NameCensus.

UK surname

Silcox

An English occupational surname for someone who harvested or sold seaweed or worked with sea-shells.

In the 1881 census there were 379 people recorded with the Silcox surname, ranking it #8,268 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 662, ranked #8,057, up from #8,268 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Trowbridge. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Silcox is 722 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.7%.

1881 census count

379

Ranked #8,268

Modern count

662

2016, ranked #8,057

Peak year

1999

722 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Silcox had 379 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,268 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016, ranked #8,057.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 539 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Silcox surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Silcox surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Silcox 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 233 #9,272
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 379 #8,268
1891 historical 448 #8,099
1901 historical 539 #7,632
1911 historical 498 #7,853
1997 modern 696 #7,278
1998 modern 721 #7,307
1999 modern 722 #7,349
2000 modern 709 #7,420
2001 modern 699 #7,375
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 682 #7,548
2004 modern 669 #7,682
2005 modern 661 #7,679
2006 modern 665 #7,678
2007 modern 655 #7,815
2008 modern 654 #7,879
2009 modern 685 #7,771
2010 modern 700 #7,778
2011 modern 700 #7,696
2012 modern 668 #7,896
2013 modern 668 #8,031
2014 modern 682 #7,941
2015 modern 668 #8,009
2016 modern 662 #8,057

Geography

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Where Silcox' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge, London parishes and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, Calderdale and Pembrokeshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Trowbridge Wiltshire
4 London parishes London 1
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 019 Caerphilly
2 Caerphilly 018 Caerphilly
3 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
4 Calderdale 007 Calderdale
5 Pembrokeshire 013 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Silcox

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Silcox

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Silcox, 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 Silcox surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Silcox 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Silcox is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Silcox is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Silcox falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Silcox is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Silcox

The surname SILCOX is of English origin, derived from a place name. It is believed to have originated in the village of Silcox, located in the county of Somerset, England, during the medieval period.

The name Silcox is thought to be derived from the Old English words "syl" meaning "willow" and "cocc" meaning "hill" or "ridge." This suggests that the name likely referred to a location where willows grew on a hill or ridge, indicating the topographical features of the area where the surname originated.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SILCOX can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1327, which mention a John de Sylcox. This historical document provides evidence of the name's existence and its association with the Somerset region in the 14th century.

In the late 16th century, the SILCOX name appears in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Brewham, Somerset. Thomas Silcox (1580-1649) was a notable figure from this time period, serving as the rector of the church from 1622 until his death.

During the 17th century, the SILCOX surname gained recognition through the exploits of Captain John Silcox (1623-1698), an English naval officer who served under Admiral Robert Blake during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. His bravery and leadership were celebrated, and he is remembered as a significant figure in the history of the British Navy.

Another prominent individual with the SILCOX surname was Sir John Silcox (1724-1802), a British politician and landowner. He served as a Member of Parliament for Somerset and was renowned for his advocacy of agricultural reforms and his philanthropic efforts in the local community.

The 18th century also saw the emergence of the Reverend William Silcox (1747-1823), an English clergyman and author. He was known for his scholarly works on theology and his contributions to the Anglican Church.

Throughout the 19th century, the SILCOX name continued to appear in various historical records, including census data and parish registers across England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, reflecting the surname's enduring presence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Silcox families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Silcox 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. Somerset leads with 87 Silcox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.70x.

County Total Index
Somerset 87 14.70x
Wiltshire 52 15.99x
Middlesex 49 1.33x
Gloucestershire 29 4.02x
Glamorgan 26 4.06x
Staffordshire 24 1.93x
Monmouthshire 22 8.28x
Worcestershire 22 4.58x
Yorkshire 17 0.47x
Durham 10 0.91x
Kent 9 0.72x
Brecknockshire 7 9.52x
Pembrokeshire 6 5.13x
Berkshire 2 0.72x
Dorset 2 0.83x
Hampshire 2 0.27x
Lanarkshire 2 0.17x
Northamptonshire 2 0.58x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.40x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Devon 1 0.13x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Surrey 1 0.06x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Trowbridge in Wiltshire leads with 35 Silcox' recorded in 1881 and an index of 243.39x.

