NameCensus.

UK surname

Pumfrey

A surname derived from a place name indicating a person who hailed from Pontefract or Pumpfrey.

In the 1881 census there were 215 people recorded with the Pumfrey surname, ranking it #12,249 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, down from #12,249 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Mary Islington and Witney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Adur and Malvern Hills.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pumfrey is 329 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.0%.

1881 census count

215

Ranked #12,249

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

1911

329 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pumfrey had 215 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,249 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 329 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Pumfrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pumfrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pumfrey 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 215 #12,249
1891 historical 215 #14,155
1901 historical 248 #13,204
1911 historical 329 #10,688
1997 modern 296 #13,646
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 315 #13,524
2000 modern 312 #13,561
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 311 #13,549
2005 modern 298 #13,895
2006 modern 301 #13,886
2007 modern 298 #14,103
2008 modern 300 #14,135
2009 modern 303 #14,315
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 286 #15,091
2012 modern 285 #15,050
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Pumfreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Mary Islington, Witney and Upton-on-Severn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Adur, Malvern Hills and North Warwickshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
3 Witney Oxfordshire
4 Upton-on-Severn Worcestershire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 021 Brighton and Hove
2 Adur 001 Adur
3 Malvern Hills 011 Malvern Hills
4 North Warwickshire 003 North Warwickshire
5 Brighton and Hove 012 Brighton and Hove

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pumfrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pumfrey

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Pumfrey 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

Pumfrey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pumfrey falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pumfrey

The surname Pumfrey has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old French word "pomfrei," which means "one who comes from Pontefract," a town in West Yorkshire, England. This suggests that the name was initially used to identify individuals who hailed from or lived in the vicinity of Pontefract.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Pumfrey can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appears in various historical documents and records. In the renowned Domesday Book, which was compiled in 1086, there are mentions of places with similar names, such as "Puntfretun" and "Puntfraite," which may have influenced the eventual spelling of Pumfrey.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Pumfrey was Sir William Pumfrey (c. 1330-1397), a prominent English landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was John Pumfrey (c. 1520-1580), a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London.

In the 17th century, the name Pumfrey gained further prominence with the birth of Roger Pumfrey (1621-1695), an English mathematician and member of the Royal Society. He made significant contributions to the study of optics and is credited with developing one of the earliest compound microscopes.

During the 18th century, a notable individual named Thomas Pumfrey (1725-1792) served as the Mayor of Worcester, England, and played a crucial role in the city's governance and development.

The 19th century saw the rise of William Pumfrey (1810-1872), a successful industrialist and entrepreneur who established the Pumfrey & Co. Iron Works in Wolverhampton, England. His company played a vital role in the production of machinery and equipment during the Industrial Revolution.

Throughout its history, the surname Pumfrey has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields, from military service and commerce to science and industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pumfrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pumfrey 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. Oxfordshire leads with 28 Pumfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.62x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 28 21.62x
Middlesex 27 1.29x
Worcestershire 27 9.86x
Norfolk 25 7.75x
Sussex 19 5.37x
Warwickshire 15 2.84x
Cambridgeshire 10 7.53x
Kent 9 1.26x
Surrey 9 0.88x
Monmouthshire 6 3.96x
Berkshire 5 3.18x
Gloucestershire 5 1.22x
Hampshire 4 0.93x
Somerset 4 1.18x
Wiltshire 4 2.16x
Huntingdonshire 3 7.20x
Leicestershire 3 1.29x
Northamptonshire 3 1.52x
Dorset 2 1.45x
Essex 2 0.48x
Hertfordshire 2 1.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.92x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.35x
Suffolk 1 0.39x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Upton On Severn in Worcestershire leads with 26 Pumfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1452.51x.

Place Total Index
Upton On Severn 26 1452.51x
Eastbourne 11 67.61x
Deptford St Paul 9 16.31x
Islington London 9 4.43x
Aston 8 5.49x
Great Yarmouth 8 29.95x
Bradwell 7 3684.21x
Hammersmith London 7 13.55x
Witney 7 322.58x
Bermondsey 6 9.61x
Little Shelford 6 1621.62x
Oxford St Thomas 6 99.34x
Southwick 6 320.86x
Themelthorpe 6 12000.00x
Oxford St Aldate 5 367.65x
St Woollos 5 29.55x
Wantage 5 199.20x
Cherry Hinton 4 645.16x
Prestbury 4 392.16x
Shoreditch London 4 4.40x
Sowe 4 421.05x
St Faith Winchester 4 200.00x
Swindon 4 27.80x
Wellington 4 87.34x
Crostwick 3 2500.00x
Fen Stanton 3 389.61x
Gunthorpe 3 1875.00x
Lutterworth 3 211.27x
Monks Kirby 3 258.62x
Oxford St Ebbe 3 78.74x
Reepham With Kerdiston 3 789.47x
Rotherhithe 3 11.58x
Brighton 2 2.80x
Chelsea London 2 3.16x
Graveley 2 740.74x
Kensington London 2 1.72x
Wood Dalling 2 571.43x
Wyke Regis 2 101.52x
Bromsgrove 1 10.85x
Bulwell 1 16.26x
Dunstable 1 29.94x
Foulness 1 196.08x
Hampstead London 1 3.06x
Leyton 1 14.03x
Llangattock 1 555.56x
Lowestoft 1 8.29x
Mile End Old Town 1 3.02x
Newborough 1 200.00x
Potterspury 1 126.58x
St Clement Danes 1 29.50x
Tewkesbury 1 27.25x
Towcester 1 49.26x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 11
Eliza 6
Annie 5
Caroline 5
Emma 5
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Sarah 3
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Addie 1
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Carolinn 1
Cora 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emeralda 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Honor 1
Lily 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
May 1
Mildred 1
Roseanne 1
Ruth 1
Sussie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 15
William 10
James 9
Charles 6
Francis 6
John 6
Alfred 5
George 4
Walter 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Henry 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Samuel 2
Allen 1
Bernard 1
E. 1
Geo.C. 1
Giles 1
Hubert 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Jessie 1
Leonard 1
Luther 1
Matthew 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Thos.H. 1

FAQ

Pumfrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pumfrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 215 people were recorded with the Pumfrey surname. That placed it at #12,249 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pumfrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Pumfrey a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Pumfrey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name indicating a person who hailed from Pontefract or Pumpfrey.

What does the Pumfrey map show?

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