UK surname
A surname originating from Poland or denoting someone of Polish descent.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Poles surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Oldswinford and Wath-on-Dearn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Poles is 103 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1891
103 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Poles surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Poles surname density by area, 1911 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 | 80 | #19,558 |
| 1861 | historical | 98 | #21,388 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 103 | #23,558 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 100 | #22,717 |
| 1997 | modern | 83 | #29,216 |
| 1998 | modern | 90 | #28,920 |
| 1999 | modern | 84 | #29,700 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 77 | #30,277 |
| 2002 | modern | 73 | #31,159 |
| 2003 | modern | 79 | #30,549 |
| 2004 | modern | 87 | #29,897 |
| 2005 | modern | 83 | #30,486 |
| 2006 | modern | 81 | #31,044 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 77 | #32,181 |
| 2009 | modern | 83 | #31,950 |
| 2010 | modern | 82 | #32,492 |
| 2011 | modern | 80 | #32,652 |
| 2012 | modern | 86 | #32,297 |
| 2013 | modern | 90 | #32,146 |
| 2014 | modern | 86 | #32,663 |
| 2015 | modern | 90 | #32,245 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Oldswinford, Wath-on-Dearn, Kimbolton and Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity. 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 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Oldswinford | Worcestershire |
| 3 | Wath-on-Dearn | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Kimbolton | Herefordshire |
| 5 | Bridgwater, Goathurst, Durleigh, Wembdon, Chilton Trinity | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Poles 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 Poles, 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 Poles surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Poles 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, Poles 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 Poles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Poles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Poles originates from Poland, a country in Central Europe. It is believed to have derived from the Slavic word "pole," meaning "field" or "open land." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to someone who lived near or worked on a field or an open area.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Poles can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various historical documents from the region. One notable mention is in the Liber Beneficiorum, a register of properties and landholdings maintained by the Catholic Church in Poland during the Middle Ages.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name Poles gained popularity across Poland and neighboring areas. It was often associated with families involved in agriculture or land ownership. In some cases, the name may have also been adopted by individuals who migrated from rural areas to cities and towns.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Poles was Jan Poles, a Polish nobleman and landowner who lived in the late 14th century. Another notable figure was Marcin Poles, a renowned scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Krakow in the 15th century.
In the 16th century, the name Poles appeared in various historical records from different parts of Europe, indicating that individuals bearing this surname had begun to migrate and settle in other regions. One such example is Andrzej Poles, a Polish merchant who established trade links with the Netherlands and Germany.
As the surname spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Pohlès, Polès, and Polesch, reflecting regional linguistic influences and customs. Some of these variations were also influenced by the names of specific towns or villages where Poles families resided.
Another prominent individual with the surname Poles was Katarzyna Poles, a 17th-century Polish noblewoman known for her patronage of the arts and her involvement in cultural activities. In the 18th century, Józef Poles was a respected Polish military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars.
The surname Poles has continued to be passed down through generations, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields, including academia, politics, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Poles 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. Yorkshire leads with 17 Poles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.59x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 17 | 2.59x |
| Somerset | 13 | 12.18x |
| Worcestershire | 8 | 9.24x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 1.06x |
| Surrey | 7 | 2.17x |
| Cambridgeshire | 5 | 11.90x |
| Glamorgan | 4 | 3.46x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 3.49x |
| Huntingdonshire | 1 | 7.59x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.13x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.13x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 2.09x |
| Radnorshire | 1 | 18.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridgewater in Somerset leads with 8 Poles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 275.86x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgewater | 8 | 275.86x |
| Upperswinford | 6 | 821.92x |
| Sutton | 5 | 213.68x |
| Thorney | 5 | 1063.83x |
| Wentworth | 5 | 1219.51x |
| Barnsley | 4 | 59.00x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 4 | 36.04x |
| Shoreditch London | 4 | 13.91x |
| Worsbrough | 4 | 207.25x |
| Bathwick | 3 | 254.24x |
| Camberwell | 2 | 4.72x |
| Claverley | 2 | 512.82x |
| Hackney London | 2 | 5.38x |
| Otterhampton | 2 | 4000.00x |
| Wath On Dearne | 2 | 152.67x |
| Alwalton | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Astley | 1 | 555.56x |
| Clyro | 1 | 588.24x |
| Ecclesfield | 1 | 20.75x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.80x |
| Ellel | 1 | 243.90x |
| Hartwith Cum Winsley | 1 | 416.67x |
| Northfield | 1 | 60.98x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.87x |
| Usk | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Poles 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 Poles 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 Poles households.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Poles surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Poles a modern rank of #32,570.
A surname originating from Poland or denoting someone of Polish descent.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Poles 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.