NameCensus.

UK surname

Pughe

A surname derived from the Welsh word 'pwch' meaning a ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 637 people recorded with the Pughe surname, ranking it #5,577 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 274, ranked #15,759, down from #5,577 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Towyn, Talyllyn, Llanegryn and Llanfilhangel-y-Pennant. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Gwynedd and Bridgend.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pughe is 637 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 57.0%.

1881 census count

637

Ranked #5,577

Modern count

274

2016, ranked #15,759

Peak year

1881

637 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pughe had 637 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,577 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016, ranked #15,759.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 637 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pughe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pughe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pughe 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 234 #9,241
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 637 #5,577
1891 historical 432 #8,311
1901 historical 405 #9,405
1911 historical 406 #9,196
1997 modern 233 #15,975
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 246 #15,914
2001 modern 238 #16,004
2002 modern 242 #16,186
2003 modern 240 #16,061
2004 modern 237 #16,283
2005 modern 231 #16,529
2006 modern 235 #16,439
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 263 #15,505
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 273 #15,606
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 269 #15,963
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 274 #15,759

Geography

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Where Pughes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Towyn, Talyllyn, Llanegryn, Llanfilhangel-y-Pennant, Dolgelly and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Gwynedd, Bridgend and Rugby. 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 Towyn, Talyllyn Montgomeryshire
2 Llanegryn Merionethshire
3 Llanfilhangel-y-Pennant Merionethshire
4 Dolgelly Merionethshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 004 Powys
2 Gwynedd 017 Gwynedd
3 Powys 007 Powys
4 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
5 Rugby 012 Rugby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pughe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pughe

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Pughe is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Pughe is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Pughe

The surname PUGHE is believed to have originated in Wales, likely during the medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "pŵg," which means a stack or rick of hay, suggesting that the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked with hay or lived near a haystack.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name PUGHE can be found in the Records of the Lordship of Ruthin, a collection of legal documents from the 14th century. In these records, a person named Gruffydd ap Pughe is mentioned, indicating the use of the surname in that region during that time.

The name PUGHE is also found in the Peniarth Manuscripts, a collection of Welsh manuscripts dating back to the 13th century. These manuscripts contain various literary works, genealogies, and historical records, providing valuable insights into the use and prevalence of surnames in medieval Wales.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the surname PUGHE was William Pughe (1551-1635), a Welsh clergyman and author. He served as the rector of Trawsfynydd in Merionethshire and wrote several works, including a translation of the Book of Common Prayer into Welsh.

Another prominent individual with the surname PUGHE was William Owen Pughe (1759-1835), a Welsh scholar and lexicographer. He is best known for his work on preserving and documenting the Welsh language, including publishing dictionaries and grammars that helped standardize the language.

In the 18th century, John Pughe (1730-1801) was a Welsh merchant and landowner from Montgomeryshire. He was involved in the trade of Welsh wool and became a prominent figure in his local community, serving as a justice of the peace and deputy lieutenant.

Evan Pughe (1808-1889) was a Welsh clergyman and author who lived in the 19th century. He served as the rector of Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain in Montgomeryshire and published several works related to Welsh history and literature, including a translation of the "Mabinogion" into English.

The surname PUGHE has its roots deeply intertwined with Welsh history and culture, with many individuals bearing this name contributing significantly to the preservation and advancement of the Welsh language and literature throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pughe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pughe 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. Merionethshire leads with 372 Pughes recorded in 1881 and an index of 327.18x.

County Total Index
Merionethshire 372 327.18x
Lancashire 57 0.77x
Montgomeryshire 47 33.01x
Middlesex 31 0.50x
Caernarfonshire 27 10.75x
Cardiganshire 24 15.83x
Carmarthenshire 10 3.82x
Surrey 10 0.33x
Cheshire 7 0.51x
Yorkshire 7 0.11x
Warwickshire 6 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.27x
Denbighshire 5 2.13x
Buckinghamshire 4 1.06x
Oxfordshire 4 1.04x
Shropshire 4 0.75x
Anglesey 3 2.72x
Worcestershire 3 0.37x
Cumberland 2 0.37x
Glamorgan 2 0.18x
Stirlingshire 2 0.87x
Brecknockshire 1 0.80x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Kent 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dolgelley in Merionethshire leads with 108 Pughes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1276.60x.

