NameCensus.

UK surname

Prentis

A variant of "Prentice", referring to an apprentice or learner of a trade or craft.

In the 1881 census there were 233 people recorded with the Prentis surname, ranking it #11,648 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 201, ranked #19,525, down from #11,648 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Thurrock, Grays and Milton next Sittingbourne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, South Cambridgeshire and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prentis is 269 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.7%.

1881 census count

233

Ranked #11,648

Modern count

201

2016, ranked #19,525

Peak year

1911

269 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prentis had 233 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,648 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016, ranked #19,525.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 269 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Prentis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prentis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prentis 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 233 #11,648
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 258 #12,875
1911 historical 269 #12,300
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 214 #17,366
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 212 #17,554
2001 modern 207 #17,573
2002 modern 210 #17,753
2003 modern 213 #17,395
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 195 #18,458
2006 modern 182 #19,402
2007 modern 190 #19,088
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 202 #18,896
2010 modern 199 #19,515
2011 modern 196 #19,538
2012 modern 193 #19,665
2013 modern 202 #19,389
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 201 #19,525

Geography

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Where Prentis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Thurrock, Grays, Milton next Sittingbourne and Kensington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, South Cambridgeshire, Thurrock, Hammersmith and Fulham and Brighton and Hove. 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 3
2 Thurrock, Grays Essex
3 Milton next Sittingbourne Kent
4 London parishes London 2
5 Kensington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 009 Medway
2 South Cambridgeshire 010 South Cambridgeshire
3 Thurrock 015 Thurrock
4 Hammersmith and Fulham 014 Hammersmith and Fulham
5 Brighton and Hove 032 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prentis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prentis

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Prentis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Prentis 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Prentis is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prentis 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

Prentis falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Prentis 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Prentis

The surname Prentis originates from England and is thought to have emerged in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old French word "aprentis," meaning an apprentice or learner. This implies that the name likely referred to someone who was an apprentice in a trade or craft.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it appears as "Dionisia Prentiz." This suggests that the name was in use in the medieval period and may have been initially an occupational surname.

In the 14th century, the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, listed as "Johanna Prentys." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames in earlier times before standardized spellings became more common.

The Prentis surname has ties to various places in England, with early records showing variations like "de Prentis" and "atte Prentis," indicating connections to specific locations or properties. For instance, in the Suffolk Feet of Fines from 1310, there is a reference to "John atte Prentis."

Notably, the Prentis surname appeared in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. This inclusion suggests that individuals bearing this name held landholdings or were considered significant figures during the Norman period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Prentis surname:

1. Sir John Prentis (c. 1550 - 1628), an English politician and member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.

2. Robert Prentis (1601 - 1673), an English clergyman and religious writer who served as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral.

3. William Prentis (1773 - 1842), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several voyages to the Pacific.

4. Thomas Prentis (1615 - 1695), an English Puritan minister and author known for his writings on religious subjects.

5. Edward Prentis (1797 - 1854), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings and structures in London and other parts of England.

While the Prentis surname has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and is now found in various countries, though its origins can be traced back to its Anglo-Norman and Old French linguistic influences.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prentis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prentis 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 61 Prentis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 61 2.71x
Kent 47 6.06x
Middlesex 47 2.07x
Essex 32 7.13x
Surrey 12 1.08x
Midlothian 8 2.63x
Warwickshire 6 1.05x
Durham 5 0.74x
Berkshire 3 1.76x
Suffolk 3 1.08x
Hertfordshire 2 1.28x
Sussex 2 0.52x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.73x
Devon 1 0.21x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.29x
Northamptonshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 24 Prentis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.87x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 24 18.87x
Grays Thurrock 23 551.56x
Sittingbourne 12 196.08x
Shoreditch London 10 10.15x
Thorner 10 1369.86x
Maidstone 9 38.96x
Stebbing 9 1034.48x
Kensington London 8 6.33x
Lambeth 8 4.04x
Huddersfield 7 21.34x
Chelsea London 6 8.76x
St George Hanover 6 20.22x
Bilton In Wetherby 5 2631.58x
Deptford St Paul 5 8.36x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 4.08x
Gateshead 5 9.88x
Green Hammerton 5 2173.91x
Northfleet 5 73.21x
Arley 4 2500.00x
Goole 4 106.10x
Milton In Milton 4 121.21x
Borden 3 306.12x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 40.60x
Lewisham 3 7.26x
Newton 3 294.12x
St Pancras London 3 1.64x
Stoke Newington London 3 16.95x
Battersea 2 2.39x
Birmingham 2 1.05x
Chiswick 2 16.10x
Eastbourne 2 11.34x
Holbeck 2 13.40x
Hornsey 2 6.96x
Ledsham 2 952.38x
Limehouse London 2 8.02x
Old Windsor 2 101.52x
Sawbridgeworth 2 84.39x
Snodland 2 90.91x
St George Bloomsbury 2 15.34x
Armley 1 10.07x
Bishopthorpe 1 232.56x
Camberwell 1 0.69x
Charles 1 500.00x
Dickleburgh 1 156.25x
Hackney London 1 0.78x
Margate St John Baptist 1 7.04x
North Meols 1 3.79x
Rainham 1 46.95x
Reading St Giles 1 5.97x
Rushden 1 34.97x
Ryarsh 1 232.56x
Sevenoaks 1 15.90x
St Andrew Holborn 1 12.97x
St Giles In Fields 1 12.76x
Streatham 1 5.93x
Wycombe 1 9.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 9
Annie 7
Ellen 6
Jane 5
Ada 3
Emily 3
Ethel 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Susanna 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Henrietta 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Clare 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Florrie 1
Georgiana 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Madge 1
Marie 1
Marion 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Monica 1
Nancy 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Tamar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 10
Henry 8
James 8
Charles 7
George 6
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Frank 4
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Chas. 2
Abel 1
Albert 1
Annie 1
Eddward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Forman 1
Harry 1
King 1
Matthew 1
Norval 1
Osmond 1
Richard 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Prentis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prentis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 233 people were recorded with the Prentis surname. That placed it at #11,648 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prentis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 201 in 2016. That gives Prentis a modern rank of #19,525.

What does the Prentis surname mean?

A variant of "Prentice", referring to an apprentice or learner of a trade or craft.

What does the Prentis map show?

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