NameCensus.

UK surname

Proudfoot

An English surname derived from pride and foot, referring to someone with a proud bearing or gait.

In the 1881 census there were 1,320 people recorded with the Proudfoot surname, ranking it #3,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,616, ranked #3,855, down from #3,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Moffat, Cornwall and Summerville.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Proudfoot is 1,762 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.4%.

1881 census count

1,320

Ranked #3,108

Modern count

1,616

2016, ranked #3,855

Peak year

2000

1,762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Proudfoot had 1,320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,616 in 2016, ranked #3,855.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,673 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Proudfoot surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Proudfoot surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Proudfoot 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 935 #2,961
1861 historical 933 #2,972
1881 historical 1,320 #3,108
1891 historical 1,487 #2,958
1901 historical 1,673 #3,083
1911 historical 846 #5,244
1997 modern 1,706 #3,494
1998 modern 1,756 #3,537
1999 modern 1,754 #3,564
2000 modern 1,762 #3,533
2001 modern 1,708 #3,567
2002 modern 1,705 #3,644
2003 modern 1,646 #3,675
2004 modern 1,670 #3,634
2005 modern 1,633 #3,670
2006 modern 1,630 #3,688
2007 modern 1,636 #3,703
2008 modern 1,619 #3,752
2009 modern 1,660 #3,763
2010 modern 1,681 #3,796
2011 modern 1,626 #3,863
2012 modern 1,625 #3,788
2013 modern 1,628 #3,858
2014 modern 1,640 #3,859
2015 modern 1,630 #3,830
2016 modern 1,616 #3,855

Geography

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Where Proudfoots are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Moffat. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Moffat, Cornwall, Summerville, Meadows and Southside and Carlisle. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Moffat Dumfries

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Moffat Dumfries and Galloway
2 Cornwall 002 Cornwall
3 Summerville Dumfries and Galloway
4 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
5 Carlisle 004 Carlisle

Forenames

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First names often paired with Proudfoot

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Proudfoot

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Proudfoot 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

Proudfoot 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

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

Meaning and origin of Proudfoot

The surname Proudfoot is of English origin, believed to have originated in the 13th century. It is a descriptive surname, referring to someone who walked with a proud or haughty gait. The name is derived from the Middle English words "proud" and "fot," which translates to "proud foot."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Proudfoot can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, where a Thomas Prudfot is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the 14th century, the surname Proudfoot appeared in various historical records, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a Johannes Prudfote is listed. This record suggests that the name was well-established in the northern counties of England during this period.

The Proudfoot surname has its roots in various place names across England, such as Proudfoot Farm in Cumbria and Proudfoot Barn in Lancashire. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Proudfoot who resided in or owned these locations.

One notable Proudfoot in history was Sir John Proudfoot (1552-1628), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Northumberland in the early 17th century.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Proudfoot (1742-1824), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1817.

In the 19th century, James Proudfoot (1811-1890) was a Scottish-born American businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the city of Greenville, South Carolina.

Elizabeth Proudfoot (1820-1911), a Scottish author and educator, is also noteworthy for her literary works, including "A Household Book of English Poetry" and "The Mother's Legacy to Her Unborn Child."

Lastly, John Proudfoot (1879-1958), an Australian Labor politician and trade unionist, served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives for the electorate of East Sydney from 1928 to 1931.

