NameCensus.

UK surname

Pugh

A Welsh surname derived from the given name "Huw" or "Hu," meaning "heart," "mind," or "spirit."

In the 1881 census there were 11,458 people recorded with the Pugh surname, ranking it #374 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 16,736, ranked #375, down from #374 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Ceredigion and Shropshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pugh is 17,485 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 46.1%.

1881 census count

11,458

Ranked #374

Modern count

16,736

2016, ranked #375

Peak year

1999

17,485 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pugh had 11,458 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #374 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 16,736 in 2016, ranked #375.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,413 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pugh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pugh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pugh 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 8,286 #329
1861 historical 7,900 #348
1881 historical 11,458 #374
1891 historical 11,801 #379
1901 historical 13,987 #374
1911 historical 15,413 #314
1997 modern 16,679 #358
1998 modern 17,401 #359
1999 modern 17,485 #359
2000 modern 17,353 #359
2001 modern 16,863 #360
2002 modern 17,172 #362
2003 modern 16,808 #363
2004 modern 16,847 #359
2005 modern 16,503 #363
2006 modern 16,540 #360
2007 modern 16,556 #363
2008 modern 16,633 #362
2009 modern 16,900 #368
2010 modern 17,100 #373
2011 modern 16,960 #370
2012 modern 16,570 #372
2013 modern 16,996 #373
2014 modern 17,023 #374
2015 modern 16,811 #374
2016 modern 16,736 #375

Geography

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Where Pughs are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Ceredigion and Shropshire. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 012 Powys
2 Ceredigion 011 Ceredigion
3 Powys 007 Powys
4 Powys 011 Powys
5 Shropshire 003 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pugh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pugh

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

Pugh is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pugh

The surname PUGH is of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh word 'pwgh', meaning a raised mound or hill. This name originated in the regions of Wales, where it was used to identify people who lived near or on a particular mound or hill.

The name PUGH can be traced back to the 12th century, when it appeared in various forms such as 'Pughe', 'Poughe', and 'Pwgh'. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Red Book of St. Asaph, a 14th-century manuscript from the Diocese of St. Asaph in North Wales.

In the 16th century, the name PUGH was associated with the town of Mathafarn, located in the Montgomeryshire region of Wales. The town's name was derived from the Welsh words 'math' (good) and 'afarn' (bakery), suggesting that the area was known for its high-quality bakeries.

Among the notable individuals bearing the PUGH surname, one can mention Gruffydd ap Rhys Pugh (c. 1480-1554), a Welsh landowner and Member of Parliament for Montgomeryshire. Another prominent figure was John Pugh (1599-1679), a Welsh clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Racton in Sussex, England.

In the 18th century, the name PUGH gained recognition with the birth of Ellis Pugh (1731-1790), a Welsh-born American Baptist minister and educator. He played a significant role in the establishment of several educational institutions in New England, including Brown University.

During the 19th century, William Pugh (1805-1892) was a Welsh-born American businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the coal mining industry. He donated generously to various educational and cultural institutions in Pennsylvania.

The name PUGH also has connections to the literary world, with the poet Sheenagh Pugh (born 1950) being a notable bearer of this surname. Her works have been widely published and acclaimed, earning her recognition as one of the leading Welsh poets of her generation.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pugh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pugh 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. Shropshire leads with 1,192 Pughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.36x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 1,192 12.36x
Lancashire 932 0.70x
Staffordshire 834 2.21x
Montgomeryshire 778 30.42x
Middlesex 763 0.68x
Merionethshire 705 34.52x
Glamorgan 580 2.98x
Worcestershire 557 3.82x
Herefordshire 456 9.96x
Monmouthshire 439 5.44x
Brecknockshire 432 19.35x
Warwickshire 417 1.48x
Cheshire 312 1.27x
Radnorshire 312 34.65x
Surrey 293 0.54x
Cardiganshire 292 10.72x
Yorkshire 290 0.26x
Denbighshire 263 6.24x
Gloucestershire 224 1.02x
Carmarthenshire 159 3.38x
Caernarfonshire 133 2.95x
Durham 109 0.33x
Kent 109 0.29x
Flintshire 100 3.33x
Hertfordshire 82 1.07x
Derbyshire 76 0.43x
Hampshire 56 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 49 1.38x
Somerset 47 0.26x
Wiltshire 42 0.43x
Northamptonshire 38 0.36x
Berkshire 34 0.41x
Sussex 33 0.18x
Bedfordshire 31 0.54x
Devon 26 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 25 0.17x
Essex 24 0.11x
Suffolk 24 0.18x
Leicestershire 23 0.19x
Lanarkshire 21 0.06x
Midlothian 18 0.12x
Norfolk 15 0.09x
Northumberland 14 0.08x
Cumberland 13 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 12 0.17x
Cornwall 11 0.09x
Lincolnshire 7 0.04x
Oxfordshire 6 0.09x
Dorset 5 0.07x
Angus 4 0.04x
Royal Navy 4 0.30x
Selkirkshire 4 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.04x
Channel Islands 3 0.09x
Anglesey 2 0.10x
Ayrshire 2 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.07x
Isle of Man 2 0.10x
Perthshire 1 0.02x
Renfrewshire 1 0.01x
Stirlingshire 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. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 162 Pughs recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.37x.

