NameCensus.

UK surname

Scofield

Derived from the Old English words "scoh" (shoe) and "feld" (field), referring to a person who lived near a field with a shed or shelter.

In the 1881 census there were 370 people recorded with the Scofield surname, ranking it #8,434 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 452, ranked #10,768, down from #8,434 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wivenhoe and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall and Welwyn Hatfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Scofield is 498 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.

1881 census count

370

Ranked #8,434

Modern count

452

2016, ranked #10,768

Peak year

2010

498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Scofield had 370 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,434 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016, ranked #10,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Scofield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Scofield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Scofield 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 320 #7,250
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 370 #8,434
1891 historical 332 #10,251
1901 historical 345 #10,541
1911 historical 455 #8,428
1997 modern 478 #9,627
1998 modern 479 #9,928
1999 modern 496 #9,713
2000 modern 475 #10,016
2001 modern 462 #10,034
2002 modern 464 #10,181
2003 modern 464 #10,003
2004 modern 460 #10,120
2005 modern 443 #10,331
2006 modern 445 #10,319
2007 modern 464 #10,113
2008 modern 470 #10,102
2009 modern 480 #10,162
2010 modern 498 #10,091
2011 modern 484 #10,194
2012 modern 449 #10,675
2013 modern 458 #10,694
2014 modern 446 #10,981
2015 modern 449 #10,836
2016 modern 452 #10,768

Geography

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Where Scofields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Wivenhoe, London parishes, Lambeth and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Cornwall, Welwyn Hatfield, Colchester and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Wivenhoe Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 002 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Cornwall 023 Cornwall
3 Welwyn Hatfield 009 Welwyn Hatfield
4 Colchester 022 Colchester
5 Central Bedfordshire 002 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Scofield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Scofield

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Scofield is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Scofield is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Scofield falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Scofield

The surname Scofield is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sco" meaning wood or forest, and "feld" meaning field or open land. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a wooded area or a clearing in a forest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scofelde." This suggests that the name was already established in certain parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the spelling of the name varied significantly, with variations such as Schofield, Scofeld, and Scofeild appearing in various records and documents. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling conventions at the time.

In the 13th century, a prominent figure bearing the name Scofield was John de Scofeld, a landowner and knight who served under King Edward I. He was part of the English forces that fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence against William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.

Another notable individual with this surname was Sir Robert Scofield (c. 1545-1619), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1614. He was a key figure in the establishment of trade relations between England and the Ottoman Empire.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Puritan minister named Samuel Scofield (1590-1672) gained recognition for his fiery sermons and his support for the Parliamentarian cause. He was a vocal critic of the monarchy and was briefly imprisoned for his views.

In the literary world, the name Scofield is associated with Cyrus Ingerson Scofield (1843-1921), an American theologian and minister who published the influential Scofield Reference Bible in 1909. This annotated study Bible provided extensive cross-references and commentary, and became widely popular among evangelical Christians.

Another historical figure with the surname Scofield was John Scofield (1776-1848), an American lawyer and politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut in the early 19th century.

While the Scofield surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, particularly through British emigration and colonization. Today, it remains a prominent surname in countries with significant British heritage, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Scofield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Scofield 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. Surrey leads with 65 Scofields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.70x.

County Total Index
Surrey 65 3.70x
Lancashire 54 1.26x
Yorkshire 52 1.45x
Middlesex 51 1.41x
Berkshire 21 7.75x
Warwickshire 16 1.76x
Gloucestershire 14 1.98x
Suffolk 14 3.18x
Essex 10 1.40x
Kent 10 0.81x
Lanarkshire 8 0.69x
Somerset 7 1.20x
Lincolnshire 6 1.04x
Staffordshire 6 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.03x
Durham 4 0.37x
Northamptonshire 4 1.18x
Worcestershire 4 0.85x
Leicestershire 3 0.75x
Rutland 3 11.32x
Cheshire 2 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Norfolk 2 0.36x
Anglesey 1 1.56x
Caithness 1 2.02x
Cornwall 1 0.24x
Flintshire 1 1.03x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.21x
West Lothian 1 1.84x
Wiltshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Saddleworth in Yorkshire leads with 29 Scofields recorded in 1881 and an index of 105.11x.