Place Total Index
Trowbridge 35 243.39x
Bedminster 24 43.15x
Kingswinford 14 31.06x
Kidderminster Borough 13 46.25x
Llanover 12 132.16x
St Pancras London 12 4.05x
Walcot 11 34.89x
Bristol St James In 10 94.25x
St Marylebone London 10 5.09x
Wingate 10 133.33x
Llanwonno 9 39.11x
Norton Hawkfield 9 18000.00x
Ormesby 9 91.93x
Warminster 9 126.23x
Clifton 8 21.94x
Aberdare 7 15.92x
Charlton Next Woolwich 7 53.48x
Hackney London 7 3.40x
Llangattock 7 116.86x
Risca 7 139.72x
Rushall 7 95.89x
Bromley London 6 7.42x
Corsley 6 468.75x
Oldbury 6 25.39x
Pembroke St Mary 6 39.87x
Dunkerton 5 390.63x
Mile End Old Town 5 8.61x
Baltonsborough 4 454.55x
Bath St Peter St Paul 4 152.67x
Cardiff St John 4 19.13x
Chelsea London 4 3.61x
Fulham London 4 7.50x
Priston 4 1250.00x
Bitton Oldland 3 40.71x
Brightside Bierlow 3 4.20x
Claines 3 22.76x
Ecclesfield 3 11.23x
Frome 3 21.19x
Llandaff 3 14.08x
Trevethin 3 11.95x
Wellow 3 172.41x
Brislington 2 181.82x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 8.32x
Bristol St Paul In 2 10.41x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 2.95x
Butleigh 2 206.19x
Dundry 2 281.69x
Faversham 2 16.72x
Keynsham 2 47.06x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 12.90x
Norton St Philip 2 312.50x
Nottingham St Mary 2 1.56x
Peterborough 2 7.99x
Shepton Mallet 2 30.12x
Stanton Drew 2 344.83x
Twerton 2 32.79x
Whitchurch 2 57.80x
Aldershot 1 3.96x
Bilston 1 4.16x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 15.22x
Burslem 1 2.81x
Charlcombe 1 128.21x
Congresbury 1 66.67x
Cottenham 1 32.26x
Droylsden 1 7.02x
Fisherton Anger 1 16.61x
Glasgow 1 0.47x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.76x
Ilfracombe 1 12.69x
Lambeth 1 0.31x
Llandyfodwg 1 27.55x
Maresfield 1 38.31x
Portland 1 7.70x
Portsea 1 0.68x
Tilehurst 1 17.92x
West Bromwich 1 1.41x
Westbury On Trym 1 4.09x
Westwood 1 149.25x
Winterborne Houghton 1 322.58x
Wombwell 1 9.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 14
Emily 9
Eliza 8
Jane 8
Ann 7
Alice 6
Emma 6
Harriet 5
Ada 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Fanny 3
Amy 2
Charlotte 2
Elizebeth 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lillian 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Anne 1
Caroline 1
Constance 1
E. 1
E.Blanche 1
Elizh. 1
Ellen 1
Emmelien 1
Esther 1
Eth. 1
Evangeline 1
Flor 1
Flora 1
Frederick 1
Gertrude 1
Hetty 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
John 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Marie 1
Maryann 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
James 15
William 13
Henry 11
Thomas 10
Albert 9
Joseph 8
George 7
Edward 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Mark 5
Samuel 5
Frank 3
Lewis 3
Richard 3
Abram 2
David 2
Esau 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Josiah 2
Matthew 2
Walter 2
Aquila 1
Benj. 1
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Collen 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Eliza 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Guy 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Martin 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Octavius 1
Reginald 1
Reubin 1
Saml. 1
Samson 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Silcox surname: questions and answers

How common was the Silcox surname in 1881?

In 1881, 379 people were recorded with the Silcox surname. That placed it at #8,268 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Silcox surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 662 in 2016. That gives Silcox a modern rank of #8,057.

What does the Silcox surname mean?

An English occupational surname for someone who harvested or sold seaweed or worked with sea-shells.

What does the Silcox map show?

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