NameCensus.

UK surname

Plumstead

A locational surname referring to someone from Plumstead, a place name in England.

In the 1881 census there were 159 people recorded with the Plumstead surname, ranking it #14,935 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 242, ranked #17,177, down from #14,935 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Coggeshall, Great and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oxford, South Gloucestershire and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plumstead is 244 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.2%.

1881 census count

159

Ranked #14,935

Modern count

242

2016, ranked #17,177

Peak year

2013

244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plumstead had 159 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,935 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016, ranked #17,177.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Plumstead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plumstead surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Plumstead 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 119 #15,247
1861 historical 121 #18,148
1881 historical 159 #14,935
1891 historical 168 #16,937
1901 historical 185 #15,892
1911 historical 212 #14,423
1997 modern 203 #17,457
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 219 #17,203
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 228 #16,525
2002 modern 226 #16,939
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 214 #17,435
2005 modern 219 #17,126
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 231 #16,973
2009 modern 229 #17,431
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 228 #17,584
2013 modern 244 #17,072
2014 modern 243 #17,232
2015 modern 234 #17,577
2016 modern 242 #17,177

Geography

Back to top

Where Plumsteads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Coggeshall, Great, Lambeth and Havant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oxford, South Gloucestershire, Broadland, Brighton and Hove and Wychavon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Coggeshall, Great Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Havant Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oxford 013 Oxford
2 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
3 Broadland 003 Broadland
4 Brighton and Hove 001 Brighton and Hove
5 Wychavon 007 Wychavon

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Plumstead

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Plumstead

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Plumstead is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Plumstead 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

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

Meaning and origin of Plumstead

The surname Plumstead is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Plumstead, which is found in various locations across England, including Kent, Norfolk, and Greater London. The name is believed to come from the Old English words "plum" meaning plum tree and "stede" meaning place or farm, suggesting it was originally a name given to someone who lived near a plum tree orchard or farm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Plumstead can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Plumstede" in reference to a settlement in Kent. This suggests that the name has been in use since at least the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Plumstede" and "Plumsted." This indicates that the name had already undergone some variations in spelling by that time.

Historically, the name Plumstead has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Plumstead, who lived in the 14th century and served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in 1384.

Another noteworthy figure was William Plumstead, who was born in 1505 and served as the Sheriff of Kent in 1543. He was recognized for his role in suppressing a local uprising during the Reformation.

In the 16th century, the name appears in the parish records of Plumstead in Kent, with individuals such as John Plumstead (born in 1558) and Thomas Plumstead (born in 1567) being recorded.

Moving into the 17th century, we find Robert Plumstead (1616-1688), an English clergyman and writer who authored several religious works, including "The Life and Death of the Reverend and Learned Mr. Samuel Fairclough" in 1692.

In the 18th century, the name was associated with Samuel Plumstead (1735-1807), an English mathematician and astronomer who was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1774.

These examples illustrate the long history and widespread use of the surname Plumstead across various regions of England, as well as its association with individuals from different walks of life, including politics, religion, and academia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Plumstead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plumstead 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. Norfolk leads with 62 Plumsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.84x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 62 25.84x
Essex 30 9.74x
Middlesex 28 1.79x
Surrey 22 2.89x
Kent 10 1.88x
Lincolnshire 2 0.80x
Suffolk 2 1.05x
Cheshire 1 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.93x
Royal Navy 1 5.38x
Staffordshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Norwich St Saviour in Norfolk leads with 15 Plumsteads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1785.71x.

Place Total Index
Norwich St Saviour 15 1785.71x
Heigham 14 108.70x
Lambeth 12 8.82x
Fryerning 8 2105.26x
Great Coggeshall 8 500.00x
Norwich St George Colegate 7 804.60x
Minster In Sheppey 6 68.03x
Colchester St Botolph 5 190.84x
Hackney London 5 5.71x
Holy Trinity Less 5 1470.59x
Little Coggeshall 5 2631.58x
Norwich St Clement 5 179.86x
Southwark Christchurch 5 68.40x
Barking 4 44.40x
Norwich St Martin At 4 975.61x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 12.74x
St Pancras London 4 3.18x
Gillingham 3 27.32x
Great Yarmouth 3 15.09x
St Luke London 3 11.99x
Westminster St 3 52.17x
Wymondham 3 122.45x
Barton St Peter 2 175.44x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.95x
Lowestoft 2 22.27x
Norwich St Augustine 2 206.19x
Norwich St Benedict 2 186.92x
Norwich St John 2 952.38x
Paddington London 2 3.49x
Shoreditch London 2 2.96x
Banham 1 163.93x
Bishop Stortford 1 27.86x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 18.02x
Keele 1 178.57x
Lymm 1 40.00x
Newington 1 1.73x
Norwich St John Timberhill 1 153.85x
Norwich St Michael At 1 71.94x
Norwich St Paul 1 69.44x
Norwich St Peter 1 63.69x
Royal Navy 1 6.29x
St George Bloomsbury 1 11.17x
St Marylebone London 1 1.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 8
Caroline 5
Eliza 4
Emma 4
Mary 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Laura 3
Amelia 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Matilda 2
Susanah 2
Abigail 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Joice 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Prissey 1
Rachel 1
Rosa 1
Silvia 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 9
William 8
Charles 7
Arthur 5
Henry 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Thomas 3
Edmund 2
James 2
John 2
Nathan 2
E. 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eugine 1
Francis 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wm.E. 1

FAQ

Plumstead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plumstead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 159 people were recorded with the Plumstead surname. That placed it at #14,935 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plumstead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 242 in 2016. That gives Plumstead a modern rank of #17,177.

What does the Plumstead surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Plumstead, a place name in England.

What does the Plumstead map show?

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