NameCensus.

UK surname

Pusey

Derived from the Old English place name meaning "pea island" or "island where peas grow."

In the 1881 census there were 658 people recorded with the Pusey surname, ranking it #5,453 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,104, ranked #5,323, up from #5,453 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burnham, Dorney, London parishes and Upton with Chalvey. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basingstoke and Deane, Chiltern and Wycombe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pusey is 1,161 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.8%.

1881 census count

658

Ranked #5,453

Modern count

1,104

2016, ranked #5,323

Peak year

2010

1,161 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pusey had 658 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,453 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,104 in 2016, ranked #5,323.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 900 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Pusey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pusey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pusey 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 383 #6,247
1861 historical 351 #7,278
1881 historical 658 #5,453
1891 historical 721 #5,469
1901 historical 820 #5,510
1911 historical 900 #4,953
1997 modern 1,088 #5,119
1998 modern 1,143 #5,095
1999 modern 1,131 #5,177
2000 modern 1,114 #5,218
2001 modern 1,084 #5,234
2002 modern 1,124 #5,200
2003 modern 1,095 #5,202
2004 modern 1,093 #5,215
2005 modern 1,069 #5,260
2006 modern 1,092 #5,170
2007 modern 1,103 #5,176
2008 modern 1,119 #5,149
2009 modern 1,158 #5,105
2010 modern 1,161 #5,192
2011 modern 1,114 #5,318
2012 modern 1,099 #5,293
2013 modern 1,108 #5,338
2014 modern 1,098 #5,402
2015 modern 1,100 #5,351
2016 modern 1,104 #5,323

Geography

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Where Puseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burnham, Dorney, London parishes and Upton with Chalvey. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Basingstoke and Deane, Chiltern and Wycombe. 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 Burnham, Dorney Buckinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basingstoke and Deane 017 Basingstoke and Deane
2 Chiltern 013 Chiltern
3 Chiltern 001 Chiltern
4 Wycombe 006 Wycombe
5 Wycombe 017 Wycombe

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pusey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pusey

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Pusey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Pusey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Pusey is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pusey is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pusey falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pusey

The surname Pusey has its origins in England and dates back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "pudd" meaning a small enclosure or pound, and "ey" meaning an island or dry ground surrounded by marsh or water. The name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a small enclosure or pound on an island or area of dry ground.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Pusey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Puddesie" in reference to a place in Berkshire. This place name likely gave rise to the surname as people began to adopt locational names during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the name appeared as "Pudesheye" in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1230. By the 14th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, appearing as "Pusey" in the Subsidy Rolls of Buckinghamshire in 1327.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Pusey was Simon Pusey (c. 1628-1670), an English colonist who settled in Boston, Massachusetts in the 17th century. He became a prominent merchant and landowner in the colony.

Another prominent figure was Edward Bouverie Pusey (1800-1882), an English theologian and leader of the Oxford Movement within the Church of England. He was a renowned scholar and prolific writer, and played a significant role in the revival of Catholic teachings and practices within the Anglican Church.

Other notable individuals with the Pusey surname include:

1. Caleb Pusey (1651-1727), an English Quaker who immigrated to Pennsylvania and became a prominent landowner and politician in the colony.

2. Philip Pusey (1799-1855), an English agriculturist and writer on agricultural topics, best known for his works on drainage and irrigation.

3. Nathan Pusey (1907-2001), an American educator who served as the president of Harvard University from 1953 to 1971, and played a significant role in shaping the university during a period of growth and development.

4. William Allen Pusey (1865-1940), an American Episcopal bishop and theologian, known for his work on the Book of Common Prayer and his contributions to the Oxford Movement in the United States.

