NameCensus.

UK surname

Pounds

An English occupational surname referring to a keeper of an animal pound or pen.

In the 1881 census there were 375 people recorded with the Pounds surname, ranking it #8,345 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 522, ranked #9,693, down from #8,345 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Kintbury and Poole St James. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, New Forest and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pounds is 586 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.2%.

1881 census count

375

Ranked #8,345

Modern count

522

2016, ranked #9,693

Peak year

1911

586 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pounds had 375 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,345 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016, ranked #9,693.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 586 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pounds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pounds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pounds 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 156 #12,552
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 375 #8,345
1891 historical 419 #8,551
1901 historical 516 #7,866
1911 historical 586 #6,957
1997 modern 512 #9,153
1998 modern 525 #9,254
1999 modern 523 #9,332
2000 modern 524 #9,295
2001 modern 513 #9,280
2002 modern 526 #9,300
2003 modern 525 #9,162
2004 modern 519 #9,257
2005 modern 493 #9,536
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 505 #9,496
2008 modern 520 #9,358
2009 modern 524 #9,516
2010 modern 536 #9,559
2011 modern 519 #9,687
2012 modern 533 #9,407
2013 modern 534 #9,564
2014 modern 532 #9,648
2015 modern 525 #9,669
2016 modern 522 #9,693

Geography

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Where Pounds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Kintbury, Poole St James, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, New Forest, Harborough, Vale of White Horse and West Dorset. 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 Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Kintbury Berkshire
3 Poole St James Dorset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 002 West Berkshire
2 New Forest 012 New Forest
3 Harborough 003 Harborough
4 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
5 West Dorset 009 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pounds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pounds

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pounds is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pounds is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pounds falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pounds

The surname Pounds is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "pund," meaning an enclosure or pound for livestock. This name first emerged in the medieval period, likely referring to someone who lived near or worked at such an enclosure.

The earliest known record of the name Pounds dates back to the 13th century in the county of Oxfordshire, England. In 1273, a John atte Punde was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, an early census-like record. This spelling variation reflects the evolution of the name over time.

By the 14th century, the name had spread to other parts of England, appearing in various forms such as Pownde, Pounde, and Pound. In the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, a William Pound was listed as a taxpayer.

The Pounds name can also be traced to place names in England, such as Poundstock in Cornwall and Poundbury in Dorset. These locations likely took their names from the presence of livestock enclosures in the area, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its occupational origins.

Notable individuals with the surname Pounds include Richard Pounds (c. 1512-1594), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions. Another significant figure was John Pounds (1766-1839), an English philanthropist and educator who established one of the earliest English schools for the poor in Portsmouth.

In the 19th century, Thomas Pounds (1814-1892) was a British architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in London. Henry Pounds (1897-1951) was a Royal Air Force officer and flying ace during World War I, credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft.

Additionally, James Pounds (1931-2020) was an American sculptor and artist renowned for his large-scale public artworks, including the iconic "Transcendence" sculpture in downtown Los Angeles.

Throughout history, the Pounds surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse origins and occupations associated with this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pounds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pounds 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. Berkshire leads with 92 Pounds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.60x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 92 33.60x
Middlesex 45 1.23x
Dorset 36 15.04x
Wiltshire 35 10.85x
Hampshire 31 4.15x
Surrey 29 1.63x
Kent 22 1.77x
Yorkshire 16 0.44x
Warwickshire 12 1.30x
Herefordshire 11 7.35x
Somerset 7 1.19x
Staffordshire 7 0.57x
Gloucestershire 6 0.84x
Essex 5 0.69x
Cheshire 4 0.50x
Cornwall 4 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.87x
Leicestershire 2 0.49x
Worcestershire 2 0.42x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.45x
Devon 1 0.13x
Lincolnshire 1 0.17x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.23x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ramsbury in Wiltshire leads with 29 Pounds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 993.15x.

Place Total Index
Ramsbury 29 993.15x
East Garston 16 2758.62x
Reading St Giles 15 55.82x
Kintbury 12 566.04x
Camberwell 11 4.72x
Hungerford 11 297.30x
Aston 10 3.95x
Burghclere 10 1052.63x
Leominster 10 161.55x
Portsea 10 6.82x
Tilehurst 10 180.83x
Chaddleworth 9 1764.71x
Cranborne 9 311.42x
Kensington London 9 4.44x
Poplar London 9 13.07x
North Bierley 8 40.98x
Hampreston 7 402.30x
Idle 7 41.77x
Lewisham 7 10.55x
Poole St James 7 77.78x
Cowley 6 967.74x
Gillingham 6 23.38x
Hampstead Marshall 6 1935.48x
Southampton St Mary 6 12.76x
Willenhall 6 26.01x
Lambeth 5 1.57x
St Pancras London 5 1.70x
Thornbury 5 102.25x
Tonbridge 5 11.14x
Walcot 5 15.98x
West Ham 5 3.14x
Wimborne 5 172.41x
Bourton 4 380.95x
Camborne 4 23.50x
East Horsley 4 1111.11x
Finchley 4 28.59x
Latchford 4 74.77x
Shoreditch London 4 2.53x
Christchurch 3 18.51x
Kew 3 291.26x
Lambourn 3 110.70x
Preshute 3 151.52x
Walton On Thames 3 36.76x
Baydon 2 540.54x
Bromley London 2 2.49x
Hinton Martel 2 416.67x
Kenilworth 2 38.54x
Newmarket All Sts 2 117.65x
Upton On Severn 2 64.10x
Wantage 2 45.77x
West Ilsley 2 425.53x
Brighton 1 0.81x
Brightwaltham 1 185.19x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.19x
Bromley 1 5.27x
Chatham 1 2.92x
Claydon 1 151.52x
Cranbrook 1 18.98x
Croydon 1 1.01x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.04x
Glen Parva 1 105.26x
Greenham 1 72.99x
Hereford All Sts 1 14.60x
Himley 1 232.56x
Holdenhurst 1 5.10x
Leeds 1 0.49x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.79x
Portland 1 7.76x
Princes Risborough 1 33.90x
Sandhurst 1 18.87x
Shaw Cum Donnington 1 113.64x
Speen 1 22.32x
St Clement Danes 1 16.92x
St George Hanover 1 2.10x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 20.66x
St Marylebone London 1 0.51x
Stoke Damerel 1 1.88x
Westminster St 1 7.43x
Westminster St John 1 2.25x
Wimbledon 1 5.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 23
Henry 16
John 16
Thomas 15
George 8
Arthur 7
Edward 7
Edwin 7
James 7
Charles 6
Albert 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Chas. 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Fredrick 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Lenoard 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Giles 1
J.H. 1
Josep. 1
Lennis 1
Mark 1
Oliver 1
Shadarch 1
Sidney 1
Wallace 1
Wm.G.F. 1

FAQ

Pounds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pounds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 375 people were recorded with the Pounds surname. That placed it at #8,345 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pounds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 522 in 2016. That gives Pounds a modern rank of #9,693.

What does the Pounds surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a keeper of an animal pound or pen.

What does the Pounds map show?

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