NameCensus.

UK surname

Regester

A variant form of the English occupational surname "Register", referring to a keeper of official records or registers.

In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Regester surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 125, ranked #26,827, down from #23,062 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn and Dunham, Little. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Stratford-on-Avon and Stockport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Regester is 135 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.9%.

1881 census count

74

Ranked #23,062

Modern count

125

2016, ranked #26,827

Peak year

1911

135 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Regester had 74 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,062 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016, ranked #26,827.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Regester surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Regester surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Regester 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 47 #24,810
1861 historical 42 #28,691
1881 historical 74 #23,062
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 86 #24,508
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 127 #23,940
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 120 #24,950
2001 modern 118 #24,832
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 117 #25,282
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 108 #26,736
2006 modern 116 #25,813
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 104 #28,341
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 114 #28,017
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 108 #28,849
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 127 #26,634
2015 modern 122 #27,245
2016 modern 125 #26,827

Geography

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Where Regesters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn, Dunham, Little, Wisbech St Peter and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Stratford-on-Avon, Stockport, Babergh and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn Norfolk
3 Dunham, Little Norfolk
4 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk
2 Stratford-on-Avon 014 Stratford-on-Avon
3 Stockport 032 Stockport
4 Babergh 007 Babergh
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Regester

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Regester

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Regester 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

Regester 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

Regester 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 Regester 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 Regester, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Regester

The surname Regester has its origins in England, tracing back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "regestre," which referred to a registry or record book, suggesting the name may have been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a registrar or record-keeper.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1190, where a person named Walterus le Regestre is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the surname.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which lists a Willelmus le Regestre. This further solidifies the presence of the name during this time period.

During the 14th century, the surname Regester began to appear in more widespread records across England. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a John le Regestre, while the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379 list a Johannes Regester.

One notable individual bearing this surname was William Regester, a prominent merchant and politician who lived in the late 15th century. He served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1487 and played a significant role in the city's affairs during that time.

In the 16th century, the surname Regester was found in various locations across England. The Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524 mention a Thomas Regester, while the Subsidy Rolls of Essex from 1545 list a John Regester.

Another notable figure was Thomas Regester, a clergyman and scholar who lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was born in Lincolnshire in 1566 and served as the Rector of Staunton Harecourt in Oxfordshire.

During the 17th century, the name Regester appeared in various parish records and legal documents. One example is John Regester, who was born in 1643 in Gloucestershire and became a prominent landowner in the region.

The 18th century saw the surname Regester spread further across England, with records indicating its presence in counties such as Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. One notable individual from this period was William Regester, born in 1732 in Somerset, who served as a military officer during the American Revolutionary War.

As the surname Regester continued to be passed down through generations, it underwent various spelling variations, including Regester, Register, and Regestar. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained consistent, reflecting its ties to the occupational role of record-keeping in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Regester families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Regester 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. Norfolk leads with 33 Regesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.74x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 33 29.74x
Cambridgeshire 16 35.01x
Yorkshire 16 2.24x
Essex 7 4.91x
Middlesex 1 0.14x
Surrey 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heeley in Yorkshire leads with 12 Regesters recorded in 1881 and an index of 553.00x.

Place Total Index
Heeley 12 553.00x
Wisbech St Peter 11 480.35x
Holme Hale 10 10000.00x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 9 270.27x
South Lynn 9 720.00x
Wanstead 7 281.12x
March 5 326.80x
Great Dunham 4 4000.00x
Horton In Bradford 3 26.86x
East Walton 1 2000.00x
Sculcoates 1 8.82x
St Marylebone London 1 2.60x
Woking 1 47.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Clara 3
Sarah 3
Christiana 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Mary 2
Alfreda 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Everlin 1
Felicia 1
George 1
Georgiana 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabela 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Letty 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Malvina 1
Mona 1
Thirza 1

Top male names

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

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 Regester households.

FAQ

Regester surname: questions and answers

How common was the Regester surname in 1881?

In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Regester surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Regester surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 125 in 2016. That gives Regester a modern rank of #26,827.

What does the Regester surname mean?

A variant form of the English occupational surname "Register", referring to a keeper of official records or registers.

What does the Regester map show?

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