NameCensus.

UK surname

Scoffield

From a Middle English place name derived from Old English elements meaning "school" and "open land."

In the 1881 census there were 238 people recorded with the Scoffield surname, ranking it #11,476 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, down from #11,476 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Redmile and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Rotherham and Uttlesford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scoffield is 318 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

238

Ranked #11,476

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

1901

318 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scoffield had 238 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,476 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 318 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scoffield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scoffield surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Scoffield 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 159 #12,400
1861 historical 200 #12,005
1881 historical 238 #11,476
1891 historical 253 #12,645
1901 historical 318 #11,187
1911 historical 318 #10,988
1997 modern 250 #15,281
1998 modern 263 #15,161
1999 modern 259 #15,433
2000 modern 257 #15,468
2001 modern 255 #15,319
2002 modern 245 #16,041
2003 modern 248 #15,695
2004 modern 240 #16,144
2005 modern 226 #16,782
2006 modern 221 #17,149
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 230 #17,578
2012 modern 222 #17,921
2013 modern 223 #18,135
2014 modern 230 #17,872
2015 modern 225 #18,050
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

Back to top

Where Scoffields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Redmile, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Knipton and Grantham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Rotherham, Uttlesford and Melton. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Redmile Lincolnshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Knipton Lincolnshire
5 Grantham Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 004 South Kesteven
2 Rotherham 030 Rotherham
3 Uttlesford 003 Uttlesford
4 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
5 Melton 003 Melton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Scoffield

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Scoffield

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Scoffield is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Scoffield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scoffield falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Scoffield

The surname SCOFFIELD is believed to have originated in England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "scofl," meaning a shed or outhouse, and "feld," meaning an open field or area of land. As such, the name likely referred to someone who lived or worked near a particular shed or outbuilding in an open field.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275, which lists a person named Richard de Scoffeld. This suggests that the name was initially spelled with a single "f" and may have been associated with a specific place or location.

In the 14th century, variations of the name began to appear in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which mention a John de Scofefeld, and the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1379, which include a reference to a Robert Scoffeld.

By the 15th century, the spelling had evolved closer to its modern form, as evidenced by entries in the Register of the Gild of the Holy Cross in Stratford-upon-Avon from 1490, which lists a Thomas Scoffield.

Notable individuals with the surname SCOFFIELD throughout history include:

1. Sir John Scoffield (c. 1520 - 1590), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

2. William Scoffield (1610 - 1672), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge.

3. Mary Scoffield (1761 - 1842), an English philanthropist and social reformer who established several schools and charities in her hometown of Bury St. Edmunds.

4. Robert Scoffield (1833 - 1902), an American Civil War veteran and businessman who founded the Scoffield Furniture Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

5. Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843 - 1921), an American theologian and minister best known for his influential Scofield Reference Bible, first published in 1909.

While the surname SCOFFIELD has its roots in England, it has since been adopted by families in various parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Scoffield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scoffield 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. Lincolnshire leads with 120 Scoffields recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.47x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 120 32.47x
Yorkshire 25 1.09x
Leicestershire 16 6.24x
Nottinghamshire 16 5.14x
Lanarkshire 14 1.87x
Hampshire 8 1.69x
Ayrshire 7 4.05x
Suffolk 6 2.13x
Perthshire 5 4.82x
Middlesex 4 0.17x
Stirlingshire 4 4.69x
Hertfordshire 3 1.88x
Rutland 3 17.68x
Surrey 2 0.18x
Cornwall 1 0.38x
Denbighshire 1 1.15x
Glamorgan 1 0.25x
Lancashire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Denton in Lincolnshire leads with 78 Scoffields recorded in 1881 and an index of 18139.53x.

Place Total Index
Denton 78 18139.53x
Spittlegate 15 293.54x
Holy Trinity 12 21.78x
Ancaster 9 1730.77x
Barony 9 4.76x
Newark Upon Trent 8 71.43x
Portsea 8 8.62x
Sculcoates 8 22.03x
Ardrossan 7 116.86x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 76.05x
Redmile 6 1538.46x
Govan 5 2.70x
Kilmadock 5 209.21x
Leicester St Margaret 5 8.00x
Sedgebrook 5 2941.18x
Nottingham St Mary 4 4.96x
Stirling 4 37.21x
Bennington Grange 3 30000.00x
Great Gonerby 3 315.79x
Hunslet 3 8.40x
Loughborough 3 25.80x
Cabourn 2 1428.57x
Grantham 2 41.49x
Harston 2 1538.46x
North Collingham 2 273.97x
St Albans St Peter 2 37.17x
St Pancras London 2 1.07x
Bramcote 1 166.67x
Broughton 1 29.15x
Buckland 1 357.14x
Camberwell 1 0.68x
Cottesmore 1 312.50x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 2.15x
Hambleton 1 526.32x
Harlaxton 1 333.33x
Hough On Hill 1 322.58x
Lambeth 1 0.50x
Leeds 1 0.77x
Liverpool 1 0.60x
Llancarvan 1 222.22x
Manthorpe Cum Little 1 35.34x
Poplar London 1 2.29x
Snenton 1 8.17x
St George Bloomsbury 1 7.54x
St Stithians 1 69.44x
Tickencote 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 11
Mary 10
Sarah 10
Ann 5
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Eliza 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Henrietta 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Ruth 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Annie 1
Blanch 1
Carroline 1
Catherine 1
Cathrine 1
Clara 1
Eidth 1
Elinor 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Hellen 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margt. 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Patience 1
Pheebe 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Teresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 9
James 7
Henry 6
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Charles 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
Herbert 2
Jesse 2
Mathew 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Andrew 1
Aurther 1
Benjamin 1
Carr 1
Cecil 1
David 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Geo.H. 1
Harry 1
Jessles 1
Job 1
Levi 1
Lewis 1
Philip 1
Robert 1
Ruben 1

FAQ

Scoffield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scoffield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 238 people were recorded with the Scoffield surname. That placed it at #11,476 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scoffield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Scoffield a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Scoffield surname mean?

From a Middle English place name derived from Old English elements meaning "school" and "open land."

What does the Scoffield map show?

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