NameCensus.

UK surname

Pulham

A surname derived from the name of a village in Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 498 people recorded with the Pulham surname, ranking it #6,796 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 576, ranked #8,983, down from #6,796 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dallinghoo, Ipswich St Peter and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, Cheltenham and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pulham is 667 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.7%.

1881 census count

498

Ranked #6,796

Modern count

576

2016, ranked #8,983

Peak year

1911

667 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pulham had 498 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,796 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 576 in 2016, ranked #8,983.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 667 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pulham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pulham surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Pulham 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 259 #9,561
1881 historical 498 #6,796
1891 historical 466 #7,861
1901 historical 542 #7,601
1911 historical 667 #6,311
1997 modern 570 #8,442
1998 modern 621 #8,190
1999 modern 627 #8,187
2000 modern 631 #8,125
2001 modern 613 #8,156
2002 modern 626 #8,196
2003 modern 609 #8,234
2004 modern 606 #8,286
2005 modern 586 #8,414
2006 modern 577 #8,533
2007 modern 586 #8,515
2008 modern 577 #8,660
2009 modern 579 #8,814
2010 modern 596 #8,831
2011 modern 580 #8,917
2012 modern 566 #8,981
2013 modern 570 #9,058
2014 modern 580 #9,013
2015 modern 584 #8,914
2016 modern 576 #8,983

Geography

Back to top

Where Pulhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dallinghoo, Ipswich St Peter, London parishes, Lambeth and Naunton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, Cheltenham, Torbay and Ipswich. 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 Dallinghoo Suffolk
2 Ipswich St Peter Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Naunton Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 003 Cotswold
2 Cotswold 002 Cotswold
3 Cheltenham 006 Cheltenham
4 Torbay 002 Torbay
5 Ipswich 001 Ipswich

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Pulham

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Pulham

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Pulham is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pulham 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

Pulham 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 Pulham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Pulham

The surname Pulham is of English origin, deriving from the place name of the same spelling. This place name refers to a village in the county of Norfolk, England, located near the town of Diss. The name Pulham is thought to have derived from the Old English words "pul" meaning "pool" or "stream" and "ham" meaning "homestead" or "village."

The earliest recorded mention of the place name Pulham can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Pulham." This entry suggests that the surname Pulham has its roots in the late 11th century or earlier.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Pulham was William de Pulham, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk in 1199. Another early record is that of Roger de Pulham, who was listed in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1293.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Pulham, Pullham, and Puleham. During this period, John Pulham (c. 1330-1399) was a notable English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Norwich from 1361 to 1399.

In the 16th century, the surname Pulham was found in records from various counties in England, including Suffolk, Essex, and Hertfordshire. One notable individual from this time was Edward Pulham (c. 1540-1610), who was an English composer and organist.

In the 17th century, the surname Pulham continued to appear in various records across England. One notable individual was Samuel Pulham (c. 1615-1678), who was an English mathematician and astronomer.

As the surname Pulham spread across England, it also found its way to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. In the 18th century, John Pulham (1737-1813) was a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1789 to 1797.

Throughout history, the surname Pulham has been associated with various individuals from different walks of life, including clergymen, musicians, scholars, and government officials. These examples demonstrate the rich history and diverse backgrounds of those who have carried this surname over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Pulham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pulham 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. Suffolk leads with 137 Pulhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.11x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 137 23.11x
Middlesex 122 2.51x
Gloucestershire 66 6.91x
Surrey 64 2.70x
Kent 21 1.26x
Hertfordshire 15 4.47x
Essex 13 1.35x
Worcestershire 12 1.89x
Somerset 9 1.15x
Yorkshire 8 0.17x
Cheshire 6 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.70x
Warwickshire 5 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.30x
Midlothian 3 0.46x
Norfolk 2 0.27x
Oxfordshire 2 0.67x
Hampshire 1 0.10x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Royal Navy 1 1.72x
Staffordshire 1 0.06x
Wiltshire 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stow On The Wold in Gloucestershire leads with 27 Pulhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1273.58x.

