NameCensus.

UK surname

Plunkett

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Pluingceide," meaning "descendant of the stout or round-headed one."

In the 1881 census there were 789 people recorded with the Plunkett surname, ranking it #4,713 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,883, ranked #3,377, up from #4,713 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newton Stewart, Craigneuk Wishaw and Gartlea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Plunkett is 1,959 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.7%.

1881 census count

789

Ranked #4,713

Modern count

1,883

2016, ranked #3,377

Peak year

1999

1,959 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Plunkett had 789 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,713 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,883 in 2016, ranked #3,377.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,045 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Plunkett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Plunkett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Plunkett 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 342 #6,879
1861 historical 408 #6,298
1881 historical 789 #4,713
1891 historical 817 #4,956
1901 historical 1,045 #4,582
1911 historical 926 #4,841
1997 modern 1,860 #3,241
1998 modern 1,943 #3,227
1999 modern 1,959 #3,225
2000 modern 1,943 #3,239
2001 modern 1,903 #3,236
2002 modern 1,930 #3,269
2003 modern 1,887 #3,256
2004 modern 1,894 #3,250
2005 modern 1,869 #3,258
2006 modern 1,886 #3,251
2007 modern 1,891 #3,266
2008 modern 1,894 #3,286
2009 modern 1,908 #3,329
2010 modern 1,918 #3,388
2011 modern 1,903 #3,372
2012 modern 1,867 #3,378
2013 modern 1,901 #3,381
2014 modern 1,893 #3,404
2015 modern 1,882 #3,391
2016 modern 1,883 #3,377

Geography

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Where Plunketts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newton Stewart, Craigneuk Wishaw, Gartlea, Norwich and Liverpool. 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 3
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newton Stewart Dumfries and Galloway
2 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
3 Gartlea North Lanarkshire
4 Norwich 005 Norwich
5 Liverpool 020 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Plunkett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Plunkett

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Plunkett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Plunkett is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Plunkett falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Plunkett

The surname Plunkett is of Anglo-Norman origin and is believed to have originated in Ireland. It is derived from the Old French word "plonquet," meaning a small clump or thicket of trees. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a small grove or wooded area.

The Plunkett family is one of the few Anglo-Norman families that became fully integrated into Irish society during the Middle Ages. They held significant lands and power in counties Louth, Meath, and Dublin. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the 13th century, with a Richard Plunkett mentioned in the Irish Annals of 1216.

In the 14th century, the Plunketts gained prominence when Sir Christopher Plunkett was appointed Deputy Governor of Ireland in 1358. He later became Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1370. Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Plunkett, who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1486 to 1492.

One of the most famous Plunketts in history was Oliver Plunkett (1625-1681), the Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. He was martyred for his faith during the Protestant Reformation and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1975.

Other notable Plunketts include: - William Conyngham Plunket (1764-1854), an Irish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland. - Liam Plunkett (born 1985), an English cricketer who played for England's national team. - Patricia Plunkett (1923-2019), an American actress and former wife of actor Edmund O'Brien. - Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany (1878-1957), an influential Irish writer and dramatist known for his work in fantasy literature.

