NameCensus.

UK surname

Preen

In the 1881 census there were 314 people recorded with the Preen surname, ranking it #9,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 526, ranked #9,642, down from #9,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, and Cardington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Plymouth and Cherwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Preen is 560 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.5%.

1881 census count

314

Ranked #9,417

Modern count

526

2016, ranked #9,642

Peak year

2010

560 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Preen had 314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016, ranked #9,642.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 485 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Preen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Preen surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Preen 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 215 #9,860
1861 historical 267 #9,290
1881 historical 314 #9,417
1891 historical 372 #9,386
1901 historical 450 #8,700
1911 historical 485 #8,012
1997 modern 498 #9,324
1998 modern 532 #9,152
1999 modern 542 #9,079
2000 modern 544 #9,031
2001 modern 532 #9,028
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 521 #9,217
2004 modern 518 #9,274
2005 modern 514 #9,262
2006 modern 524 #9,150
2007 modern 520 #9,284
2008 modern 544 #9,041
2009 modern 558 #9,066
2010 modern 560 #9,225
2011 modern 555 #9,200
2012 modern 532 #9,421
2013 modern 535 #9,549
2014 modern 546 #9,446
2015 modern 538 #9,489
2016 modern 526 #9,642

Geography

Back to top

Where Preens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet,, Cardington, Kidderminster and Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Plymouth, Cherwell, Wyre Forest and Doncaster. 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 Churcham, Sandhurst, St Mary-de-Lode, St Catherine Longford, Barnwood, Wootton Ville, North Hamlet, Gloucestershire
3 Cardington Shropshire
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
2 Plymouth 011 Plymouth
3 Cherwell 013 Cherwell
4 Wyre Forest 013 Wyre Forest
5 Doncaster 005 Doncaster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Preen

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Preen

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

Preen 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

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Preen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Preen 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. Shropshire leads with 75 Preens recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.25x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 75 28.25x
Gloucestershire 67 11.12x
Worcestershire 36 8.97x
Warwickshire 32 4.13x
Middlesex 19 0.62x
Yorkshire 17 0.56x
Herefordshire 13 10.32x
Lancashire 10 0.27x
Monmouthshire 6 2.70x
Buckinghamshire 5 2.69x
Staffordshire 5 0.48x
Cheshire 4 0.59x
Durham 4 0.44x
Surrey 4 0.27x
Wiltshire 4 1.47x
Hertfordshire 3 1.42x
Northamptonshire 3 1.04x
Hampshire 2 0.32x
Kent 2 0.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.21x
Royal Navy 1 2.73x
Somerset 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 26 Preens recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.18x.

Place Total Index
Aston 26 12.18x
Acton Round 12 6315.79x
St Marylebone London 12 7.31x
Lower Mitton 10 282.49x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 9 299.00x
Cardington 9 1475.41x
Gloucester Barton St 9 254.96x
Kingstanley 9 403.59x
Kidderminster Borough 8 34.07x
Leebotwood 8 4210.53x
Leigh 8 2222.22x
Ross 8 159.68x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 7 24.67x
Horfield 7 115.51x
Bristol St Paul In 6 37.38x
Kidderminster Foreign 6 105.82x
Mynyddyslwyn 6 68.49x
Newland 6 118.58x
Openshaw 6 35.13x
Stoke St Milborough 6 1090.91x
Worcester St John 6 125.26x
Bridgnorth St Mary 5 193.05x
Cheltenham 5 10.76x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 5 202.43x
Wombridge 5 152.44x
Amersham 4 152.09x
Berrington 4 384.62x
Brightside Bierlow 4 6.70x
Coventry St Michael 4 16.07x
Diddlebury 4 454.55x
Hardwicke 4 588.24x
Stonehouse 4 116.96x
Eardisley 3 329.67x
Gateshead 3 4.38x
Great Gaddesden 3 303.03x
Hammersmith London 3 3.96x
Horsley 3 112.36x
Kingswinford 3 7.97x
Northampton St Giles 3 27.25x
Tranmere 3 12.03x
Trowbridge 3 24.98x
Wentnor 3 389.61x
Astley 2 238.10x
Belbroughton 2 96.15x
Bexley 2 21.58x
Birmingham 2 0.77x
Church Stretton 2 112.36x
Dorstone 2 425.53x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 2 18.13x
Portsea 2 1.62x
Acton 1 5.55x
Ardwick 1 3.04x
Areley Kings 1 140.85x
Bathwick 1 18.28x
Caterham 1 15.11x
Chalfont St Peter 1 65.36x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.73x
Drinkstone 1 204.08x
Epsom 1 13.70x
Farnham 1 8.59x
Gloucester St John Baptist 1 25.71x
Gt Hanwood 1 294.12x
Harborne 1 3.01x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 2.53x
Kensington London 1 0.59x
Lambeth 1 0.37x
Linthrope 1 172.41x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 18.94x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 1 52.08x
Much Wenlock 1 40.82x
N Lydbury 1 97.09x
Newchurch 1 3.35x
Paddington London 1 0.89x
Royal Navy 1 3.19x
Seven Oaks 1 526.32x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 68.03x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 9.55x
Towerof London London 1 102.04x
Upperswinford 1 29.41x
Wem 1 25.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 17
Mary 16
Sarah 14
Ann 8
Annie 8
Emma 8
Eliza 6
Charlotte 4
Elizth. 4
Emily 4
Jane 4
Maria 4
Amelia 3
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Hannah 3
Harriett 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Harriott 2
Rosina 2
Susanna 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Blanch 1
Cecelia 1
Esther 1
Eugenie 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Hellen 1
Hester 1
Ida 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilias 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mercy 1
Priscilla 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Tricia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 21
John 19
Charles 12
Thomas 12
Henry 8
James 8
Joseph 7
Richard 6
Albert 5
Arthur 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Edward 2
Edwd. 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Mathew 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alton 1
Bemblet 1
Benjamin 1
Edu. 1
Edwin 1
F. 1
Harvey 1
Jno.A. 1
Jonathan 1
Josh.John 1
Patrick 1
Philemon 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Preen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Preen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 314 people were recorded with the Preen surname. That placed it at #9,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Preen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 526 in 2016. That gives Preen a modern rank of #9,642.

What does the Preen map show?

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