NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherriff

A surname derived from the English term for a law enforcement officer or bailiff.

In the 1881 census there were 917 people recorded with the Sherriff surname, ranking it #4,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,013, ranked #3,199, up from #4,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Harborough and Malvern Hills.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherriff is 2,077 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.5%.

1881 census count

917

Ranked #4,177

Modern count

2,013

2016, ranked #3,199

Peak year

2010

2,077 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherriff had 917 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,013 in 2016, ranked #3,199.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,151 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sherriff surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sherriff surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sherriff 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 570 #4,463
1861 historical 574 #4,590
1881 historical 917 #4,177
1891 historical 934 #4,431
1901 historical 1,127 #4,302
1911 historical 1,151 #4,056
1997 modern 1,930 #3,134
1998 modern 2,006 #3,152
1999 modern 2,038 #3,138
2000 modern 2,006 #3,162
2001 modern 1,967 #3,147
2002 modern 2,052 #3,113
2003 modern 1,998 #3,116
2004 modern 2,003 #3,113
2005 modern 1,967 #3,132
2006 modern 1,958 #3,153
2007 modern 1,984 #3,145
2008 modern 1,981 #3,168
2009 modern 2,039 #3,163
2010 modern 2,077 #3,175
2011 modern 2,051 #3,172
2012 modern 2,037 #3,144
2013 modern 2,047 #3,183
2014 modern 2,058 #3,191
2015 modern 2,029 #3,195
2016 modern 2,013 #3,199

Geography

Back to top

Where Sherriffs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Glasgow and Aylesbury, Bierton with Broughton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Harborough, Malvern Hills, Trafford and Sunderland. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Aylesbury, Bierton with Broughton Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey
2 Harborough 011 Harborough
3 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
4 Trafford 017 Trafford
5 Sunderland 001 Sunderland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sherriff

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sherriff

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sherriff surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sherriff household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sherriff 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

Sherriff is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherriff falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sherriff

The surname "Sherriff" originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "scīr-gerefa," which translates to "shire-reeve." The "shire-reeve" was a royal official responsible for enforcing the law and collecting taxes within a specific county or shire.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with variations in spelling such as "Shireve," "Sherreve," and "Shirreve." These early spellings reflect the transition from the Old English term to the modern form of "Sherriff."

In the famous Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest comprehensive record of landowners in England, several individuals with the title "scīr-gerefa" are mentioned, though their surnames are not explicitly stated. This suggests that the role of "shire-reeve" was well-established during the Norman conquest and the subsequent Norman period.

One of the earliest known individuals bearing the surname Sherriff was William le Shereve, who lived in Hertfordshire, England, in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was John Sherreve, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 14th century.

Sir Thomas Sherriff (1486-1567), a wealthy merchant and Sheriff of London, was a significant figure during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was instrumental in establishing the Royal Exchange in London, which became a center of commerce and trade.

In the 17th century, Sir Samuel Sherriff (1622-1691) was a prominent English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and held the position of Recorder of London. He played a crucial role in the rebuilding efforts after the Great Fire of London in 1666.

Another notable figure was John Sherriff (1668-1749), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the development of celestial mechanics and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1711.

Throughout history, the surname Sherriff has been associated with individuals of importance, particularly those involved in law enforcement, politics, and commerce. While the name's origins can be traced back to the role of the "shire-reeve," it has evolved over centuries and spread across various regions, reflecting the diverse histories and experiences of those who bear this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sherriff families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherriff 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. Angus leads with 87 Sherriffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.48x.

