NameCensus.

UK surname

Preece

A Welsh patronymic surname meaning "son of Rhys," derived from the Old Welsh personal name Ris, meaning "ardor" or "enthusiasm."

In the 1881 census there were 4,878 people recorded with the Preece surname, ranking it #914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 8,144, ranked #811, up from #914 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Bedwelty. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Preece is 8,562 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.0%.

1881 census count

4,878

Ranked #914

Modern count

8,144

2016, ranked #811

Peak year

1999

8,562 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Preece had 4,878 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #914 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 8,144 in 2016, ranked #811.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,969 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Preece surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Preece surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Preece 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 3,262 #886
1861 historical 2,472 #1,181
1881 historical 4,878 #914
1891 historical 4,414 #1,071
1901 historical 6,352 #874
1911 historical 6,969 #745
1997 modern 8,147 #780
1998 modern 8,544 #773
1999 modern 8,562 #778
2000 modern 8,528 #781
2001 modern 8,286 #787
2002 modern 8,434 #790
2003 modern 8,282 #788
2004 modern 8,307 #781
2005 modern 8,120 #787
2006 modern 8,138 #784
2007 modern 8,202 #786
2008 modern 8,255 #785
2009 modern 8,337 #797
2010 modern 8,348 #810
2011 modern 8,317 #805
2012 modern 8,211 #797
2013 modern 8,296 #803
2014 modern 8,357 #800
2015 modern 8,248 #802
2016 modern 8,144 #811

Geography

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Where Preeces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Bedwelty and St Owen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire and Herefordshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 St Owen Herefordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
2 Herefordshire 017 Herefordshire, County of
3 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
4 Herefordshire 010 Herefordshire, County of
5 Herefordshire 015 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Preece

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Preece

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Preece is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Preece is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Preece 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 Preece 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 Preece, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Preece

The surname Preece has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "preost," meaning "priest." This suggests that the name originated as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near a priest's dwelling or church.

The Preece surname can be traced back to various regions of England, including Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, and Shropshire. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Prest" and "Praest."

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Preest," "Preste," and "Prest." Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "Preece." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Preece surname is that of William Preece, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1195. Another notable early bearer of the name was Robert Preece, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1327.

In the 16th century, the Preece surname was associated with several notable individuals. John Preece (c. 1515-1569) was an English clergyman and an influential figure in the Protestant Reformation. He served as the Bishop of Peterborough from 1557 to 1559.

During the 17th century, the name Preece gained prominence in various fields. Humphrey Preece (1605-1666) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire. Sir William Preece (1634-1715) was a prominent English jurist and served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1688 to 1701.

In the 18th century, the Preece surname was associated with several notable figures in the arts and sciences. William Preece (1719-1784) was an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. Thomas Preece (1744-1812) was a Welsh mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.

The 19th century saw the Preece surname gain further recognition in various fields. Sir William Preece (1834-1913) was a notable English electrical engineer and inventor. He played a crucial role in the development of telecommunication systems and is credited with pioneering the use of underground cables for telephone and telegraph lines.

Throughout its history, the Preece surname has been associated with various notable individuals, spanning diverse fields such as religion, politics, law, arts, and sciences. While the name's origins can be traced back to medieval England, its bearers have left an indelible mark on various aspects of society across different time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Preece families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Preece 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. Herefordshire leads with 1,584 Preeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.28x.

County Total Index
Herefordshire 1,584 81.28x
Shropshire 787 19.17x
Worcestershire 407 6.56x
Staffordshire 382 2.38x
Warwickshire 234 1.95x
Gloucestershire 232 2.49x
Middlesex 210 0.44x
Monmouthshire 169 4.92x
Glamorgan 138 1.67x
Surrey 113 0.49x
Lancashire 102 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 61 5.60x
Yorkshire 54 0.11x
Cheshire 46 0.44x
Brecknockshire 42 4.42x
Radnorshire 36 9.39x
Somerset 32 0.42x
Devon 28 0.28x
Pembrokeshire 25 1.66x
Derbyshire 17 0.23x
Essex 15 0.16x
Hertfordshire 15 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.22x
Lanarkshire 13 0.08x
Durham 12 0.08x
Kent 12 0.07x
Berkshire 9 0.25x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.31x
Sussex 9 0.11x
Carmarthenshire 7 0.35x
Leicestershire 7 0.13x
Hampshire 5 0.05x
Northamptonshire 5 0.11x
Northumberland 5 0.07x
Suffolk 5 0.09x
Channel Islands 4 0.28x
Cumberland 4 0.10x
Lincolnshire 4 0.05x
Oxfordshire 4 0.14x
Flintshire 3 0.23x
Wiltshire 3 0.07x
Dorset 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.04x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.05x
Cornwall 1 0.02x
Denbighshire 1 0.06x
Norfolk 1 0.01x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leominster in Herefordshire leads with 97 Preeces recorded in 1881 and an index of 120.26x.