While the surname Proudfoot has its origins in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including Scotland, Australia, and the United States, with individuals bearing this name making their mark in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Proudfoot families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Proudfoot 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. Midlothian leads with 162 Proudfoots recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.49x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 162 9.49x
Dumfriesshire 133 47.26x
Lanarkshire 108 2.62x
Durham 101 2.66x
Norfolk 95 4.85x
Perthshire 92 16.09x
Fife 84 11.14x
Cumberland 82 7.48x
Lancashire 73 0.48x
Middlesex 63 0.49x
Angus 44 3.73x
Surrey 34 0.55x
Northumberland 28 1.48x
Suffolk 21 1.35x
Yorkshire 18 0.14x
Ayrshire 17 1.78x
Cheshire 17 0.60x
Peeblesshire 16 26.70x
Kirkcudbrightshire 14 7.59x
Roxburghshire 12 5.20x
Berkshire 11 1.15x
Kent 11 0.25x
Argyllshire 9 2.54x
Stirlingshire 8 1.70x
West Lothian 8 4.17x
Ross-shire 7 2.00x
Renfrewshire 6 0.61x
Berwickshire 4 2.59x
Kinross-shire 4 12.42x
Selkirkshire 4 3.47x
Warwickshire 4 0.12x
Essex 3 0.12x
Caithness 1 0.57x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Devon 1 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.29x
East Lothian 1 0.59x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Inverness-shire 1 0.26x
Kincardineshire 1 0.64x
Northamptonshire 1 0.08x
Royal Navy 1 0.66x
Rutland 1 1.07x
Staffordshire 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. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 87 Proudfoots recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.67x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 87 12.67x
Dunfermline 38 32.77x
Moffat 31 241.43x
Glasgow 29 3.96x
Govan 29 2.85x
Johnstone 28 639.27x
Barony 26 2.49x
St Cuthbert W O 24 44.89x
Lasswade 22 56.38x
Bishopwearmouth 20 6.15x
Perth East Church 20 37.10x
Liff Benvie 19 10.60x
North Leith 18 22.79x
Kinglassie 17 296.17x
St Cuthbert Within 17 133.75x
Dundee 16 3.63x
Lowestoft 16 21.83x
Stanhope 15 38.33x
Glencairn 14 184.94x
Perth West Church 14 51.60x
Penrith 13 32.08x
Camberwell 12 1.47x
Fortingall 12 164.38x
Thornham 12 421.05x
Troqueer 12 49.61x
Crook Billy Row 11 22.66x
Darlington 11 7.52x
Fulham London 11 5.95x
Shildon 11 36.11x
West Derby 11 2.49x
Biggar 10 107.41x
Brancaster 10 297.62x
Inveresk 10 21.64x
Kirkmahoe 10 183.15x
Windle 10 11.76x
Caldewgate 9 14.98x
Gateshead 9 3.17x
Leuchars 9 94.34x
Sunninghill 9 67.82x
Aylsham 8 68.61x
Dron 8 544.22x
Dryfesdale 8 61.68x
Dumfries 8 28.82x
New Cumnock 8 48.40x
Skirling 8 666.67x
Spotland 8 4.76x
St Pancras London 8 0.78x
Toxteth Park 8 1.56x
Applegarth 7 163.93x
Berwick Upon Tweed 7 17.43x
Cheam 7 105.42x
Contin 7 110.24x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 4.26x
Heigham 7 6.66x
Hulme 7 2.22x
Iveston 7 40.09x
Kirkliston 7 62.56x
Moresby 7 167.46x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 6.18x
Scone 7 68.90x
South Leith 7 3.64x
St Ninians 7 15.03x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.08x
Blantyre 6 13.99x
Bow London 6 3.70x
Carnock 6 130.15x
Edinburgh St Johns 6 55.71x
Forgandenny 6 219.78x
Hawick 6 11.62x
Lakenham 6 21.56x
Lambeth 6 0.54x
Largs 6 26.71x
Paddington London 6 1.28x
St Marylebone London 6 0.88x
St Mungo 6 206.90x
Strachur Stralachlan 6 204.78x
Sunderland 6 8.96x
Timperley 6 61.35x
Torryburn 6 184.62x
Wiveton 6 750.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 22
Jane 19
Isabella 13
Margaret 12
Ann 11
Ellen 11
Annie 8
Eliza 6
Martha 6
Alice 5
Caroline 5
Elizth. 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Jessie 4
Lucy 4
Maria 4
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Barbara 2
Christina 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Ema 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Julia 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Sophia 2
Aida 1
Anna 1
Bridget 1
Elizh. 1
Ellenor 1
Elspet 1
Henrietta 1
Henriette 1
Ida 1
Jean 1
Wilhelmina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 38
John 36
James 23
Thomas 18
George 14
Robert 14
Henry 11
Alfred 8
Edward 7
Arthur 6
Samuel 6
Charles 5
David 5
Harry 5
Joseph 5
Alexander 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Walter 4
Mathew 3
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Fredrick 2
Mark 2
Andrew 1
Chrr. 1
Dundee 1
Earl 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
G.W. 1
Harrison 1
Herbert 1
Jacob 1
Jas 1
Jas.G. 1
Jonathan 1
Margaret 1
Martin 1
Nicholas 1
Patrick 1
Perth 1
Robt. 1
Rueben 1
Wm.L. 1

FAQ

Proudfoot surname: questions and answers

How common was the Proudfoot surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,320 people were recorded with the Proudfoot surname. That placed it at #3,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Proudfoot surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,616 in 2016. That gives Proudfoot a modern rank of #3,855.

What does the Proudfoot surname mean?

An English surname derived from pride and foot, referring to someone with a proud bearing or gait.

What does the Proudfoot map show?

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