NameCensus.

UK surname

Prestidge

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place called Prestidge or from a dwelling near a bridge.

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Prestidge surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 529, ranked #9,589, up from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Priors Hardwick, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Cherwell and Caerphilly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prestidge is 558 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.9%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

529

2016, ranked #9,589

Peak year

2002

558 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prestidge had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016, ranked #9,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prestidge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prestidge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prestidge 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 196 #12,223
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 330 #10,303
1901 historical 419 #9,191
1911 historical 455 #8,428
1997 modern 537 #8,823
1998 modern 551 #8,921
1999 modern 554 #8,929
2000 modern 539 #9,094
2001 modern 530 #9,055
2002 modern 558 #8,876
2003 modern 535 #9,018
2004 modern 541 #8,964
2005 modern 553 #8,749
2006 modern 535 #9,007
2007 modern 530 #9,144
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 540 #9,294
2010 modern 556 #9,291
2011 modern 548 #9,300
2012 modern 535 #9,375
2013 modern 534 #9,564
2014 modern 536 #9,579
2015 modern 534 #9,543
2016 modern 529 #9,589

Geography

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Where Prestidges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Priors Hardwick, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Burton-on-Trent, Leamington Priors and Morton Pinkney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Cherwell, Caerphilly and Mendip. 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 Priors Hardwick Warwickshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 Leamington Priors Warwickshire
5 Morton Pinkney Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 007 South Northamptonshire
2 South Northamptonshire 005 South Northamptonshire
3 Cherwell 001 Cherwell
4 Caerphilly 007 Caerphilly
5 Mendip 006 Mendip

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prestidge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prestidge

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Prestidge 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

Prestidge 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

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

Meaning and origin of Prestidge

The surname Prestidge is thought to have originated in England, likely during the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "preost" and "hrycg," meaning "priest" and "ridge," respectively. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who lived near a ridge or elevated area where a priest resided or a church was located.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk, dated 1198, which mentions a "Robert de Presterigg." This document provides evidence that the name was in use in Norfolk, England, during the late 12th century. Other early spellings of the name include "Prestrig" and "Prestridge."

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1327, which listed a "William Prestrygg." Additionally, the Poll Tax Returns of 1379 for Yorkshire mentioned a "Johannes de Prestrig."

Notably, the name Prestidge was associated with a place called "Prestrege" or "Prestregge" in Shropshire, as documented in the Inquisitiones Post Mortem for Shropshire in 1302. This connection to a specific location further reinforces the theory that the surname originated from a place name derived from the words "preost" and "hrycg."

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Prestidge have left their mark. One notable figure was John Prestidge (c. 1714-1787), an English engraver and painter known for his portraits and landscapes. Another was Thomas Prestidge (1756-1829), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and later became a Lieutenant-General.

In the literary realm, Mary Prestidge (1809-1871) was a British author and poet who wrote under the pseudonym "Mary Southworth." Her works included "The Forsaken" and "The Autobiographies of a Working Man."

Moving into the 20th century, Edgar Prestidge (1888-1984) was a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in England, including the Royal Masonic Hospital in London and the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

Finally, Sir John Prestidge (1919-2001) was a highly decorated British Army officer who served in World War II and later became the Commanding Officer of the Parachute Regiment. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery during the Battle of Arnhem in 1944.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prestidge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prestidge 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. Warwickshire leads with 104 Prestidges recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.08x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 104 16.08x
Northamptonshire 66 27.35x
Yorkshire 16 0.63x
Oxfordshire 15 9.47x
Gloucestershire 10 1.99x
Worcestershire 9 2.69x
Staffordshire 7 0.81x
Bedfordshire 6 4.52x
Middlesex 6 0.23x
Lancashire 5 0.16x
Somerset 5 1.21x
Surrey 4 0.32x
Berkshire 3 1.56x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Anglesey 1 2.20x
Durham 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.57x
Kent 1 0.11x
Leicestershire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Morton Pinkney in Northamptonshire leads with 29 Prestidges recorded in 1881 and an index of 7435.90x.

Place Total Index
Morton Pinkney 29 7435.90x
Priors Hardwick 27 10800.00x
Birmingham 18 8.35x
Aston 16 8.98x
Eydon 13 3333.33x
West Haddon 12 1538.46x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 59.59x
Leamington 10 233.10x
Chipping Norton 9 245.90x
Dudley 8 19.64x
York St Mary 8 75.97x
Newbold Upon Avon 7 1147.54x
Upper Penn 7 322.58x
Caddington 6 309.28x
Coventry Holy Trinity 6 31.06x
Bedminster 5 12.89x
Bourton 5 1136.36x
Leamington Priors 5 31.41x
Wales 5 248.76x
Daventry 4 117.30x
Heap 4 24.78x
Kettering 4 40.98x
Tooting Graveney 4 114.94x
Abingdon St Helen 3 53.29x
Batley 3 12.42x
Gaydon 3 1304.35x
Rugby 3 34.29x
Aldingbourn 2 307.69x
Barby Cum Onley 2 400.00x
Bilton 2 134.23x
Bishops Itchington 2 322.58x
Islington London 2 0.80x
Kensington London 2 1.40x
Weedon Beck 2 115.61x
Chelsea London 1 1.29x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.07x
Coventry St Michael 1 4.81x
Heighington 1 178.57x
Hemel Hempstead 1 12.55x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.44x
Lillington 1 120.48x
Llandegfan 1 107.53x
Oxford St Giles 1 13.23x
Paddington London 1 1.06x
St Peters 1 24.69x
Upper Radbourn 1 10000.00x
Warwick St Nicholas 1 21.10x
Wootton Wawen 1 49.02x
Worcester St Clement 1 46.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 14
Mary 13
Ann 9
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Hannah 5
Alice 3
Annie 3
Martha 3
Selina 3
Agnes 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Dinah 1
Ellem 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Hellen 1
Hetty 1
Ida 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lillia 1
Lucy 1
Mildred 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Rachell 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rosanna 1
Ruston 1
Thomasine 1
U...ias 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 11
James 10
Charles 8
John 7
Thomas 7
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Daniel 5
Walter 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Henry 3
David 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Robert 2
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Earnest 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Samuel 1
Harry 1
Ira 1
Jesse 1
Jos.H. 1
Jos.J. 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Nathaniel 1
Phillip 1
Richard 1
Robt.Lloyd 1
Thos.Jesse 1
Wm.Parry 1

FAQ

Prestidge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prestidge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Prestidge surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prestidge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016. That gives Prestidge a modern rank of #9,589.

What does the Prestidge surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place called Prestidge or from a dwelling near a bridge.

What does the Prestidge map show?

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