NameCensus.

UK surname

Scale

Originally denoted a person who weighed or measured things.

In the 1881 census there were 181 people recorded with the Scale surname, ranking it #13,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 169, ranked #21,884, down from #13,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scale is 247 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.6%.

1881 census count

181

Ranked #13,690

Modern count

169

2016, ranked #21,884

Peak year

1891

247 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scale had 181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016, ranked #21,884.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 247 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Scale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scale 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 155 #12,604
1861 historical 240 #10,226
1881 historical 181 #13,690
1891 historical 247 #12,880
1901 historical 202 #15,010
1911 historical 228 #13,759
1997 modern 171 #19,438
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 180 #19,454
2000 modern 178 #19,570
2001 modern 173 #19,635
2002 modern 182 #19,411
2003 modern 174 #19,760
2004 modern 173 #19,937
2005 modern 184 #19,117
2006 modern 179 #19,592
2007 modern 179 #19,811
2008 modern 183 #19,735
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 191 #20,015
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 177 #21,340
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 169 #21,884

Geography

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Where Scales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Llanguick and Hasguard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire. 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 Sedgley Staffordshire
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Llanguick Glamorganshire
5 Hasguard Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
5 Pembrokeshire 011 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scale

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Scale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Scale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Scale 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

Scale 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

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

Meaning and origin of Scale

The surname Scale has its origins in England, where it first emerged during the Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Old English word "scealu," meaning "scale" or "husk," suggesting that the original bearers of this surname may have been involved in some form of agriculture or related occupations.

The earliest recorded instances of the Scale surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with references appearing in various historical documents such as the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273. This record mentions a William Scale residing in the county of Lincolnshire during that time period.

In the following centuries, the Scale surname continued to appear in various parts of England, with variations in spelling such as Scall, Scalle, and Scayle. One notable example is John Scale, a member of the English Parliament who represented Oxfordshire in 1395.

During the 16th century, the Scale surname gained further prominence with the birth of Roger Scale (1516-1587), an English theologian and Protestant reformer who played a significant role in the English Reformation. He was a vocal opponent of the Catholic Church and advocated for the establishment of the Church of England.

Another notable individual with the Scale surname was Sir Walter Scale (1586-1659), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire during the reign of King Charles I. He was a staunch Royalist and supported the King during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the Scale surname was represented by William Scale (1714-1799), an English architect and surveyor who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the St. Dionis Backchurch and St. Mary-le-Strand churches.

One of the most famous individuals with the Scale surname was Thomas Scale (1785-1860), an English explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of Australian flora and fauna. He was one of the first Europeans to extensively document the unique plant and animal life of the Australian continent.

Throughout history, the Scale surname has been associated with various occupations, from agriculture and theology to architecture and exploration, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scale 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 51 Scales recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.89x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 51 90.89x
Surrey 37 4.30x
Middlesex 25 1.42x
Glamorgan 19 6.18x
Lancashire 16 0.76x
Yorkshire 7 0.40x
Hertfordshire 6 4.93x
Sussex 5 1.68x
Staffordshire 4 0.67x
Devon 3 0.82x
Shropshire 3 1.97x
Essex 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.28x
Norfolk 1 0.37x
Oxfordshire 1 0.92x
Suffolk 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Marloes in Pembrokeshire leads with 17 Scales recorded in 1881 and an index of 6800.00x.

Place Total Index
Marloes 17 6800.00x
Camberwell 15 13.30x
Chelsea London 9 16.92x
Hasguard 8 16000.00x
Putney 8 99.38x
Battersea 7 10.78x
Lambeth 7 4.55x
Neath 7 112.00x
Steynton 7 386.74x
Toxteth Park 7 9.87x
Eglwysilan 6 112.57x
Burton 5 892.86x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 15.02x
Filey 5 354.61x
Hatfield 5 202.43x
Islington London 5 2.92x
Sedgley 4 18.08x
Westminster St James 4 22.04x
Acton Round 3 2727.27x
Briton Ferry 3 81.74x
Chiddingly 3 555.56x
Pembroke St Mary 3 41.49x
St Clement Danes 3 104.90x
Harroldston West 2 2500.00x
Hubberston 2 243.90x
Manor Bier 2 526.32x
Nash 2 3333.33x
Paignton 2 71.43x
Scarisbrick 2 82.30x
St Marylebone London 2 2.12x
Exeter St Edmund 1 126.58x
Finstock Fawler 1 277.78x
Fishguard 1 81.97x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.45x
Haverfordwest St Mary 1 123.46x
Hertford All Saints 1 147.06x
Horton In Bradford 1 3.66x
Hulme 1 2.29x
Ipswich St Mathew 1 16.58x
Llanhowell 1 1250.00x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 3.38x
Paddington London 1 1.54x
Pickering 1 45.45x
Portsea 1 1.41x
Stoke Newington London 1 7.27x
Subdeanary 1 125.00x
Subdeanery 1 44.25x
Swansea Lower 1 63.69x
Swansea Town 1 3.97x
Urmston 1 73.53x
West Ham 1 1.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 9
Mary 9
Alice 6
Elizabeth 6
Florence 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Eleanor 3
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Amy 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Lois 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christine 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbth 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Sage 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 8
John 6
William 6
George 5
Henry 4
James 4
Richard 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Bernard 3
Alfred 2
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edward 2
Robt. 2
Ambrose 1
Archibald 1
Charles 1
Clifford 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred.G. 1
Frederick 1
G.W. 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Harrold 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Julian 1
Martin 1
Montague 1
Morley 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Scale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 181 people were recorded with the Scale surname. That placed it at #13,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 169 in 2016. That gives Scale a modern rank of #21,884.

What does the Scale surname mean?

Originally denoted a person who weighed or measured things.

What does the Scale map show?

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