The name Plunkett has endured through the centuries, and its origins can be traced back to the Norman conquest of Ireland, where the family established itself as a prominent Anglo-Irish dynasty.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Plunkett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Plunkett 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. Lancashire leads with 243 Plunketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 243 2.65x
Norfolk 107 9.01x
Middlesex 97 1.26x
Lanarkshire 49 1.96x
Yorkshire 43 0.56x
Kent 25 0.95x
Durham 23 1.00x
Staffordshire 23 0.88x
Cheshire 20 1.17x
Ayrshire 18 3.11x
Surrey 18 0.48x
Derbyshire 16 1.32x
Sussex 15 1.15x
Dorset 13 2.56x
Hampshire 10 0.63x
Leicestershire 8 0.93x
Fife 7 1.53x
Flintshire 7 3.37x
Cumberland 5 0.75x
Devon 5 0.31x
Gloucestershire 4 0.26x
Hertfordshire 4 0.75x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 3.58x
Northumberland 4 0.35x
Renfrewshire 4 0.67x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.29x
Somerset 3 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.41x
Isle of Man 2 1.39x
Westmorland 2 1.18x
Bedfordshire 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.07x
Glamorgan 1 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.56x
Perthshire 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 1.09x
Suffolk 1 0.11x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 39 Plunketts recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.00x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 39 7.00x
Toxteth Park 33 10.63x
Bethnal Green London 24 7.15x
Wymondham 23 189.30x
Felthorpe 18 1451.61x
Manchester 18 4.37x
Salford 18 6.68x
Islington London 16 2.14x
Bootle Cum Linacre 15 20.60x
Everton 15 5.13x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 14 193.64x
Glasgow 12 2.70x
Kirkdale 12 7.78x
Norwich St Clement 12 87.15x
Derby St Peter 11 28.55x
Govan 11 1.78x
Lower Booths 11 66.95x
Deptford St Paul 10 4.92x
Lambeth 10 1.48x
Preston 10 4.08x
Cambusnethan 9 16.22x
Halifax 9 8.01x
Heigham 9 14.12x
Ince In Makerfield 9 21.10x
Widnes 9 13.61x
Dundonald 8 37.52x
Failsworth 8 38.15x
Gateshead 8 4.65x
Hackney London 8 1.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 2.89x
Swannington 8 930.23x
Belgrave 7 36.21x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.55x
Burslem 7 9.37x
Farnborough 7 42.09x
Keighley 7 8.58x
Lewes St John Southover 7 80.00x
Old Cumnock 7 54.39x
West Derby 7 2.61x
Wolstanton Chesterton 7 52.51x
Wyke Regis 7 96.15x
Camberwell 6 1.22x
Castleton 6 6.55x
Clifton In York 6 37.48x
Isleworth 6 17.47x
Otley 6 32.28x
Rhuddlan 6 32.82x
St Luke London 6 4.84x
Swanscombe 6 50.68x
Tranmere 6 9.57x
Weymouth 6 62.44x
Auchterderran 5 43.48x
Barony 5 0.79x
Latchford 5 44.13x
Leeds 5 1.16x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 11.14x
New Monkland 5 6.77x
Norwich St Augustine 5 104.38x
Rutherglen 5 13.64x
Upton By Birkenhead 5 304.88x
Wigan 5 3.90x
Gorton 4 4.64x
Harpenden 4 49.26x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 4 26.47x
Scarborough 4 5.75x
Sheffield 4 1.64x
Shoreham 4 106.67x
St Andrew Holborn 4 15.27x
Urr 4 27.49x
Welborne 4 769.23x
Broughton In Salford 3 3.58x
Fulham London 3 2.68x
Kensington London 3 0.70x
Neilston 3 9.98x
Nottingham St Mary 3 1.11x
Preston 3 13.19x
St Cuthbert W O 3 9.25x
St James Garlickhithe 3 508.47x
St Marylebone London 3 0.73x
St Quivox 3 15.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 67
Margaret 20
Ann 16
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 14
Catherine 12
Eliza 11
Ellen 10
Rose 10
Alice 9
Jane 9
Anne 8
Emma 8
Harriet 7
Annie 6
Emily 6
Maria 6
Bridget 5
Florence 5
Harriett 5
Esther 4
Louisa 4
Susan 4
Caroline 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Sophia 3
Susannah 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Clara 2
Ella 2
Flora 2
Frances 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Letitia 2
Margt. 2
Martha 2
Maude 2
Bessie 1
Blanch 1
Dinah 1
Eleanor 1
Emilie 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Plunkett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Plunkett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 789 people were recorded with the Plunkett surname. That placed it at #4,713 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Plunkett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,883 in 2016. That gives Plunkett a modern rank of #3,377.

What does the Plunkett surname mean?

A surname of Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic "O Pluingceide," meaning "descendant of the stout or round-headed one."

What does the Plunkett map show?

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