NameCensus.

UK surname

Prance

A surname possibly derived from the Old French term for "to strut or prance" or related to a geographic place name.

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Prance surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, down from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bideford and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cardiff, East Cambridgeshire and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prance is 300 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.3%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

1911

300 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prance had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 300 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prance 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 192 #12,423
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 275 #11,847
1901 historical 298 #11,695
1911 historical 300 #11,441
1997 modern 227 #16,267
1998 modern 250 #15,675
1999 modern 248 #15,884
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 249 #15,855
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 234 #16,388
2006 modern 224 #16,990
2007 modern 224 #17,193
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 222 #17,797
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 226 #17,792
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 213 #18,883
2015 modern 211 #18,906
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

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Where Prances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bideford, Cardiff St John and St Mary, St John Hampstead and Braunton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cardiff, East Cambridgeshire, North Devon and Torridge. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Bideford Devon
3 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
4 St John Hampstead London (North Districts)
5 Braunton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cardiff 023 Cardiff
2 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
3 North Devon 008 North Devon
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Torridge 008 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prance

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Prance surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Prance household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Prance is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prance is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Prance falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Prance

The surname Prance is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period. It is thought to be an occupational name derived from the Old French verb "prancer," meaning "to prance" or "to strut." This verb was likely used to refer to someone who trained or handled horses, particularly those used in military contexts or for ceremonial purposes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Prance can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mention a William le Prancer. This suggests that the name had already become an established surname by the late 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, which lists a John le Prauncer. The spelling variations, such as "Prauncer" and "Prancer," were common during this period before standardized spellings became more widespread.

The name Prance is also associated with several place names in England, such as Prance Hall in Essex and Prance Farm in Dorset. These place names may have derived from individuals bearing the surname or could have influenced the development of the surname itself.

Notable individuals with the surname Prance throughout history include:

1. Sir John Prance (c. 1470-1545), a prominent English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1537. 2. Edmund Prance (c. 1560-1626), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Spiritual Guide" published in 1615. 3. Robert Prance (1720-1785), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. 4. William Prance (1789-1869), an English architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera Arcade. 5. Ghillean Prance (born 1937), a British botanist and former director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, known for his contributions to the study of Amazonian flora.

While the surname Prance is not among the most common in English-speaking countries today, its history can be traced back several centuries, reflecting its origins as an occupational name associated with the handling and training of horses.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prance 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. Devon leads with 98 Prances recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.94x.

County Total Index
Devon 98 21.94x
Middlesex 33 1.54x
Essex 23 5.43x
Surrey 18 1.72x
Kent 13 1.78x
Yorkshire 8 0.38x
Gloucestershire 5 1.19x
Lancashire 5 0.20x
Monmouthshire 3 1.93x
Pembrokeshire 3 4.40x
Hampshire 2 0.45x
Worcestershire 2 0.71x
Cornwall 1 0.41x
Glamorgan 1 0.27x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 3.91x
Somerset 1 0.29x
Sussex 1 0.28x
Wiltshire 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bideford in Devon leads with 18 Prances recorded in 1881 and an index of 375.78x.

Place Total Index
Bideford 18 375.78x
Braunton 15 993.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 37.78x
Hampstead London 12 35.91x
Woolfardisworthy 9 1384.62x
Buckland Brewer 8 1481.48x
Parkham 8 1355.93x
Abbotsham 7 2000.00x
Knottingley 7 187.17x
Shoreditch London 7 7.52x
Stapleford Tawney 7 4375.00x
Woolwich 7 25.88x
Bermondsey 6 9.39x
Croydon 6 10.34x
Maldon St Peter 6 277.78x
Sheepwash 6 2000.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 5 24.73x
Cheltenham 5 15.40x
Edmonton 4 23.13x
Great Bardfield 4 571.43x
Northam 4 122.70x
Paddington London 4 5.07x
Finchingfield 3 225.56x
Penge 3 21.88x
St Woollos 3 17.33x
Stoke Damerel 3 9.60x
Whitchurch 3 491.80x
Beerferris 2 229.89x
Clovelly 2 344.83x
Evesham All Sts 2 152.67x
Ashley 1 1428.57x
Bocking 1 39.22x
Bow London 1 3.66x
Broxted 1 196.08x
Cardiff St Mary 1 4.86x
Chiswick 1 8.53x
Christchurch 1 10.48x
Dorking 1 14.25x
East Stonehouse 1 11.36x
Godalming 1 15.20x
Great Dunmow 1 45.25x
Hove 1 6.30x
Kensington London 1 0.84x
Lambeth 1 0.53x
Lee 1 9.41x
Margate St John Baptist 1 7.46x
Morthoe 1 312.50x
Morwenstow 1 166.67x
Nettlestead 1 227.27x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.34x
Petrockstow 1 263.16x
Plumstead 1 4.10x
Portsea 1 1.16x
Ramsgate 1 8.37x
Royal Navy 1 4.57x
Sculcoates 1 2.97x
St George Hanover 1 3.57x
St Marylebone London 1 0.87x
Taunton St Mary 1 15.77x
Tonbridge 1 3.79x
Twickenham 1 10.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Ann 7
Elizabeth 7
Emily 7
Susan 6
Emma 5
Sarah 5
Alice 3
Ellen 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Dora 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Athaliah 1
Beatrice 1
Bessy 1
Charlotte 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Gwendoline 1
Harriet 1
Helena 1
Hilda 1
Katherine 1
Latitia 1
Lavinia 1
Lettia 1
Lora 1
Lottie 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Martha 1
Matildia 1
Maude 1
Tammy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 13
James 7
George 6
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Thomas 5
Richard 4
Robert 4
Francis 3
Courtenay 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Miles 2
Walter 2
A.Thos. 1
Alfred 1
Alice 1
Annesley 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Freedy 1
Gerald 1
Godfrey 1
Gorden 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jessie 1
Lewis 1
Paul 1
Peter 1
Reginald 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Thoms. 1
Tom 1
W.M. 1
Willie 1
Willm.Hy. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Prance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Prance surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Prance a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Prance surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old French term for "to strut or prance" or related to a geographic place name.

What does the Prance map show?

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