NameCensus.

UK surname

Pledge

A surname referring to one who made or kept a solemn promise or vow.

In the 1881 census there were 331 people recorded with the Pledge surname, ranking it #9,071 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 309, ranked #14,442, down from #9,071 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and Ashford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Richmondshire, South Kesteven and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pledge is 437 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

331

Ranked #9,071

Modern count

309

2016, ranked #14,442

Peak year

1911

437 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pledge had 331 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,071 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016, ranked #14,442.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 437 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pledge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pledge surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pledge 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 269 #8,303
1861 historical 288 #8,743
1881 historical 331 #9,071
1891 historical 358 #9,655
1901 historical 411 #9,300
1911 historical 437 #8,698
1997 modern 316 #13,080
1998 modern 374 #11,963
1999 modern 363 #12,290
2000 modern 361 #12,288
2001 modern 350 #12,375
2002 modern 339 #12,911
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 327 #13,094
2005 modern 330 #12,939
2006 modern 325 #13,165
2007 modern 317 #13,532
2008 modern 313 #13,746
2009 modern 328 #13,574
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 322 #13,907
2012 modern 310 #14,210
2013 modern 317 #14,186
2014 modern 316 #14,301
2015 modern 313 #14,313
2016 modern 309 #14,442

Geography

Back to top

Where Pledges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes, Ashford, Lambeth and Hawkinge, Folkestone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Richmondshire, South Kesteven, Cherwell, Oxford 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ashford Kent
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Hawkinge, Folkestone Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Richmondshire 001 Richmondshire
2 South Kesteven 001 South Kesteven
3 Cherwell 017 Cherwell
4 Oxford 013 Oxford
5 Ealing 008 Ealing

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pledge

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pledge

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pledge is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pledge 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

Pledge 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 Pledge 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 Pledge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pledge

The surname Pledge is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, with its earliest roots traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "plyccan," meaning "to pluck" or "to tear off," suggesting a possible occupational connection to those involved in textile work or agriculture.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Pledge can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of England. The entry mentions a landowner named Pledric, which is likely an early variant spelling of the surname.

During the 13th century, records show individuals bearing the name Pledge in various parts of England, particularly in counties such as Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The surname was also found in the form of place names, such as Pledgdon in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.

Notable individuals with the surname Pledge throughout history include:

1. Robert Pledge (c. 1500 - 1578), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Pledge (1645 - 1711), a British merchant and philanthropist who founded several almshouses for the poor in London. 3. Elizabeth Pledge (1765 - 1825), an English writer and poet known for her works on religious and moral themes. 4. Sir William Pledge (1819 - 1897), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1876 to 1881. 5. Arthur Pledge (1856 - 1924), an English painter and illustrator renowned for his depictions of rural life and landscapes.

The name Pledge has also been found in various spellings throughout history, such as Plege, Plegge, and Pludge, reflecting local dialects and variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions over time.

While the surname Pledge may not have been among the most widespread or prominent in England, its enduring presence in historical records and the notable individuals who bore the name provide insight into its origins and evolution as a distinctive English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pledge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pledge 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. Surrey leads with 95 Pledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.

County Total Index
Surrey 95 6.04x
Kent 82 7.44x
Sussex 55 10.10x
Oxfordshire 30 15.05x
Middlesex 27 0.84x
Hampshire 21 3.17x
Essex 9 1.41x
Yorkshire 3 0.09x
Bedfordshire 2 1.20x
Staffordshire 2 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.36x
Devon 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.60x
Shropshire 1 0.36x
Warwickshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorking in Surrey leads with 25 Pledges recorded in 1881 and an index of 236.74x.

Place Total Index
Dorking 25 236.74x
Portsea 20 15.42x
Brighton 19 17.30x
Lambeth 17 6.04x
Ashford 14 130.48x
Oxford St Ebbe 13 221.47x
Newington 12 10.06x
Minster In Sheppey 10 54.79x
Banstead 9 211.27x
Bermondsey 9 9.36x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 9 381.36x
Croydon 7 8.02x
East Grinstead 7 90.79x
Kennington 7 853.66x
Penge 7 33.95x
Ramsgate 7 38.93x
Deal 6 63.83x
Hackney London 6 3.31x
Walthamstow 6 26.16x
East Malling 5 190.11x
Keymer 5 130.21x
St Pancras London 5 1.92x
Witney 5 150.15x
Folkestone 4 18.72x
Funtington 4 325.20x
Littlehampton 4 91.95x
Paddington London 4 3.37x
Reigate Foreign 4 23.49x
St Martin Orgars 4 5000.00x
Bampton 3 194.81x
Hougham 3 45.80x
Little Chart 3 967.74x
Nuthurst 3 333.33x
Shoreditch London 3 2.14x
Tonbridge 3 7.55x
West Ham 3 2.13x
Wisborough Green 3 163.93x
Battersea 2 1.68x
Broadwater 2 16.01x
Canterbury St Dunstan 2 105.26x
Cheriton 2 44.54x
Dartford 2 17.76x
Goudhurst 2 65.57x
Guildford St Mary 2 103.09x
Horsham 2 18.92x
Lewisham 2 3.40x
Luton 2 6.91x
Maidstone 2 6.10x
Nether Hallam 2 4.62x
North Chapel 2 227.27x
Warnham 2 169.49x
Bromley 1 5.96x
Cranbrook 1 21.41x
Dacre 1 93.46x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.18x
Devonport 1 12.95x
Dover St James 1 20.70x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 9.38x
Edgbaston 1 3.96x
Hampstead London 1 1.99x
Handsworth 1 3.72x
Hove 1 4.19x
Islington London 1 0.32x
Kensington London 1 0.56x
Lichfield St Mary 1 31.85x
Overton 1 63.29x
Plumstead 1 2.72x
Pulborough 1 50.00x
Richmond 1 4.54x
Royal Navy 1 3.04x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 64.52x
Sittingbourne 1 11.49x
St George Hanover 1 2.37x
St Marylebone London 1 0.58x
Wateringbury 1 69.44x
Wheatley 1 90.91x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 11
Jane 9
Annie 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Ann 5
Emily 5
Ada 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Florence 4
Georgina 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Martha 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Rosa 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elizh. 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Fannie 1
Henrietta 1
Hetty 1
Infant 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Louise 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 15
James 13
Henry 11
George 10
Charles 7
Walter 5
Albert 4
David 4
Edward 4
Richard 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Daniel 3
Frederick 3
Gilbert 2
Herbert 2
Job 2
Oliver 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Dick 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Evan 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.N. 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Laurence 1
Leonard 1
Meredith 1
Morton 1
P. 1
Percival 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Solomon 1
Stephen 1
Sturgess 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Thompson 1

FAQ

Pledge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pledge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 331 people were recorded with the Pledge surname. That placed it at #9,071 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pledge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 309 in 2016. That gives Pledge a modern rank of #14,442.

What does the Pledge surname mean?

A surname referring to one who made or kept a solemn promise or vow.

What does the Pledge map show?

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