NameCensus.

UK surname

Pleasants

A locational surname derived from the name of a former village in Surrey, England.

In the 1881 census there were 206 people recorded with the Pleasants surname, ranking it #12,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 284, ranked #15,323, down from #12,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Beccles, Sculthorpe and Great Waldingfield, Acton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mendip, Fenland and Cambridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pleasants is 328 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.9%.

1881 census count

206

Ranked #12,596

Modern count

284

2016, ranked #15,323

Peak year

1998

328 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pleasants had 206 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016, ranked #15,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 327 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pleasants surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pleasants surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pleasants 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 137 #13,812
1861 historical 148 #15,452
1881 historical 206 #12,596
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 249 #13,172
1911 historical 327 #10,742
1997 modern 325 #12,832
1998 modern 328 #13,100
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 317 #13,439
2001 modern 308 #13,519
2002 modern 320 #13,414
2003 modern 300 #13,823
2004 modern 301 #13,850
2005 modern 297 #13,916
2006 modern 294 #14,092
2007 modern 291 #14,347
2008 modern 297 #14,230
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 308 #14,452
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 279 #15,289
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 280 #15,485
2016 modern 284 #15,323

Geography

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Where Pleasants' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Beccles, Sculthorpe, Great Waldingfield, Acton, St Dunstan Stepney and St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mendip, Fenland, Cambridge, Waveney and Wirral. 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 Beccles Suffolk
2 Sculthorpe Norfolk
3 Great Waldingfield, Acton Suffolk
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 St Paul, St Saviour, St Edmund, St Simon and Jude, St Peter Hungate, St Michael at Plea, St Martin a Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mendip 007 Mendip
2 Fenland 004 Fenland
3 Cambridge 003 Cambridge
4 Waveney 012 Waveney
5 Wirral 009 Wirral

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pleasants

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pleasants

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pleasants, 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 Pleasants surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pleasants 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pleasants is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pleasants 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

Pleasants falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pleasants

The Pleasants surname has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "plaisant," which means pleasant or agreeable. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone with a pleasant or friendly demeanor.

In the medieval period, surnames were often descriptive, referring to a person's physical characteristics, occupation, or place of origin. The Pleasants surname falls into the category of descriptive surnames, specifically referring to a personal trait or characteristic.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pleasants surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which were census records compiled during the reign of King Edward I. The name appears as "le Plesaunt," reflecting the Old French spelling.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname began to appear in various spellings, such as Pleysaunt, Plesaunt, and Pleasants, reflecting the evolution of English spelling and pronunciation over time.

Notable historical figures with the Pleasants surname include:

1. John Pleasants (c. 1597-1677), an early English settler in Virginia and a prominent planter in Henrico County. 2. Robert Pleasants (1723-1801), an American Quaker and merchant who played a significant role in the American Revolutionary War. 3. Jonathan Pleasants (1787-1859), an American politician and lawyer who served as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Virginia Governor's Council. 4. James Pleasants Jr. (1769-1836), an American planter and politician who served as the Governor of Virginia from 1822 to 1825. 5. John Hampden Pleasants (1797-1858), an American physician and writer who authored several medical works and served as the editor of the Virginia Medical and Surgical Journal.

The Pleasants surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Pleasants Hill in Leicestershire, and Pleasants Farm in Kent, suggesting that some individuals may have adopted the surname based on their place of origin or residence.

While the Pleasants surname can be traced back to medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, carried by individuals of English descent who emigrated from the British Isles.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pleasants families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pleasants 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. Suffolk leads with 83 Pleasants' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.58x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 83 34.58x
Norfolk 54 17.82x
Middlesex 29 1.47x
Lancashire 7 0.30x
Essex 6 1.54x
Yorkshire 6 0.31x
Northumberland 5 1.71x
Cheshire 4 0.92x
Surrey 3 0.31x
Lincolnshire 2 0.63x
Sussex 2 0.60x
Warwickshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Acton in Suffolk leads with 21 Pleasants' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5384.62x.

Place Total Index
Acton 21 5384.62x
Mile End Old Town 15 48.23x
Long Melford 14 627.80x
Benacre 12 8571.43x
Upwell 12 851.06x
Old Newton 10 2173.91x
Beccles 9 233.16x
Sculthorpe 8 2000.00x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 13.70x
Norwich St George Colegate 6 545.45x
Norwich St Paul 6 331.49x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 5 111.11x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 5 28.56x
West Ham 5 5.82x
Willesden 5 26.93x
East Dereham 4 104.44x
Ellough 4 4000.00x
Hyde 4 31.15x
Mutford 4 1481.48x
Norwich St Augustine 4 327.87x
Scarborough 4 22.55x
Sprowston 4 298.51x
Norwich St Clement 3 85.47x
Norwich St James 3 126.05x
Friskney 2 200.00x
Hastings St Mary 2 24.18x
Hutton Cranswick 2 243.90x
Isleworth 2 22.83x
Norwich St Edmund 2 408.16x
Reigate Foreign 2 19.23x
Shoreditch London 2 2.34x
St George Hanover 2 7.78x
St Pancras London 2 1.26x
Birmingham 1 0.60x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 15.60x
Chester St Nicholas 1 357.14x
Dalham 1 357.14x
Heigham 1 6.15x
Islington London 1 0.52x
Lambeth 1 0.58x
Norwich St John Sepulchre 1 50.76x
Southwold 1 70.42x
Wiston 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Harriet 7
Martha 6
Eliza 5
Ann 4
Emma 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Jane 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Rosa 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Ellenor 1
Emily 1
Eunice 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Hester 1
Kate 1
Kerenhappach 1
L.Elizabeth 1
Lena 1
Louise 1
Minnie 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Susanh. 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
Thomas 7
Robert 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
Harry 4
Frederick 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
Albert 2
Eldred 2
James 2
Jas. 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Benjamin 1
Benjn. 1
Charlie 1
Chas 1
Christmas 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
G. 1
George 1
Henery 1
Houghton 1
Hovee 1
Jervise 1
Jos 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Nathaniel 1
Osbert 1
Percy 1
Sydney 1
W.Edward 1
Walter 1
Wm 1

FAQ

Pleasants surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pleasants surname in 1881?

In 1881, 206 people were recorded with the Pleasants surname. That placed it at #12,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pleasants surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 284 in 2016. That gives Pleasants a modern rank of #15,323.

What does the Pleasants surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the name of a former village in Surrey, England.

What does the Pleasants map show?

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