UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone from a place named Polkinghorn.
In the 1881 census there were 146 people recorded with the Polkinghorn surname, ranking it #15,752 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 74, ranked #33,441, down from #15,752 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Redruth and Illogan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Polkinghorn is 175 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 49.3%.
1881 census count
146
Ranked #15,752
Modern count
74
2016, ranked #33,441
Peak year
1901
175 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Polkinghorn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Polkinghorn 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 | 98 | #17,383 |
| 1861 | historical | 96 | #21,648 |
| 1881 | historical | 146 | #15,752 |
| 1891 | historical | 126 | #20,604 |
| 1901 | historical | 175 | #16,469 |
| 1911 | historical | 119 | #20,535 |
| 1997 | modern | 68 | #30,810 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 74 | #30,759 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 81 | #30,294 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 72 | #32,397 |
| 2008 | modern | 76 | #32,279 |
| 2009 | modern | 80 | #32,277 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 77 | #32,909 |
| 2012 | modern | 74 | #33,348 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 74 | #33,441 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Redruth, Illogan, Breage and London parishes. 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 | St Mary | Pembrokeshire |
| 2 | Redruth | Cornwall |
| 3 | Illogan | Cornwall |
| 4 | Breage | Cornwall |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Polkinghorn 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 Polkinghorn, 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 Polkinghorn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Polkinghorn 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, Polkinghorn 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 Polkinghorn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Polkinghorn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname POLKINGHORN is of English origin, with its roots traceable to the 13th century in the county of Cornwall. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English words "pol" meaning "pool" or "stream," and "ing" indicating "descendant of," combined with the word "horn," referring to a topographical feature like a promontory or spur of land.
The earliest recorded mention of the name can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall from 1284, where it appears as "Polkynghorne." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place name, likely referring to a settlement near a pool or stream with a distinctive horn-shaped landform.
In the 16th century, records show the name spelled in various forms, such as "Polkinghorn," "Polkenhorne," and "Polkenhorne." These variations highlight the challenges of standardized spelling during that era.
One notable bearer of the name was John Polkinghorn, born in 1566 in St. Columb Major, Cornwall. He was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Tregony in 1597.
During the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mellion, Cornwall, with the baptism of William Polkinghorn in 1632. This suggests that the family had established roots in the area.
In the 18th century, a branch of the Polkinghorn family settled in Devon, where they became known for their involvement in the wool trade. Thomas Polkinghorn, born in 1756, was a successful wool merchant in Exeter.
Another notable individual with this surname was Sir Hender Polkinghorn, born in 1810 in Truro, Cornwall. He was a prominent civil engineer and played a significant role in the construction of the Great Western Railway in the mid-19th century.
The name Polkinghorn has also been associated with the mining industry in Cornwall. In the 19th century, several members of the family worked as miners and engineers in the region's tin and copper mines.
Throughout its history, the surname Polkinghorn has maintained a strong presence in the southwest of England, particularly in Cornwall and Devon, where it is believed to have originated and flourished.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Polkinghorn 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. Cornwall leads with 60 Polkinghorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.72x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 60 | 36.72x |
| Lancashire | 31 | 1.81x |
| Hampshire | 15 | 5.07x |
| Kent | 13 | 2.64x |
| Pembrokeshire | 10 | 21.80x |
| Devon | 8 | 2.66x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 3.26x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 11.63x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.41x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 15 Polkinghorns recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 15 | 64.38x |
| Radcliffe | 11 | 133.17x |
| Redruth | 11 | 238.10x |
| Pembroke St Mary | 10 | 169.20x |
| Plumstead | 10 | 60.90x |
| Camborne | 9 | 133.73x |
| St Columb Major | 9 | 661.76x |
| St Thomas Winchester | 8 | 382.78x |
| Wallsend | 7 | 102.79x |
| Breage | 6 | 402.68x |
| Portsea | 6 | 10.35x |
| Buckfastleigh | 5 | 359.71x |
| Gwennap | 5 | 162.34x |
| Truro St Mary | 5 | 364.96x |
| Aldingham | 4 | 701.75x |
| Tywardreath | 4 | 380.95x |
| Germoe | 3 | 1034.48x |
| Minster In Sheppey | 3 | 36.76x |
| Marazion | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Plymouth Charles The | 2 | 15.11x |
| Royal Navy | 2 | 13.61x |
| St Keverne | 2 | 222.22x |
| Tipton | 2 | 13.40x |
| Alverstoke | 1 | 9.34x |
| Dalton In Furness | 1 | 15.13x |
| Exeter St Leonard | 1 | 121.95x |
| Illogan | 1 | 23.09x |
| Liskeard | 1 | 36.63x |
| St Clement | 1 | 58.48x |
| St Mabyn | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Polkinghorn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Amelia | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Anne | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Millecent | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Avis | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Jenefer | 1 |
| Jennie | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lillie | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Nanny | 1 |
| Olivia | 1 |
| Patience | 1 |
| Phillipa | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Theodocis | 1 |
| Thomas | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Polkinghorn 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 Polkinghorn households.
FAQ
In 1881, 146 people were recorded with the Polkinghorn surname. That placed it at #15,752 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 74 in 2016. That gives Polkinghorn a modern rank of #33,441.
A locational surname referring to someone from a place named Polkinghorn.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Polkinghorn 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.