NameCensus.

UK surname

Prothero

Of Welsh origin, meaning an elder or respected leader in the community.

In the 1881 census there were 534 people recorded with the Prothero surname, ranking it #6,436 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 809, ranked #6,850, down from #6,436 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Workington (Workington), Clossocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Blaenau Gwent and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Prothero is 839 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.5%.

1881 census count

534

Ranked #6,436

Modern count

809

2016, ranked #6,850

Peak year

1999

839 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Prothero had 534 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,436 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016, ranked #6,850.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 547 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Prothero surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Prothero surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Prothero 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 434 #5,651
1861 historical 302 #8,393
1881 historical 534 #6,436
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 547 #7,555
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 806 #6,505
1998 modern 828 #6,578
1999 modern 839 #6,552
2000 modern 831 #6,575
2001 modern 804 #6,629
2002 modern 817 #6,652
2003 modern 814 #6,558
2004 modern 794 #6,712
2005 modern 786 #6,695
2006 modern 808 #6,575
2007 modern 810 #6,614
2008 modern 812 #6,659
2009 modern 810 #6,819
2010 modern 838 #6,767
2011 modern 818 #6,820
2012 modern 808 #6,784
2013 modern 815 #6,832
2014 modern 822 #6,826
2015 modern 808 #6,870
2016 modern 809 #6,850

Geography

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Where Protheros are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Workington (Workington), Clossocks, Trevethin with Pontypool and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Blaenau Gwent, Herefordshire and South Cambridgeshire. 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 London parishes London 1
3 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
4 Trevethin with Pontypool Monmouthshire
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 020 Powys
2 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
3 Herefordshire 016 Herefordshire, County of
4 Herefordshire 021 Herefordshire, County of
5 South Cambridgeshire 019 South Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Prothero

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Prothero

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Prothero is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Prothero 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

Prothero falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Prothero

The surname Prothero is of Welsh origin, originating from the former county of Monmouthshire and surrounding areas of South Wales. It is believed to have derived from the Welsh name 'Protherch', which translates to 'prosperous' or 'thriving'. The name likely emerged during the medieval period, between the 11th and 14th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the "Taxatio Ecclesiastica" of 1291, where a person named Protherch ap David is mentioned. This document was a survey of ecclesiastical income carried out in Wales and parts of England. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the "Minister's Accounts of the Earldom of Pembroke" from the late 13th century.

In the late 16th century, the name was recorded in the parish registers of Llanover, Monmouthshire, with variations such as Prothero, Protheroe, and Prytherch. This suggests that the spelling had begun to evolve and become more anglicized during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Prothero include Sir Edward Protheroo (1679-1751), a Welsh judge and politician who served as Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench. Another prominent figure was George Walter Prothero (1848-1922), a historian and editor who served as the editor of the Quarterly Review and the Cambridge Modern History.

Other notable bearers of the name include Rowland Edmund Prothero (1851-1937), a British historian and politician who served as president of the Royal Historical Society, and George Joseph Prothero (1818-1877), a British architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in Liverpool.

Lastly, Reginald Prothero (1868-1923) was a Welsh clergyman and author who served as the chaplain to King George V and published several works on religious and historical subjects.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Prothero families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Prothero 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. Brecknockshire leads with 139 Protheros recorded in 1881 and an index of 133.44x.

