NameCensus.

UK surname

Scarff

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word "skarfr" meaning cormorant.

In the 1881 census there were 347 people recorded with the Scarff surname, ranking it #8,811 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 688, ranked #7,804, up from #8,811 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leverington, London parishes and Combs, Little Finborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, North Norfolk and East Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scarff is 715 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 98.3%.

1881 census count

347

Ranked #8,811

Modern count

688

2016, ranked #7,804

Peak year

1998

715 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scarff had 347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,811 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016, ranked #7,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 614 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scarff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scarff surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scarff 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 163 #12,156
1861 historical 198 #12,114
1881 historical 347 #8,811
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 584 #7,219
1911 historical 614 #6,717
1997 modern 681 #7,404
1998 modern 715 #7,356
1999 modern 714 #7,408
2000 modern 708 #7,428
2001 modern 691 #7,443
2002 modern 713 #7,404
2003 modern 691 #7,457
2004 modern 706 #7,344
2005 modern 689 #7,441
2006 modern 664 #7,691
2007 modern 671 #7,688
2008 modern 680 #7,655
2009 modern 688 #7,744
2010 modern 702 #7,761
2011 modern 681 #7,852
2012 modern 704 #7,574
2013 modern 676 #7,960
2014 modern 684 #7,925
2015 modern 675 #7,954
2016 modern 688 #7,804

Geography

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Where Scarffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leverington, London parishes, Combs, Little Finborough, Lambeth and Newton, Old with Dagworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, North Norfolk, East Cambridgeshire and Linwood South. 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 Leverington Cambridgeshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Combs, Little Finborough Suffolk
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Newton, Old with Dagworth Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 008 Mid Suffolk
2 North Norfolk 010 North Norfolk
3 Mid Suffolk 009 Mid Suffolk
4 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
5 Linwood South Renfrewshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scarff

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scarff

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Scarff is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Scarff 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

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

Meaning and origin of Scarff

The surname SCARFF has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period around the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scearp," which means "sharp" or "keen," potentially referring to a characteristic or occupation of the original bearer of the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SCARFF can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1273, where it appears as "Scarfe." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and its regional association with the county of Gloucestershire.

During the 13th century, the surname SCARFF was also documented in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire, suggesting its presence in other parts of southern England. The variations in spelling, such as "Scarf," "Scarfe," and "Skarfe," were common during this period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

In the 14th century, the name SCARFF appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where it was recorded as "Scarffe." This reference indicates the spread of the surname across different regions of England.

One notable individual bearing the name SCARFF was John Scarff, born in 1644 in Cambridgeshire, England. He was a prominent figure in the early colonial era of America, serving as a member of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania from 1701 to 1704.

Another significant figure was Edmund Scarff, born in 1616 in Wiltshire, England. He was a Puritan minister and one of the founders of the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, in the early 1600s.

In the 18th century, the name SCARFF gained recognition with the birth of Robert Scarff (1732-1810), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and later became a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy.

The SCARFF surname also has connections to literary figures, such as John Scarff (1804-1880), an English novelist and playwright who wrote several works in the 19th century.

Furthermore, the name SCARFF has been associated with notable individuals in various fields, including Sir William Scarff (1865-1943), a British civil engineer and surveyor who contributed significantly to the development of infrastructure projects in India during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scarff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scarff 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. Suffolk leads with 122 Scarffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.60x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 122 28.60x
Essex 39 5.64x
Middlesex 34 0.97x
Durham 29 2.78x
Lancashire 28 0.67x
Norfolk 20 3.71x
Surrey 17 1.00x
Yorkshire 14 0.40x
Hampshire 12 1.67x
Isle of Man 11 16.92x
Kent 11 0.92x
Cambridgeshire 8 3.61x
Hertfordshire 5 2.07x
Huntingdonshire 3 4.31x
Anglesey 1 1.61x
Cornwall 1 0.25x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.30x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x
Sussex 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lowestoft in Suffolk leads with 25 Scarffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 124.07x.

