 30 Pleasants recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 2.35x
Yorkshire 25 1.97x
Essex 18 7.14x
Lancashire 12 0.79x
Surrey 11 1.77x
Buckinghamshire 10 12.95x
Cheshire 8 2.84x
Devon 3 1.13x
Suffolk 3 1.93x
Warwickshire 3 0.93x
Midlothian 2 1.17x
Norfolk 2 1.02x
Durham 1 0.26x
Hampshire 1 0.38x
Hertfordshire 1 1.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mile End Old Town in Middlesex leads with 13 Pleasants recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.45x.

Place Total Index
Mile End Old Town 13 64.45x
Oldham 12 24.52x
Ardsley 10 684.93x
Eastwood 10 4545.45x
Bowling 7 55.82x
Hyde 6 72.12x
St George Hanover 6 35.97x
Beaconsfield 5 694.44x
Chalfont St Peter 5 781.25x
Bowers Gifford 4 4444.44x
Kingston On Thames 4 26.74x
Lambeth 4 3.59x
Aston 3 3.38x
Hampton Wick London 3 319.15x
Hornsey 3 18.56x
Plymouth Charles The 3 25.60x
Prittlewell 3 85.71x
Shoreditch London 3 5.42x
Wombwell 3 81.30x
Camberwell 2 2.45x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 71.94x
Norwich St Paul 2 169.49x
Sheffield 2 4.96x
South Leith 2 10.38x
Beaulieu 1 243.90x
Chelsea London 1 2.60x
Finningley 1 625.00x
Hoyland Nether 1 32.15x
Ixworth 1 227.27x
Kimberworth 1 14.22x
Long Melford 1 68.97x
Pakenham 1 238.10x
Ryhope 1 37.88x
St Pancras London 1 0.97x
Streatham 1 10.55x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 27.62x
Watford 1 14.64x
West Ham 1 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 8
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Maria 4
Mary 4
Alice 3
Ann 2
Martha 2
Maryann 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Harriott 1
Janey 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
George 7
John 6
Thomas 6
James 4
Walter 4
Robert 3
Albert 2
Charles 2
Hiram 2
Arthur 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Ernest 1
Fountaine 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Isaacc 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Squire 1
Stephen 1

FAQ

Pleasant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pleasant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Pleasant surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pleasant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Pleasant a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Pleasant surname mean?

An English topographic surname for someone who lived near a grassy area or an agreeable, likeable person.

What does the Pleasant map show?

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