NameCensus.

UK surname

Procter

A surname derived from the Middle English occupation of a procurator or legal agent.

In the 1881 census there were 3,888 people recorded with the Procter surname, ranking it #1,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,396, ranked #1,549, down from #1,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Bradford and Blackburn. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ribble Valley, South Lakeland and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Procter is 5,843 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 13.1%.

1881 census count

3,888

Ranked #1,170

Modern count

4,396

2016, ranked #1,549

Peak year

1911

5,843 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Procter had 3,888 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,396 in 2016, ranked #1,549.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,843 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Procter surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Procter surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Procter 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 3,185 #905
1861 historical 2,836 #1,031
1881 historical 3,888 #1,170
1891 historical 4,469 #1,055
1901 historical 4,598 #1,235
1911 historical 5,843 #892
1997 modern 4,498 #1,460
1998 modern 4,742 #1,434
1999 modern 4,753 #1,445
2000 modern 4,687 #1,453
2001 modern 4,579 #1,458
2002 modern 4,624 #1,474
2003 modern 4,445 #1,494
2004 modern 4,422 #1,501
2005 modern 4,383 #1,495
2006 modern 4,348 #1,508
2007 modern 4,331 #1,527
2008 modern 4,362 #1,527
2009 modern 4,475 #1,522
2010 modern 4,536 #1,535
2011 modern 4,499 #1,525
2012 modern 4,381 #1,535
2013 modern 4,477 #1,531
2014 modern 4,456 #1,550
2015 modern 4,409 #1,550
2016 modern 4,396 #1,549

Geography

Back to top

Where Procters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Bradford, Blackburn, London parishes and Whalley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ribble Valley, South Lakeland, Copeland and Hyndburn. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Blackburn Lancashire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Whalley Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ribble Valley 004 Ribble Valley
2 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
3 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland
4 Copeland 008 Copeland
5 Hyndburn 009 Hyndburn

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Procter

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Procter

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Procter is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Procter is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Procter falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Procter 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 Procter, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Procter

The surname Procter is of English origin and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old French word "procuratour," which means "steward" or "manager." The earliest recorded spelling of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1195, where it appears as "Willelmus le Procuratour."

The name is believed to have originated in the county of Warwickshire, where it was first used to refer to a person who managed or oversaw an estate or property. Over time, the name spread to other parts of England, particularly the northern counties.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a "Robert le Procutur." Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327 list a "John le Proktour."

In the 14th century, the name began to take on its more modern spelling of "Procter." The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379 include entries for a "Thomas Procter" and a "Willelmus Procter."

The surname is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William Procter (c. 1350-1418), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Procter (1753-1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an admiral in the Royal Navy.

In the literary world, Bryan Waller Procter (1787-1874), better known by his pen name "Barry Cornwall," was an English poet and literary critic. He was a contemporary of writers such as Charles Lamb and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The name is also associated with the Procter & Gamble Company, founded in 1837 by William Procter (1801-1857) and James Gamble (1803-1891). The company, which started as a small soap and candle business, grew to become one of the world's largest consumer goods corporations.