Place Total Index
Lowestoft 25 124.07x
Old Newton 16 1951.22x
Combs 15 1056.34x
East Donyland 11 662.65x
Lambeth 11 3.60x
Melton 11 654.76x
Everton 10 7.55x
Great Finborough 10 2040.82x
Halifax 10 19.63x
Oldham 10 7.46x
Bethnal Green London 9 5.92x
Lonan 9 228.43x
Pakefield 9 849.06x
Haswell 8 107.10x
Islington London 8 2.36x
Chester All Sts 7 1272.73x
Fulham London 7 13.78x
Leverington 7 479.45x
Ashford 6 51.55x
Seaham 6 157.89x
St Mary Extra 6 103.81x
Stockton On Tees 6 11.95x
Thorpe Morieux 6 1200.00x
Walthamstow 6 24.12x
Camberwell 5 2.24x
Heigham 5 17.30x
Hound 5 102.67x
Ixworth 5 416.67x
Methwold 5 287.36x
Stowmarket 5 101.42x
West Ham 5 3.28x
West Rainton 5 155.28x
Barking 4 181.00x
Feltwell Feltwell Anchor 4 408.16x
Greenwich 4 7.17x
Lea Ashton Ingol 4 144.93x
Risby 4 754.72x
Carlton Colville 3 192.31x
Colchester St Mary 3 468.75x
Dovercourt 3 123.46x
Great Bentley 3 272.73x
Huntingdon St Mary 3 172.41x
Ipswich St Peter 3 52.26x
Rickmansworth 3 45.11x
Toxteth Park 3 2.13x
Alpheton 2 666.67x
Berkhampstead 2 36.83x
Bishop Auckland 2 14.31x
Middlesbrough 2 4.43x
Onchan 2 10.68x
Sherburn 2 63.09x
St Clement Danes 2 35.27x
St George Hanover 2 4.38x
Thetford St Cuthbert 2 102.56x
Troston 2 500.00x
Bow London 1 2.24x
Brighton 1 0.84x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 8.78x
Chester St Nicholas 1 204.08x
Crayford 1 19.16x
Elland Cum Greetland 1 6.40x
Falmouth 1 7.13x
Govan 1 0.36x
Hempstead 1 200.00x
Kirkley 1 28.01x
Llaneilian 1 86.96x
Newington 1 0.77x
Northampton Priory St 1 5.06x
Norwich All Sts 1 222.22x
Otley 1 11.86x
Paddington London 1 0.78x
Rollesby 1 149.25x
Southampton All Sts 1 8.12x
St Giles In Fields 1 8.28x
St Marylebone London 1 0.53x
Staines 1 18.02x
Starston 1 163.93x
West Derby 1 0.82x
Westminster St John 1 2.34x
Wisbech St Mary 1 39.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 16
Emma 10
Elizabeth 9
Alice 8
Jane 8
Harriet 7
Ann 6
Hannah 6
Charlotte 4
Ellen 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Margaret 3
Susan 3
Addelet 2
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Kezia 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Charlott 1
Clarissa 1
Dorothy 1
Elizth. 1
Elmira 1
Emmelina 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Hilda 1
Jael 1
Jemima 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Violetia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
George 20
John 17
Thomas 13
Robert 11
James 8
Henry 6
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Fredrick 3
Joseph 3
Benjamin 2
Earnest 2
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Abner 1
Anna 1
Anthony 1
Catherine 1
Daniel 1
Duiel 1
Edwin 1
Ellis 1
Enock 1
Ernest 1
Esau 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Jabez 1
Jacob 1
Jno 1
Joshan 1
Joshua 1
Reubin 1
Robson 1
Saml. 1
Spencer 1
Thompson 1
Walter. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Scarff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scarff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 347 people were recorded with the Scarff surname. That placed it at #8,811 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scarff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 688 in 2016. That gives Scarff a modern rank of #7,804.

What does the Scarff surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old Norse word "skarfr" meaning cormorant.

What does the Scarff map show?

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