NameCensus.

UK surname

Prager

A Jewish occupational surname referring to someone from Prague or a merchant who traded there.

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Prager surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 158, ranked #22,904, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bury, St Mary Whitechapel and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Barnet and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prager is 163 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 338.9%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

158

2016, ranked #22,904

Peak year

2015

163 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prager had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016, ranked #22,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Prager surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prager surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prager 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 13 #30,970
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 53 #29,946
1901 historical 95 #23,462
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 135 #23,118
1999 modern 138 #22,983
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 159 #21,086
2003 modern 162 #20,624
2004 modern 147 #22,094
2005 modern 152 #21,572
2006 modern 144 #22,520
2007 modern 145 #22,693
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 153 #22,611
2010 modern 153 #23,175
2011 modern 153 #22,996
2012 modern 152 #23,069
2013 modern 155 #23,108
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 158 #22,904

Geography

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Where Pragers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bury, St Mary Whitechapel, St Pancras, St Leonard Bromley and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Barnet, Enfield and Wycombe. 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 Bury Lancashire
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 St Leonard Bromley London (East Districts)
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 007 Wakefield
2 Barnet 037 Barnet
3 Enfield 028 Enfield
4 Wycombe 021 Wycombe
5 Barnet 019 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prager

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prager

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Prager, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Prager surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Prager household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Prager is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Prager is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Prager falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Prager 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Prager, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Prager

The surname Prager is believed to have originated in Germany, specifically in the region of Prussia. It dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the German word "Prag," which means "Prague," referring to the capital city of the Czech Republic. The name was likely adopted by individuals who either lived in or had some connection to the city of Prague.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Prager can be found in the Deutsches Rechtswörterbuch, a historical dictionary of German legal terms, which mentions a person named "Prager" in the year 1296. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 13th century.

In the 16th century, a notable individual named Johann Prager (1499-1543) lived in Nürnberg, Germany. He was a prominent Reformist and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another Prager of historical significance was Wenzel Prager (1567-1636), a German lawyer and politician who served as a councilor in the city of Nürnberg.

The name Prager also appeared in various historical records and documents from the 17th and 18th centuries. For instance, the Prussian writer and philosopher Johann Georg Prager (1692-1768) was born in Stettin, which is now known as Szczecin, Poland. He was a prominent figure in the early German Enlightenment movement.

In the 19th century, a notable individual with the surname Prager was the Austrian-born American businessman and philanthropist Jacob Prager (1834-1917). He founded the successful Prager Beer Brewing Company in Brooklyn, New York, and was also involved in various charitable endeavors.

Another historical figure worth mentioning is the German-born American architect and engineer Otto Prager (1857-1927). He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in New York City, including the Astor Court Building and the Church of the Ascension.

Throughout its history, the surname Prager has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Prague, Prager Street, and Pragerberg, among others. The name has also undergone slight variations in spelling, including Praeger, Prayger, and Prachner, which were likely influenced by regional dialects and linguistic variations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prager families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prager 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. Middlesex leads with 18 Pragers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 5.13x
Lancashire 14 3.36x
Lanarkshire 2 1.76x
Essex 1 1.44x
Shropshire 1 3.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitechapel London in Middlesex leads with 9 Pragers recorded in 1881 and an index of 260.12x.

Place Total Index
Whitechapel London 9 260.12x
Warrington 8 161.94x
Bury 6 126.05x
Spitalfields London 3 113.64x
Barony 2 6.96x
Mile End Old Town 2 36.10x
St Luke London 2 35.52x
Barking 1 49.26x
Chetwynd 1 1000.00x
Hackney London 1 5.08x
St Pancras London 1 3.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Babel 1
Carrie 1
Elizth.C. 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Louisa 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Samuel 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Felix 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Gerard 1
Henry 1
Horatio 1
Isonan 1
Joseph 1
Ludwig 1
Moritz 1
Oreste 1
Philip 1
Saul 1
Solomon 1
Wilhelm 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Prager households.

FAQ

Prager surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prager surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Prager surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prager surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 158 in 2016. That gives Prager a modern rank of #22,904.

What does the Prager surname mean?

A Jewish occupational surname referring to someone from Prague or a merchant who traded there.

What does the Prager map show?

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