Place Total Index
Stow On The Wold 27 1273.58x
Lambeth 21 4.95x
Mortlake 17 160.83x
Ipswich St Mathew 16 96.27x
Ashleworth 14 1666.67x
Ipswich St Peter 13 162.91x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 12 638.30x
Broxbourne 11 165.41x
Dallinghoo 11 2200.00x
Islington London 11 2.33x
Greenwich 10 12.90x
Lower Swell 10 1470.59x
Mile End Old Town 10 13.01x
Feltham 9 185.19x
Frome 9 48.03x
Gislingham 9 978.26x
Tottenham 9 11.61x
Battersea 8 4.47x
Bermondsey 8 5.52x
Burnham 8 225.35x
Shoreditch London 8 3.79x
Stradbroke 8 400.00x
Bromley 7 27.66x
Chelsea London 7 4.77x
Cheltenham 7 9.50x
Cutsdean 7 2500.00x
Fressingfield 7 366.49x
Hanworth 7 409.36x
St George Hanover 7 11.02x
Birkenhead 6 7.01x
Bury St Edmunds St James 6 37.88x
Cretingham 6 1153.85x
Framlingham 6 142.52x
Hackney London 6 2.20x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 29.82x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 6 109.09x
St Andrew Holborn 6 36.36x
St Marylebone London 6 2.31x
Tunstall 6 582.52x
Fenny Stratford 5 179.86x
Old Stratford 5 71.94x
Southcoates 5 18.67x
St Pancras London 5 1.28x
Cheshunt 4 34.10x
Eldersfield 4 400.00x
Ipswich St Clement 4 26.54x
Middleton 4 476.19x
Westminster St James 4 7.99x
Westminster St John 4 6.75x
Woolwich 4 6.52x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 3 3.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.14x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 22.32x
Guildford Friary 3 405.41x
Hammersmith London 3 2.50x
Heston 3 18.55x
Newington 3 1.67x
West Ham 3 1.41x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.95x
Claydon 2 227.27x
Corse 2 229.89x
Drypool 2 27.10x
Gazeley 2 143.88x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 2 56.18x
Kensington London 2 0.74x
Lidgate 2 289.86x
Limehouse London 2 3.74x
Monewden 2 540.54x
Orford 2 104.71x
Twickenham 2 9.58x
Brewood 1 21.10x
Charlbury 1 29.67x
Harrow 1 13.44x
Ipswich St Lawrence 1 125.00x
Ipswich St Stephen 1 98.04x
Leyburn 1 61.73x
Leyton 1 6.04x
North Walsham 1 18.52x
Spitalfields London 1 2.73x
Streatham 1 2.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 15
Ellen 12
Emma 11
Ann 8
Jane 8
Maria 8
Annie 7
Clara 7
Martha 7
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Ada 5
Charlotte 5
Edith 5
Louisa 5
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Hannah 4
Harriet 4
Anna 3
Emily 3
Laura 3
May 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Ethel 2
Eva 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Phoebe 2
Rebecca 2
Ruth 2
Allice 1
Eleanor 1
Elisa 1
Elizibeth 1
Elliza 1
Judith 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
Charles 19
John 19
George 18
Samuel 15
James 11
Frederick 9
Thomas 9
Edward 8
Harry 8
Arthur 7
Walter 7
Alfred 6
Henry 6
Robert 6
Albert 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Herbert 3
Alexander 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Fredrick 2
Horace 2
Sidney 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Cyril 1
David 1
Emma 1
Eward 1
Fredk. 1
H.John 1
Harlin 1
Jas. 1
Jeffery 1
Lacy 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Michael 1
Nathan 1
Obediah 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1
Syney 1
Wilfred 1
Williham 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Pulham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pulham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 498 people were recorded with the Pulham surname. That placed it at #6,796 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pulham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 576 in 2016. That gives Pulham a modern rank of #8,983.

What does the Pulham surname mean?

A surname derived from the name of a village in Norfolk, England.

What does the Pulham map show?

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