NameCensus.

UK surname

Porch

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a porter or doorkeeper.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Porch surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 396, ranked #11,967, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street and Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Yoker South, Corby and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Porch is 438 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.1%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

396

2016, ranked #11,967

Peak year

2000

438 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Porch had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016, ranked #11,967.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 327 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Porch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Porch surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Porch 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 222 #9,597
1861 historical 177 #13,265
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 250 #12,762
1901 historical 327 #10,966
1911 historical 314 #11,077
1997 modern 415 #10,709
1998 modern 434 #10,694
1999 modern 436 #10,738
2000 modern 438 #10,669
2001 modern 427 #10,673
2002 modern 423 #10,975
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 392 #11,453
2005 modern 400 #11,189
2006 modern 386 #11,537
2007 modern 388 #11,630
2008 modern 382 #11,901
2009 modern 392 #11,908
2010 modern 403 #11,925
2011 modern 393 #12,017
2012 modern 387 #12,015
2013 modern 396 #12,015
2014 modern 390 #12,239
2015 modern 396 #11,994
2016 modern 396 #11,967

Geography

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Where Porchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe, Kettering and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Yoker South, Corby, Uttlesford, Lochwinnoch and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
3 Pilton, North Wootton, Shepton Mallet, Croscombe Somerset
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Yoker South Glasgow City
2 Corby 003 Corby
3 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
4 Lochwinnoch Renfrewshire
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 024 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Porch

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Porch

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Porch is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Porch is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Porch falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Porch

The surname Porch originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'porc', meaning a small enclosed area or enclosure, often referring to a small farmyard. The name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked in such an enclosed space.

Records show the name appearing in various forms, such as Porche, Pورche, and Pourche, in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire. One of the earliest recorded instances is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, which mentions a Robert de la Porche.

The name Porch is not found in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting it emerged after the Norman Conquest. However, it is possible that earlier variations of the name existed but were not recorded or have been lost over time.

One notable historical figure with the surname Porch was Sir John Porch (c. 1520-1594), a wealthy merchant and Lord Mayor of London in 1590. Another was Richard Porch (1668-1743), a British writer and clergyman who authored several works on theology and philosophy.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the name is William Porch, who was born in Virginia in 1635. Another early American with the surname was Thomas Porch (1676-1743), a Quaker preacher and author from Pennsylvania.

Other notable individuals with the surname Porch include John Porch (1783-1856), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars, and Kathleen Porch (1919-2006), an American author and illustrator of children's books.

Overall, the surname Porch has a long history in England, with its origins likely dating back to the Middle Ages and reflecting the occupation or location of its earliest bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Porch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Porch 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. Somerset leads with 141 Porchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.76x.

County Total Index
Somerset 141 33.76x
Gloucestershire 23 4.52x
Middlesex 19 0.73x
Northamptonshire 15 6.15x
Surrey 12 0.95x
Cheshire 9 1.57x
Leicestershire 7 2.43x
Glamorgan 6 1.33x
Wiltshire 6 2.61x
Berkshire 5 2.57x
Devon 5 0.93x
Kent 5 0.56x
Royal Navy 4 12.94x
Warwickshire 4 0.61x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Hampshire 2 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Walcot in Somerset leads with 18 Porchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.94x.

Place Total Index
Walcot 18 80.94x
Glastonbury 17 498.53x
Kettering 15 151.98x
Bedminster 11 28.03x
Burnham 11 345.91x
North Wootton 11 4400.00x
Bristol St James In 9 120.32x
Twerton 9 208.82x
Dunkerton 8 879.12x
Lambeth 8 3.54x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 73.13x
Frome 7 70.07x
Leicester St Margaret 7 9.98x
Cardiff St Mary 6 24.11x
Kensington London 6 4.16x
Shoreditch London 6 5.33x
Tranmere 6 28.50x
Beckington 5 609.76x
Camerton 5 409.84x
Emborough 5 3125.00x
Reading St Mary 5 32.05x
Aston 4 2.22x
Bradford On Avon 4 54.42x
Royal Navy 4 15.13x
Wellow 4 325.20x
Westbury On Trym 4 23.20x
Ardwick 3 10.80x
Bleadon 3 545.45x
Horfield 3 58.59x
Runcorn 3 22.71x
Shepton Mallet 3 63.97x
West Pennard 3 447.76x
Weston 3 93.46x
Wotton St Mary 3 113.64x
Yalding 3 133.93x
Binegar 2 833.33x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 4.17x
Devonport 2 32.21x
Fulham London 2 5.31x
Penge 2 12.07x
St Marylebone London 2 1.44x
Tormoham 2 8.75x
Westminster St James 2 7.50x
Weston Super Mare 2 18.96x
Alverstoke 1 5.19x
Bath St Michael 1 47.39x
Bristol St Nicholas 1 108.70x
Chipping Sodbury 1 105.26x
Clevedon 1 23.04x
Compton Gifford 1 59.17x
Croydon 1 1.42x
Farrington Gurney 1 208.33x
Folkestone 1 5.82x
Freshford 1 277.78x
Hammersmith London 1 1.56x
Minster In Sheppey 1 6.82x
Newington 1 1.04x
Portsmouth 1 8.16x
Taunton St Mary 1 13.04x
Westwood 1 208.33x
Wilton 1 91.74x
Yatton Keynell 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 15
Mary 11
Sarah 7
Ann 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Louisa 5
Alice 4
Emma 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Annie 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
A. 2
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Ethelind 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Hester 2
Julia 2
Martha 2
Anna 1
Bessy 1
Betrice 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Eliz. 1
Ellen 1
Emmie 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Helene 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Matilda 1
Nettie 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 15
Henry 11
Charles 8
James 8
George 6
Joseph 5
Robert 5
Frederick 4
Edwin 3
Harry 3
Walter 3
Arthur 2
Austin 2
Edward 2
Edwd. 2
Richard 2
Thomas 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Alfred 1
Cecil 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jesse 1
Julius 1
Montague 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Richd.(Jr.) 1
Robt. 1
S. 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Will. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Porch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Porch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Porch surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Porch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 396 in 2016. That gives Porch a modern rank of #11,967.

What does the Porch surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who worked as a porter or doorkeeper.

What does the Porch map show?

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