Finally, Robert George Caldwell Procter (1868-1903), known as "Barney" Procter, was a British soldier and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic regions in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Procter families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Procter 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,231 Procters recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,231 3.28x
Lancashire 1,102 2.45x
Staffordshire 211 1.65x
Middlesex 195 0.51x
Lincolnshire 175 2.89x
Durham 126 1.12x
Surrey 96 0.52x
Cheshire 79 0.94x
Westmorland 76 9.12x
Kent 47 0.36x
Northumberland 41 0.73x
Hertfordshire 35 1.34x
Nottinghamshire 31 0.61x
Aberdeenshire 30 0.85x
Devon 30 0.38x
Warwickshire 27 0.28x
Essex 25 0.33x
Angus 24 0.68x
Bedfordshire 24 1.22x
Gloucestershire 24 0.32x
Midlothian 20 0.39x
Derbyshire 18 0.30x
Suffolk 17 0.37x
Cornwall 16 0.37x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.61x
Lanarkshire 14 0.11x
Cumberland 13 0.40x
Dunbartonshire 13 1.28x
Sussex 13 0.20x
Renfrewshire 12 0.41x
Worcestershire 9 0.18x
Hampshire 8 0.10x
Leicestershire 8 0.19x
Morayshire 8 1.36x
Norfolk 7 0.12x
Ayrshire 6 0.21x
Glamorgan 6 0.09x
Herefordshire 6 0.39x
Somerset 6 0.10x
Banffshire 5 0.64x
Clackmannanshire 5 1.60x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.17x
Northamptonshire 4 0.11x
Ross-shire 4 0.38x
Shropshire 4 0.12x
Stirlingshire 4 0.29x
Berkshire 3 0.11x
Isle of Man 3 0.43x
Denbighshire 2 0.14x
Argyllshire 1 0.09x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.18x
Monmouthshire 1 0.04x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
West Lothian 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 80 Procters recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.68x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 80 6.68x
Pudsey 78 38.84x
Burnley 73 19.27x
Leeds 58 2.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 56 4.13x
Audley 51 40.27x
Habergham Eaves 48 11.67x
Bradford 47 5.17x
Hunslet 42 7.17x
Calverley Cum Farsley 37 34.68x
Lancaster 37 13.82x
Chipping 36 281.03x
Camberwell 34 1.40x
Horton In Bradford 34 5.79x
St Pancras London 33 1.08x
Idle 32 18.37x
Burslem 30 8.18x
Congleton 30 20.74x
Holy Trinity 28 3.10x
Stone 28 17.10x
Manchester 26 1.29x
Over Darwen 26 7.23x
High Low Bishopside 24 72.01x
Salford 24 1.81x
Holme 22 217.61x
Horsforth 22 26.71x
Everton 21 1.46x
Guiseley 21 43.65x
Hulme 21 2.24x
Accrington 20 4.89x
Carlton In Skipton 20 91.07x
Gorton 20 4.73x
Sculcoates 20 3.36x
Bishopwearmouth 19 1.96x
Leighton Buzzard 19 22.50x
Sheffield 19 1.59x
Toxteth Park 19 1.25x
Wolstanton Chesterton 19 29.04x
Dilworth 18 65.29x
Roecliffe 18 571.43x
Scarborough 18 5.27x
Whitwood 18 33.73x
Egton Cum Newland 17 130.07x
Islington London 17 0.46x
Preston Richard 17 221.93x
West Derby 17 1.29x
Bowling 16 4.30x
Pendleton In Salford 16 2.98x
Preston 16 1.33x
Puttenham 16 1019.11x
Skerton 16 43.31x
Wortley In Bramley 16 5.38x
Dalton In Furness 15 8.64x
Doncaster 15 5.46x
North Meols 15 3.41x
Richmond 15 25.55x
Scotforth 15 51.30x
Quernmore 14 184.45x
Rishton 14 26.53x
Brauncewell 13 577.78x
Bury 13 2.53x
Calstock 13 15.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 1.70x
Lambeth 13 0.39x
St Marylebone London 13 0.64x
Tong 13 17.91x
Wigan 13 2.07x
Wilsden 13 33.69x
Brightside Bierlow 12 1.63x
Clitheroe 12 9.06x
Colchester St Peter 12 40.08x
Colne 12 8.95x
Gateshead 12 1.42x
Goosnargh 12 82.42x
Long Preston 12 131.00x
Newington 12 11.60x
Oswaldtwistle 12 7.55x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 12 70.46x
Shoreditch London 12 0.73x
Thornley Cum Wheatley 12 264.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 282
Elizabeth 155
Sarah 146
Ann 106
Jane 75
Margaret 64
Ellen 59
Hannah 57
Alice 56
Annie 55
Emma 53
Eliza 44
Martha 34
Emily 31
Harriet 25
Fanny 24
Ada 22
Agnes 22
Maria 17
Clara 16
Frances 16
Isabella 16
Florence 15
Anne 14
Louisa 14
Catherine 13
Charlotte 13
Betsy 12
Caroline 11
Edith 11
Eleanor 10
Jessie 10
Susannah 10
Esther 9
Kate 9
Susan 9
Amelia 8
Amy 8
Grace 8
Lucy 8
Rebecca 8
Elizth. 6
Ethel 6
Nancy 6
Ruth 6
Betsey 5
Julia 5
Betty 4
Isabel 4
Lily 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 290
William 239
Thomas 150
James 143
George 113
Joseph 81
Henry 67
Robert 64
Charles 62
Richard 44
Samuel 41
Arthur 39
Edward 30
Albert 23
Alfred 21
Walter 18
Benjamin 17
Harry 17
Francis 15
Fred 15
Frederick 15
Frank 14
David 12
Herbert 12
Christopher 10
Edwin 8
Stephen 8
Timothy 8
Ernest 7
Fredrick 7
Joshua 7
Peter 7
Ralph 7
Thos. 7
Andrew 6
Daniel 6
Geo. 6
Percy 6
Robt. 6
Wm. 6
Matthew 5
Adam 4
Chas. 4
Hugh 4
Jesse 4
Joe 4
Tom 4
Anthony 3
Jonathan 3
Levi 3

FAQ

Procter surname: questions and answers

How common was the Procter surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,888 people were recorded with the Procter surname. That placed it at #1,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Procter surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,396 in 2016. That gives Procter a modern rank of #1,549.

What does the Procter surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English occupation of a procurator or legal agent.

What does the Procter map show?

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