UK surname
A surname likely derived from the heraldic charge sconce, meaning a flat candleholder.
In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Sconce surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 61, ranked #34,287, down from #22,225 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret and Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sconce is 108 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.8%.
1881 census count
80
Ranked #22,225
Modern count
61
2016, ranked #34,287
Peak year
1891
108 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sconce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sconce surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 56 | #23,235 |
| 1861 | historical | 35 | #29,571 |
| 1881 | historical | 80 | #22,225 |
| 1891 | historical | 108 | #22,828 |
| 1901 | historical | 106 | #22,076 |
| 1911 | historical | 94 | #23,391 |
| 1997 | modern | 72 | #30,415 |
| 1998 | modern | 76 | #30,386 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 75 | #30,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 74 | #31,091 |
| 2004 | modern | 71 | #31,578 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 64 | #33,145 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 59 | #34,273 |
| 2011 | modern | 57 | #34,393 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 61 | #34,317 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 60 | #34,361 |
| 2016 | modern | 61 | #34,287 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, King's Lynn St Margaret, Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity, Blackburn and King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 3 | Chester St Oswald, Little St John, Cathedral Church, St Peter, St Bridget, St Martin, Holy Trinity | Cheshire |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | King's Lynn All Saints, South Lynn | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sconce surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sconce, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sconce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sconce household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sconce is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sconce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sconce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sconce originates from England, first appearing in records during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sconse," meaning a small fort or outpost. This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near or worked in a fortified structure.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several mentions of places with names similar to Sconce, such as Scaunce and Scaunton. These place names likely share the same root as the surname, further indicating its ancient origins.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sconce can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Robert de Scaunce is mentioned. This spelling variation shows how the name evolved over time.
During the 16th century, the surname Sconce appeared in various records across England. In 1568, a John Sconce was born in Staffordshire, and later in 1621, a Thomas Sconce was born in Somerset.
Notable individuals with the surname Sconce include Sir John Sconce, a 17th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Heytesbury in Wiltshire. He was born in 1628 and died in 1699.
Another prominent figure was Henry Sconce, a 17th-century English clergyman and author. He was born in 1616 in Nottinghamshire and was known for his work "The Doctrine of the Catholic Church," published in 1688.
In the 18th century, a prominent military figure named John Sconce fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1745 in Virginia and served as a captain in the Continental Army.
During the 19th century, a notable individual named William Sconce was a successful businessman and philanthropist. He was born in 1810 in Lancashire and made significant contributions to various charitable causes.
Finally, in the early 20th century, a writer named Lydia Sconce gained recognition for her works of historical fiction. She was born in 1895 in Yorkshire and published several novels depicting life in England during the Middle Ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sconce surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cheshire leads with 40 Sconces recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.22x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire | 40 | 23.22x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.40x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.91x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 3.92x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 5.45x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.38x |
| Flintshire | 2 | 9.53x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.75x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.52x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 3.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chester St Mary On Hill in Cheshire leads with 19 Sconces recorded in 1881 and an index of 1283.78x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chester St Mary On Hill | 19 | 1283.78x |
| Chester Holy Trinity | 9 | 1111.11x |
| Westbury On Trym | 6 | 115.83x |
| Batley | 5 | 68.03x |
| Accrington | 4 | 47.51x |
| Eydon | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Great Boughton | 4 | 677.97x |
| Habergham Eaves | 4 | 47.28x |
| Dunham Massey | 3 | 566.04x |
| Birkenhead | 2 | 14.57x |
| Brighton | 2 | 7.54x |
| Chester St Oswald | 2 | 64.10x |
| Great Bolton | 2 | 16.31x |
| Hawarden Saltney | 2 | 689.66x |
| Leeds | 2 | 4.58x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 6.97x |
| Barton Upon Irwell | 1 | 14.35x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 4.06x |
| Chester St Bridget | 1 | 344.83x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.31x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 7.04x |
| North Meols | 1 | 11.04x |
| Stirling | 1 | 27.55x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 10.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sconce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sconce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sconce households.
FAQ
In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Sconce surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 61 in 2016. That gives Sconce a modern rank of #34,287.
A surname likely derived from the heraldic charge sconce, meaning a flat candleholder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sconce bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.