NameCensus.

UK surname

Prendergast

Derived from a Norman French place name meaning "grand meadow" or "great pasture."

In the 1881 census there were 421 people recorded with the Prendergast surname, ranking it #7,681 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,566, ranked #2,581, up from #7,681 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, North Lincolnshire and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prendergast is 2,630 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 509.5%.

1881 census count

421

Ranked #7,681

Modern count

2,566

2016, ranked #2,581

Peak year

2014

2,630 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prendergast had 421 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,681 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,566 in 2016, ranked #2,581.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 764 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Prendergast surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prendergast surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prendergast 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 178 #11,397
1861 historical 161 #14,392
1881 historical 421 #7,681
1891 historical 551 #6,868
1901 historical 764 #5,853
1911 historical 750 #5,740
1997 modern 2,330 #2,673
1998 modern 2,513 #2,603
1999 modern 2,548 #2,585
2000 modern 2,537 #2,579
2001 modern 2,519 #2,545
2002 modern 2,606 #2,527
2003 modern 2,531 #2,540
2004 modern 2,478 #2,588
2005 modern 2,461 #2,572
2006 modern 2,460 #2,580
2007 modern 2,485 #2,577
2008 modern 2,494 #2,585
2009 modern 2,562 #2,586
2010 modern 2,618 #2,596
2011 modern 2,616 #2,567
2012 modern 2,552 #2,574
2013 modern 2,598 #2,575
2014 modern 2,630 #2,563
2015 modern 2,566 #2,593
2016 modern 2,566 #2,581

Geography

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Where Prendergasts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, Luton, Westminster and Sefton. 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 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 032 Doncaster
2 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
3 Luton 020 Luton
4 Westminster 006 Westminster
5 Sefton 019 Sefton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prendergast

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prendergast

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Prendergast surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Prendergast household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Prendergast 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

Prendergast is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Prendergast 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 Prendergast is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Prendergast, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Prendergast

The surname Prendergast originated in Wales during the medieval period. It derives from the Welsh place name Prendergast, comprised of the elements "prendir" meaning "land" and "gast" meaning "waste or wilderness." The name likely referred to an area of uncultivated land.

In the 13th century, the surname began appearing in records in Wales. One of the earliest known bearers was Sir Gerald de Prendergast, who lived during the reign of King John in the early 1200s. He owned lands in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The Prendergast name also has a connection to Ireland, as some bearers were among the Anglo-Norman settlers who arrived in Ireland in the 12th century. The name appears in the Pipe Rolls of County Tipperary in 1211, referring to Philip de Prendergast.

Notable individuals with this surname include Maurice de Prendergast (d. 1205), a medieval Welsh landowner and military leader who fought against the Anglo-Normans. Another was John Prendergast (1808-1886), an Anglo-Irish writer and civil servant who advocated for famine relief in Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey Prendergast Wykeham-Musgrave (1799-1881) was a British Member of Parliament and landowner in Ireland. Sir Harry North Dalrymple Prendergast (1834-1913) was a British Army officer who served in the Anglo-Zulu War and the Second Boer War.

