NameCensus.

UK surname

Pole

A Polish surname derived from a geographical location or occupation related to fields or meadows.

In the 1881 census there were 932 people recorded with the Pole surname, ranking it #4,129 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,117, ranked #5,273, down from #4,129 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Belgrave and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Mendip and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pole is 1,228 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.8%.

1881 census count

932

Ranked #4,129

Modern count

1,117

2016, ranked #5,273

Peak year

1911

1,228 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pole had 932 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,129 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,117 in 2016, ranked #5,273.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,228 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pole surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pole surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pole 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 822 #3,281
1861 historical 873 #3,182
1881 historical 932 #4,129
1891 historical 1,100 #3,845
1901 historical 1,212 #4,066
1911 historical 1,228 #3,847
1997 modern 1,119 #4,993
1998 modern 1,127 #5,148
1999 modern 1,148 #5,119
2000 modern 1,144 #5,092
2001 modern 1,112 #5,121
2002 modern 1,105 #5,253
2003 modern 1,068 #5,300
2004 modern 1,079 #5,277
2005 modern 1,066 #5,276
2006 modern 1,048 #5,357
2007 modern 1,065 #5,321
2008 modern 1,088 #5,266
2009 modern 1,115 #5,259
2010 modern 1,136 #5,288
2011 modern 1,125 #5,268
2012 modern 1,109 #5,257
2013 modern 1,118 #5,302
2014 modern 1,130 #5,285
2015 modern 1,126 #5,244
2016 modern 1,117 #5,273

Geography

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Where Poles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Belgrave, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Mendip, Leicester, Blaby and Charnwood. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Belgrave Leicestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
2 Mendip 010 Mendip
3 Leicester 023 Leicester
4 Blaby 006 Blaby
5 Charnwood 016 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pole

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pole

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

Pole is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pole falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pole is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pole

The surname Pole has its roots in medieval England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "pol," meaning a pool or pond, suggesting that the name's earliest bearers may have lived near a body of water or worked as fishermen.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1182, where a Robert de la Pole is mentioned. This spelling variation, "de la Pole," was common in the Middle Ages and indicated the family's association with a particular place or locality.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various manorial records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a William de la Pole is listed. These records provide valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

The Pole family rose to prominence in the 14th century, with Michael de la Pole (c. 1330-1389) serving as Lord Chancellor of England under King Richard II. He was a influential figure in the English government and played a key role in the political struggles of his time.

Another notable figure with the surname Pole was Reginald Pole (1500-1558), an English cardinal and the last Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury before the English Reformation. He was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church and a vocal opponent of King Henry VIII's break with Rome.

In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the contribution of Sir William Pole (1561-1635), a renowned antiquarian and historian from Devon, England. His work, "The Descriptions of Devon," published in 1617, remains a valuable source of information on the history and topography of the county.

The surname Pole has also been associated with several place names, such as Pole Farm in Nottinghamshire and Pole Bridge in Derbyshire, further reinforcing its connection to the English landscape and localities.

Throughout history, the Pole surname has been carried by a diverse range of individuals, including Arthur Pole (1501-1570), a Catholic priest and martyr during the English Reformation, and John Pole (1649-1728), a renowned English merchant and philanthropist.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pole families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pole 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. Leicestershire leads with 186 Poles recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.51x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 186 18.51x
Somerset 144 9.87x
Middlesex 91 1.00x
Shetland 72 77.80x
Gloucestershire 54 3.04x
Yorkshire 38 0.42x
Lancashire 31 0.29x
Surrey 22 0.50x
Devon 20 1.06x
Norfolk 19 1.36x
Wiltshire 18 2.25x
Glamorgan 17 1.08x
Nottinghamshire 16 1.31x
Dorset 14 2.35x
Kent 14 0.45x
Midlothian 14 1.15x
Berkshire 13 1.91x
Shropshire 12 1.53x
Suffolk 12 1.09x
Warwickshire 12 0.53x
Angus 10 1.19x
Derbyshire 9 0.63x
Oxfordshire 9 1.61x
Staffordshire 9 0.29x
Worcestershire 9 0.76x
Cheshire 8 0.40x
Cornwall 8 0.78x
Cumberland 8 1.03x
Renfrewshire 8 1.14x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.60x
Hampshire 5 0.27x
Northumberland 4 0.30x
Durham 3 0.11x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Royal Navy 3 2.78x
Essex 2 0.11x
Sussex 2 0.13x
Bedfordshire 1 0.21x
Flintshire 1 0.41x
Inverness-shire 1 0.37x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Northamptonshire 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. Belgrave in Leicestershire leads with 78 Poles recorded in 1881 and an index of 343.92x.

