NameCensus.

UK surname

Pritchard

Derived from the Old English elements "pricc" meaning "point" and "heard" meaning "brave" or "hardy."

In the 1881 census there were 16,096 people recorded with the Pritchard surname, ranking it #244 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23,812, ranked #245, down from #244 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ruabon and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pritchard is 25,023 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.9%.

1881 census count

16,096

Ranked #244

Modern count

23,812

2016, ranked #245

Peak year

1999

25,023 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pritchard had 16,096 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #244 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 23,812 in 2016, ranked #245.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22,121 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pritchard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pritchard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pritchard 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 8,875 #302
1861 historical 8,690 #316
1881 historical 16,096 #244
1891 historical 17,101 #237
1901 historical 20,670 #232
1911 historical 22,121 #196
1997 modern 23,663 #236
1998 modern 24,808 #230
1999 modern 25,023 #230
2000 modern 24,746 #234
2001 modern 24,232 #229
2002 modern 24,630 #234
2003 modern 23,971 #234
2004 modern 23,946 #233
2005 modern 23,555 #232
2006 modern 23,440 #234
2007 modern 23,608 #235
2008 modern 23,628 #237
2009 modern 24,144 #239
2010 modern 24,514 #241
2011 modern 24,122 #244
2012 modern 23,600 #243
2013 modern 24,061 #246
2014 modern 24,244 #243
2015 modern 23,985 #242
2016 modern 23,812 #245

Geography

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Where Pritchards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Ruabon, London parishes, Bedwelty and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Isle of Anglesey and Gwynedd. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Ruabon Denbighshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Isle of Anglesey 002 Isle of Anglesey
2 Isle of Anglesey 001 Isle of Anglesey
3 Gwynedd 004 Gwynedd
4 Gwynedd 003 Gwynedd
5 Gwynedd 006 Gwynedd

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pritchard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pritchard

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Pritchard 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

Pritchard is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pritchard

The surname Pritchard originates from Wales, derived from the Welsh personal name Rhirid, a combination of the elements rhi, meaning "ardor" or "enthusiasm," and rid, meaning "something that goes." It was initially an occupational surname for a person who guided travelers through difficult terrain.

The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the late 12th century. It appears in the 1292 Minister's Accounts for Pembrokeshire, where a John Prithchard is mentioned. The name is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, recorded as Pritchard.

In the 13th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including Prytchard, Pricherd, and Pricchard. These variations reflect the difficulties in transliterating Welsh names into English at the time.

The surname Pritchard has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir William Pritchard (c. 1260-1324), a Welsh soldier and landowner who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Sir Evan Pritchard (c. 1480-1551) was a Welsh judge and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. He served as a justice of the King's Bench and was known for his legal expertise.

Edward Pritchard (1648-1705) was an English politician and author who wrote several works on theology and politics during the late 17th century.

Benjamin Pritchard (1719-1781) was a British horticulturist and botanist who made significant contributions to the study of plant physiology and was a pioneer in the field of photosynthesis research.

Sir John Pritchard (1899-1992) was a renowned British conductor and music director. He led several major orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and was celebrated for his interpretations of works by composers like Elgar and Vaughan Williams.

The surname Pritchard has also been associated with several place names in Wales, such as Pritchard's Pill, a small village near Newport, and Pritchard's Farm, a historic farmstead in Monmouthshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pritchard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pritchard 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 1,713 Pritchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 0.92x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,713 0.92x
Caernarfonshire 1,573 24.73x
Middlesex 1,137 0.72x
Staffordshire 997 1.88x
Monmouthshire 965 8.49x
Herefordshire 846 13.12x
Anglesey 840 30.13x
Shropshire 780 5.74x
Gloucestershire 640 2.07x
Cheshire 559 1.61x
Denbighshire 545 9.17x
Warwickshire 517 1.30x
Worcestershire 511 2.49x
Surrey 490 0.64x
Glamorgan 471 1.72x
Brecknockshire 430 13.67x
Kent 417 0.78x
Flintshire 251 5.94x
Yorkshire 250 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 206 5.72x
Hampshire 203 0.63x
Merionethshire 168 5.84x
Somerset 141 0.56x
Lanarkshire 134 0.26x
Radnorshire 129 10.16x
Essex 115 0.37x
Derbyshire 105 0.43x
Durham 104 0.22x
Wiltshire 90 0.65x
Hertfordshire 73 0.67x
Carmarthenshire 64 0.97x
Sussex 61 0.23x
Berkshire 56 0.47x
Leicestershire 52 0.30x
Oxfordshire 45 0.46x
Nottinghamshire 42 0.20x
Northamptonshire 41 0.28x
Cardiganshire 40 1.04x
Northumberland 39 0.17x
Ayrshire 35 0.30x
Devon 31 0.09x
Isle of Man 27 0.92x
Pembrokeshire 26 0.52x
Midlothian 24 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.16x
Lincolnshire 15 0.06x
Dorset 14 0.14x
Renfrewshire 13 0.11x
Cumberland 11 0.08x
Royal Navy 11 0.59x
Fife 10 0.11x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.05x
Perthshire 7 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.06x
Cornwall 6 0.03x
Suffolk 5 0.03x
West Lothian 5 0.21x
Channel Islands 3 0.06x
Norfolk 3 0.01x
Stirlingshire 3 0.05x
Buteshire 2 0.21x
Angus 1 0.01x
Bedfordshire 1 0.01x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.03x
Kincardineshire 1 0.05x
Westmorland 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanllechid in Caernarfonshire leads with 292 Pritchards recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.30x.