Place Total Index
Bedwellty 162 11.37x
Birmingham 159 1.69x
Aston 144 1.86x
Wolverhampton 144 4.97x
Dolgelley 124 81.63x
Liverpool 114 1.42x
Islington London 109 1.01x
Kidderminster Borough 97 11.37x
Merthyr Tydfil 90 4.82x
Sedgley 90 6.43x
Toxteth Park 88 1.96x
Everton 84 1.99x
Aberdare 78 5.85x
Stoke Upon Trent 76 1.90x
Festiniog 67 15.55x
Ystradyfodwg 67 3.93x
St Pancras London 65 0.72x
Rowley Regis 64 6.10x
West Derby 63 1.63x
Shrewsbury St Mary 61 16.03x
Llandilo Graban 59 615.22x
Bilston 58 7.94x
Birkenhead 57 2.90x
Wrexham Regis 57 18.21x
Towyn 56 43.58x
Llangelynin 54 123.77x
Camberwell 52 0.73x
West Bromwich 51 2.36x
Machynlleth 50 54.14x
Aberystruth 49 6.89x
Lambeth 49 0.50x
Shoreditch London 49 1.01x
Shrewsbury St Julian 49 20.54x
Trawsfynydd 49 66.38x
Llanaber 47 58.16x
Newington 47 1.14x
Tref Eglwys 47 67.36x
Leominster 46 24.28x
Worthen 45 43.93x
Hackney London 44 0.70x
Pontesbury 44 37.51x
Pool 44 22.81x
Newtown 43 26.29x
Talgarth 43 77.83x
Llanenddwyn 42 114.97x
Trevethin 41 5.38x
Battersea 40 0.97x
Madeley 40 11.31x
Salford 40 1.03x
Shrewsbury St Chad 40 11.82x
Kensington London 39 0.63x
St George Hanover 39 2.68x
Kirkdale 38 1.71x
Bishops Castle In 36 64.01x
Clerkenwell London 36 1.37x
Dudley 36 2.03x
Gelligaer 36 8.11x
Llanfachreth 36 104.47x
Llangurig 36 58.59x
Brecknock St John 34 18.06x
Ynyscynhaiarn 34 16.18x
Crowle 33 163.29x
Aberavon 32 17.89x
Kings Norton 32 2.45x
Llanbeblig 32 6.99x
Loppington 32 155.11x
Llanwonno 31 4.44x
Manchester 31 0.52x
Warrington 31 1.97x
Clun 30 43.81x
Llanrhidian Higher 30 24.30x
Walsall Foreign 30 1.54x
Wednesbury 30 3.19x
Abergavenny 29 9.60x
Aberystwith 29 12.37x
Limehouse London 29 2.37x
St Marylebone London 29 0.49x
Chirbury 28 49.29x
Claines 28 7.00x
Paddington London 28 0.68x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 912
Elizabeth 579
Sarah 479
Jane 302
Ann 279
Margaret 234
Eliza 153
Emma 139
Ellen 130
Annie 123
Hannah 119
Catherine 111
Alice 110
Martha 110
Anne 108
Emily 94
Harriet 76
Fanny 59
Maria 57
Edith 53
Louisa 51
Caroline 47
Clara 47
Charlotte 36
Kate 32
Lucy 32
Florence 31
Laura 31
Amelia 30
Ada 29
Frances 29
Eleanor 26
Rose 26
Gwen 25
Susannah 25
Susan 23
Esther 22
Jessie 22
Rebecca 22
Agnes 21
Margret 21
Harriett 19
Sophia 19
Cathrine 17
Phoebe 17
Elizth. 16
Matilda 16
Lizzie 15
Beatrice 14
Ellin 14

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 817
William 726
Thomas 505
James 247
Edward 240
David 237
Richard 220
George 217
Henry 188
Charles 169
Joseph 135
Samuel 122
Hugh 115
Evan 100
Robert 99
Alfred 85
Arthur 80
Frederick 59
Edwin 58
Walter 58
Albert 53
Lewis 40
Ernest 32
Harry 31
Benjamin 30
Daniel 30
Thos. 30
Herbert 28
Francis 23
Griffith 23
Wm. 23
Isaac 22
Owen 19
Rees 18
Stephen 17
Price 15
Humphrey 13
Peter 13
Frank 12
Geo. 12
Philip 12
Enoch 10
Morgan 10
Percy 10
Roger 10
Tom 10
Elias 9
Howell 9
Jonathan 9
Ellis 8

FAQ

Pugh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pugh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,458 people were recorded with the Pugh surname. That placed it at #374 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pugh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 16,736 in 2016. That gives Pugh a modern rank of #375.

What does the Pugh surname mean?

A Welsh surname derived from the given name "Huw" or "Hu," meaning "heart," "mind," or "spirit."

What does the Pugh map show?

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