NameCensus.

UK surname

Shreeves

An English surname derived from the Old English "screve" meaning bailiff or officer of the law.

In the 1881 census there were 83 people recorded with the Shreeves surname, ranking it #21,808 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, up from #21,808 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Egham, St Leonard Shoreditch and Kempston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, East Lindsey and Mansfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shreeves is 200 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.0%.

1881 census count

83

Ranked #21,808

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2002

200 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shreeves had 83 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,808 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Shreeves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shreeves surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shreeves 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 83 #21,808
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 123 #20,248
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 191 #18,624
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 198 #18,330
2001 modern 188 #18,652
2002 modern 200 #18,294
2003 modern 184 #19,075
2004 modern 180 #19,424
2005 modern 175 #19,727
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 175 #20,090
2008 modern 184 #19,666
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 181 #20,579
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 174 #21,401
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 186 #20,576
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Shreeves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Egham, St Leonard Shoreditch, Kempston, London parishes and Cardington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bedford, East Lindsey, Mansfield and Erewash. 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 Egham Berkshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Kempston Bedfordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cardington Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bedford 006 Bedford
2 Bedford 004 Bedford
3 East Lindsey 014 East Lindsey
4 Mansfield 001 Mansfield
5 Erewash 008 Erewash

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shreeves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shreeves

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Shreeves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Shreeves household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Shreeves is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shreeves is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shreeves falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shreeves is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shreeves

The surname "SHREEVES" is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the late medieval period in the 13th and 14th centuries. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "scri-fe," which referred to a clerk or scribe, a person who wrote or copied manuscripts and documents.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 as "Bartholomew le Screveyn." This early spelling variation, "Screveyn," highlights the connection to the occupation of a scribe or clerk.

In the 14th century, the surname is found in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, which mention a "John le Scryveyn." This further reinforces the association with the scribal profession during that era.

The surname "SHREEVES" likely evolved from the Old English "scri-fe" through various spelling variations over time, including "Screveyn," "Scryveyn," and "Shreve" before settling into its modern form.

One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Shrive, a 15th-century English monk and writer who lived from approximately 1425 to 1490. He authored several religious works, including a treatise on the Lord's Prayer.

Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Shreeve, an English politician and landowner who lived from 1608 to 1668. He served as a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, William Shreeve (1677-1746) was a notable architect from Kent, England, who designed several churches and buildings in the region.

John Shreeve (1788-1857) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a rear admiral.

Finally, Edward Shreeve (1812-1887) was an English engraver and artist known for his intricate engravings of architectural subjects and landscapes during the Victorian era.

These examples demonstrate the historical presence of the surname "SHREEVES" across various professions and social strata, from scribes and clerks in medieval times to architects, naval officers, and artists in later centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shreeves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shreeves 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. Bedfordshire leads with 21 Shreeves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.10x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 21 50.10x
Middlesex 19 2.35x
Surrey 13 3.30x
Derbyshire 9 7.10x
Hertfordshire 7 12.54x
Warwickshire 7 3.43x
Kent 4 1.45x
Yorkshire 2 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cardington in Bedfordshire leads with 21 Shreeves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6176.47x.

Place Total Index
Cardington 21 6176.47x
Stanton Newhall 8 1951.22x
Sunbury 8 824.74x
Egham 7 289.26x
Alcester 6 895.52x
Hitchin 5 198.41x
Shoreditch London 5 14.25x
Deptford St Paul 4 18.78x
Rotherhithe 4 40.00x
Kensington London 2 4.44x
Penge 2 38.68x
Stevenage 2 229.89x
Tottenham 2 15.52x
Yeadon 2 110.50x
Aldershot 1 17.99x
Aston 1 1.78x
Killamarsh 1 126.58x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 90.09x
Stanwell 1 166.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Elizabeth 4
Elizth. 4
Emma 4
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Alice 1
Ellen 1
Flora 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Margaret 1
Nancy 1
Phebe 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 6
Thomas 6
William 6
Charles 3
James 3
Joseph 3
Frank 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Amos 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
John 1
Lindolph 1
Richard 1
W. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Shreeves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shreeves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 83 people were recorded with the Shreeves surname. That placed it at #21,808 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shreeves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Shreeves a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Shreeves surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "screve" meaning bailiff or officer of the law.

What does the Shreeves map show?

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