Place Total Index
Llanllechid 292 65.30x
Ruabon 206 25.21x
Liverpool 202 1.78x
Islington London 197 1.29x
Birmingham 194 1.47x
West Derby 185 3.39x
Everton 178 2.99x
Llanbeblig 162 25.10x
Llandegai 154 79.10x
Toxteth Park 154 2.44x
Holyhead 150 28.86x
Aston 141 1.29x
Amlwch 139 52.98x
Bangor 128 20.87x
Stoke Upon Trent 121 2.15x
Festiniog 112 18.44x
Bedwellty 108 5.38x
Lambeth 105 0.77x
Llanddeiniolen 102 27.43x
St Pancras London 102 0.81x
Wednesfield 90 11.52x
Manchester 89 1.06x
St Woollos 85 6.70x
Kirkdale 84 2.68x
Llanllyfni 79 26.32x
Wolverhampton 79 1.94x
Dudley 78 3.12x
Llanelly 78 20.72x
Wellington 78 10.21x
Bilston 77 7.48x
Kensington London 76 0.87x
Llandwrog 74 33.20x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 72 2.48x
Salford 72 1.31x
Walsall Foreign 69 2.52x
West Bromwich 69 2.27x
Aberystruth 66 6.58x
Llanrug 65 39.02x
Trevethin 65 6.05x
Llanberis 64 39.09x
Kingswinford 63 3.27x
Warrington 63 2.85x
Ystradyfodwg 63 2.62x
Birkenhead 61 2.20x
Wrockwardine 60 20.08x
Deptford St Paul 59 1.43x
Merthyr Tydfil 58 2.20x
Ynyscynhaiarn 56 18.91x
Abergavenny 54 12.68x
Llanfair Pwll Gwyngyll 54 110.95x
Cheltenham 53 2.23x
Roath 52 4.18x
Shrewsbury St Chad 52 10.90x
West Ham 52 0.76x
Hackney London 51 0.58x
Llandysilio 51 58.33x
Bethnal Green London 50 0.73x
Leominster 49 18.35x
Bermondsey 44 0.94x
Hereford St Owen 44 20.66x
Runcorn 44 5.50x
Shoreditch London 43 0.63x
Chelsea London 42 0.89x
Holywell 41 7.72x
Llanystymdwy 41 65.98x
Aberdare 40 2.13x
Brecknock St John 40 15.08x
Camberwell 40 0.40x
Croydon 40 0.94x
Wollescote 40 24.18x
Bootle Cum Linacre 39 2.63x
Little Neston 39 70.06x
Bersham 38 14.99x
Chester St Oswald 38 6.04x
Lye 38 11.12x
Oldham 38 0.63x
St Marylebone London 38 0.45x
Chorlton On Medlock 37 1.25x
Govan 37 0.29x
Monmouth 37 12.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,201
Elizabeth 732
Sarah 559
Jane 442
Ann 383
Margaret 323
Ellen 302
Eliza 240
Alice 209
Catherine 209
Emma 190
Annie 176
Emily 159
Hannah 154
Martha 150
Anne 128
Louisa 93
Harriet 89
Edith 76
Maria 71
Fanny 70
Florence 67
Caroline 64
Ada 58
Charlotte 56
Clara 55
Agnes 47
Frances 47
Harriett 45
Eleanor 42
Lucy 42
Kate 41
Elizth. 40
Grace 40
Esther 35
Susan 35
Rose 34
Amy 31
Laura 29
Margt. 28
Matilda 28
Rebecca 28
Gertrude 27
Amelia 25
Minnie 23
Lizzie 22
Ruth 22
Selina 22
Cathrine 21
Lydia 21

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 1,105
John 1,078
Thomas 639
James 378
George 370
Henry 295
Richard 271
Edward 238
Robert 227
David 211
Joseph 205
Charles 189
Owen 126
Samuel 125
Alfred 120
Arthur 105
Hugh 105
Albert 90
Frederick 76
Walter 76
Edwin 74
Wm. 73
Benjamin 51
Frank 45
Griffith 43
Thos. 42
Francis 39
Harry 36
Daniel 34
Ernest 33
Evan 33
Herbert 30
Stephen 23
Isaac 22
Lewis 21
Rowland 18
Noah 17
Philip 17
Peter 16
Ellis 15
Fredrick 15
Elias 14
Tom 14
Richd. 13
Robt. 13
Morris 12
Rees 12
Humphrey 11
Morgan 11
Sidney 11

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Pritchard households.

FAQ

Pritchard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pritchard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16,096 people were recorded with the Pritchard surname. That placed it at #244 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pritchard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 23,812 in 2016. That gives Pritchard a modern rank of #245.

What does the Pritchard surname mean?

Derived from the Old English elements "pricc" meaning "point" and "heard" meaning "brave" or "hardy."

What does the Pritchard map show?

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