NameCensus.

UK surname

Shave

A surname derived from an occupation relating to shaving or barbering.

In the 1881 census there were 659 people recorded with the Shave surname, ranking it #5,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 892, ranked #6,340, down from #5,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ringwood, London parishes and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, South Somerset and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shave is 1,003 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.4%.

1881 census count

659

Ranked #5,448

Modern count

892

2016, ranked #6,340

Peak year

2002

1,003 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shave had 659 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 892 in 2016, ranked #6,340.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 862 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shave surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shave 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 434 #5,651
1861 historical 378 #6,761
1881 historical 659 #5,448
1891 historical 716 #5,503
1901 historical 862 #5,308
1911 historical 852 #5,208
1997 modern 955 #5,694
1998 modern 980 #5,771
1999 modern 991 #5,754
2000 modern 989 #5,738
2001 modern 948 #5,828
2002 modern 1,003 #5,668
2003 modern 954 #5,819
2004 modern 945 #5,863
2005 modern 929 #5,885
2006 modern 923 #5,922
2007 modern 907 #6,051
2008 modern 923 #6,018
2009 modern 931 #6,082
2010 modern 924 #6,254
2011 modern 918 #6,232
2012 modern 889 #6,300
2013 modern 886 #6,416
2014 modern 887 #6,458
2015 modern 891 #6,368
2016 modern 892 #6,340

Geography

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Where Shaves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ringwood, London parishes, St Marylebone and Milton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, South Somerset, St Edmundsbury and Poole. 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 Ringwood Hampshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Milton Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 005 Mid Suffolk
2 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 St Edmundsbury 010 St Edmundsbury
5 Poole 007 Poole

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shave

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

Shave 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

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

Meaning and origin of Shave

The surname "SHAVE" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from an occupational term referring to a person who shaved or trimmed hair. It may have evolved from the Old English word "sceafan," meaning "to shave" or "to scrape."

One of the earliest recorded references to this surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sceavere" in Sussex and Essex counties. This historical record suggests that individuals with this occupation or trade existed in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms, such as "le Shavere" and "le Shavere de Hulle," indicating a connection to specific locations or towns. The prefix "le" was commonly used to denote an occupation or trade.

Notable historical figures bearing the surname "SHAVE" include Sir William Shave, a prominent English merchant and politician who lived in the 15th century (c. 1435-1490). Another individual of note was John Shave, a clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stanford Dingley in Berkshire during the late 16th and early 17th centuries (c. 1560-1624).

In the 17th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Shave," "Sheave," and "Sheeve," reflecting the diverse regional variations and pronunciations at the time. One notable bearer was Sir Edmund Shave, a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Haslemere in Surrey during the late 17th century (c. 1640-1707).

During the 18th century, the surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with individuals like Thomas Shave, a successful merchant and landowner from Devon (c. 1720-1795), and Elizabeth Shave, a notable poet and writer from Somerset (c. 1755-1830).

As the surname "SHAVE" evolved, it became associated with several place names, such as Shavington in Cheshire and Shavington in Shropshire, suggesting the migration and settlement of individuals bearing this surname in different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shave 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. Hampshire leads with 183 Shaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.89x.

County Total Index
Hampshire 183 13.89x
Middlesex 112 1.74x
Dorset 97 22.99x
Essex 62 4.89x
Suffolk 61 7.79x
Surrey 42 1.34x
Kent 39 1.78x
Cambridgeshire 10 2.46x
Durham 10 0.52x
Norfolk 10 1.01x
Devon 8 0.60x
Channel Islands 6 3.15x
Staffordshire 4 0.18x
Somerset 3 0.29x
Sussex 3 0.28x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Royal Navy 2 2.61x
Yorkshire 2 0.03x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Cumberland 1 0.18x
Rutland 1 2.12x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Milton in Hampshire leads with 37 Shaves recorded in 1881 and an index of 1128.05x.

