UK surname
A surname derived from an English nickname meaning "dwarf" or "short person."
In the 1881 census there were 50 people recorded with the Shugg surname, ranking it #26,587 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #26,587 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Agnes, Phillack and Wendron. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shugg is 121 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.0%.
1881 census count
50
Ranked #26,587
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1851
121 bearers
Map years
1
1851 to 1851
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shugg surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shugg surname density by area, 1851 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 86 | #22,810 |
| 1881 | historical | 50 | #26,587 |
| 1891 | historical | 50 | #30,253 |
| 1901 | historical | 52 | #28,377 |
| 1911 | historical | 42 | #28,691 |
| 1997 | modern | 5 | #37,891 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 5 | #37,750 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 7 | #37,687 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 5 | #38,168 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 5 | #38,221 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Agnes, Phillack, Wendron, Llangafelach and Perranzabuloe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Agnes | Cornwall |
| 2 | Phillack | Cornwall |
| 3 | Wendron | Cornwall |
| 4 | Llangafelach | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Perranzabuloe | Cornwall |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shugg surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shugg, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shugg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shugg household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shugg is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shugg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shugg, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SHUGG is of English origin and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be a variant of the more common surname SHUG, which is derived from the Middle English word "shogge," meaning a shaggy or hirsute person. The name likely originated in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, where several early records of the spelling SHUGG can be found.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHUGG appears in the parish records of Nettleton, Wiltshire, in the year 1598, where a Thomas Shugg is mentioned. In the nearby village of Chippenham, a William Shugg is listed in the 1611 tax records.
The SHUGG surname is also closely linked to the place name Shugborough, a small village in Staffordshire. This place name is derived from the Old English words "scucga" and "burh," meaning a wood or thicket and a fortified place or manor, respectively. It is possible that some early bearers of the SHUGG surname may have hailed from or had connections to this area.
In the 17th century, a notable figure with the SHUGG surname was John Shugg (1622-1691), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Bristol. He is recorded as having acquired significant property holdings in the city and surrounding areas during his lifetime.
Another prominent individual bearing the SHUGG name was Thomas Shugg (1779-1848), a successful entrepreneur and industrialist from Birmingham. He made his fortune in the iron and steel trade and was instrumental in the development of several manufacturing processes.
In the 19th century, a woman named Elizabeth Shugg (1820-1894) gained some renown as a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded several schools for girls in the city of London and authored several books on the subject of female education.
Another notable figure was Sir William Shugg (1857-1932), a distinguished lawyer and judge who served as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales from 1923 to 1932. He presided over several high-profile cases during his tenure and was widely respected for his legal acumen and commitment to justice.
While not as widespread as some other English surnames, the name SHUGG has persisted throughout the centuries and can be found scattered across various regions of the United Kingdom and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shugg surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 40 Shuggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 40 | 72.46x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 5.89x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.62x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.22x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Ives in Cornwall leads with 10 Shuggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 925.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Ives | 10 | 925.93x |
| Phillack | 9 | 1267.61x |
| Perranzabuloe | 8 | 1666.67x |
| Gwinear | 6 | 2307.69x |
| Clase | 5 | 158.23x |
| Redruth | 2 | 128.21x |
| Sithney | 2 | 357.14x |
| St George Hanover | 2 | 31.45x |
| Breage | 1 | 200.00x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 1 | 57.14x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.85x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 12.99x |
| St Erth | 1 | 303.03x |
| Wendron | 1 | 129.87x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shugg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shugg surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Shugg households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Farmers Sister | 2 |
| General Labourer | 2 |
| General Servant Domestic | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Baker (X) | 1 |
| Contractor (Undef) | 1 |
| Copper Miner | 1 |
| Daughter At Home | 1 |
| Domestic | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Farmer Of 90 Acres Employing 2 Men | 1 |
| Furnaceman In Copper Works | 1 |
| General Domestic | 1 |
| Income From Houses | 1 |
| Iron Moulder | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lodging Ho Keeper | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Mason & Builder | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Passenger | 1 |
| Retired Mine Agent | 1 |
| Sailor (MS) | 1 |
| Student | 1 |
| Tin And Copper Miner | 1 |
| Tin Miner | 1 |
| Washerwoman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 50 people were recorded with the Shugg surname. That placed it at #26,587 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Shugg a modern rank of #38,419.
A surname derived from an English nickname meaning "dwarf" or "short person."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shugg bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.