NameCensus.

UK surname

Prevost

French occupational surname for a provost, an official who supervised the king's estates or acted as a magistrate.

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Prevost surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 227, ranked #17,992, up from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, London parishes and St Leonard Shoreditch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Rushmoor and Barking and Dagenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prevost is 227 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 160.9%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

227

2016, ranked #17,992

Peak year

2016

227 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prevost had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016, ranked #17,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Prevost surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prevost surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prevost 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 58 #26,585
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 141 #19,108
1901 historical 172 #16,643
1911 historical 171 #16,461
1997 modern 181 #18,763
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 199 #18,293
2000 modern 188 #18,916
2001 modern 183 #18,980
2002 modern 198 #18,410
2003 modern 198 #18,252
2004 modern 194 #18,566
2005 modern 194 #18,512
2006 modern 180 #19,526
2007 modern 184 #19,485
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 194 #19,398
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 199 #19,346
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 219 #18,523
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 227 #17,992

Geography

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Where Prevosts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Dunstan Stepney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Rushmoor, Barking and Dagenham, Thurrock and The Glens. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 1
3 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 001 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Rushmoor 006 Rushmoor
3 Barking and Dagenham 002 Barking and Dagenham
4 Thurrock 007 Thurrock
5 The Glens Dundee City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prevost

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prevost

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Prevost surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Prevost household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Prevost 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

Prevost 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

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

Meaning and origin of Prevost

The surname Prevost originated in France during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "prevost," which means "provost" or "overseer." The name initially referred to an administrative official or civil servant who held a position of authority within a particular region or town.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Prevost can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of France, including Normandy, Île-de-France, and Picardy. One notable example is found in the Cartulaire de Notre-Dame de Paris, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century, which mentions a certain Radulfus Prevost.

In the 13th century, the name Prevost appeared in several historical records, such as the Trésor des Chartes and the Rôles de l'Échiquier de Normandie, indicating its widespread use across different parts of France. During this period, the name was often associated with individuals who held positions of authority or prominence within their respective communities.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Prevost was Sir John Prevost (1280-1349), a Norman knight who fought alongside King Edward III in the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was Jacques Prevost (1540-1596), a French poet and translator who gained recognition for his works during the Renaissance era.

In the 17th century, the name Prevost gained further prominence with individuals like François Prevost (1617-1678), a French historian and author known for his works on the history of Normandy. Additionally, Antoine François Prevost (1697-1763), a French novelist and author, is renowned for his literary masterpiece "Manon Lescaut."

The name Prevost has also been associated with various place names throughout France, such as Prevost-Paradol, a commune in the Ain department, and Prevost-sur-Aisne, a commune in the Ardennes department. These place names likely originated from individuals or families bearing the Prevost surname who held significant influence or ownership in those regions.

Over the centuries, the surname Prevost has undergone various spelling variations, including Prevost, Prévost, Prévot, and Prévau, reflecting regional linguistic differences and the evolution of the French language. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prevost families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prevost 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. Middlesex leads with 62 Prevosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.69x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 62 6.69x
Somerset 10 6.70x
Channel Islands 8 29.13x
Hampshire 4 2.11x
Kent 4 1.27x
Gloucestershire 2 1.10x
Sussex 2 1.28x
Devon 1 0.52x
Glamorgan 1 0.62x
Surrey 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. Bow London in Middlesex leads with 9 Prevosts recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.27x.

Place Total Index
Bow London 9 76.27x
Bethnal Green London 8 19.87x
Burnham 6 526.32x
Mile End Old Town 6 41.01x
Hackney London 5 9.62x
Shoreditch London 5 12.45x
St George In East 5 79.37x
St Helier 5 55.93x
Millbrook 4 83.68x
Street 4 493.83x
Chelsea London 3 10.75x
Ealing 3 36.23x
Hornsey 3 25.60x
Milton In Gravesend 3 63.29x
Paddington London 3 8.81x
St Luke London 3 20.19x
Islington London 2 2.23x
St Andrew Holborn 2 63.69x
St Anne 2 408.16x
Brighton 1 3.17x
Cardiff St Mary 1 11.25x
Cirencester 1 40.65x
Clerkenwell London 1 4.57x
Fulham London 1 7.44x
Ilfracombe 1 50.25x
Lambeth 1 1.24x
Lewisham 1 5.93x
Southwick 1 120.48x
St George Hanover 1 8.26x
St Martin 1 59.52x
St Pancras London 1 1.34x
Stinchcombe 1 909.09x
Whitechapel London 1 10.95x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Alice 2
Amanda 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Fennetta 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annette 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Florence 1
George 1
Jeanne 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Louisa 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Olive 1
Priscilla 1
Regina 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 5
James 5
Alfred 4
Edward 4
William 4
George 3
Alonzo 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Auguste 1
Augustus 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Jean 1
John 1
Leon 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Prevost surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prevost surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Prevost surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prevost surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 227 in 2016. That gives Prevost a modern rank of #17,992.

What does the Prevost surname mean?

French occupational surname for a provost, an official who supervised the king's estates or acted as a magistrate.

What does the Prevost map show?

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