NameCensus.

UK surname

Pridham

An English surname derived from a place name in Cornwall, England.

In the 1881 census there were 464 people recorded with the Pridham surname, ranking it #7,157 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, down from #7,157 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Trusham, Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, West Devon and Lincoln.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pridham is 511 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.7%.

1881 census count

464

Ranked #7,157

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

1911

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pridham had 464 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,157 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 511 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pridham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pridham surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pridham 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 379 #6,300
1861 historical 287 #8,773
1881 historical 464 #7,157
1891 historical 478 #7,694
1901 historical 487 #8,208
1911 historical 511 #7,706
1997 modern 419 #10,625
1998 modern 456 #10,295
1999 modern 459 #10,310
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 446 #10,312
2002 modern 467 #10,136
2003 modern 462 #10,045
2004 modern 467 #10,013
2005 modern 430 #10,575
2006 modern 420 #10,816
2007 modern 434 #10,639
2008 modern 443 #10,559
2009 modern 458 #10,519
2010 modern 453 #10,858
2011 modern 443 #10,924
2012 modern 422 #11,223
2013 modern 446 #10,911
2014 modern 439 #11,132
2015 modern 425 #11,346
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Pridhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Trusham, Tormoham with Torquay, London parishes and Bideford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, West Devon and Lincoln. 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 Trusham Devon
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Bideford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
4 West Devon 005 West Devon
5 Lincoln 010 Lincoln

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pridham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pridham

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Pridham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pridham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pridham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pridham is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pridham

The surname Pridham originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from an old place name, potentially a combination of the Old English words "prid" and "ham," meaning "pride" and "homestead" or "village," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Pridham name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the name may have been established in parts of England before the Norman Conquest.

The name Pridham has been associated with various regions in England, particularly the counties of Devon and Cornwall, where it is thought to have originated. Some historical records indicate variations in spelling, such as Prideham, Prideaux, and Pridaux, which may have been used interchangeably in different areas or time periods.

Prominent individuals with the surname Pridham include Sir Edmund Prideaux (1553-1628), a prominent lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General for England and Wales during the reign of King James I. Another notable figure was John Pridham (1786-1875), an English clergyman and author who published several works on theology and religious education.

In the 18th century, a family of Pridhams lived in the village of Modbury, Devon. One member, Richard Pridham (1732-1815), was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker whose works are still highly valued by collectors.

The name Pridham has also been associated with the United States, likely due to immigration from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. One notable American bearing the name was John Pridham (1823-1903), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Massachusetts.

While the exact origins of the Pridham surname may be obscured by time, its longevity and presence in historical records across various regions of England suggest a rich history deeply rooted in the country's medieval past.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pridham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pridham 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. Devon leads with 172 Pridhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.80x.

County Total Index
Devon 172 17.80x
Middlesex 104 2.24x
Somerset 46 6.15x
Cornwall 37 7.04x
Kent 21 1.33x
Gloucestershire 16 1.76x
Hampshire 12 1.26x
Surrey 12 0.53x
Channel Islands 11 7.99x
Warwickshire 10 0.85x
Derbyshire 7 0.96x
Dorset 7 2.30x
Carmarthenshire 5 2.55x
Lancashire 4 0.07x
Monmouthshire 3 0.89x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.34x
Essex 1 0.11x
Hertfordshire 1 0.31x
Midlothian 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Northamptonshire 1 0.23x
Royal Navy 1 1.81x
Sussex 1 0.13x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tormoham in Devon leads with 21 Pridhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.34x.

Place Total Index
Tormoham 21 51.34x
Cannington 16 720.72x
Bideford 15 144.93x
Kensington London 12 4.65x
Portsea 12 6.43x
Stoke Climsland 12 357.14x
Stoke Damerel 12 17.74x
Aston 9 2.79x
Clerkenwell London 9 8.21x
Mile End Old Town 9 12.28x
Minster In Sheppey 9 34.29x
St Marylebone London 9 3.63x
Trusham 9 3214.29x
Edmonton 8 21.38x
Hackney London 8 3.07x
Limehouse London 8 15.70x
Silverton 8 398.01x
Whitstone 8 1230.77x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 7 569.11x
Compton Gifford 7 231.02x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 7 353.54x
St Helier 7 15.63x
St Pancras London 7 1.87x
Tiverton 7 42.04x
West Teignmouth 7 94.72x
Westbury On Trym 7 22.69x
Bickleigh 6 631.58x
Callington 6 196.08x
Epsom 6 54.40x
Fulham London 6 8.91x
Mile End New Town 6 94.64x
Newton Abbot St Mary 6 73.98x
Plumstead 6 11.36x
St George Hanover 6 9.90x
West Harptree 6 810.81x
Yeovil 6 39.50x
Charlton Horethorne 5 657.89x
Hammersmith London 5 4.37x
Llanelly 5 11.34x
Long Eaton 5 52.08x
North Tamerton 5 657.89x
South Tawton 5 251.26x
Tidenham 5 354.61x
Wareham Lady St Mary 5 212.77x
Clawton 4 563.38x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.27x
Exeter St Mary Arches 4 444.44x
Parkham 4 314.96x
Plymouth Charles The 4 9.39x
Taunton St Mary 4 29.15x
Walton On Thames 4 38.50x
Bedwellty 3 5.06x
Calstock 3 29.10x
Instow 3 288.46x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 4.03x
Puriton 3 250.00x
St Peter Port 3 11.79x
Weston Super Mare 3 15.90x
Abbotsham 2 266.67x
Acton 2 7.35x
Bexley 2 14.28x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.24x
Broadway 2 165.29x
Buckland Brewer 2 169.49x
Chivelstone 2 294.12x
Clifton 2 4.34x
Exbourne 2 333.33x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 9.03x
Exeter St Thomas The 2 20.30x
Hornsey 2 3.41x
Islington London 2 0.44x
Maker 2 41.15x
Mellor 2 101.01x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.14x
Bromley London 1 0.98x
Cheetham 1 2.43x
Dartmouth St Petrox 1 71.94x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.69x
Honiton 1 18.69x
Moorlinch Stawell 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
John 22
Thomas 16
George 12
Charles 11
Henry 11
James 10
Samuel 9
Alfred 7
Frederick 7
Arthur 6
Edwin 6
Ernest 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Lawrence 3
Mark 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Herbert 2
Walter 2
Art. 1
Aurther 1
Birte 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Ephraim 1
Fleetwood 1
Fredrick 1
Fridewill 1
G.Rev. 1
Geoffrey 1
Glinn 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Oswald 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
W. 1
W.H. 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Pridham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pridham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 464 people were recorded with the Pridham surname. That placed it at #7,157 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pridham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Pridham a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Pridham surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name in Cornwall, England.

What does the Pridham map show?

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