NameCensus.

UK surname

Regent

Denoting a person acting as ruler or regent of a kingdom.

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Regent surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 122, ranked #27,255, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Dover and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Regent is 136 in 2003. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 221.1%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

122

2016, ranked #27,255

Peak year

2003

136 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Regent had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016, ranked #27,255.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 66 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Regent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Regent surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Regent 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 38 #26,502
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 66 #28,541
1901 historical 48 #28,808
1911 historical 64 #26,435
1997 modern 112 #25,244
1998 modern 117 #25,190
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 126 #23,883
2002 modern 133 #23,585
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 124 #24,529
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 125 #24,987
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 123 #26,098
2010 modern 127 #26,176
2011 modern 123 #26,512
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 122 #27,255

Geography

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Where Regents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Dover, South Oxfordshire and St Edmundsbury. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 010 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Dover 008 Dover
3 South Oxfordshire 008 South Oxfordshire
4 St Edmundsbury 003 St Edmundsbury
5 St Edmundsbury 008 St Edmundsbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Regent

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Regent

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Regent surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Regent 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Regent 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

Regent 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

Regent falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Regent

The surname REGENT has its origins in medieval England, deriving from the Old French "regent" meaning "ruling" or "governing." It was initially used as an occupational surname for someone who served as a regent, a person appointed to govern a state during the minority, absence, or incapacity of the monarch.

During the Middle Ages, the REGENT surname first appeared in various legal and administrative records in England, particularly in areas with close ties to the French nobility and government. Some of the earliest documented instances of this surname can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries.

One notable historical reference to the REGENT surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls, a census-like survey conducted in England in the late 13th century. The Hundred Rolls contain entries of individuals with the surname REGENT, indicating their presence and potential roles as regents or administrators within their respective communities.

In the 15th century, a prominent figure bearing the REGENT surname was Sir John Regent (c. 1420-1482), a member of the English gentry and a loyal supporter of the House of York during the Wars of the Roses. He served as a trusted advisor to King Edward IV and was granted lands and titles for his service.

Another notable individual with the REGENT surname was William Regent (c. 1510-1573), a English lawyer and legal scholar who held the position of Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Cambridge. His teachings and writings on civil law and jurisprudence were highly influential during the Tudor era.

During the 17th century, the REGENT surname gained further recognition with the exploits of Sir Robert Regent (1593-1657), an English naval commander and explorer. He led several expeditions to the West Indies and played a crucial role in the establishment of English settlements in the Caribbean.

In the 18th century, the REGENT surname was associated with the aristocratic Regent family, who held the title of Earl of Regent in Ireland. This family traced their lineage back to the Norman conquest of England and held significant political and social influence within the Irish nobility.

As the centuries progressed, the REGENT surname continued to be represented by individuals from various walks of life, including academics, military personnel, clergymen, and landowners. While the name's occupational roots as a regent or governor faded over time, it remained a respectable and well-established surname throughout England and its territories.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Regent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Regent 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 10 Regents recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.16x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 10 22.16x
Lancashire 9 2.05x
Durham 5 4.54x
Middlesex 5 1.35x
Hampshire 3 3.95x
Yorkshire 3 0.82x
Surrey 2 1.11x
Dorset 1 4.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Little Bolton in Lancashire leads with 9 Regents recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.29x.

Place Total Index
Little Bolton 9 159.29x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 6 705.88x
Stockton On Tees 4 75.33x
Portsea 3 20.16x
Woolpit 3 2307.69x
Bermondsey 2 18.13x
Chelsea London 2 17.92x
Pontefract 2 253.16x
Shoreditch London 2 12.45x
Bradfield 1 70.42x
Iwerne Courtnay 1 625.00x
Medomsley 1 196.08x
St Marylebone London 1 5.06x
Stanningfield 1 3333.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ellen 3
Jane 2
Mary 2
... 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Isabelle 1
Jemima 1
Martha 1
May 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Frederick 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
Joseph 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Chas. 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Nelson 1
Thomas 1
Thomos 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Regent households.

FAQ

Regent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Regent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 38 people were recorded with the Regent surname. That placed it at #28,285 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Regent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 122 in 2016. That gives Regent a modern rank of #27,255.

What does the Regent surname mean?

Denoting a person acting as ruler or regent of a kingdom.

What does the Regent map show?

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