NameCensus.

UK surname

Pullan

An English surname derived from an Old Norman French word meaning "colt" or "young filly".

In the 1881 census there were 1,181 people recorded with the Pullan surname, ranking it #3,410 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,299, ranked #4,610, down from #3,410 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Bradford and Leeds. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harrogate, Bradford and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pullan is 1,582 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 10.0%.

1881 census count

1,181

Ranked #3,410

Modern count

1,299

2016, ranked #4,610

Peak year

1911

1,582 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pullan had 1,181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,410 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016, ranked #4,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,582 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Pullan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pullan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pullan 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 675 #3,842
1861 historical 752 #3,640
1881 historical 1,181 #3,410
1891 historical 1,248 #3,460
1901 historical 1,469 #3,480
1911 historical 1,582 #3,069
1997 modern 1,306 #4,385
1998 modern 1,353 #4,399
1999 modern 1,379 #4,357
2000 modern 1,369 #4,372
2001 modern 1,347 #4,340
2002 modern 1,362 #4,392
2003 modern 1,310 #4,455
2004 modern 1,288 #4,520
2005 modern 1,274 #4,513
2006 modern 1,254 #4,591
2007 modern 1,257 #4,632
2008 modern 1,255 #4,660
2009 modern 1,273 #4,702
2010 modern 1,299 #4,705
2011 modern 1,297 #4,652
2012 modern 1,284 #4,624
2013 modern 1,313 #4,615
2014 modern 1,331 #4,583
2015 modern 1,308 #4,604
2016 modern 1,299 #4,610

Geography

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Where Pullans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall, Bradford and Leeds. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harrogate, Bradford and North Lincolnshire. 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 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Leeds Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harrogate 006 Harrogate
2 Bradford 059 Bradford
3 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
4 Bradford 028 Bradford
5 Harrogate 018 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pullan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pullan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Pullan, 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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Pullan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Pullan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pullan is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Pullan 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

Pullan falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Pullan 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 Pullan, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Pullan

The surname PULLAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "pull," which means "pool" or "stream." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a pool or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the PULLAN surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared as "de Pullan," indicating that it was associated with a specific location.

In the 13th century, the PULLAN surname was documented in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where it was spelled "Pullan" and "Pullane." These records suggest that the name was concentrated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lancashire.

Over the centuries, the PULLAN surname has been associated with several notable individuals. One of the earliest recorded PULLANs was William PULLAN, a merchant from Yorkshire who lived in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was John PULLAN (1563-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Cleveland.

In the 18th century, Samuel PULLAN (1730-1805) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Leeds, including the Leeds General Infirmary and the Coloured Cloth Hall. His son, Richard Pullan (1768-1838), followed in his footsteps and became an architect as well.

Another individual worth mentioning is William John Fitz Pullan (1833-1920), an English painter who specialized in landscape and marine scenes. He was a member of the Royal Society of British Artists and exhibited his works at various galleries in London.

While the PULLAN surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and New Zealand, due to migration and exploration in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pullan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pullan 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. Yorkshire leads with 1,020 Pullans recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.93x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,020 8.93x
Lancashire 52 0.38x
Lincolnshire 27 1.47x
Durham 12 0.35x
Surrey 11 0.20x
Middlesex 10 0.09x
Kent 8 0.20x
Caernarfonshire 7 1.50x
Essex 6 0.26x
Angus 5 0.47x
Cheshire 4 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.26x
Midlothian 3 0.19x
Staffordshire 3 0.08x
Gloucestershire 2 0.09x
Lanarkshire 2 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Perthshire 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 103 Pullans recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.98x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 103 15.98x
Hunslet 49 27.53x
Wortley In Bramley 46 50.87x
Guiseley 44 300.96x
Idle 38 71.79x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 37 94.77x
Farnley In Bramley 29 203.51x
Headingley Cum Burley 29 39.46x
Thornton In Bradford 27 71.05x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 24 574.16x
Bradford 23 8.32x
Manningham 23 16.35x
Otley 23 82.97x
Horton In Bradford 20 11.22x
Shipley 20 33.76x
Keighley 19 15.61x
Eccleshill 18 64.79x
Barwick In Elmet 17 194.29x
Armley 16 31.78x
Thornthwaite Cum 16 1649.48x
Chapel Allerton 14 81.97x
Dacre 14 551.18x
Pannal 14 127.74x
Ilkley 13 69.67x
Castleton 12 8.79x
Thruscross 12 960.00x
Holy Trinity 11 4.01x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 10 236.41x
Sculcoates 10 5.53x
Bolton In Bradford 9 122.95x
Burley In Wharfdale 9 89.29x
Garthorpe 9 405.41x
Hipperholme Cum 9 17.94x
Knaresborough 9 50.20x
Newington 9 28.63x
Beamsley In Skipton 8 1095.89x
Doncaster 8 9.59x
Lewisham 8 3.82x
Preston 8 2.19x
Beeston 7 60.61x
Bettws Y Coed 7 226.54x
Brightside Bierlow 7 3.13x
East Ardsley 7 70.78x
Horsforth 7 27.97x
Menwith Cum Darley 7 307.02x
Nether Hallam 7 4.53x
Skipton 7 19.48x
Althorpe 6 143.20x
Bermondsey 6 1.75x
Bingley 6 8.25x
Blackburn 6 1.65x
Blubberhouses 6 2000.00x
Bramham Cum Oglethorpe 6 131.87x
Middleton In Wharfedale 6 1000.00x
Norton In Malton 6 43.35x
Rawdon 6 44.64x
Romford 6 16.69x
Soothill 6 14.55x
St Pancras London 6 0.65x
Stockton On Tees 6 3.63x
Tottington Lower End 6 9.24x
Bramley In Bramley 5 11.44x
Dundee 5 1.25x
East Hartburn 5 352.11x
Falsgrave 5 29.73x
High Low Bishopside 5 49.36x
Lambeth 5 0.50x
Wakefield 5 5.71x
Baildon 4 18.60x
Halifax 4 2.39x
Holbeck 4 5.29x
Middlesbrough 4 2.69x
Nottingham St Mary 4 1.00x
Roecliffe 4 416.67x
Salford 4 0.99x
Scotton In 4 347.83x
Skircoat 4 8.88x
West Derby 4 1.00x
York St Mary 4 8.46x
Pudsey 3 4.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 91
William 61
Thomas 39
James 30
Joseph 25
George 24
Charles 23
Henry 18
Arthur 13
Robert 13
Alfred 11
Walter 9
Richard 8
Wm. 8
Benjamin 7
Harry 7
Matthew 7
Albert 6
Christopher 6
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Fred 6
Tom 6
Edward 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Frederick 4
Thos. 4
Mark 3
Percy 3
Willie 3
Aaron 2
Abraham 2
Dennis 2
Edmund 2
Eli 2
Harold 2
Hezekiah 2
Jesse 2
Jno. 2
Jonathan 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Peter 2
Sam 2
Seth 2
Stephen 2
Wilson 2
Wright 1

FAQ

Pullan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pullan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,181 people were recorded with the Pullan surname. That placed it at #3,410 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pullan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,299 in 2016. That gives Pullan a modern rank of #4,610.

What does the Pullan surname mean?

An English surname derived from an Old Norman French word meaning "colt" or "young filly".

What does the Pullan map show?

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