UK surname
A habitational surname derived from a locality name based on the Old Norse word "skarð" meaning a gap or pass.
In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Scarf surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 75, ranked #33,377, down from #10,692 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Combs, Little Finborough, Hunston and Barningham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scarf is 282 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.5%.
1881 census count
263
Ranked #10,692
Modern count
75
2016, ranked #33,377
Peak year
1851
282 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Scarf surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Scarf surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 282 | #8,013 |
| 1861 | historical | 218 | #11,175 |
| 1881 | historical | 263 | #10,692 |
| 1891 | historical | 199 | #14,977 |
| 1901 | historical | 203 | #14,969 |
| 1911 | historical | 158 | #17,277 |
| 1997 | modern | 64 | #31,233 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 58 | #32,619 |
| 2004 | modern | 58 | #32,880 |
| 2005 | modern | 54 | #33,433 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 60 | #33,989 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 73 | #33,431 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 74 | #33,531 |
| 2015 | modern | 76 | #33,351 |
| 2016 | modern | 75 | #33,377 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Combs, Little Finborough, Hunston, Barningham, Plumstead and Stoke by Nayland, Assington, Wissington, Nayland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Combs, Little Finborough | Suffolk |
| 2 | Hunston | Suffolk |
| 3 | Barningham | Norfolk |
| 4 | Plumstead | Norfolk |
| 5 | Stoke by Nayland, Assington, Wissington, Nayland | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Scarf surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Scarf, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Scarf surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Scarf household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Scarf is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Scarf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Scarf, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Scarf finds its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is commonly believed that the name emerged in regions such as Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, areas with a rich tapestry of Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name Scarf is thought to be derived from an Old Norse personal name "Skarfr" or the Old English word "sceorf," which means "rough" or "scabby," possibly referencing a geographical feature or a personal characteristic.
One of the earliest historical references to the surname appears in the 12th-century documents where a William de Skarth is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166. This alternative spelling indicates the variability in early medieval record-keeping and the evolution of the language over time. Another early document mentioning a variant of the name is the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1273, which lists a Hugh Skarf among its entries.
An important early bearer of the name was Richard Scarf, born circa 1480 in Yorkshire. He was known for his involvement in local trade and contributed to the establishment of early mercantile practices in the region. By the early 16th century, the name had also spread to other parts of England as seen in parish records from London and surrounding areas.
In the 17th century, the surname appears in Cambridge University alumni records, notably with John Scarf, born in 1610, who became a noted scholar and clergyman. His contributions to theology and his writings during the English Civil War period underscore the familial link to intellectual and religious life in England.
Another notable individual was William Scarf, who lived during the 18th century. Born in 1732 in Lincolnshire, he served as a significant local figure, contributing to agricultural advancements in the county and showcasing the surname's link to rural and agrarian communities.
In the 19th century, George Scarf, born 1815 in London, gained prominence as an early industrialist. He played a role in the burgeoning textile industry that transformed England during the Industrial Revolution, reflecting the surname's continued association with hardworking and enterprising individuals.
Throughout history, the surname Scarf thus reflects a diverse range of societal roles, from medieval landowners to scholarly and industrial contributions, cementing its place in English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scarf surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Norfolk leads with 61 Scarfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 61 | 15.52x |
| Suffolk | 53 | 17.03x |
| Yorkshire | 33 | 1.30x |
| Middlesex | 29 | 1.13x |
| Essex | 23 | 4.56x |
| Durham | 10 | 1.32x |
| Cambridgeshire | 7 | 4.32x |
| Lincolnshire | 7 | 1.71x |
| Renfrewshire | 7 | 3.53x |
| Surrey | 7 | 0.56x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 0.93x |
| Hertfordshire | 5 | 2.84x |
| Kent | 5 | 0.57x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.40x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 0.97x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.19x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.03x |
| Radnorshire | 1 | 4.85x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.12x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Combs in Suffolk leads with 16 Scarfs recorded in 1881 and an index of 1538.46x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Scarf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 17 |
| Elizabeth | 9 |
| Emma | 8 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Ann | 5 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Hannah | 4 |
| Frances | 3 |
| Harriet | 3 |
| Louisa | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Elizth. | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Grace | 2 |
| Harriett | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Laura | 2 |
| Mabel | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annetta | 1 |
| Betsey | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Dorcas | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florie | 1 |
| Gertude | 1 |
| Heneratta | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Madeline | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Rachel | 1 |
| Rosa | 1 |
| Ruby | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Sharlotte | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Scarf surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 18 |
| John | 14 |
| James | 11 |
| Robert | 7 |
| Charles | 6 |
| George | 6 |
| Alfred | 5 |
| Henry | 5 |
| Albert | 4 |
| Harry | 4 |
| Walter | 4 |
| Arthur | 3 |
| David | 3 |
| Fred | 3 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Samuel | 3 |
| Thomas | 3 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Edwin | 2 |
| Francis | 2 |
| Frederic | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Jonathan | 2 |
| Abraham | 1 |
| Augustus | 1 |
| Ben | 1 |
| Benj. | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Berta | 1 |
| Ely | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Freeman | 1 |
| Geo.William | 1 |
| Hueh | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Isacc | 1 |
| Marion | 1 |
| Robt. | 1 |
| Willie | 1 |
| Zechariah | 1 |
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 Scarf households.
FAQ
In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Scarf surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 75 in 2016. That gives Scarf a modern rank of #33,377.
A habitational surname derived from a locality name based on the Old Norse word "skarð" meaning a gap or pass.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Scarf bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.