NameCensus.

UK surname

Shrubb

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a shrubbery or thicket.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Shrubb surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 544, ranked #9,364, down from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Otford, London parishes and Felpham, near Bognor. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, Chichester and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shrubb is 590 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.0%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

544

2016, ranked #9,364

Peak year

1999

590 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shrubb had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 544 in 2016, ranked #9,364.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 588 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Shrubb surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shrubb surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shrubb 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 201 #11,949
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 396 #8,945
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 588 #6,942
1997 modern 571 #8,435
1998 modern 582 #8,555
1999 modern 590 #8,540
2000 modern 574 #8,662
2001 modern 571 #8,575
2002 modern 562 #8,835
2003 modern 561 #8,711
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 533 #9,008
2006 modern 537 #8,983
2007 modern 558 #8,802
2008 modern 568 #8,753
2009 modern 575 #8,866
2010 modern 572 #9,082
2011 modern 542 #9,387
2012 modern 536 #9,361
2013 modern 548 #9,359
2014 modern 555 #9,316
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 544 #9,364

Geography

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Where Shrubbs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Otford, London parishes, Felpham, near Bognor, Wisborough Green (Billingshurst, Sussex), Cranley, Albury (Albury), Alfold, Ewhurst, Shere (Albury) and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, Chichester, Sunderland and Arun. 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 Otford Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Felpham, near Bognor Sussex
4 Wisborough Green (Billingshurst, Sussex), Cranley, Albury (Albury), Alfold, Ewhurst, Shere (Albury) Surrey
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 005 Copeland
2 Copeland 003 Copeland
3 Chichester 013 Chichester
4 Sunderland 001 Sunderland
5 Arun 019 Arun

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shrubb

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shrubb

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Shrubb surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shrubb household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Shrubb is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Shrubb 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

Shrubb falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shrubb

The surname SHRUBB originates from England, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "scrubb," which referred to a shrub or thicket of bushes. This suggests that the name may have initially been used as a descriptive surname for someone who lived near or was associated with a dense area of shrubbery.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SHRUBB name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Shrubbe" in this historic document, indicating its ancient origins.

During the 13th century, the name SHRUBB emerged in various records across different regions of England, including Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. These early mentions often referred to specific places or landholdings, such as "Shrubb Farm" or "Shrubb Manor," further reinforcing the connection between the name and the natural landscape.

Notable individuals bearing the SHRUBB surname throughout history include Sir John Shrubb (1573-1642), a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of King Charles I. Another individual of note was William Shrubb (1629-1704), a renowned English botanist and horticulturist who contributed significantly to the study and cultivation of plants.

In the 18th century, the SHRUBB name gained further recognition with the birth of Samuel Shrubb (1758-1838), a celebrated English cricketer who played for the Hambledon Club, one of the earliest and most influential cricket teams in the country. His son, William Shrubb (1789-1867), followed in his footsteps and also became a notable cricketer, playing for the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club.

Moving into the 19th century, the SHRUBB family continued to make its mark, with James Shrubb (1812-1891), a prominent architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Throughout its long history, the SHRUBB surname has maintained a strong connection to its English roots and the natural world, reflecting the enduring legacy of its origins as a descriptive name associated with shrubs and thickets.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shrubb families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shrubb 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. Surrey leads with 94 Shrubbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.16x.

County Total Index
Surrey 94 6.16x
Kent 90 8.42x
Sussex 48 9.09x
Middlesex 36 1.15x
Hampshire 30 4.67x
Oxfordshire 6 3.10x
Buteshire 5 26.36x
Suffolk 5 1.31x
Berkshire 4 1.70x
Devon 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.16x
Hertfordshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Otford in Kent leads with 33 Shrubbs recorded in 1881 and an index of 2214.77x.

Place Total Index
Otford 33 2214.77x
Headley 17 977.01x
Wisborough Green 16 903.95x
Epsom 15 201.61x
Puttenham 12 2553.19x
Gillingham 11 49.93x
Hackney London 10 5.70x
Frensham 9 401.79x
Guildford St Nicholas 9 333.33x
Sundridge 9 505.62x
Chelsea London 8 8.48x
Dartford 8 73.26x
Elstead 8 1095.89x
Godalming 8 83.33x
Sevenoaks 8 92.38x
Alfold 6 1034.48x
Boldre 5 217.39x
Cumbrae 5 250.00x
Ipswich St Helen 5 110.62x
Kensington London 5 2.87x
Sidlesham 5 490.20x
Wimbledon 5 29.19x
Chichester St Pancras 4 253.16x
Dockenfield 4 1818.18x
Earnley 4 2857.14x
Lewisham 4 7.02x
Bexley 3 31.78x
Bobbing 3 600.00x
Cowley 3 49.67x
Felpham 3 491.80x
Godstone 3 109.89x
Lambeth 3 1.10x
Littlehampton 3 71.26x
Shoreditch London 3 2.21x
Stoke 3 41.67x
Brasted 2 144.93x
Cholsey 2 107.53x
Cobham 2 80.00x
Cudham 2 183.49x
Ewell 2 62.11x
Horsham 2 19.51x
Hurstpierpoint 2 68.03x
Penge 2 10.00x
Rudgwick 2 166.67x
Sutton At Hone 2 90.09x
Warborough 2 270.27x
Abingdon St Helen 1 14.56x
Aldershot 1 4.65x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.74x
Boxgrove 1 129.87x
Bray 1 14.47x
Bromley 1 6.14x
Byfleet 1 73.53x
Camberwell 1 0.50x
Caterham 1 14.84x
Chatham 1 3.40x
Chevening 1 86.21x
Clapham 1 2.55x
Isleworth 1 7.18x
Leckhampton 1 26.46x
Lee 1 6.45x
Newington 1 0.86x
Paddington London 1 0.87x
Plumstead 1 2.81x
Portsmouth 1 6.77x
Shepperton 1 72.46x
Shipley 1 83.33x
Slinfold 1 120.48x
St Albans St Peter 1 13.74x
St George Hanover 1 2.45x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.60x
St Michael Winchester 1 76.34x
St Pancras London 1 0.40x
Stadhampton 1 250.00x
Steep 1 156.25x
Subdeanery 1 24.94x
Sutton 1 9.06x
Westminster St James 1 3.11x
Worplesdon 1 54.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 12
Emily 11
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Annie 5
Harriett 5
Jane 5
Elizabeth 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Maria 3
Rosa 3
Ada 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Hosanna 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sibylla 2
Albertha 1
Amey 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Christine 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ellenor 1
Emley 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Hilda 1
Honor 1
Jemima 1
Katora 1
Lily 1
Lucretia 1
Lydia 1
Mable 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 21
James 18
William 18
John 14
Henry 9
Charles 8
Alfred 7
Thomas 6
Arthur 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Samuel 3
Chas. 2
Eli 2
Fredrick 2
Jesse 2
Richard 2
Abraham 1
Allan 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Edmund 1
Ephraim 1
Ethelbert 1
Frank 1
Geo.Dean 1
Gorge 1
H.Thomas 1
Joshua 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
R. 1
Reginald 1
Silas 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shrubb surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shrubb surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Shrubb surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shrubb surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 544 in 2016. That gives Shrubb a modern rank of #9,364.

What does the Shrubb surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a shrubbery or thicket.

What does the Shrubb map show?

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