NameCensus.

UK surname

Puckey

A locational English surname referring to someone who lived near a puckland or boggy area.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Puckey surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 332, ranked #13,706, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Talland (incl. Looe Island), Lanteglos by Fowey and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Thurrock.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Puckey is 342 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.5%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

332

2016, ranked #13,706

Peak year

2000

342 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Puckey had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016, ranked #13,706.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Puckey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Puckey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Puckey 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 142 #13,428
1861 historical 152 #15,126
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 263 #12,261
1901 historical 292 #11,861
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 320 #12,966
1998 modern 335 #12,915
1999 modern 322 #13,335
2000 modern 342 #12,771
2001 modern 334 #12,789
2002 modern 336 #12,992
2003 modern 326 #13,076
2004 modern 333 #12,927
2005 modern 322 #13,175
2006 modern 321 #13,258
2007 modern 327 #13,229
2008 modern 321 #13,516
2009 modern 336 #13,345
2010 modern 337 #13,580
2011 modern 318 #14,023
2012 modern 303 #14,415
2013 modern 326 #13,893
2014 modern 336 #13,692
2015 modern 336 #13,593
2016 modern 332 #13,706

Geography

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Where Puckeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Talland (incl. Looe Island), Lanteglos by Fowey, Gwennap, Lansalloes and Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Thurrock. 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 Talland (incl. Looe Island) Cornwall
2 Lanteglos by Fowey Cornwall
3 Gwennap Cornwall
4 Lansalloes Cornwall
5 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 037 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 028 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 014 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 008 Cornwall
5 Thurrock 009 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Puckey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Puckey

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Puckey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Puckey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Puckey falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Puckey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Puckey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Puckey

The surname PUCKEY is of English origin, first appearing in historical records during the late 16th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Pucklechurch in Gloucestershire, England. The name Pucklechurch itself is thought to come from the Old English words "puca" meaning goblin or sprite, and "cirice" meaning church, possibly referring to a church associated with pagan folklore or superstitions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PUCKEY surname can be found in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, where a John Puckey was listed as being christened in 1589. Another early reference comes from the Hearth Tax Rolls of 1662, which included a William Puckey residing in the village of Rendcomb, also in Gloucestershire.

In the 17th century, variations of the name such as Puckie, Puckye, and Puckeye were more common spellings. The surname PUCKEY is also closely linked to the village of Pucklechurch itself, with several families bearing the name living in the area throughout the centuries.

One notable individual with the PUCKEY surname was Thomas Puckey, born in 1726 in Pucklechurch. He was a renowned clockmaker and was responsible for creating several intricate longcase clocks during the mid-18th century, some of which are still preserved in local museums.

Another prominent figure was Reverend William Puckey, born in 1795 in Gloucestershire. He was a highly respected clergyman and served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Pucklechurch for over 40 years, from 1824 until his death in 1868.

In the 19th century, the PUCKEY surname began to spread beyond its Gloucestershire roots, with families bearing the name being recorded in various parts of England, as well as in some parts of the United States and Canada, likely due to immigration.

One such individual was John Puckey, born in 1842 in Somerset, England. He later emigrated to Canada and became a prominent farmer and landowner in the province of Ontario.

Another notable person with the PUCKEY name was Elizabeth Puckey, born in 1878 in Gloucestershire. She was a renowned author and poet, publishing several collections of her works during the early 20th century, including "Echoes of the Cotswolds" in 1912.

While the surname PUCKEY remains relatively uncommon, it continues to hold strong historical ties to the village of Pucklechurch and the surrounding areas of Gloucestershire, where it first emerged centuries ago.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Puckey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Puckey 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. Cornwall leads with 159 Puckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.65x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 159 49.65x
Devon 43 7.30x
Durham 13 1.54x
Lancashire 12 0.36x
Surrey 12 0.87x
Kent 9 0.93x
Yorkshire 9 0.32x
Cumberland 8 3.28x
Middlesex 7 0.25x
Hertfordshire 4 2.05x
Royal Navy 4 11.87x
Hampshire 3 0.52x
Northumberland 2 0.48x
Somerset 2 0.44x
Sussex 2 0.42x
Worcestershire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lansallos in Cornwall leads with 35 Puckeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5072.46x.

Place Total Index
Lansallos 35 5072.46x
Tywardreath 22 1067.96x
Talland 17 2266.67x
Ladock 13 1428.57x
Gwennap 12 198.68x
Stoke Damerel 12 29.12x
St Sampson 11 4782.61x
Greenwich 9 19.99x
Handsworth 9 121.46x
Millom 8 107.24x
Paignton 8 178.57x
Battersea 7 6.72x
Lanteglos By Fowey 7 538.46x
Plymouth Charles The 7 26.99x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 15.43x
Probus 7 534.35x
West Derby 7 7.13x
Wingate 7 121.32x
Hetton Le Hole 5 46.90x
Mevagissey 5 234.74x
St Blazey 5 177.94x
Bishop Stortford 4 61.44x
East Stonehouse 4 34.48x
Landewednack 4 701.75x
Liverpool 4 1.96x
Royal Navy 4 13.88x
Falmouth 3 26.46x
St Ewe 3 309.28x
Stoke Climsland 3 146.34x
Egloshayle 2 133.33x
Fowey 2 136.05x
Kensington London 2 1.27x
Newington 2 1.91x
Portsea 2 1.76x
Redruth 2 22.08x
St Austell 2 18.26x
St Columb Major 2 75.19x
St Marylebone London 2 1.32x
Upper Beeding 2 338.98x
Bathwick 1 19.84x
Burnham 1 28.82x
Camberwell 1 0.55x
Caterham 1 16.42x
Clapham 1 2.83x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.50x
Devonport 1 14.77x
Hammersmith London 1 1.44x
Highweek 1 47.62x
Ilfracombe 1 16.50x
Jesmond 1 16.89x
Kidderminster Foreign 1 19.16x
Monks House Ferne 1 2500.00x
North Meols 1 3.04x
Portsmouth 1 7.49x
South Brent 1 79.37x
St Clement 1 29.94x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
St Pinnock 1 204.08x
Stranton 1 3.53x
Wolborough 1 13.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 12
Alice 7
Ann 7
Bessie 5
Catherine 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Eliza 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Selina 3
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Laura 2
Mahala 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Susanah 2
Bella 1
Calie 1
Eleanor 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Evelyn 1
Fanny 1
Flory 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jennyfur 1
Johanna 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
L. 1
Lilla 1
M.J. 1
Mabel 1
Margt. 1
Marth 1
Melinda 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Patience 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 23
Charles 11
James 8
Joseph 8
Thomas 6
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Francis 3
Henry 3
Nicholas 3
Benjamin 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Jas.W. 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Simon 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
... 1
Albert 1
Charls 1
Courtenay 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eley 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Jonathan 1
M. 1
Maurice 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Reginald 1
Regonald 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Thos.J. 1

FAQ

Puckey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Puckey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Puckey surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Puckey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 332 in 2016. That gives Puckey a modern rank of #13,706.

What does the Puckey surname mean?

A locational English surname referring to someone who lived near a puckland or boggy area.

What does the Puckey map show?

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