NameCensus.

UK surname

Regis

A regal surname derived from the Latin word meaning "of the king" or "kingly."

In the 1881 census there were 38 people recorded with the Regis surname, ranking it #28,285 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 349, ranked #13,189, up from #28,285 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rutland, South Kesteven and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Regis is 357 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 818.4%.

1881 census count

38

Ranked #28,285

Modern count

349

2016, ranked #13,189

Peak year

2014

357 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Regis had 38 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,285 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016, ranked #13,189.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 54 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Regis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Regis surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Regis 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 44 #28,433
1881 historical 38 #28,285
1891 historical 37 #31,398
1901 historical 36 #30,099
1911 historical 54 #27,423
1997 modern 245 #15,483
1998 modern 255 #15,470
1999 modern 263 #15,267
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 254 #15,363
2002 modern 268 #15,081
2003 modern 257 #15,341
2004 modern 274 #14,762
2005 modern 266 #15,007
2006 modern 279 #14,577
2007 modern 290 #14,372
2008 modern 308 #13,882
2009 modern 324 #13,689
2010 modern 347 #13,325
2011 modern 337 #13,463
2012 modern 340 #13,245
2013 modern 346 #13,291
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 353 #13,086
2016 modern 349 #13,189

Geography

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Where Regis' 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 Rutland, South Kesteven, North Norfolk and Tower Hamlets. 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 Rutland 004 Rutland
2 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven
3 North Norfolk 001 North Norfolk
4 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
5 Tower Hamlets 022 Tower Hamlets

Forenames

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First names often paired with Regis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Regis

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Regis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Regis 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Regis is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Regis 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

Regis falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Regis

The surname Regis has its origins in France, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Latin word "rex," meaning "king," and is believed to have initially been a nickname given to those who exhibited regal or noble qualities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Regis can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landholder named Reginaldus Regis, indicating the presence of the name in Norman England during this period.

Throughout the centuries, the Regis surname has been associated with various notable figures. One such individual was Jean-Baptiste Regis, a French Jesuit priest and missionary who lived from 1597 to 1640. He dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized communities in the south of France and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

Another prominent bearer of the Regis name was Régis Debray, a French philosopher and theorist born in 1940. He is best known for his writings on revolutionary theory and his involvement in the Cuban Revolution, having fought alongside Che Guevara in the 1960s.

In the literary realm, the Regis surname is associated with Marie-Catherine Desjardins, Madame de Villedieu, a French novelist and playwright who lived from 1640 to 1683. She was a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time and is remembered for her contributions to the development of the novel genre.

The name Regis has also been linked to various places and locations throughout history. For instance, the town of Regis-Breitingen in Saxony, Germany, is believed to have derived its name from a person named Regis or a variation of the name.

Over the centuries, the Regis surname has undergone various spellings and variations, including Regiss, Regisse, Regisz, and Regiszter, reflecting the linguistic and cultural influences of different regions.

It is worth noting that while the surname Regis has a rich history, it is essential to approach historical records and accounts with a critical eye, as some details may have been subject to embellishment or inaccuracies over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Regis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Regis 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. Essex leads with 14 Regis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.15x.

County Total Index
Essex 14 19.15x
Kent 10 7.91x
Norfolk 10 17.56x
Middlesex 3 0.81x
Somerset 1 1.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 13 Regis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.55x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 13 80.55x
Shouldham 10 12500.00x
Eastry 5 2777.78x
Lower Hardres 3 7500.00x
Charlton 1 119.05x
Great Clacton 1 400.00x
Kensington London 1 4.86x
North Cadbury 1 909.09x
Paddington London 1 7.34x
St George Hanover 1 20.66x
Tonbridge 1 21.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Anna 1
Ellen 1
Louisa 1
Rose 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Morris 3
Frederick 2
John 2
Louis 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Archibald 1
Firmin 1
Fredk. 1
George 1
Harry 1
Leonce 1
Maurice 1
Robert 1
Thomas 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 Regis households.

FAQ

Regis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Regis surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Regis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 349 in 2016. That gives Regis a modern rank of #13,189.

What does the Regis surname mean?

A regal surname derived from the Latin word meaning "of the king" or "kingly."

What does the Regis map show?

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