NameCensus.

UK surname

Scarfe

A locational surname derived from a location bearing that name.

In the 1881 census there were 576 people recorded with the Scarfe surname, ranking it #6,047 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 812, ranked #6,823, down from #6,047 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Lincoln St Botolph and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Pembrokeshire and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scarfe is 913 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.0%.

1881 census count

576

Ranked #6,047

Modern count

812

2016, ranked #6,823

Peak year

1911

913 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scarfe had 576 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,047 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 812 in 2016, ranked #6,823.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 913 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scarfe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scarfe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scarfe 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 330 #7,062
1861 historical 315 #8,071
1881 historical 576 #6,047
1891 historical 663 #5,863
1901 historical 746 #5,965
1911 historical 913 #4,888
1997 modern 824 #6,389
1998 modern 854 #6,411
1999 modern 879 #6,322
2000 modern 879 #6,283
2001 modern 854 #6,314
2002 modern 845 #6,490
2003 modern 822 #6,506
2004 modern 816 #6,556
2005 modern 787 #6,689
2006 modern 786 #6,724
2007 modern 803 #6,661
2008 modern 807 #6,700
2009 modern 830 #6,688
2010 modern 839 #6,759
2011 modern 834 #6,706
2012 modern 804 #6,806
2013 modern 827 #6,765
2014 modern 841 #6,714
2015 modern 819 #6,799
2016 modern 812 #6,823

Geography

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Where Scarfes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Lincoln St Botolph, London parishes and Gateshead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Pembrokeshire, Barnsley and Wakefield. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Gateshead Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 013 Waveney
2 Pembrokeshire 014 Pembrokeshire
3 Barnsley 024 Barnsley
4 Wakefield 001 Wakefield
5 Wakefield 003 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scarfe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scarfe

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Scarfe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Scarfe is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scarfe falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Scarfe

The surname Scarfe originates from England and is believed to have emerged around the 13th century. Scarfe is primarily found in regions such as Norfolk and Lincolnshire. The name likely derives from the Old Norse word "skarf," which means "cormorant," a type of seabird. This suggests that the original bearers of the name might have lived near the coast or were perhaps involved in fishing or bird hunting.

Historical references to the surname Scarfe are somewhat limited but nonetheless significant. One of the earliest mentions of the name appears in the 1273 Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire where a Johannes Scarfe is listed. Additionally, a record from the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327 documents a Robert Scarlett, which suggests the name may have evolved or had similar variations in spelling.

The evolution of the surname Scarfe can be traced through various historical documents. For instance, medieval wills and land grants contain entries such as Thomas Scarfe, who appears in a 1471 Norfolk will. Another example includes a Richard Scarfe, recorded in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1556, indicating land ownership or transactions.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname is William Scarfe, who is documented in the late 14th century. His activities are noted in a land charter from 1399 in Norfolk. Another notable person is George Scarfe, born in 1630, who became a prominent tradesman in Lincolnshire during the mid-17th century.

Famous bearers of the surname include Edmund Scarfe, a merchant active in the early 17th century in the Norfolk region, known for his trade activity with the Low Countries. John Scarfe, born in 1750, was a significant landowner who made substantial contributions to agricultural practices in Lincolnshire. Many of his agricultural innovations are recorded in local historical accounts.

Joseph Scarfe, born in 1810, was another distinguished individual who emigrated to Australia in the mid-19th century where he became a successful wool trader. Another prominent surname holder was Andrew Scarfe, a cleric born in 1845, who made his mark as a historian with several published works detailing the history of Norfolk.

In summary, the surname Scarfe has a rich and varied history, originating in medieval England and evolving through the centuries. The individuals who bore this name contributed significantly to various aspects of social, economic, and cultural life in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scarfe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scarfe 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. Middlesex leads with 108 Scarfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 108 1.90x
Suffolk 106 15.28x
Norfolk 79 9.02x
Yorkshire 71 1.26x
Surrey 67 2.41x
Durham 30 1.77x
Essex 20 1.78x
Hertfordshire 19 4.84x
Lancashire 19 0.28x
Kent 18 0.93x
Lincolnshire 12 1.32x
Isle of Man 7 6.62x
Staffordshire 7 0.36x
Warwickshire 6 0.42x
Cumberland 5 1.02x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.83x
Northumberland 2 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.29x
Hampshire 1 0.09x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x
Worcestershire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Banham in Norfolk leads with 28 Scarfes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1255.61x.

