NameCensus.

UK surname

Scoble

A surname derived from the Middle English word "scovel," meaning a shovel or spade.

In the 1881 census there were 639 people recorded with the Scoble surname, ranking it #5,569 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 609, ranked #8,609, down from #5,569 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Brixton, Redruth and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Mendip and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scoble is 833 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.7%.

1881 census count

639

Ranked #5,569

Modern count

609

2016, ranked #8,609

Peak year

1911

833 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scoble had 639 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,569 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 609 in 2016, ranked #8,609.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 833 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scoble surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scoble surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scoble 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 533 #4,713
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 639 #5,569
1891 historical 740 #5,376
1901 historical 777 #5,782
1911 historical 833 #5,301
1997 modern 666 #7,533
1998 modern 690 #7,565
1999 modern 678 #7,703
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 658 #7,722
2002 modern 654 #7,907
2003 modern 660 #7,739
2004 modern 652 #7,813
2005 modern 638 #7,893
2006 modern 623 #8,061
2007 modern 626 #8,086
2008 modern 632 #8,085
2009 modern 650 #8,073
2010 modern 647 #8,273
2011 modern 621 #8,458
2012 modern 620 #8,373
2013 modern 642 #8,295
2014 modern 638 #8,380
2015 modern 617 #8,541
2016 modern 609 #8,609

Geography

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Where Scobles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Brixton, Redruth, London parishes, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Kea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Mendip, Cornwall and Poole. 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 Brixton Devon
2 Redruth Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Kea Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 005 South Hams
2 Mendip 007 Mendip
3 Cornwall 010 Cornwall
4 Poole 016 Poole
5 South Hams 004 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scoble

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scoble

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

Scoble is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Scoble

The surname SCOBLE is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "sceocca" meaning "dweller in a hut" and "bol" meaning "a dwelling place or house." It is believed to have originated in the 12th century, when many surnames were adopted as a way to distinguish between families and individuals.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1170, where a person named William Scoble is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and likely existed even earlier.

In the 13th century, the name SCOBLE appeared in various records, such as the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Scobel" and "Scobell." This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

The SCOBLE surname is also closely associated with several place names in England, such as Scoblehurst in Derbyshire and Scoble's Green in Essex. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in those regions.

Notable individuals with the surname SCOBLE include:

1. John Scoble (c. 1650-1709), an English Quaker minister and writer. 2. Sir Benjamin Scoble (1806-1887), a British civil servant and administrator in India. 3. Andrew Scoble (1825-1891), a British soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross. 4. Samuel Scoble (1834-1907), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire. 5. Gerd Scoble (1913-1984), a German-born British painter and art teacher.

While the SCOBLE surname may have originated from humble beginnings as a descriptor for a person living in a small dwelling, it has since become a widely recognized name with a rich history spanning several centuries and associated with notable figures across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scoble families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scoble 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. Devon leads with 294 Scobles recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.59x.

County Total Index
Devon 294 22.59x
Cornwall 151 21.33x
Middlesex 72 1.15x
Surrey 32 1.05x
Lancashire 31 0.42x
Kent 13 0.61x
Glamorgan 12 1.10x
Durham 5 0.27x
Hampshire 5 0.39x
Midlothian 5 0.60x
Lincolnshire 3 0.30x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.01x
Royal Navy 2 2.68x
Somerset 2 0.20x
Worcestershire 2 0.24x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Argyllshire 1 0.57x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 0.26x
Rutland 1 2.18x
Staffordshire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Plymouth St Andrew in Devon leads with 43 Scobles recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.89x.