Place Total Index
Belgrave 78 343.92x
Leicester St Margaret 33 13.47x
Thurmaston 21 1186.44x
Paddington London 19 5.70x
Bridgewater 17 42.93x
Kensington London 17 3.37x
Brightside Bierlow 16 9.08x
Catcott 16 935.67x
Taunton St Mary 16 59.75x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 15 183.82x
Clifton 14 15.58x
Leicester All Sts 14 70.96x
Halse 13 1040.00x
Bristol St George 12 14.60x
Delting 12 230.33x
Bishops Lydeard 11 295.70x
Lerwick Gulberwick 11 76.76x
Toxteth Park 11 3.02x
Acton 10 18.83x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 23.91x
Nottingham St Mary 10 3.17x
Shrewsbury St Mary 10 32.37x
Yell Mid 10 326.80x
Bedminster 9 6.57x
Neath 9 28.03x
Syston 9 95.64x
Arlecdon 8 38.55x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 4.78x
Chester St Mary On Hill 8 46.62x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.74x
Paisley Middle Church 8 19.56x
Weston Super Mare 8 21.72x
Bristol St Paul In 7 14.78x
Cosby 7 225.08x
Fulham London 7 5.33x
Halifax 7 5.31x
Leicester Black Friars 7 107.03x
North Leith 7 12.46x
Salford 7 2.21x
St Marylebone London 7 1.45x
Walls Sandness 7 391.06x
Wells St Cuthbert 7 70.35x
Williton 7 143.15x
Yeovilton 7 933.33x
Burnley 6 6.63x
Dundee 6 1.91x
East Knoyle 6 220.59x
Islington London 6 0.68x
Lewisham 6 3.64x
Litchurch 6 10.51x
Rackenford 6 530.97x
West Pennard 6 255.32x
Willenhall 6 10.47x
Ystradyfodwg 6 4.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 2.85x
Belton 5 257.73x
Camberwell 5 0.86x
Chadshunt 5 3571.43x
Exeter St Sidwell 5 11.57x
Humberstone 5 60.61x
Liskeard 5 29.12x
Little Bedwyn 5 318.47x
St George Hanover 5 4.23x
Thatcham 5 47.71x
West Bromwich 5 271.74x
Baltonsborough 4 183.49x
Basford 4 7.10x
Burgh Castle 4 246.91x
Fitzhead 4 487.80x
Fordington 4 31.23x
Greenwich 4 2.77x
Holy Trinity 4 1.85x
Inkpen 4 186.05x
Lambeth 4 0.51x
Liff Benvie 4 3.14x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 4 57.14x
Sandsting Aitsting 4 47.68x
Walls 4 89.09x
Walls Sandness Papa 4 506.33x
Westminster St John 4 3.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 44
George 34
James 22
Henry 20
Thomas 19
Charles 17
Frederick 14
Richard 12
Albert 11
Arthur 11
Edward 10
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Edwin 8
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Francis 7
Frank 6
Ernest 5
Alfred 4
Herbert 4
Oliver 4
Reginald 4
Harry 3
Christain 2
Leonard 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Beatey 1
Chas.Chandott 1
Chas.F. 1
Clarence 1
Clement 1
Evan 1
F.W. 1
Felix 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G.S. 1
Jim 1
Joel 1
Josheph 1
Lambertson 1
Lewis 1
Lorenzo 1
Malcolm 1

FAQ

Pole surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pole surname in 1881?

In 1881, 932 people were recorded with the Pole surname. That placed it at #4,129 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pole surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,117 in 2016. That gives Pole a modern rank of #5,273.

What does the Pole surname mean?

A Polish surname derived from a geographical location or occupation related to fields or meadows.

What does the Pole map show?

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