Thomas Prendergast (1806-1886) was an English composer and organist who wrote works for the Anglican church. More recently, Val Prendergast (1916-1972) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Carlton Football Club.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prendergast families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prendergast 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. Lancashire leads with 130 Prendergasts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 130 2.64x
Middlesex 80 1.93x
Surrey 37 1.83x
Yorkshire 37 0.90x
Kent 18 1.27x
Cheshire 16 1.74x
Warwickshire 14 1.34x
Staffordshire 10 0.71x
Gloucestershire 9 1.10x
Angus 8 2.08x
Lanarkshire 7 0.52x
Northumberland 7 1.13x
Shropshire 7 1.95x
Derbyshire 6 0.92x
Monmouthshire 5 1.66x
Renfrewshire 5 1.55x
Royal Navy 5 10.10x
Somerset 5 0.75x
Sussex 4 0.57x
Hampshire 3 0.35x
Leicestershire 3 0.65x
Perthshire 2 1.07x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Devon 1 0.12x
Durham 1 0.08x
Essex 1 0.12x
Glamorgan 1 0.14x
Hertfordshire 1 0.35x
Lincolnshire 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 28 Prendergasts recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.35x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 28 9.35x
Islington London 23 5.71x
Chorlton On Medlock 20 25.53x
Camberwell 14 5.27x
Manchester 14 6.31x
Newington 12 7.82x
Toxteth Park 12 7.19x
St George Hanover 11 20.28x
Worsley 11 36.20x
Goole 9 130.43x
Stockport 9 19.06x
Cheltenham 8 12.72x
Liff Benvie 8 13.69x
Westminster St 8 52.22x
Battersea 7 4.58x
Wem 7 131.09x
Westgate 7 18.28x
Wolverhampton 7 6.49x
Birmingham 6 1.72x
Gomersal 6 31.22x
Govan 6 1.81x
Leeds 6 2.58x
Greenwich 5 7.56x
Little Bolton 5 7.89x
Ludworth 5 163.40x
Oldham 5 3.14x
Royal Navy 5 11.81x
Salford 5 3.45x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 3.71x
Barrow In Furness 4 5.96x
Bexley 4 31.92x
Folkestone 4 14.55x
Mile End Old Town 4 6.10x
Paisley Middle Church 4 21.33x
Penalt 4 588.24x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 4 68.03x
St Giles In Fields 4 27.91x
Tanshelf 4 121.58x
Aston 3 1.04x
Bathwick 3 40.54x
Blackburn 3 2.29x
Chelsea London 3 2.40x
Gate Fulford 3 31.19x
Gillingham 3 10.26x
Kensington London 3 1.30x
Leamington 3 43.23x
Ore 3 57.58x
West Derby 3 2.08x
Widnes 3 8.44x
Bow London 2 3.78x
Croydon 2 1.78x
Edmonton 2 5.97x
Everton 2 1.27x
Hulme 2 1.94x
Leicester All Sts 2 22.10x
Northwood 2 16.49x
Poplar London 2 2.55x
Sheffield 2 1.53x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.39x
St Botolph Aldersgate 2 41.93x
St George Bloomsbury 2 8.39x
St Martin In Fields 2 8.04x
St Marylebone London 2 0.90x
St Pancras London 2 0.60x
Tintwistle 2 40.82x
Walcot 2 5.61x
Walsall Borough 2 18.37x
Wardleworth 2 7.10x
Warrington 2 3.42x
Westminster St James 2 4.68x
York St Cuthbert 2 53.05x
Arreton 1 36.63x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 1 23.36x
Chartham 1 28.33x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.91x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.19x
Gateshead 1 1.08x
Heston 1 7.25x
Little Crosby 1 126.58x
Nether Hallam 1 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Sarah 17
Margaret 13
Catherine 11
Ellen 11
Annie 8
Bridget 8
Elizabeth 8
Alice 7
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Anne 4
Cecilia 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Johanna 2
Louisa 2
Margt. 2
Maria 2
Marion 2
Maud 2
Theresa 2
Beatrice 1
Betty 1
Catharine 1
Christiana 1
Constance 1
E. 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Honora 1
Infant 1
Lizzie 1
Margeret 1
Winifride 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 26
John 26
Thomas 17
William 15
Edward 11
Michael 9
Patrick 9
Walter 6
Charles 5
Richard 5
Robert 5
Joseph 4
Anthony 3
Denis 3
George 3
Henry 3
Martin 3
Maurice 3
Albert 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Luke 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Bartholey 1
Daniel 1
Dennis 1
Donald 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Fredk.Lenox 1
Fredrick 1
Gay 1
Gerald 1
Guy 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Jos. 1
Jno. 1
Lennre 1
Miles 1
Morris 1
Pat 1
Peter 1
Pymold 1
Ralph 1
Theodore 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Prendergast surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prendergast surname in 1881?

In 1881, 421 people were recorded with the Prendergast surname. That placed it at #7,681 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prendergast surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,566 in 2016. That gives Prendergast a modern rank of #2,581.

What does the Prendergast surname mean?

Derived from a Norman French place name meaning "grand meadow" or "great pasture."

What does the Prendergast map show?

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