Place Total Index
Saddleworth 29 105.11x
Newington 24 18.00x
Sandhurst 16 304.76x
Lambeth 14 4.45x
Haslingden 12 67.68x
Woodbridge 9 160.14x
Barony 8 2.71x
Bristol St George 8 24.43x
Kingston On Thames 8 18.94x
Bruton 7 305.68x
Croydon 7 7.17x
Hampstead London 7 12.45x
Islington London 7 2.00x
Pemberton 7 40.98x
Sutton Coldfield 7 73.15x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 9.00x
Deptford St Paul 6 6.32x
Poplar London 6 8.81x
Shoreditch London 6 3.84x
Finchampstead 5 609.76x
Hayes 5 135.87x
Leamington Priors 5 22.32x
Maldon St Marys 5 292.40x
Radford Lenton 5 413.22x
St Pancras London 5 1.72x
Accrington 4 10.27x
Blackburn 4 3.51x
Little Bolton 4 7.26x
Liverpool 4 1.54x
Murton In York 4 1818.18x
Oldham 4 2.89x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 5.51x
Southwark St Saviour 4 21.56x
St Anne Soho London 4 19.41x
Stafford St Mary 4 23.20x
Stourbridge 4 32.98x
West Ardsley 4 93.02x
Willington 4 64.52x
Birmingham 3 0.99x
Burnley 3 8.32x
Catcliffe 3 600.00x
Greenwich 3 5.22x
Hulme 3 3.36x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.07x
Peterborough 3 12.21x
Spotland 3 6.30x
Uppingham 3 94.94x
Gomersal 2 11.98x
Holbeck 2 8.44x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 2 49.02x
Ipswich St Mathew 2 16.23x
Lakenham 2 25.38x
Manchester 2 1.04x
Metheringham 2 86.58x
Sandal Magna 2 37.81x
St George In East 2 8.15x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.55x
Sutton In Macclesfield 2 24.18x
West Bergholt 2 150.38x
Woking 2 18.87x
Aldershot 1 4.04x
Bower 1 50.25x
Carriden 1 40.65x
Cartworth 1 33.78x
Chiswick 1 5.07x
Donington 1 48.31x
Eccleston In Prescot 1 4.65x
Harlaxton 1 212.77x
Harrow On The Hill 1 13.87x
Llandegfan 1 76.92x
Nassington 1 113.64x
Newtown 1 18.90x
Rastrick 1 10.07x
South Shoebury 1 34.97x
St George Hanover 1 2.12x
Stradbroke 1 67.57x
Stratford On Avon 1 19.80x
Walmersley Cum 1 14.62x
Westleigh 1 10.28x
Woolwich 1 2.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 14
Emma 10
Annie 7
Jane 6
Ellen 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Emily 4
Hannah 4
Caroline 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Harriet 3
Lydia 3
Margaret 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Marie 2
Maud 2
Sophia 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Charlotte 1
Clemena 1
Constance 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizey 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Evelyn 1
Georgina 1
Henrietta 1
Isabel 1
Jinnie 1
Julia 1
Kathe.E. 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 15
Joseph 15
Charles 10
Henry 10
George 9
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
James 6
Samuel 6
Robert 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Benjamin 4
Walter 4
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Thos. 3
Daniel 2
Ebenezer 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Harold 2
Harry 2
Michael 2
Alex 1
Arther 1
Chas. 1
Dennis 1
Doctor 1
Fred 1
Georg 1
Gilbert 1
Herbert 1
Heyworth 1
Isaiah 1
Jonah 1
Lees 1
Lewis 1
Major 1
Mathew 1
Owen 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Richard 1
Rowland 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Scofield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Scofield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 370 people were recorded with the Scofield surname. That placed it at #8,434 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Scofield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016. That gives Scofield a modern rank of #10,768.

What does the Scofield surname mean?

Derived from the Old English words "scoh" (shoe) and "feld" (field), referring to a person who lived near a field with a shed or shelter.

What does the Scofield map show?

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