NameCensus.

UK surname

Sculthorpe

A locational surname referring to someone from Sculthorpe, Norfolk.

In the 1881 census there were 217 people recorded with the Sculthorpe surname, ranking it #12,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 211, ranked #18,904, down from #12,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cottingham, East Carlton, London parishes and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Fenland and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sculthorpe is 321 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 2.8%.

1881 census count

217

Ranked #12,188

Modern count

211

2016, ranked #18,904

Peak year

1901

321 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sculthorpe had 217 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016, ranked #18,904.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 321 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Sculthorpe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sculthorpe surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sculthorpe 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 135 #16,651
1881 historical 217 #12,188
1891 historical 260 #12,367
1901 historical 321 #11,118
1911 historical 305 #11,307
1997 modern 213 #16,948
1998 modern 217 #17,207
1999 modern 220 #17,160
2000 modern 216 #17,340
2001 modern 216 #17,103
2002 modern 211 #17,696
2003 modern 228 #16,663
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 213 #17,563
2007 modern 212 #17,803
2008 modern 208 #18,171
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 218 #18,375
2011 modern 208 #18,783
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 214 #18,671
2014 modern 221 #18,412
2015 modern 219 #18,406
2016 modern 211 #18,904

Geography

Back to top

Where Sculthorpes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cottingham, East Carlton, London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Kettering and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Fenland, Leicester and Boston. 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 Cottingham, East Carlton Northamptonshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
4 Kettering Northamptonshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
2 Fenland 011 Fenland
3 Leicester 005 Leicester
4 Boston 002 Boston
5 Boston 009 Boston

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sculthorpe

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sculthorpe

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sculthorpe, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Sculthorpe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Sculthorpe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sculthorpe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sculthorpe 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

Sculthorpe falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sculthorpe is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sculthorpe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sculthorpe

The surname Sculthorpe originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is a locational name derived from the village of Sculthorpe in Norfolk, which itself took its name from the Old English words "sculd" meaning shelter or protection, and "thorpe" meaning a hamlet or small village.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Feet of Fines for Norfolk in 1296, where a John de Sculthorp is mentioned. The spelling variation "Sculthorp" is also found in various historical records from the same region in the 14th century.

The Sculthorpe name has ties to several notable figures throughout history. In the 16th century, William Sculthorpe (1498-1548) was a prominent English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Peterborough. During the reign of Henry VIII, he played a significant role in the English Reformation.

Another notable individual was Sir John Sculthorpe (1545-1611), a member of the English gentry who served as a Justice of the Peace in Norfolk. He was involved in local governance and administration during the Elizabethan era.

In the 18th century, John Sculthorpe (1718-1787) was a renowned English architect who designed several churches and other buildings in Norfolk and Suffolk. His works are considered fine examples of Georgian architecture.

Moving into the 19th century, Peter Sculthorpe (1804-1872) was a British politician and Member of Parliament for West Norfolk from 1847 to 1852. He represented the Conservative Party in the House of Commons.

Lastly, Peter Sculthorpe (1929-2014) was a renowned Australian composer who drew inspiration from the landscapes and indigenous cultures of Australia. His works, such as "Earth Cry" and "Kakadu," are celebrated for their evocative and distinctly Australian qualities.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Sculthorpe throughout history, showcasing its rich heritage and connections across various fields and eras.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sculthorpe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sculthorpe 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. Middlesex leads with 35 Sculthorpes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.68x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 35 1.68x
Northamptonshire 30 15.28x
Lincolnshire 27 8.09x
Yorkshire 22 1.06x
Lancashire 18 0.73x
Leicestershire 17 7.35x
Cambridgeshire 13 9.83x
Somerset 9 2.68x
Staffordshire 8 1.14x
Derbyshire 7 2.14x
Surrey 6 0.59x
Warwickshire 5 0.95x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.42x
Worcestershire 4 1.47x
Cheshire 3 0.65x
Kent 3 0.42x
Sussex 2 0.57x
Rutland 1 6.52x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deeping St James in Lincolnshire leads with 14 Sculthorpes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1186.44x.

Place Total Index
Deeping St James 14 1186.44x
Limehouse London 9 39.28x
Hackney London 8 6.84x
Walcot 8 44.72x
West Derby 8 11.04x
Elm 7 542.64x
Nether Hallam 7 25.02x
Raunds 7 350.00x
Holbeach 6 161.29x
Kirkdale 6 14.40x
Skipton 6 92.17x
Tamworth 6 159.15x
Burton Latimer 5 420.17x
Kettering 5 62.97x
Shoreditch London 5 5.53x
Somerby In Grantham 5 588.24x
Witcham 5 1785.71x
Barnoldswick 4 138.41x
Beeley 4 1538.46x
Beoley 4 930.23x
Croydon 4 7.08x
Leicester St Mary 4 21.39x
Oundle 4 182.65x
St Clement Danes 4 118.34x
Appleby 3 555.56x
Aston 3 2.07x
Deene 3 1875.00x
Higher Booths 3 67.26x
Leicester St Margaret 3 5.32x
Loughborough 3 28.57x
Oadby 3 241.94x
Odd Rode 3 131.58x
Stoke Newington London 3 18.45x
Brimington 2 80.65x
Doncaster 2 13.24x
Eastbourne 2 12.35x
Hatton 2 285.71x
Islington London 2 0.99x
Kilsby 2 465.12x
Milton In Gravesend 2 18.73x
Nottingham Standard 2 277.78x
Peterborough 2 14.07x
Soothill 2 26.77x
Wednesfield 2 19.29x
Westminster St James 2 9.32x
Ayston 1 1250.00x
Bathwick 1 26.88x
Chatteris 1 29.67x
Clifton In Halifax 1 80.65x
Crowland 1 47.85x
Derby St Alkmund 1 10.21x
Egham 1 16.03x
Epsom 1 20.16x
Gravesend 1 16.58x
Great Easton 1 256.41x
Great Gonerby 1 116.28x
Kensington London 1 0.86x
Manchester 1 0.90x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.37x
Standard Hill 1 149.25x
Thrapston 1 101.01x
Wellingborough 1 10.13x
Westminster St 1 12.99x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
John 11
Charles 6
Alfred 5
George 5
Albert 4
Henry 4
James 4
Richard 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Robert 2
A.C.F. 1
A.M. 1
Archibald 1
Auther 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Edmond 1
Edward 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Geoffrey 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jas.William 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Peter 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Vincent 1
Wm. 1
Wm.G. 1

FAQ

Sculthorpe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sculthorpe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 217 people were recorded with the Sculthorpe surname. That placed it at #12,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sculthorpe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 211 in 2016. That gives Sculthorpe a modern rank of #18,904.

What does the Sculthorpe surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Sculthorpe, Norfolk.

What does the Sculthorpe map show?

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