NameCensus.

UK surname

Round

An English surname derived from someone of a plump and rotund appearance.

In the 1881 census there were 2,746 people recorded with the Round surname, ranking it #1,624 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,286, ranked #1,583, up from #1,624 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley and Rowley Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Round is 4,578 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

2,746

Ranked #1,624

Modern count

4,286

2016, ranked #1,583

Peak year

1999

4,578 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Round had 2,746 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,624 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,286 in 2016, ranked #1,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,169 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Round surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Round surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Round 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 1,629 #1,763
1861 historical 1,615 #1,762
1881 historical 2,746 #1,624
1891 historical 3,158 #1,496
1901 historical 3,692 #1,519
1911 historical 4,169 #1,244
1997 modern 4,443 #1,480
1998 modern 4,564 #1,487
1999 modern 4,578 #1,493
2000 modern 4,496 #1,511
2001 modern 4,388 #1,510
2002 modern 4,461 #1,515
2003 modern 4,358 #1,518
2004 modern 4,295 #1,540
2005 modern 4,178 #1,556
2006 modern 4,171 #1,570
2007 modern 4,161 #1,582
2008 modern 4,154 #1,595
2009 modern 4,249 #1,603
2010 modern 4,393 #1,582
2011 modern 4,355 #1,572
2012 modern 4,296 #1,565
2013 modern 4,349 #1,579
2014 modern 4,381 #1,580
2015 modern 4,320 #1,581
2016 modern 4,286 #1,583

Geography

Back to top

Where Rounds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Dudley, Rowley Regis, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley and South Staffordshire. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
4 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 018 Dudley
2 Dudley 006 Dudley
3 Dudley 013 Dudley
4 South Staffordshire 014 South Staffordshire
5 Dudley 017 Dudley

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Round

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Round

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Round surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Round household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Round is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Round is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Round falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Round

The surname ROUND is an English locational name that originated in the 12th century. It derives from the Old English word 'rund', meaning a circular or rounded hill or mound. The name likely referred to someone who lived near or on a rounded hill or mound.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name dates back to 1199, when a Robert le Rund was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire. Another early record is from 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire, where a William le Runde is listed.

In the 13th century, the name was also found in various other parts of England, such as Yorkshire, where it appeared as Round, Rounde, and Rownde. The spellings were often influenced by local dialects and the individual scribes who recorded the names.

The surname ROUND can be traced back to various place names in England, such as Round Green in Cambridgeshire, Round Hill in Wiltshire, and Round Fen in Lincolnshire. These place names likely influenced the development of the surname, as people would often take their names from the places they lived or were associated with.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname ROUND was Sir John Round (c. 1400 - 1477), a member of Parliament for Middlesex in 1453 and 1457. Another notable figure was Sir Walter Round (c. 1535 - 1618), a Member of Parliament for Ipswich in 1584 and a prominent landowner in Suffolk.

In the 16th century, the name was found in various parts of England, including Essex, where a John Round was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of 1524. In the 17th century, a notable individual with the surname was Richard Round (1628 - 1699), an English botanist and author of the book "The Gardener's Labyrinth".

Another significant figure with the surname ROUND was John Round (1781 - 1865), an English author and historian who wrote extensively about the history and antiquities of Essex and Suffolk.