Place Total Index
Milton 37 1128.05x
Christchurch 35 122.51x
Winterborne Whitechurch 28 3010.75x
Blandford Forum 24 288.46x
St Pancras London 24 4.64x
Ringwood 23 272.84x
Sopley 21 1160.22x
St Marylebone London 16 4.66x
Wickhambrook 14 476.19x
Hythe St Leonard 13 167.74x
Erith 12 55.53x
South Stoneham 12 41.99x
West Ham 12 4.28x
St George Hanover 11 13.11x
Bere Regis 10 353.36x
Camberwell 10 2.44x
Kensington London 10 2.80x
Millbrook 10 30.13x
Poplar London 10 8.24x
Holdenhurst 9 26.04x
Long Melford 9 123.63x
Old Newton 9 596.03x
Balsham 8 358.74x
Battersea 8 3.38x
Dagenham 8 105.96x
Gillingham 8 17.69x
Great Coggeshall 8 121.21x
Portsmouth 8 26.37x
Corringham 7 729.17x
Denston 7 1186.44x
Hackney London 7 1.94x
Sway 7 397.73x
Amport 6 402.68x
Bow London 6 7.33x
Colchester St Botolph 6 55.61x
Inworth 6 425.53x
Islington London 6 0.96x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 16.07x
Southampton St Mary 6 7.24x
St Helier 6 9.68x
Stratton 6 909.09x
Bacton 5 354.61x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.30x
Cobham 5 97.28x
Colne Engaine 5 434.78x
Lewisham 5 4.28x
South Molton 5 68.03x
Tarrant Gunville 5 641.03x
Belchamp Otten 4 540.54x
Burton Extra 4 32.15x
Clapham 4 4.98x
Langton Matravers 4 203.05x
North Stoneham 4 133.78x
Norwich St Clement 4 34.90x
Puddletrenthide 4 242.42x
Stansfield 4 439.56x
Sunderland 4 11.84x
Swanton Novers 4 645.16x
Wandsworth 4 6.46x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 14.35x
Exning 3 75.95x
Great Waldingfield 3 232.56x
Longfleet 3 61.35x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.96x
Paddington London 3 1.27x
Shoreditch London 3 1.08x
St George Bloomsbury 3 8.13x
West Knighton 3 434.78x
West Moulsey 3 206.90x
Westhorpe 3 638.30x
Brighton 2 0.91x
Chudleigh 2 47.06x
Croydon 2 1.15x
Frimley 2 22.42x
Kinson 2 24.24x
Lambeth 2 0.36x
Little Maplestead 2 344.83x
Liverpool 2 0.43x
Royal Navy 2 3.05x
Tarrant Hinton 2 444.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 42
Sarah 18
Annie 17
Jane 17
Alice 15
Ellen 15
Elizabeth 14
Emma 14
Emily 13
Eliza 10
Martha 8
Ann 7
Caroline 7
Florence 6
Harriet 6
Amelia 5
Amy 5
Clara 5
Ada 4
Bessie 4
Charlotte 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Rosa 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Dorcas 3
Eva 3
Frances 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Maud 3
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Leah 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Sophia 2
Eleanor 1
Elizabethe 1
Ella 1
Hephzebah 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 40
George 38
James 20
Charles 18
Henry 17
John 17
Frederick 16
Arthur 13
Walter 12
Albert 7
Ernest 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Thomas 7
Alfred 6
Joseph 6
Edward 5
David 4
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Chas. 2
Eli 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Simeon 2
Tom 2
Ambrose 1
Andrew 1
Barnabus 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Bertram 1
Elisha 1
Eliza 1
Ethelred 1
Ffrancis 1
Frederic 1
Gidion 1
Harrie 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
J.E. 1
Joe 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Willm.C. 1

FAQ

Shave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 659 people were recorded with the Shave surname. That placed it at #5,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 892 in 2016. That gives Shave a modern rank of #6,340.

What does the Shave surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation relating to shaving or barbering.

What does the Shave map show?

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