Place Total Index
Dolgelley 108 1276.60x
Towyn 75 1048.95x
Llanegryn 39 2617.45x
Llanfachreth 38 1979.17x
Llanfihangel Y Pennant 29 1686.05x
Talyllyn 25 561.80x
Everton 18 7.66x
Bangor 15 61.91x
Melindwr 11 521.33x
St Pancras London 11 2.20x
Festiniog 9 37.52x
Llangower 9 1636.36x
Mallwyd 9 324.91x
Lambeth 8 1.48x
Llandinam 8 243.16x
Llanidloes 8 75.83x
Mellor 8 343.35x
Pennal 8 563.38x
Clerkenwell London 7 4.77x
Denio 7 119.05x
Tranmere 7 13.89x
West Derby 7 3.24x
Aberystwith 6 45.98x
Darowen 6 288.46x
Islington London 6 1.00x
Isygarreg 6 714.29x
Llanaber 6 133.33x
Caron Uwch Clawdd 5 340.14x
Ingleton 5 144.51x
Leamington Priors 5 12.97x
Llanddwywe Isgraig 5 877.19x
Llanelly 5 8.48x
Llanfair Caereinion 5 102.88x
Llanllechid 5 28.31x
Llanycil 5 81.83x
St Andrewthe Less 5 11.12x
Aston Clinton 4 125.79x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 3.42x
Liverpool 4 0.89x
Llansadwrn 4 199.01x
Llansantffraid Glyn 4 250.00x
Llanymowddwy 4 388.35x
Penegoes 4 190.48x
Wavertree 4 16.95x
Birkdale 3 16.08x
Formby 3 35.93x
Great Malvern 3 17.72x
Hammersmith London 3 1.96x
Holyhead 3 14.61x
Llanbrynmair 3 89.29x
Ludlow St Lawrence 3 28.09x
Oxford St Giles 3 16.38x
Toxteth Park 3 1.20x
Drigg Carleton 2 166.67x
Falkirk 2 3.73x
Merthyr Tydfil 2 1.92x
Scarborough 2 3.57x
Battersea 1 0.44x
Bettwsgwerfilgoch 1 181.82x
Birmingham 1 0.19x
Brecknock St David 1 29.94x
Christ Church Newgate 1 34.60x
Denbigh 1 10.62x
Epsom 1 6.78x
Greenwich 1 1.01x
Hastings St Leonards 1 6.49x
Husbands Bosworth 1 56.50x
Kensington London 1 0.29x
Llandilo Fawr 1 8.56x
Llangelynin 1 41.15x
Llangybi 1 169.49x
Machynlleth 1 19.46x
Meifod 1 29.59x
Montgomery 1 39.37x
Newtown 1 10.98x
Oxford St Michael 1 62.89x
Preston 1 0.51x
St Marylebone London 1 0.30x
St Michael Cornhill 1 208.33x
Tref Eglwys 1 25.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 38
Margaret 37
Elizabeth 33
Jane 26
Anne 23
Catherine 19
Sarah 16
Ann 12
Ellen 7
Ellin 6
Cathrine 5
Laura 5
Margt. 5
Elisabeth 4
Ellinor 4
Florence 4
Gwen 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Dorothy 3
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Blanche 2
Catharine 2
E. 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Kate 2
Margret 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Charlote 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eliz.F. 1
Elizth.Robt. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Jemimah 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Joanna 1
L. 1
Letitia 1
Louisa 1
Winifret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 37
Hugh 29
William 26
Robert 22
David 21
Edward 20
Lewis 15
Richard 14
Thomas 14
Evan 12
Griffith 11
Owen 8
Rees 7
Henry 4
Howell 4
George 3
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Ellis 2
Humphrey 2
James 2
Kenneth 2
Phinehas 2
Rowland 2
E.E. 1
Edwd. 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Francis 1
G.A. 1
G.R.G. 1
Geo.F. 1
Howel 1
Hughe 1
J. 1
Jane 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Llewellyn 1
Meredith 1
Meredyth 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Price 1
Pryce 1
Robt. 1
Wm.D. 1

FAQ

Pughe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pughe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 637 people were recorded with the Pughe surname. That placed it at #5,577 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pughe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 274 in 2016. That gives Pughe a modern rank of #15,759.

What does the Pughe surname mean?

A surname derived from the Welsh word 'pwch' meaning a ridge or hill.

What does the Pughe map show?

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