5. Edward Byles Cowell Pusey (1800-1882), an English theologian and scholar, best known for his role in the Oxford Movement and his contributions to the study of patristic literature.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pusey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pusey 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 213 Puseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 54.81x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 213 54.81x
Middlesex 133 2.07x
Berkshire 70 14.51x
Surrey 70 2.23x
Oxfordshire 46 11.59x
Wiltshire 22 3.87x
Hampshire 18 1.37x
Kent 16 0.73x
Sussex 10 0.92x
Yorkshire 10 0.16x
Durham 8 0.42x
Glamorgan 6 0.54x
Westmorland 6 4.25x
Hertfordshire 5 1.13x
Lancashire 5 0.07x
Gloucestershire 4 0.32x
Shropshire 4 0.72x
Bedfordshire 3 0.90x
Norfolk 2 0.20x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.17x
Channel Islands 1 0.53x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.31x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wycombe in Buckinghamshire leads with 45 Puseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 155.33x.

Place Total Index
Wycombe 45 155.33x
Burnham 32 646.46x
Penn 26 1074.38x
Camberwell 22 5.36x
West Wycombe 19 360.53x
Culham 18 1512.61x
Abingdon St Helen 16 113.39x
Harmondsworth 15 375.94x
Islington London 15 2.41x
Fawley 13 311.00x
Hillingdon 10 48.78x
Lambeth 10 1.78x
Stoke Poges 10 210.97x
Upton Cum Chalvey 10 64.56x
Earley 9 111.94x
Isleworth 9 31.49x
Iver 9 179.64x
Longcot 9 1046.51x
Shoreditch London 9 3.23x
Acton 8 21.23x
Croydon 8 4.60x
Stokenchurch 8 225.35x
Swindon 8 18.14x
Ash Normandy 7 164.32x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.51x
Lewisham 7 5.99x
Lewknor Up Hill 7 1627.91x
Little Marlow 7 325.58x
Reading St Giles 7 14.79x
Staines 7 68.76x
Stanford In Vale 7 364.58x
Stockton On Tees 7 7.59x
Taplow 7 299.15x
Great Marlow 6 57.20x
Hackney London 6 1.66x
Hammersmith London 6 3.79x
Lowther 6 582.52x
Newington 6 2.53x
Stratton St Margaret 6 68.81x
Swansea Higher 6 51.46x
Wandsworth 6 9.70x
Clewer 5 25.29x
Ealing 5 8.70x
Hove 5 10.51x
Hutton Lowcross 5 980.39x
Little Missenden 5 204.08x
Warfield 5 114.16x
Aston Rowant 4 281.69x
Bow London 4 4.89x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 9.51x
Chalfont St Giles 4 143.88x
Chalfont St Peter 4 125.00x
Henley On Thames 4 49.20x
Liverpool 4 0.86x
Mile End Old Town 4 3.94x
Newhaven 4 45.45x
Oxford St Ebbe 4 34.25x
Sherrington 4 1142.86x
South Stoneham 4 14.00x
Stanton St John 4 330.58x
Thatcham 4 53.76x
Tonbridge 4 5.06x
Westminster St John 4 5.11x
Wooburn 4 74.63x
Eton 3 34.05x
Fulmer 3 319.15x
Ibstone Stokenchurch 3 422.54x
Leighton Buzzard 3 20.95x
Reading St Mary 3 7.76x
Rodbourne Cheney 3 68.34x
Shrewsbury St Julian 3 21.83x
St Martin In Fields 3 7.79x
Tring 3 25.36x
Chertsey 2 9.88x
Harrow 2 20.35x
Hayes 2 30.49x
Kingsey 2 377.36x
Morden 2 129.03x
Pangbourn 2 122.70x
Westminster St James 2 3.03x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 52
George 31
John 24
James 23
Thomas 21
Henry 17
Alfred 16
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Charles 10
Richard 8
Arthur 6
Albert 5
Joseph 5
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Walter 4
Abraham 3
Harry 3
Tom 3
Archibald 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Harvey 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
Infant 2
Josiah 2
Leonard 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Wm. 2
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Felix 1
Fred 1
Gorge 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Jabey 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Not 1
Paul 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Pusey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pusey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 658 people were recorded with the Pusey surname. That placed it at #5,453 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pusey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,104 in 2016. That gives Pusey a modern rank of #5,323.

What does the Pusey surname mean?

Derived from the Old English place name meaning "pea island" or "island where peas grow."

What does the Pusey map show?

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