NameCensus.

UK surname

Plenty

An English surname derived from the Old French word plentê, meaning "abundance" or "plenty."

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Plenty surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 338, ranked #13,533, up from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Ashfield and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plenty is 369 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.4%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

338

2016, ranked #13,533

Peak year

2000

369 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plenty had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 338 in 2016, ranked #13,533.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 318 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Plenty surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plenty surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plenty 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 122 #14,966
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 272 #11,957
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 312 #11,130
1997 modern 350 #12,172
1998 modern 351 #12,511
1999 modern 357 #12,433
2000 modern 369 #12,106
2001 modern 356 #12,228
2002 modern 361 #12,337
2003 modern 344 #12,577
2004 modern 344 #12,597
2005 modern 323 #13,133
2006 modern 318 #13,348
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 308 #13,882
2009 modern 320 #13,796
2010 modern 329 #13,818
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 331 #13,538
2013 modern 348 #13,239
2014 modern 349 #13,293
2015 modern 341 #13,425
2016 modern 338 #13,533

Geography

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Where Plentys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, St Philip and Jacob and Wells St Cuthbert In and Out. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Ashfield, Mendip 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Wells St Cuthbert In and Out Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 010 Sedgemoor
2 Ashfield 014 Ashfield
3 Mendip 008 Mendip
4 Sedgemoor 009 Sedgemoor
5 South Gloucestershire 012 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plenty

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plenty

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Plenty surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Plenty household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Plenty is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Plenty 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

Plenty falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Plenty is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Plenty

The surname Plenty originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "plente," meaning "abundance" or "plenty." This name may have been initially bestowed upon someone who lived in an area known for its bountiful resources or fertile land.

The earliest known record of the Plenty surname dates back to the 13th century. In 1273, a Thomas de Plente was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This document recorded landowners and their properties, indicating that the Plenty family had established roots in the region during that time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Plentye and Plentie, reflecting the variation in spelling common during that era. One notable figure bearing this surname was Robert Plentye, a merchant from London who lived around 1380.

The Plenty surname can also be traced to place names in England, such as Plenty Bridge in Yorkshire and Plenty Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations may have influenced the adoption of the name by families residing in or near those areas.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Plenty surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Plente. Another early record is the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which lists a Thomas Plente.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Plenty have made their mark:

1. Sir Thomas Plenty (1563-1629), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the early 17th century. 2. John Plenty (1714-1788), an English painter and engraver known for his landscapes and architectural drawings. 3. Sarah Plenty (1720-1795), a British novelist and playwright who wrote under the pseudonym "Arabella Argus." 4. William Plenty (1825-1901), a British horticulturist and botanist who introduced several new plant species to England. 5. Peter Plenty (1928-2012), a British actor and stage performer who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout his career.

These examples illustrate the long-standing presence of the Plenty surname in England and its association with various professions and accomplishments over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plenty families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plenty 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. Somerset leads with 58 Plentys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.35x.

County Total Index
Somerset 58 21.35x
Gloucestershire 34 10.27x
Middlesex 16 0.95x
Lancashire 9 0.45x
Warwickshire 9 2.11x
Northumberland 6 2.39x
Buckinghamshire 5 4.90x
Essex 5 1.50x
Glamorgan 5 1.70x
Hampshire 5 1.45x
Staffordshire 5 0.88x
Berkshire 4 3.16x
Kent 3 0.52x
Yorkshire 3 0.18x
Monmouthshire 2 1.64x
Surrey 2 0.24x
Ayrshire 1 0.79x
Devon 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wells St Cuthbert Out in Somerset leads with 19 Plentys recorded in 1881 and an index of 867.58x.

Place Total Index
Wells St Cuthbert Out 19 867.58x
Bitton Oldland 13 384.62x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 38.51x
Taunton St Mary 11 220.44x
Bristol St Paul In 8 90.70x
Croscombe 8 2424.24x
Salford 7 11.89x
Benwell 6 218.98x
Birmingham 6 4.23x
Mile End Old Town 6 22.52x
Shoreditch London 6 8.20x
Burghclere 5 1136.36x
Pilton 5 769.23x
Prittlewell 5 108.23x
Wednesbury 5 35.14x
Wolverton 5 236.97x
Newbury 4 98.52x
Wincanton 4 285.71x
Aston 3 2.56x
Cardiff St Mary 3 18.54x
Milton In Gravesend 3 34.76x
Weston 3 143.54x
Chewton Mendip 2 444.44x
Evercreech 2 307.69x
Limehouse London 2 10.80x
North Wootton 2 1250.00x
Toxteth Park 2 2.95x
Abergavenny 1 21.88x
Bedwellty 1 4.64x
Beverley St Mary 1 40.98x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 9.06x
Hackney London 1 1.06x
Halifax 1 4.07x
Hoyland Nether 1 24.39x
Kelston 1 909.09x
Lambeth 1 0.68x
Llandaff 1 10.24x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 3.54x
Sorn 1 40.32x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.95x
St Pancras London 1 0.74x
Tormoham 1 6.73x
Witham Friary 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Sarah 7
Charlotte 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Ann 4
Jane 4
Eliza 3
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Lucy 3
Edith 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Maud 2
Minnie 2
Philadelphia 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Grace 1
Harna 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Maria 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Henry 8
William 8
Charles 7
Edwin 6
James 6
Edward 5
Philip 5
George 3
Arthur 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Jno. 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Charlie 1
Daniel 1
Earnist 1
Frank 1
Gilbert 1
Harriet 1
Harry 1
Joseph 1
Luke 1
Saml. 1
Stephen 1
Theophilus 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Plenty surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plenty surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Plenty surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plenty surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 338 in 2016. That gives Plenty a modern rank of #13,533.

What does the Plenty surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French word plentê, meaning "abundance" or "plenty."

What does the Plenty map show?

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