NameCensus.

UK surname

Preddy

A variant spelling of the surname Preddy, derived from a medieval English nickname for someone short or small.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Preddy surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 373, ranked #12,515, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire, Neath Port Talbot and Lancaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Preddy is 399 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.8%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

373

2016, ranked #12,515

Peak year

1999

399 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Preddy had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016, ranked #12,515.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 393 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Preddy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Preddy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Preddy 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 153 #12,721
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 360 #9,614
1901 historical 393 #9,606
1911 historical 364 #9,985
1997 modern 383 #11,359
1998 modern 397 #11,400
1999 modern 399 #11,463
2000 modern 381 #11,814
2001 modern 379 #11,676
2002 modern 393 #11,587
2003 modern 365 #12,038
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 350 #12,359
2006 modern 347 #12,515
2007 modern 351 #12,571
2008 modern 348 #12,751
2009 modern 362 #12,637
2010 modern 375 #12,568
2011 modern 364 #12,713
2012 modern 361 #12,647
2013 modern 375 #12,497
2014 modern 377 #12,535
2015 modern 374 #12,495
2016 modern 373 #12,515

Geography

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Where Preddys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and St George. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire, Neath Port Talbot, Lancaster, South Gloucestershire and Bridgend. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 3
3 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
4 St George Gloucestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
2 Neath Port Talbot 002 Neath Port Talbot
3 Lancaster 003 Lancaster
4 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
5 Bridgend 009 Bridgend

Forenames

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First names often paired with Preddy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Preddy

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Preddy 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

Preddy is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Preddy falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Preddy

The surname Preddy is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Somerset, during the medieval period. It is thought to derive from the Old English word "predy," which means "proud" or "arrogant." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a boastful or haughty demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Preddy can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327, where a John Preddy is listed. This indicates that the surname was already in use by the early 14th century in that region.

In the 16th century, the name appears in various parish records across Somerset, such as the baptismal record of Joanna Preddy in Yeovil in 1564. The spelling variations at the time included Predy, Priddie, and Preddye, reflecting the inconsistencies in written records before standardized spelling became more common.

While no notable historical figures with the surname Preddy have been widely documented, there are several individuals who have borne this name throughout history. For instance, William Preddy, born in 1805 in Somerset, was a farmer and landowner who played a role in the local community. Another notable figure was John Preddy (1818-1891), a successful merchant and businessman from the same county.

In the 19th century, the Preddy family seemed to have a strong presence in the village of Martock, Somerset. Records show that a Thomas Preddy (1811-1887) was a prominent figure in the local agricultural community, while his son, also named Thomas Preddy (1842-1923), followed in his footsteps as a respected farmer in the area.

As the Preddy name spread beyond Somerset, it can be found in various parts of England, particularly in the neighboring counties of Dorset and Devon. One notable individual was Robert Preddy (1880-1958), a businessman and philanthropist from Devonshire who made significant contributions to local charities and organizations.

While the surname Preddy is not among the most common English surnames, it has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, primarily concentrated in the southwestern regions of England. Its origins as a descriptive nickname reflect the rich linguistic heritage of the English language and the fascinating stories behind many surname etymologies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Preddy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Preddy 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. Gloucestershire leads with 108 Preddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.67x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 108 22.67x
Middlesex 32 1.32x
Somerset 30 7.67x
Wiltshire 30 13.97x
Surrey 17 1.44x
Herefordshire 11 11.05x
Kent 8 0.97x
Worcestershire 6 1.89x
Northumberland 2 0.55x
Staffordshire 2 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.55x
Essex 1 0.21x
Monmouthshire 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St George in Gloucestershire leads with 32 Preddys recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.26x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St George 32 145.26x
Mangotsfield 18 378.95x
Westbury On Severn East 16 148.56x
Minehead 13 878.38x
Bitton Oldland 12 246.41x
Lambeth 11 5.19x
Willesden 11 48.03x
Daglingworth 10 3571.43x
Hackney London 10 7.34x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 17.84x
Liddiard Millicent 8 1081.08x
Swindon 8 48.02x
Greenwich 7 18.10x
St Weonards 7 2333.33x
Croydon 6 9.13x
Little Somerford 6 1875.00x
Walcot 6 28.82x
Yardley 6 73.89x
Bath St James 4 98.04x
Newland 4 100.00x
West Dean 4 51.68x
Whitchurch 4 655.74x
Bedminster 3 8.17x
Hornsey 3 9.77x
Wanborough 3 410.96x
Yatton Keynell 3 681.82x
Aldridge 2 126.58x
Ealing 2 9.21x
Elswick 2 6.93x
Islington London 2 0.85x
Westminster St James 2 8.01x
Brinkworth 1 103.09x
Burnham 1 33.56x
Elworthy 1 714.29x
Lewisham 1 2.26x
Liddington 1 285.71x
Maldon All Sts 1 105.26x
Minsterworth 1 285.71x
Sandhurst 1 28.33x
St George Hanover 1 3.15x
St George Martyr 1 24.45x
Stratton 1 172.41x
Taunton St Mary 1 13.93x
Thornbury 1 30.67x
Trevethin 1 6.03x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 31.75x
Yanworth 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Emily 7
Eliza 6
Emma 5
Alice 4
Lucy 4
Martha 3
Matilda 3
Anne 2
Augusta 2
Caroline 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Esther 2
Kate 2
Susan 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Blanche 1
Clarissa 1
Clarrisa 1
Edith 1
Eleaner 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henriette 1
Hilda 1
Ina 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Lavania 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
M.J. 1
Mildred 1
Phoebe 1
Polly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Soffrona 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 16
George 9
James 7
Arthur 6
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Robert 6
Charles 5
Henry 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Absalom 2
Albert 2
Arther 1
Daniel 1
Edwin 1
Ethelbert 1
Gauliford 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Leonard 1
Norman 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Spencer 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
Wilmot 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Preddy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Preddy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Preddy surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Preddy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 373 in 2016. That gives Preddy a modern rank of #12,515.

What does the Preddy surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname Preddy, derived from a medieval English nickname for someone short or small.

What does the Preddy map show?

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