County Total Index
Angus 87 10.48x
Lincolnshire 71 4.95x
Devon 70 3.75x
Staffordshire 59 1.95x
Lanarkshire 58 2.00x
Midlothian 57 4.75x
Yorkshire 53 0.60x
Lancashire 52 0.49x
Middlesex 52 0.58x
Surrey 38 0.87x
Worcestershire 33 2.82x
Leicestershire 31 3.12x
Warwickshire 29 1.28x
Buckinghamshire 28 5.17x
Durham 23 0.86x
Roxburghshire 14 8.62x
Cheshire 13 0.66x
Hertfordshire 11 1.78x
Kent 10 0.33x
Norfolk 10 0.73x
Somerset 10 0.69x
Hampshire 9 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.74x
Aberdeenshire 7 0.84x
East Lothian 7 5.90x
Carmarthenshire 6 1.59x
Derbyshire 6 0.43x
Fife 6 1.13x
Cornwall 5 0.49x
Glamorgan 5 0.32x
Herefordshire 5 1.36x
Northumberland 5 0.37x
Perthshire 5 1.24x
Berwickshire 4 3.68x
Northamptonshire 4 0.47x
Selkirkshire 4 4.93x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.53x
West Lothian 3 2.22x
Ayrshire 2 0.30x
Berkshire 2 0.30x
Channel Islands 2 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.83x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Banffshire 1 0.54x
Buteshire 1 1.84x
Essex 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 0.15x
Nairnshire 1 3.66x
Royal Navy 1 0.94x
Shropshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 43 Sherriffs recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.86x.

Place Total Index
Barony 43 5.86x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 37 7.66x
Aylesbury 24 99.96x
Dundee 21 6.77x
Leicester St Margaret 19 7.84x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 12.52x
Arbroath 15 54.51x
Monifieth 15 51.12x
Sprouston 13 412.70x
Thurlestone 13 1160.71x
Harborne 12 12.37x
Monikie 12 275.86x
Hatfield 11 87.79x
Panbride 11 254.04x
Althorpe 10 306.75x
Amblecote 10 115.87x
Birmingham 10 1.33x
Glasgow 10 1.94x
Hackney London 10 1.99x
Clenchwarton 9 439.02x
East Kirkby 9 882.35x
Lambeth 9 1.15x
Miningsby In Boston 9 1232.88x
St Pancras London 9 1.25x
Worcester St John 9 64.38x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 8 75.47x
Bedminster 8 5.90x
Crumpsall 8 31.91x
Deptford St Paul 8 3.39x
Leicester St Mary 8 9.96x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.56x
Sheffield 8 2.83x
South Leith 8 5.92x
Standish With Langtree 8 61.07x
Stickford 8 536.91x
Tormoham 8 10.13x
Aston 7 1.12x
Barry 7 70.21x
Claines 7 21.79x
Doncaster 7 10.79x
Gorton 7 7.00x
Pensax 7 479.45x
Southcoates 7 14.19x
Barnes 6 32.49x
Bishopwearmouth 6 2.62x
Cannock 6 11.36x
Fulstow 6 348.84x
Islington London 6 0.69x
Llandebie 6 54.74x
Millbrook 6 12.96x
Mortlake 6 30.82x
Nether Whitacre 6 333.33x
Reedness 6 394.74x
West Herrington 6 64.24x
Widnes 6 7.82x
Bedlington 5 11.23x
Birkenhead 5 3.17x
Kensington London 5 1.00x
Malborough 5 67.39x
Roath 5 7.05x
Stoke Newington London 5 7.16x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.56x
West Alvington 5 190.84x
Willesden 5 5.92x
Yarkhill 5 367.65x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 4 2.58x
Brixham 4 18.50x
Cantley 4 232.56x
Dalkeith 4 16.88x
Derby St Werburgh 4 4.94x
Dirleton 4 85.84x
Kingswinford 4 3.64x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 7.68x
Newington 4 1.21x
Sale 4 16.47x
Scawby 4 84.39x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.22x
St Mark Lincoln 4 130.72x
Stone 4 10.34x
Uttoxeter 4 25.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 44
William 39
George 27
James 27
Thomas 19
Henry 15
Charles 13
Alfred 12
Herbert 9
Edward 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Frank 5
Albert 4
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Earnest 2
Jonas 2
Mark 2
Medwin 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Azar 1
Chas. 1
Davinson 1
Dick 1
Edgar 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Horace 1
Howard 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Johnathon 1
Langford 1
Matthias 1
Moses 1
Osmond 1
Percy 1
Perrin 1
Ralph 1
Saml. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Sherriff surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherriff surname in 1881?

In 1881, 917 people were recorded with the Sherriff surname. That placed it at #4,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherriff surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,013 in 2016. That gives Sherriff a modern rank of #3,199.

What does the Sherriff surname mean?

A surname derived from the English term for a law enforcement officer or bailiff.

What does the Sherriff map show?

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