UK surname
A surname possibly derived from an Old French word meaning a small bag or pocket.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Pouch surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Dudley and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pouch is 115 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.1%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1861
115 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Pouch surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Pouch surname density by area, 1861 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 | 9 | #31,675 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 28 | #32,046 |
| 1901 | historical | 8 | #33,289 |
| 1911 | historical | 24 | #30,800 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Dudley, St Werburgh, Manchester and Hagborne. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | St Werburgh | Derbyshire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Hagborne | Berkshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Pouch 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 Pouch, 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 Pouch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Pouch 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, Pouch 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 Pouch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Pouch, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname POUCH is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the northern region of Normandy, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "pouche," which referred to a small bag or pouch worn around the waist or attached to a belt.
In its earliest forms, the name was spelled as "Pouche" or "Poche," reflecting the Norman French pronunciation. As the name spread to other parts of Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Pouche," "Pouchet," and "Pouchette," among others.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname POUCH can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pouche" in reference to a landowner in Normandy. This historical record suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the late 11th century.
During the Middle Ages, the POUCH surname was commonly associated with individuals involved in the trade or production of pouches, purses, or bags. Some notable bearers of the name from this period include:
1. Jehan Pouch (c. 1280-1345), a renowned pouch-maker and merchant based in Paris. 2. Guillaume Pouchet (c. 1310-1380), a nobleman from Rouen who served as a knight in the Hundred Years' War.
As the surname spread across Europe, it took on various forms and regional variations. In England, for instance, it was sometimes Anglicized as "Pouch" or "Pouche," while in Germany, it appeared as "Pautsch" or "Pautsche."
Notable bearers of the POUCH surname in later centuries include:
1. Sir Robert Pouch (c. 1585-1642), an English merchant and member of the Virginia Company, instrumental in the early colonization of Virginia. 2. Étienne Pouchet (1719-1795), a French philosopher and writer from Normandy. 3. Georges Pouchet (1833-1894), a French naturalist and biologist, known for his work on spontaneous generation. 4. Félix Archimède Pouchet (1800-1872), a French physician and anatomist, who made significant contributions to the field of microscopy. 5. Henri Pouchet (1896-1976), a French politician and senator, active in the resistance movement during World War II.
Throughout its history, the POUCH surname has maintained a strong presence in France, particularly in the northern regions, while also being found in various other European countries and beyond, reflecting the mobility and migration patterns of its bearers over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pouch 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. Worcestershire leads with 7 Pouchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.94x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Worcestershire | 7 | 28.94x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 7.90x |
| Sussex | 3 | 9.61x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 10.43x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.58x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.67x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.54x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 45.25x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 2.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 7 Pouchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 238.10x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 7 | 238.10x |
| Heathfield | 3 | 2307.69x |
| Southampton St Mary | 3 | 125.52x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 6.42x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 9.40x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 9.71x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 52.91x |
| Tilbrook | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 43.86x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Pouch 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 Pouch 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 Pouch households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 3 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Chemist Assistant | 1 |
| Coppersmith | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Hairdresser And Perfumer | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Ordinary | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Pouch surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Pouch a modern rank of #36,059.
A surname possibly derived from an Old French word meaning a small bag or pocket.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Pouch 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.