NameCensus.

UK surname

Prescot

Derived from an English place name, possibly meaning "priest's cottage".

In the 1881 census there were 378 people recorded with the Prescot surname, ranking it #8,288 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #8,288 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to North Meols, Wigan and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Conwy and Test Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prescot is 815 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 67.5%.

1881 census count

378

Ranked #8,288

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

1851

815 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prescot had 378 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,288 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 815 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Prescot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prescot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prescot 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 815 #3,297
1861 historical 636 #4,214
1881 historical 378 #8,288
1891 historical 268 #12,087
1901 historical 349 #10,457
1911 historical 211 #14,467
1997 modern 93 #27,932
1998 modern 94 #28,435
1999 modern 97 #28,187
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 98 #29,019
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 103 #29,127
2010 modern 109 #28,831
2011 modern 114 #27,784
2012 modern 117 #27,394
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 125 #26,808
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

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Where Prescots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around North Meols, Wigan, Manchester, Liverpool and Prescot. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Conwy, Test Valley, Kensington and Chelsea and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 North Meols Lancashire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Prescot Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
2 Conwy 010 Conwy
3 Test Valley 009 Test Valley
4 Kensington and Chelsea 020 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Bath and North East Somerset 018 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prescot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prescot

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Prescot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Prescot household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Prescot 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

Prescot 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

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

Meaning and origin of Prescot

The surname Prescot originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a habitational name from any of several places called Prescot or Prescott, such as Prescot in Merseyside, Prescott in Gloucestershire, or Presscott in Lancashire. The name itself is derived from the Old English preost, meaning priest, and cot or cote, signifying a cottage or shelter. Hence, the name Prescot translates directly to "priest's cottage" or "priest's dwelling."

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the 12th century. Historical references mention the name in various forms, including Prescote and Preistcote, reflecting the phonetic spellings of the era. One of the earliest documented uses of the surname appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lancashire in 1194, with a William de Prestat as a prominent figure.

A significant historical record that mentions the name is the "Feet of Fines," a collection of documents recording property transactions. In the year 1278, a Henry de Prescote is listed in a property dispute in Lancashire. Yet another instance of the surname appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield during the late 13th century, specifically in the year 1297, where John de Prescote is cited.

Among the notable bearers of the surname is Robert Prescott (1783-1871), a British military officer who served in the British colonial administration. His career was distinguished by notable postings, including the position of Governor of Canada. Another prominent figure is William H. Prescott (1796-1859), an American historian and Hispanist noted for his extensive works on the history of Spain and Latin America, such as "The History of the Conquest of Mexico."

Jane Prescott (1590-1640) was another historical figure, noted for her role in local English governance during a period when women in such positions were rare. More recently, Samuel Prescott (1751-1777), an American patriot in the Revolutionary War, is renowned for his midnight ride to warn the colonists of the approaching British forces.

The evolution of the surname Prescot is closely tied to its geographical roots and the linguistic transformations over centuries. The name's history is a rich tapestry of regional identity, social status, and gradual linguistic change, making it a subject of considerable interest in onomatological studies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prescot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prescot 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 283 Prescots recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.49x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 283 6.49x
Kent 12 0.96x
Middlesex 11 0.30x
Worcestershire 10 2.08x
Surrey 9 0.50x
Cheshire 8 0.99x
Durham 8 0.73x
Warwickshire 7 0.75x
Glamorgan 6 0.94x
Midlothian 5 1.01x
Lincolnshire 2 0.34x
Monmouthshire 2 0.75x
Northamptonshire 2 0.58x
Sussex 2 0.32x
Wiltshire 2 0.62x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.67x
Channel Islands 1 0.92x
Cumberland 1 0.32x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Oxfordshire 1 0.44x
Suffolk 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eccleston In Prescot in Lancashire leads with 19 Prescots recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.72x.

Place Total Index
Eccleston In Prescot 19 86.72x
Sutton 18 123.03x
Everton 14 10.07x
Wigan 14 22.96x
Barrow In Furness 10 16.85x
Liverpool 10 3.77x
Toxteth Park 10 6.77x
Castleton 8 18.36x
Hulme 8 8.78x
Islington London 8 2.24x
Melling 8 792.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 10.81x
Bedford 7 76.67x
Bury 7 14.04x
Dawdon 7 52.01x
Haydock 7 93.09x
Lydiate 7 514.71x
Pennington In Leigh 7 83.63x
Windle 7 28.51x
Newcastle Higher 6 137.93x
North Meols 6 14.05x
Salwarpe 6 1111.11x
Bold 5 462.96x
Coventry St Michael 5 16.78x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.52x
Fazakerley 5 735.29x
Hindley 5 26.87x
Litherland 5 54.82x
Little Crosby 5 714.29x
Ormskirk 5 59.88x
Parr 5 32.03x
Sibertswold 5 757.58x
West Derby 5 3.92x
Bromsgrove 4 24.75x
Charnock Richard 4 465.12x
Knowsley 4 253.16x
Lancaster 4 15.41x
Leyland 4 52.70x
Manchester 4 2.04x
Wavertree 4 28.63x
Blackburn 3 2.58x
Chorley 3 12.25x
Dover St James 3 54.55x
Horwich 3 63.03x
Oldham 3 2.13x
Tarbock 3 379.75x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 3 23.89x
Worsley 3 11.15x
Ashton In Potterspury 2 487.80x
Bradford 2 9.79x
Brighton 2 1.60x
Farington 2 78.74x
Greenwich 2 3.42x
Halton 2 110.50x
Lapworth 2 229.89x
Newton 2 5.95x
Pendleton In Salford 2 3.85x
Pickmere 2 645.16x
Prescot 2 25.35x
Rishton 2 39.06x
Westminster St 2 14.75x
Whiston 2 58.82x
Ashton In Makerfield 1 8.05x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.05x
Blackrod 1 18.45x
Bloxham 1 44.84x
Broughton In Salford 1 2.51x
Eaglesfield Abbey 1 1250.00x
Easington 1 62.89x
Farnworth 1 3.82x
Heap 1 4.32x
Lewisham 1 1.49x
Llantillio Pertholey 1 64.52x
Malmesbury St Paul 1 35.71x
Preston 1 0.86x
Rainford 1 21.19x
Sheffield 1 0.86x
Southwark Christchurch 1 5.80x
Tranmere 1 3.35x
Widnes 1 3.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 19
Margaret 16
Ellen 12
Alice 8
Ann 8
Sarah 8
Catherine 7
Jane 7
Martha 7
Annie 6
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Anne 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Elizth. 3
Florence 3
Harriet 3
Ada 2
Betty 2
Caroline 2
Eliz. 2
Emma 2
Grace 2
Margret 2
Agnes 1
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Elenor 1
Elizebeth 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Janet 1
L. 1
Louisa 1
M.E. 1
Margert 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Phoebe 1
Rose 1
Whilim 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
James 20
John 17
Thomas 15
Joseph 14
Edward 9
Richard 8
George 6
Henry 6
Charles 5
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Hugh 3
Peter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Frederick 2
Moses 2
Paul 2
Ralph 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Chas. 1
Dan. 1
Easton 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Erin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Geoffrey 1
Isaac 1
Isaiah 1
Issac 1
Kenrick 1
L.Hy. 1
Mark 1
Naboth 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Rt. 1
T. 1
W. 1

FAQ

Prescot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prescot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 378 people were recorded with the Prescot surname. That placed it at #8,288 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prescot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Prescot a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Prescot surname mean?

Derived from an English place name, possibly meaning "priest's cottage".

What does the Prescot map show?

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