Place Total Index
Plymouth St Andrew 43 42.89x
Stoke Damerel 25 27.44x
Redruth 22 109.84x
Stoke Gabriel 22 1605.84x
Kenwyn 21 113.45x
Lambeth 21 3.85x
Kea 17 321.97x
Brixham 14 92.84x
Newton Abbot St Nicholas 14 526.32x
Feock 12 270.88x
Lewisham 12 10.55x
Whitchurch 12 524.02x
Bromley London 11 8.00x
Halwell 11 769.23x
Plymouth Charles The 11 19.18x
Berry Pomeroy 10 462.96x
St Clement 10 135.32x
Habergham Eaves 9 13.27x
St Marylebone London 9 2.70x
Brixton 8 544.22x
Broad Clist 8 178.17x
Falmouth 8 31.92x
Pinhoe 8 683.76x
Plymstock 8 117.30x
Withiel 8 919.54x
Hillingdon 7 35.11x
Newchurch 7 11.53x
Newton Ferrers 7 463.58x
Roath 7 14.16x
St Gilesin Fields 7 192.31x
Bovey Tracey 6 131.87x
East Stonehouse 6 23.40x
Enfield 6 14.62x
Exeter St Mary Major 6 76.43x
Farnworth 6 13.50x
Perranzabuloe 6 98.20x
Plympton St Mary 6 79.79x
Totnes 6 78.84x
Bodmin 5 42.70x
Buckland Monachorum 5 179.86x
Dodbrooke 5 193.80x
Edinburgh Trinity 5 185.19x
Hett 5 675.68x
Lea Ashton Ingol 5 101.42x
South Brent 5 178.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 3.97x
St Dominick 5 280.90x
St George Hanover 5 6.13x
Stonehouse East 5 75.76x
Swansea Town 5 5.60x
Christchurch 4 14.39x
Crantock 4 540.54x
Liskeard 4 33.78x
Menheniot 4 136.05x
Paddington London 4 1.74x
Preston 4 2.02x
St Paul Covent Garden 4 63.90x
St Teath 4 93.90x
Tormoham 4 7.26x
Yealmpton 4 200.00x
Chelsea London 3 1.59x
Clee With Weelsby 3 13.70x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.03x
Fulham London 3 3.31x
Gwennap 3 22.47x
Holy Trinity 3 109.89x
Mile End Old Town 3 3.04x
Shalford 3 89.02x
St Keverne 3 76.92x
St Pancras London 3 0.60x
Truro St Mary 3 50.42x
Charleton 2 170.94x
Crewkerne 2 18.71x
Devonport 2 13.37x
Islington London 2 0.33x
Kings Norton 2 2.73x
Royal Navy 2 3.14x
Wendron 2 20.35x
West Teignmouth 2 20.08x
Wolborough 2 12.16x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 38
Mary 37
Sarah 22
Jane 15
Eliza 12
Florence 11
Ann 10
Emily 10
Hannah 9
Bessie 8
Ellen 8
Emma 8
Alice 7
Annie 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Edith 5
Grace 5
Lucy 5
Ada 4
Caroline 4
Jessie 4
Laura 4
Bertha 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Lydia 3
Martha 3
Rosa 3
Anne 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susie 2
Blanche 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Emley 1
Emm 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
J.M. 1
Zipporah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 39
James 23
Richard 16
Samuel 16
George 15
Thomas 14
Charles 10
Henry 10
Joseph 8
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Robert 6
Walter 6
Ernest 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Urias 3
Wm. 3
Bertie 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Herman 2
Nicholas 2
Philip 2
Willm. 2
Andrew 1
C.L. 1
Chas. 1
Douglas 1
Frank 1
Hughan 1
Jane 1
Jno. 1
Joel 1
Reynolas 1
Richd. 1
Robt. 1
Robt.G. 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Urban 1
Vivian 1
Will 1
Will. 1
Wm.T.P. 1

FAQ

Scoble surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scoble surname in 1881?

In 1881, 639 people were recorded with the Scoble surname. That placed it at #5,569 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scoble surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 609 in 2016. That gives Scoble a modern rank of #8,609.

What does the Scoble surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "scovel," meaning a shovel or spade.

What does the Scoble map show?

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