Throughout its history, the surname ROUND has been associated with various occupations, from landowners and politicians to botanists and authors, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and pursuits of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Round families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Round 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. Worcestershire leads with 908 Rounds recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.98x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 908 25.98x
Staffordshire 828 9.16x
Warwickshire 186 2.76x
Lancashire 161 0.51x
Yorkshire 138 0.52x
Middlesex 108 0.40x
Surrey 73 0.56x
Shropshire 49 2.12x
Durham 47 0.59x
Essex 35 0.66x
Kent 34 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 34 0.94x
Cheshire 26 0.44x
Berkshire 19 0.95x
Lanarkshire 17 0.20x
Oxfordshire 17 1.03x
Derbyshire 9 0.21x
Hampshire 9 0.16x
Hertfordshire 8 0.43x
Sussex 8 0.18x
Gloucestershire 5 0.10x
Northamptonshire 5 0.20x
Devon 4 0.07x
Somerset 4 0.09x
Wiltshire 3 0.13x
Channel Islands 2 0.25x
Royal Navy 2 0.63x
Suffolk 2 0.06x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 584 Rounds recorded in 1881 and an index of 137.43x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 584 137.43x
Kingswinford 136 41.46x
Oldbury 136 79.08x
Tipton 133 48.07x
Rowley Regis 131 52.03x
West Bromwich 90 17.40x
Aston 89 4.79x
Harborne 82 28.32x
Birmingham 66 2.93x
Sedgley 54 16.09x
Wolverhampton 47 6.77x
Lye 31 53.29x
Warley Wigorn 31 278.28x
Over Darwen 30 11.83x
Lambeth 29 1.24x
Dawley 26 30.90x
Barrow In Furness 23 5.32x
Rotherham 23 15.38x
West Ham 20 1.71x
Upperswinford 19 64.23x
Camberwell 17 0.99x
Handsworth 16 7.18x
St Andrew Holborn 16 17.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 16 1.67x
Wednesbury 16 7.09x
Wollescote 16 56.82x
Middlesbrough 14 4.05x
Oxford St Thomas 14 18.15x
Stourbridge 14 15.57x
Sutton In Ashfield 14 17.88x
Bilston 13 7.42x
Edgbaston 13 6.21x
Everton 13 1.28x
Long Lawford 13 207.01x
Reading St Mary 13 8.08x
Thornaby 13 13.12x
Wellington 13 10.00x
Lewisham 12 2.46x
Manchester 12 0.84x
Gateshead 11 1.84x
Gradley 11 65.13x
Tudhoe 11 15.79x
Lichfield St Chad 10 49.21x
Mile End Old Town 10 2.37x
St Pancras London 10 0.46x
Wednesfield 10 7.52x
Wigan 10 2.25x
Colchester All Sts 9 218.45x
Monks Coppenhall 9 4.04x
Nether Hallam 9 2.51x
Newington 9 0.91x
Pemberton 9 7.11x
Rushall 9 16.93x
Sheffield 9 1.07x
Willenhall 9 5.32x
Bothwell 8 3.41x
Brinsworth 8 65.04x
Bury 8 2.20x
Cannock 8 5.07x
Halesowen 8 26.07x
Hanwell 8 16.86x
Heeley 8 9.93x
Hoyland Nether 8 12.30x
Kings Norton 8 2.55x
St George In East 8 4.39x
Tenbury 8 41.80x
Wath On Dearne 8 15.12x
York St Mary Castlegate 8 102.56x
Aspull 7 9.37x
Blackburn 7 0.83x
Bromsgrove 7 5.95x
Burslem 7 2.70x
Darlaston 7 5.61x
Dukinfield 7 2.56x
St George Bloomsbury 7 4.56x
Stapleford 7 23.89x
Battersea 6 0.61x
Lenton 6 7.06x
North Meols 6 1.93x
Norton In Moors 6 12.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 146
John 137
Joseph 112
Thomas 108
George 76
James 65
Benjamin 61
Samuel 42
Edward 38
Henry 36
Alfred 29
David 25
Charles 23
Albert 20
Arthur 20
Daniel 20
Enoch 20
Frank 15
Edwin 14
Richard 14
Frederick 13
Harry 13
Isaac 13
Moses 11
Adam 8
Francis 8
Wm. 8
Ernest 7
Herbert 7
Thos. 7
Elijah 5
Jabez 5
Robert 5
Saml. 5
Walter 5
Alexander 4
Benj. 4
Edmund 4
Fred 4
Josh. 4
Willm. 4
Abel 3
Abraham 3
Andrew 3
Eli 3
Frederic 3
Mark 3
Raymond 3
Simeon 3
Anthony 2

FAQ

Round surname: questions and answers

How common was the Round surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,746 people were recorded with the Round surname. That placed it at #1,624 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Round surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,286 in 2016. That gives Round a modern rank of #1,583.

What does the Round surname mean?

An English surname derived from someone of a plump and rotund appearance.

What does the Round map show?

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