County Total Index
Brecknockshire 139 133.44x
Glamorgan 104 11.47x
Monmouthshire 68 18.06x
Gloucestershire 41 4.01x
Herefordshire 33 15.45x
Radnorshire 27 64.24x
Middlesex 24 0.46x
Carmarthenshire 16 7.29x
Derbyshire 12 1.47x
Cumberland 11 2.45x
Caernarfonshire 9 4.27x
Warwickshire 8 0.61x
Surrey 7 0.28x
Yorkshire 7 0.14x
Kent 6 0.34x
Devon 3 0.28x
Hampshire 3 0.28x
Durham 2 0.13x
Leicestershire 2 0.35x
Staffordshire 2 0.11x
Worcestershire 2 0.29x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.21x
Berkshire 1 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.32x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.30x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Northumberland 1 0.13x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.60x
Royal Navy 1 1.61x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 28 Protheros recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.19x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 28 35.19x
Dymock 25 1024.59x
Llangunider 19 292.76x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 17 236.77x
Merthyr Tydfil 17 19.50x
Brecknock St John 15 170.84x
Aberdare 13 20.88x
Llandefalley 13 1250.00x
Alfreton 12 48.43x
St George Hanover 11 16.18x
Workington 11 42.83x
Gelligaer 10 48.29x
Llandebie 10 156.99x
Llanvareth 10 3846.15x
Llanbeblig 9 42.10x
Llandefailog Fach 9 2571.43x
Trevethin 9 25.31x
Brecknock St David 8 285.71x
Glasbury 8 567.38x
Leominster 8 90.50x
St Woollos 8 19.03x
Birmingham 7 1.60x
Eglwysilan 7 44.47x
Llanfihangel 7 1206.90x
Llanvrynach 7 972.22x
Nether Hallam 7 10.02x
Vaynor 7 137.52x
Westbury On Severn East 7 30.30x
Bedwellty 6 9.02x
Bodenham 6 382.17x
Hereford St Owen 6 85.11x
Llangadock 6 99.17x
Llanhamlach 6 1200.00x
Llanigon 6 937.50x
Llanwonno 6 18.41x
Presteigne 6 224.72x
Rochester St Margaret 6 32.02x
Tregoyd Velindre 6 1052.63x
Usk 6 192.31x
Cardiff St Mary 5 10.01x
Cheltenham 5 6.34x
Monmouth 5 50.05x
Swansea Higher 5 52.91x
Briton Ferry 4 36.97x
Little Marcle 4 1538.46x
Llanfihangel Bryn 4 784.31x
Llanthew 4 952.38x
Lower Machen 4 216.22x
Malpas 4 701.75x
Newland 4 46.57x
Penderyn 4 140.35x
Rhayader 4 251.57x
St Martin In Fields 4 12.82x
Charlwood 3 123.46x
Exeter St Thomas The 3 27.15x
Kensington London 3 1.04x
Llanelly 3 24.08x
Newington 3 1.56x
Aberystruth 2 6.03x
Builth 2 77.22x
Cardiff St John 2 6.75x
Hartlebury 2 49.38x
Houghton On The Hill 2 270.27x
Islington London 2 0.40x
Llanstephan 2 666.67x
Llowes 2 370.37x
Lower Ystradgynlais 2 31.10x
Neasham 2 266.67x
Rhulen 2 1818.18x
Roath 2 4.85x
Rowlstone 2 869.57x
Talgarth 2 77.52x
Titchfield 2 24.84x
Wentllooge St Bride 2 444.44x
Wolverhampton 2 1.48x
Hay 1 25.84x
Llantwit Major 1 56.50x
Llyswen 1 285.71x
Paddington London 1 0.52x
Stoke Prior 1 103.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 21
Margaret 17
Ann 9
Catherine 7
Eliza 7
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Edith 6
Emma 6
Eleanor 5
Emily 5
Martha 5
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Anne 3
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Rosa 3
Dora 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Janet 2
Maria 2
Miriam 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Cathrine 1
Elizth. 1
Emlia 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Johannah 1
Julia 1
Julie 1
Kate 1
Lamat 1
Lily 1
Lousia 1
Zoa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 39
Thomas 24
David 23
James 15
Henry 14
Edward 10
George 8
Rees 8
Charles 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Edwin 5
Evan 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Isaac 3
Wm. 3
Andrew 2
Daniel 2
Donald 2
Jonathan 2
Lewis 2
Morgan 2
Reece 2
Rhys 2
Samuel 2
Sydney 2
Timothy 2
Alexander 1
Aythan 1
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Freke 1
Geo. 1
Ioan 1
Morris 1
Mortimer 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Rodrick 1
Roger 1

FAQ

Prothero surname: questions and answers

How common was the Prothero surname in 1881?

In 1881, 534 people were recorded with the Prothero surname. That placed it at #6,436 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Prothero surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 809 in 2016. That gives Prothero a modern rank of #6,850.

What does the Prothero surname mean?

Of Welsh origin, meaning an elder or respected leader in the community.

What does the Prothero map show?

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