NameCensus.

UK surname

Pugsley

An English surname derived from the word "pugg," referring to someone short and stout.

In the 1881 census there were 901 people recorded with the Pugsley surname, ranking it #4,231 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,143, ranked #5,159, down from #4,231 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Somerset, North Devon and Mid Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pugsley is 1,363 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.9%.

1881 census count

901

Ranked #4,231

Modern count

1,143

2016, ranked #5,159

Peak year

1999

1,363 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pugsley had 901 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,231 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,143 in 2016, ranked #5,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,330 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pugsley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pugsley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pugsley 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 576 #4,422
1861 historical 559 #4,715
1881 historical 901 #4,231
1891 historical 1,011 #4,112
1901 historical 1,180 #4,149
1911 historical 1,330 #3,594
1997 modern 1,309 #4,380
1998 modern 1,331 #4,455
1999 modern 1,363 #4,411
2000 modern 1,356 #4,414
2001 modern 1,306 #4,466
2002 modern 1,320 #4,509
2003 modern 1,295 #4,503
2004 modern 1,269 #4,583
2005 modern 1,222 #4,682
2006 modern 1,204 #4,757
2007 modern 1,208 #4,787
2008 modern 1,218 #4,789
2009 modern 1,213 #4,896
2010 modern 1,219 #4,974
2011 modern 1,194 #5,004
2012 modern 1,157 #5,061
2013 modern 1,160 #5,139
2014 modern 1,158 #5,171
2015 modern 1,150 #5,156
2016 modern 1,143 #5,159

Geography

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Where Pugsleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes and Ilfracombe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Somerset, North Devon and Mid Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Ilfracombe Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Somerset 005 West Somerset
2 North Devon 006 North Devon
3 North Devon 001 North Devon
4 Mid Devon 005 Mid Devon
5 North Devon 012 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pugsley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pugsley

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Pugsley 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

Pugsley 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

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

Meaning and origin of Pugsley

The surname Pugsley originates from England, with its roots tracing back to the 16th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Pugsleigh or Puxley, which were small villages or hamlets found in counties like Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1523, which mentions a William Pugsley. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the early 16th century.

The name Pugsley is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "pug" or "puca," which referred to a goblin or mischievous sprite, and "leah," meaning a woodland clearing or meadow. Thus, the name may have originally described someone who lived near a clearing associated with these mythical creatures.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are no direct mentions of the name Pugsley, but there are references to places that could be potential sources of the surname, such as Pucelai in Hertfordshire and Pughenhill in Kent.

One notable figure with the Pugsley surname was Sir John Pugsley (1592-1660), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bedfordshire during the reign of Charles I. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, initially siding with the Parliamentarians but later supporting the Royalists.

Another prominent individual was Sir John Pugsley (1777-1858), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He participated in several notable battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the literary realm, Emily Pugsley (1845-1910) was a British author and poet known for her works on nature and rural life. She published several collections of poetry, including "Woodland Idylls" and "Songs of the Greenwood."

The artist and illustrator Walter Pugsley (1858-1925) was also a notable figure with this surname. He was best known for his illustrations in books and magazines, particularly his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes.

Finally, John Pugsley (1909-1992) was a British architect who played a significant role in the reconstruction and redevelopment of London after World War II. He designed several notable public housing projects and was involved in the planning of the Barbican Estate.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pugsley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pugsley 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. Devon leads with 374 Pugsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.98x.

County Total Index
Devon 374 19.98x
Somerset 171 11.81x
Glamorgan 120 7.66x
Gloucestershire 65 3.68x
Middlesex 57 0.63x
Monmouthshire 44 6.77x
Surrey 19 0.43x
Channel Islands 18 6.75x
Durham 9 0.34x
Hampshire 9 0.49x
Lancashire 7 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 7 2.45x
Yorkshire 4 0.04x
Cheshire 3 0.15x
Kent 3 0.10x
Lincolnshire 3 0.21x
Warwickshire 3 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.37x
Royal Navy 2 1.87x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnstaple in Devon leads with 40 Pugsleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.10x.

Place Total Index
Barnstaple 40 136.10x
Ilfracombe 32 166.06x
St Woollos 26 35.83x
Swansea Town 24 18.69x
Walcot 23 29.83x
Braunton 22 346.46x
Porlock 22 932.20x
Bishops Tawton 18 308.22x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 18 10.84x
Sherwill 18 1417.32x
St Helier 18 20.75x
Cutcombe 17 977.01x
Loxhore 16 2461.54x
Marwood 15 602.41x
Burnham 14 126.81x
Christchurch 14 69.62x
Lynton 14 375.34x
Pilton 13 210.36x
Coldridge 12 845.07x
Pawlett 11 674.85x
Tormoham 11 13.89x
West Teignmouth 11 76.82x
Kentisbury 10 934.58x
Swansea St Thomas 10 63.57x
Berrynarbor 9 422.54x
Bristol St James St Paul 9 15.30x
Croydon 9 3.70x
East Stonehouse 9 24.40x
Loughor 9 108.17x
Stoke Damerel 9 6.87x
Clase 8 13.74x
Harberton 8 187.79x
Kensington London 8 1.60x
Kingston 8 274.91x
Llangeinor 8 86.77x
Minehead 8 146.25x
Neath 8 25.11x
Roath 8 11.25x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 4.42x
Witheridge 8 253.16x
Ashburton 7 78.21x
Clifton 7 7.85x
Fulham London 7 5.37x
Henbury 7 81.30x
Hubberston 7 167.06x
Llantrisant 7 17.74x
Milverton 7 131.09x
Poplar London 7 4.12x
Portsea 7 1.94x
St Brides Minor 7 247.35x
Ystradyfodwg 7 5.10x
Aberdare 6 5.58x
Bedminster 6 4.41x
Bishops Lydeard 6 162.60x
Clerkenwell London 6 2.83x
Eastdown 6 540.54x
Filleigh 6 576.92x
Iveston 6 48.66x
Morchard Bishop 6 153.45x
Pentyrch 6 92.74x
Bristol St Nicholas 5 157.73x
Bristol St Paul In 5 10.64x
Edmonton 5 6.90x
Exeter St Mary Major 5 44.29x
Halberton 5 114.68x
Liverpool 5 0.77x
Poltimore 5 561.80x
Skilgate 5 746.27x
St George Hanover 5 4.26x
Wembdon 5 116.82x
Wiveliscombe 5 61.96x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 4.82x
Bridgewater 4 10.18x
Chittlehampton 4 86.58x
Trevethin 4 6.51x
Westminster St James 4 4.33x
Candlesby 3 394.74x
Countisbury 3 600.00x
Crediton 3 16.91x
Weston Super Mare 3 8.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 65
George 39
James 37
Charles 31
Thomas 28
Henry 15
Richard 12
Frederick 10
Anthony 8
Arthur 8
Walter 8
Robert 7
Samuel 7
Albert 6
Frank 6
Wm. 5
Alfred 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Fred 4
Harry 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Geo. 3
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Charley 2
David 2
Earnest 2
Edmund 2
Enoch 2
Frances 2
Jas. 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Percy 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Cecil 1
Fredrick 1
Gabriel 1
Gem 1
Lesley 1
Levi 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Pugsley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pugsley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 901 people were recorded with the Pugsley surname. That placed it at #4,231 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pugsley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,143 in 2016. That gives Pugsley a modern rank of #5,159.

What does the Pugsley surname mean?

An English surname derived from the word "pugg," referring to someone short and stout.

What does the Pugsley map show?

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