UK surname
A variant of the French surname "Plonquet," referring to one who was stocky or plump.
In the 1881 census there were 189 people recorded with the Plunket surname, ranking it #13,322 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #13,322 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen and Monkwearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plunket is 212 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.9%.
1881 census count
189
Ranked #13,322
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
212 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Plunket surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Plunket surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 194 | #10,662 |
| 1861 | historical | 212 | #11,466 |
| 1881 | historical | 189 | #13,322 |
| 1891 | historical | 149 | #18,420 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 21 | #35,692 |
| 1998 | modern | 22 | #35,687 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 17 | #36,164 |
| 2003 | modern | 16 | #36,304 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 12 | #37,014 |
| 2007 | modern | 16 | #36,714 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 19 | #36,603 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 17 | #36,888 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Rutherglen, Monkwearmouth, Toxteth Park and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kirkintilloch | Dunbarton |
| 2 | Rutherglen | Lanark |
| 3 | Monkwearmouth | Durham |
| 4 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Plunket surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Plunket, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Plunket surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Plunket household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Plunket is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Plunket is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Plunket, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Plunket has its origins in Ireland, tracing back to the medieval period, around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old Norman French word "plonquet," which means "a little cloak" or "a short mantle." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who wore a distinct cloak or mantle as part of their attire, either due to their profession or as a fashion statement.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Plunket can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The annals mention a William Plunket who lived in the 13th century and held lands in County Meath, Ireland. This indicates that the Plunket family had already established itself as a notable clan in Ireland by that time.
The Plunkets played a significant role in Irish history, particularly during the Tudor and Jacobean periods. Sir Christopher Plunket (c. 1564-1629) was a prominent figure in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, serving as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Another notable Plunket was Oliver Plunket (1629-1681), the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, who was executed for alleged treason during the Popish Plot crisis in England.
In the 17th century, the Plunket family expanded their influence and acquired lands in various parts of Ireland, including County Meath, County Louth, and County Dublin. The name also appeared in ancient records and manuscripts, such as the Annals of the Four Masters and the Book of Howth.
Other notable individuals with the surname Plunket include:
1. Sir Thomas Plunket (c. 1405-1471), an Irish judge and Lord Chancellor of Ireland during the 15th century. 2. Patrick Plunket (c. 1630-1668), an Irish Franciscan friar and martyr who was executed for his religious beliefs during the Cromwellian occupation of Ireland. 3. William Conyngham Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket (1764-1854), an Irish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland and as a representative peer in the British House of Lords. 4. Horace Curzon Plunkett (1854-1932), an Irish agricultural reformer and founder of the Irish cooperative movement, who played a significant role in revitalizing the Irish agricultural sector. 5. Ivor Plunket-Greene (1879-1925), an Irish soldier and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Antarctic and Greenland regions in the early 20th century.
The Plunket surname has also been associated with various place names and localities in Ireland, such as Plunketstown in County Meath and Plunkett's Town in County Louth, further emphasizing the family's historical significance and territorial influence in the country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plunket surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 51 Plunkets recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 51 | 2.34x |
| Lanarkshire | 41 | 6.91x |
| Durham | 28 | 5.13x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 0.87x |
| Dunbartonshire | 8 | 16.23x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.44x |
| Denbighshire | 5 | 7.22x |
| Angus | 4 | 2.35x |
| Ayrshire | 4 | 2.91x |
| Kent | 3 | 0.48x |
| Leicestershire | 3 | 1.48x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 2.11x |
| Wigtownshire | 3 | 12.32x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.22x |
| Brecknockshire | 1 | 2.73x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 0.63x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.26x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.41x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 0.35x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 1.72x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.16x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.32x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 14 Plunkets recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.59x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Plunket surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Plunket surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Plunket households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 21 |
| Labourer | 4 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Housekeeper | 3 |
| Book Binder | 2 |
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Daur | 2 |
| Driver In Pitt (Miner) | 2 |
| Labourer General | 2 |
| None | 2 |
| Serv | 2 |
| Stone Mason | 2 |
| Weaver | 2 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Boot Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Coachman (Cab) | 1 |
| Coal Miner Wife | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Fancy Box Maker (Paper) | 1 |
| Farm Labr | 1 |
| Fireman | 1 |
| Fustian Cutter | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| Gl Labourer | 1 |
| Home | 1 |
| Honourable | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Inspector of Underground Machines in Coal Mine (Min Low) | 1 |
| Labourer Bricksetters | 1 |
| Labourer Docks | 1 |
| Labourer Gen | 1 |
| Manager (Public) House | 1 |
| Marine Stoker | 1 |
| Newsmonger (Newspaper Agent) | 1 |
| None (Wid) | 1 |
| Paper Colorer | 1 |
| Paper Hanger | 1 |
| Puddler At Ironworks | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Retired | 1 |
| Retired From Civil Service | 1 |
| Riveter (Tur...) | 1 |
| Seaman | 1 |
| Stevedore | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 189 people were recorded with the Plunket surname. That placed it at #13,322 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Plunket a modern rank of #36,596.
A variant of the French surname "Plonquet," referring to one who was stocky or plump.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Plunket bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.