NameCensus.

UK surname

Shakespear

An English surname derived from Shakespeare, a parish in Warwickshire, and originally meant "to brandish a spear".

In the 1881 census there were 324 people recorded with the Shakespear surname, ranking it #9,214 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #9,214 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dudley, St Marylebone and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wealden, Rugby and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shakespear is 524 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.5%.

1881 census count

324

Ranked #9,214

Modern count

86

2016, ranked #32,570

Peak year

1861

524 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Shakespear had 324 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,214 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016, ranked #32,570.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 524 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shakespear surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shakespear surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shakespear 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 425 #5,746
1861 historical 524 #5,005
1881 historical 324 #9,214
1891 historical 375 #9,331
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 270 #12,273
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 113 #25,731
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 96 #28,534
2003 modern 82 #30,206
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 88 #29,831
2006 modern 92 #29,576
2007 modern 94 #29,650
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 93 #30,682
2010 modern 97 #30,697
2011 modern 90 #31,564
2012 modern 86 #32,297
2013 modern 82 #32,903
2014 modern 85 #32,743
2015 modern 81 #32,975
2016 modern 86 #32,570

Geography

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Where Shakespears are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dudley, St Marylebone, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken, London parishes and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wealden, Rugby, East Staffordshire, Stafford and North West Leicestershire. 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 Dudley Staffordshire
2 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
3 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wealden 001 Wealden
2 Rugby 009 Rugby
3 East Staffordshire 014 East Staffordshire
4 Stafford 015 Stafford
5 North West Leicestershire 006 North West Leicestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shakespear

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shakespear

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shakespear is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shakespear 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

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

Meaning and origin of Shakespear

The surname Shakespear is believed to have originated in England, with records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the more common surname "Shakespeare," which is thought to have derived from the Old English words "sycer" meaning "ploughshare" and "spere" meaning "spear." This combination suggests the name may have originally referred to a maker or seller of ploughshares or spears.

One of the earliest known references to the name Shakespear can be found in the Stratford-upon-Avon parish records from the late 16th century, where the surname is spelled as "Shakespear." This variant spelling is believed to have emerged due to the inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

In terms of historical figures, the most famous bearer of the surname Shakespear was undoubtedly William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the renowned English playwright, poet, and actor. Although his surname was commonly spelled as "Shakespeare," some records from the time show it spelled as "Shakespear."

Another notable individual with the surname Shakespear was John Shakespear (1775-1858), a British East India Company officer and diplomat who served in various roles in India and the Middle East. He was born in England and played a significant role in establishing British influence in the Persian Gulf region.

In the 19th century, the Shakespear surname is associated with the family of Sir Richmond Campbell Shakespear (1812-1861), a British colonial administrator who served as the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal. His son, Sir Richmond Shakespear (1837-1897), followed in his footsteps and had a distinguished career in the British Indian Army.

Another prominent figure with the Shakespear surname was John Talbot Shakespear (1783-1825), an English painter and engraver who specialized in portraiture and landscapes. He was born in Warwickshire and exhibited his works at the Royal Academy and the British Institution.

Lastly, Sir Ebenezer Shakespear (1790-1858) was a British naval officer and administrator who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1849 to 1853. He was born in Warwickshire and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy before taking on administrative roles in the British colonies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shakespear families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shakespear 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. Warwickshire leads with 94 Shakespears recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.72x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 94 11.72x
Staffordshire 48 4.47x
Derbyshire 30 6.03x
Middlesex 29 0.91x
Gloucestershire 21 3.37x
Leicestershire 21 5.96x
Yorkshire 16 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 14 3.27x
Worcestershire 11 2.65x
Oxfordshire 9 4.58x
Lancashire 7 0.19x
Hampshire 4 0.61x
Surrey 4 0.26x
Sussex 4 0.75x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.56x
Cheshire 3 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 5.28x
Dorset 1 0.48x
Hertfordshire 1 0.46x
Kent 1 0.09x
Northamptonshire 1 0.33x
Shropshire 1 0.36x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 30 Shakespears recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.59x.

Place Total Index
Aston 30 13.59x
Birmingham 20 7.48x
Kingswinford 14 35.93x
West Bromwich 12 19.53x
Stapenhill 11 148.45x
Hartshorn 10 531.91x
Coventry Holy Trinity 9 37.59x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 9 61.48x
Sedgley 8 20.07x
Shilton 8 1777.78x
St Marylebone London 8 4.71x
Langley Priory 7 35000.00x
Thringstone 7 518.52x
Wilford 7 583.33x
Leonard Stanley 6 731.71x
Wolverhampton 6 7.27x
Wootton Wawen 6 237.15x
Banbury 5 127.23x
Dudley 5 9.90x
Fulham London 5 10.84x
Nottingham St Mary 5 4.51x
St Pancras London 5 1.95x
West Derby 5 4.53x
Winchcomb 5 161.81x
Yardley 5 47.08x
Hastings St Leonards 4 50.76x
Paddington London 4 3.42x
Seals 4 322.58x
Windley 4 1904.76x
Burnham 3 122.45x
Kenilworth 3 66.37x
Linthorpe 3 15.96x
Monks Coppenhall 3 11.33x
Portsea 3 2.35x
Rowley Regis 3 10.03x
Stratford On Avon 3 67.42x
Allesley 2 190.48x
Balsall 2 160.00x
Camberwell 2 0.98x
Castleford 2 17.44x
Clifton 2 6.34x
Corley 2 606.06x
Culham 2 338.98x
Eastington 2 97.09x
Horsley 2 72.46x
Kensington London 2 1.13x
Kirkdale 2 3.15x
Litchurch 2 9.99x
Minchinhampton 2 40.24x
Polesworth 2 52.49x
Royal Navy 2 6.17x
Shrewley 2 500.00x
Skegby 2 76.05x
St George Hanover 2 4.82x
Alcester 1 37.74x
Ashborne 1 29.50x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 12.24x
Avening 1 45.45x
Berkhampstead 1 20.28x
Berkswell 1 63.29x
Breedon On The Hill 1 94.34x
Bromley 1 6.05x
Buckland 1 222.22x
Drayton Bassett 1 204.08x
Fazeley 1 51.28x
Fillongley 1 87.72x
Harborne 1 2.91x
Islington London 1 0.32x
Kimberworth 1 5.72x
Leamington Priors 1 5.07x
Measham 1 54.64x
Neithrop 1 15.15x
Old Stratford 1 22.03x
Portland 1 8.91x
Sheepy Magna 1 222.22x
Thornaby 1 8.50x
Towerof London London 1 99.01x
Upperswinford 1 28.49x
Wednesfield 1 6.33x
Wigginton 1 109.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 24
George 13
Joseph 11
Thomas 8
Henry 7
James 7
Richard 7
Charles 5
Alfred 4
Benjamin 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
Enoch 2
Horace 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Amplias 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Eligah 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
G.R. 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jas.Moor 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Josh. 1
Mark 1
Miles 1
Noel 1
Step. 1

FAQ

Shakespear surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shakespear surname in 1881?

In 1881, 324 people were recorded with the Shakespear surname. That placed it at #9,214 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shakespear surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Shakespear a modern rank of #32,570.

What does the Shakespear surname mean?

An English surname derived from Shakespeare, a parish in Warwickshire, and originally meant "to brandish a spear".

What does the Shakespear map show?

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