Place Total Index
Banham 28 1255.61x
Battersea 20 9.54x
Idle 20 76.42x
Westoe 20 20.82x
Clapham 15 21.06x
Barnsley 14 24.04x
St George Hanover 14 18.83x
Chelsea London 13 7.57x
St Marylebone London 13 4.27x
Woodbridge 12 135.29x
Chipping Barnet 11 160.12x
Marham 11 753.42x
Finchley 10 45.79x
Preston 10 1694.92x
Leeds 9 2.82x
Wandsworth 9 16.41x
Wilsden 9 155.17x
Bethnal Green London 8 3.23x
Bishopwearmouth 8 5.50x
East Bergholt 8 344.83x
Kensington London 8 2.53x
Lewisham 8 7.72x
Barton Bendish 7 823.53x
Barwick In Elmet 7 161.66x
Bishop Stortford 7 53.35x
Onchan 7 22.97x
Skirbeck 7 136.99x
West Bromwich 7 6.36x
Woolwich 7 9.75x
Carleton Rode 6 397.35x
Hornsey 6 8.33x
Ipswich St Clement 6 34.01x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 30.85x
Kingston On Thames 6 9.00x
Rushall 6 1463.41x
St Andrew Holborn 6 31.07x
Stow Upland 6 263.16x
West Ham 6 2.42x
Bury St Edmunds St James 5 26.98x
Capel St Mary 5 450.45x
Haughley 5 289.02x
Ilketshall St Andrew 5 543.48x
Low Bolton 5 400.00x
Newington 5 2.38x
Openshaw 5 15.79x
Paddington London 5 2.39x
Stowmarket 5 62.34x
Streatham 5 11.83x
Bromley London 4 3.19x
Cressing 4 380.95x
Diss 4 53.26x
Lambeth 4 0.81x
Little Stonham 4 666.67x
Salford 4 2.01x
Scotforth 4 91.12x
Shelfanger 4 597.01x
St Pancras London 4 0.87x
Winfarthing 4 338.98x
Dedham 3 87.98x
Dewsbury 3 5.18x
Harwich St Nicholas 3 34.52x
Helmsley 3 99.01x
Islington London 3 0.54x
Little Welnetham 3 1000.00x
Shrewley 3 416.67x
Stiffkey 3 352.94x
Thorpe Morieux 3 370.37x
Thurston 3 220.59x
Westminster St John 3 4.32x
Burnham Overy 2 166.67x
Hessett 2 240.96x
Ipswich St Margaret 2 8.50x
Melton 2 73.26x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.22x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 17.95x
Oldham 2 0.92x
Onehouse 2 294.12x
St Stephen Walbrook 2 1000.00x
Thorne 2 28.57x
Toxteth Park 2 0.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 25
George 23
John 23
William 21
Charles 17
Robert 16
Henry 13
Alfred 11
Walter 11
Edward 10
Thomas 10
Albert 8
Harry 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Frederick 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Frank 3
Benjamin 2
Caleb 2
Daniel 2
Francis 2
Jacob 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Claxon 1
David 1
Earest 1
Edgar 1
Ephm. 1
Fred 1
Fredck.A. 1
Fredk. 1
Gamble 1
Geo. 1
Horatia 1
Isaiah 1
Israel 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Nicholas 1
Richard 1
Rowian 1
Saul 1
Shepherd 1
Simon 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Scarfe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scarfe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 576 people were recorded with the Scarfe surname. That placed it at #6,047 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scarfe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 812 in 2016. That gives Scarfe a modern rank of #6,823.

What does the Scarfe surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a location bearing that name.

What does the Scarfe map show?

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