Place Total Index
Leominster 97 120.26x
Birmingham 94 2.35x
Hereford All Sts 93 104.17x
Aston 87 2.64x
Holmer 78 222.29x
Wolverhampton 64 5.19x
Hereford St Owen 63 97.89x
Madley 57 416.06x
Rowley Regis 49 10.96x
Canon Pyon 45 395.08x
Hereford St Martin 44 186.36x
Shrewsbury St Mary 44 27.16x
Worthen 42 96.29x
Ledbury 41 61.26x
Worfield 40 140.35x
Kidderminster Borough 39 10.74x
Westbury On Severn East 38 18.03x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 37 79.47x
Dilwyn 36 210.53x
Ross 36 46.44x
Monmouth 35 38.42x
Dudley 33 4.37x
Great Malvern 32 24.71x
Leigh 32 42.47x
Edgbaston 31 8.34x
Hereford St Peter 30 57.63x
Ludlow St Lawrence 30 36.73x
Shrewsbury St Chad 30 20.82x
Hentland 29 310.16x
Llandaff 28 10.17x
Pontesbury 28 56.07x
Shrewsbury St Julian 27 26.58x
Goodrich 25 205.25x
Aymestrey 24 227.92x
Battersea 23 1.32x
Cheltenham 23 3.20x
Kensington London 23 0.87x
Cradley 22 77.19x
Monks Coppenhall 22 5.56x
Claines 21 12.33x
Kingswinford 21 3.61x
Bridgewater 20 9.63x
Eardisley 20 141.94x
Newland 20 25.53x
Pool 20 24.35x
Tupsley 20 120.92x
Willenhall 20 6.66x
Burton Extra 19 20.66x
Leominster Out 19 103.54x
Abbey Dore 18 206.42x
Alveley 18 110.57x
Hereford St John 18 80.94x
Orleton 18 192.72x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 1.06x
Worcester St Clement 18 45.60x
Aberystruth 17 5.61x
Bedwellty 17 2.80x
Hay 17 48.16x
Kingsland 17 98.38x
Lambeth 17 0.41x
Mathon 17 93.41x
Withington 17 133.44x
Astley Abbotts 16 157.79x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 16 1.82x
Chirbury 16 66.14x
Condover 16 55.34x
Dinedor 16 385.54x
Presteigne 16 65.74x
St Davids 16 46.81x
St George Hanover 16 2.58x
Bilston 15 4.82x
Brimfield 15 145.63x
Burghill 15 67.84x
Hereford St Nicholas 15 56.56x
Little Birch 15 326.80x
Shifnal 15 13.46x
Wigmore 15 221.24x
Bethnal Green London 14 0.68x
Llantillio Pertholey 14 69.72x
Richards Castle 14 112.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 333
Elizabeth 224
Sarah 180
Ann 132
Eliza 101
Jane 92
Emma 78
Alice 76
Ellen 75
Emily 68
Annie 65
Hannah 47
Harriet 46
Martha 45
Fanny 37
Ada 33
Caroline 33
Catherine 31
Florence 29
Margaret 29
Charlotte 28
Maria 27
Edith 25
Anne 23
Louisa 23
Clara 21
Esther 21
Frances 18
Susan 18
Lucy 15
Harriett 14
Agnes 12
Sophia 12
Matilda 11
Selina 11
Amelia 10
Rose 10
Eleanor 9
Elizth. 9
Amy 8
Rosa 8
Susannah 8
Gertrude 7
Laura 7
Lizzie 7
Bertha 6
Helen 6
Jessie 6
Kate 6
Olive 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 364
John 274
Thomas 248
George 214
James 189
Charles 116
Henry 103
Edward 64
Alfred 62
Richard 60
Joseph 59
Arthur 46
Samuel 44
Albert 40
Robert 35
Edwin 33
Frederick 29
Francis 25
Harry 24
Benjamin 20
Walter 18
Ernest 16
David 13
Wm. 12
Frank 11
Thos. 11
Herbert 10
Peter 10
Christopher 9
Tom 7
Andrew 6
Adam 5
Sidney 5
Allen 4
Daniel 4
Evan 4
Fredk. 4
Gilbert 4
Jas. 4
Jonathan 4
Oliver 4
Willm. 4
Edgar 3
Edmund 3
Fredrick 3
Howard 3
Jno. 3
Leonard 3
Philip 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Preece surname: questions and answers

How common was the Preece surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,878 people were recorded with the Preece surname. That placed it at #914 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Preece surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 8,144 in 2016. That gives Preece a modern rank of #811.

What does the Preece surname mean?

A Welsh patronymic surname meaning "son of Rhys," derived from the Old Welsh personal name Ris, meaning "ardor" or "enthusiasm."

What does the Preece map show?

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