NameCensus.

UK surname

Precious

A surname referring to someone considered extremely valuable or treasured.

In the 1881 census there were 624 people recorded with the Precious surname, ranking it #5,666 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 898, ranked #6,312, down from #5,666 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Mary Bishopshill Senior and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include York, Mid Suffolk and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Precious is 944 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

624

Ranked #5,666

Modern count

898

2016, ranked #6,312

Peak year

2000

944 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Precious had 624 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,666 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016, ranked #6,312.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 902 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Precious surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Precious surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Precious 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 401 #6,399
1881 historical 624 #5,666
1891 historical 683 #5,732
1901 historical 819 #5,515
1911 historical 902 #4,944
1997 modern 899 #5,969
1998 modern 918 #6,056
1999 modern 925 #6,078
2000 modern 944 #5,954
2001 modern 905 #6,058
2002 modern 922 #6,085
2003 modern 884 #6,170
2004 modern 894 #6,123
2005 modern 855 #6,286
2006 modern 847 #6,341
2007 modern 856 #6,344
2008 modern 860 #6,362
2009 modern 902 #6,255
2010 modern 930 #6,219
2011 modern 911 #6,270
2012 modern 885 #6,323
2013 modern 918 #6,254
2014 modern 926 #6,253
2015 modern 908 #6,293
2016 modern 898 #6,312

Geography

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Where Precious' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Mary Bishopshill Senior, Bradford, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to York, Mid Suffolk, Kingston upon Hull and North East Derbyshire. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 St Mary Bishopshill Senior Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
5 St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 York 012 York
2 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
3 Kingston upon Hull 005 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Kingston upon Hull 020 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 North East Derbyshire 014 North East Derbyshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Precious

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Precious

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Precious is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Precious is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Precious falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Precious

The surname Precious is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to have derived from the Old English words "precius" or "preciouse," meaning "of great value" or "highly esteemed." These words were used to describe something or someone that was considered rare and precious.

The name Precious was initially used as a descriptive nickname, likely given to someone who was highly regarded or valued within their community. Over time, this nickname evolved into a hereditary surname passed down through generations.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Precious can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1230, where a person named William Precious was listed as a taxpayer. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, mentioning a John Precious.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Richard Precious was a prominent merchant in the city of London. He is mentioned in several historical records from that period, including the Calendar of Letter-Books preserved among the archives of the City of London.

During the 16th century, the surname Precious was found in various places across England, including Staffordshire, where a John Precious was born around 1550. Another individual named Thomas Precious, born in 1586 in Oxfordshire, was a respected scholar and clergyman who served as the rector of Chalgrove parish.

In the 17th century, the Precious surname appeared in the parish records of Biddenden, Kent, where a family by that name resided. One member of this family, Samuel Precious (1633-1689), was a notable clergyman and author who published several religious works.

Another notable bearer of the Precious surname was Sir William Precious (1777-1838), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He distinguished himself in several battles and was knighted for his bravery and leadership.

Throughout history, the surname Precious has been found in various spellings, such as Preciouse, Preshious, and Precius, reflecting the evolution of language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Precious families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Precious 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. Yorkshire leads with 384 Precious' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.39x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 384 6.39x
Norfolk 39 4.18x
Suffolk 39 5.28x
Middlesex 35 0.58x
Lancashire 24 0.33x
Surrey 18 0.61x
Cambridgeshire 15 3.90x
Essex 15 1.25x
Kent 15 0.72x
Lincolnshire 12 1.24x
Cheshire 9 0.67x
Warwickshire 9 0.59x
Derbyshire 3 0.32x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Northumberland 2 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. York St Mary in Yorkshire leads with 38 Precious' recorded in 1881 and an index of 152.61x.

Place Total Index
York St Mary 38 152.61x
Leeds 26 7.66x
Bradford 25 17.18x
Hirst Courtney 16 6956.52x
Selby 15 119.33x
Great Grimsby 11 17.87x
York All Sts Peasholme 11 1122.45x
Acaster Selby 10 4166.67x
York St Saviour 10 174.22x
Aston 9 2.14x
Battersea 9 4.03x
East Cottingwith 9 1666.67x
Great Wilbraham 9 789.47x
Harwich St Nicholas 9 97.30x
Ashill 8 588.24x
Bredfield 8 888.89x
Brightside Bierlow 8 6.78x
Gilberdike Bishopsoil 8 930.23x
Linthorpe 8 22.30x
Purston Jaglin 8 544.22x
Wetherby 8 204.08x
York St Nicholas In 8 236.69x
Burnley 7 11.55x
Clifton In York 7 55.64x
Farnham 7 1842.11x
Goole 7 69.44x
Holy Trinity 7 4.84x
Howden 7 171.15x
Hulme 7 4.66x
Sheffield 7 3.66x
St George In East 7 16.96x
Watton 7 238.91x
York St Margaret 7 187.67x
Ashford 6 29.76x
Carlton In Selby 6 387.10x
Edmonton 6 12.27x
Gomersal 6 21.38x
Horton In Bradford 6 6.39x
Ripon 6 43.01x
Wistow 6 375.00x
Aismunderby Cum 5 294.12x
Attleborough 5 106.16x
Bubwith 5 462.96x
Canterbury St George 5 201.61x
Everton 5 2.18x
Great Yarmouth 5 6.47x
Hammersmith London 5 3.35x
Kirk Deighton 5 684.93x
Manchester 5 1.54x
Middlesbrough 5 6.39x
Newton 5 240.38x
Scarborough 5 9.15x
St Andrewthe Less 5 11.39x
Woodbridge 5 52.91x
Barwick In Elmet 4 86.77x
Buttsbury 4 425.53x
Gate Fulford 4 28.49x
Hyde 4 10.12x
Ilketshall St Andrew 4 408.16x
Kingston On Thames 4 5.63x
Parham 4 430.11x
Southwark Christchurch 4 14.07x
York St Maurice 4 35.34x
Asselby 3 545.45x
Aughton 3 1071.43x
Derby St Alkmund 3 10.54x
East Dereham 3 25.45x
Hackney London 3 0.88x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 7.75x
Lakenham 3 22.64x
Leiston 3 59.06x
Manningham 3 4.05x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.13x
Snaith Cowick 3 83.33x
St Pancras London 3 0.61x
Dewsbury 2 3.24x
Hambleton 2 181.82x
Hunslet 2 2.13x
Longbenton 2 5.23x
Pocklington 2 35.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 41
George 32
William 31
Thomas 26
James 21
Joseph 13
Henry 11
Arthur 7
Charles 6
Edward 6
Robert 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Tom 5
Alfred 4
Samuel 4
Walter 4
David 3
Jesse 3
Richard 3
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Mathew 2
Mathias 2
Moses 2
Wm. 2
Benjam.Ja. 1
Bertie 1
Chals. 1
Chls. 1
Clarence 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Emmanuel 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Greenwood 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Jess 1
Job 1
Josh 1
Josh. 1
Lucas 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Oswald 1

FAQ

Precious surname: questions and answers

How common was the Precious surname in 1881?

In 1881, 624 people were recorded with the Precious surname. That placed it at #5,666 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Precious surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 898 in 2016. That gives Precious a modern rank of #6,312.

What does the Precious surname mean?

A surname referring to someone considered extremely valuable or treasured.

What does the Precious map show?

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