NameCensus.

UK surname

Sinfield

A habitational name referring to someone from Singfield, Norfolk, England.

In the 1881 census there were 725 people recorded with the Sinfield surname, ranking it #5,030 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,232, ranked #4,842, up from #5,030 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tilsworth, Woburn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bradford, East Northamptonshire and Calderdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sinfield is 1,339 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.9%.

1881 census count

725

Ranked #5,030

Modern count

1,232

2016, ranked #4,842

Peak year

1999

1,339 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sinfield had 725 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,030 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016, ranked #4,842.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,275 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sinfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sinfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sinfield 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 545 #4,633
1861 historical 478 #5,458
1881 historical 725 #5,030
1891 historical 938 #4,415
1901 historical 1,158 #4,215
1911 historical 1,275 #3,724
1997 modern 1,281 #4,453
1998 modern 1,338 #4,443
1999 modern 1,339 #4,472
2000 modern 1,333 #4,467
2001 modern 1,300 #4,481
2002 modern 1,319 #4,516
2003 modern 1,273 #4,562
2004 modern 1,268 #4,591
2005 modern 1,228 #4,667
2006 modern 1,225 #4,692
2007 modern 1,240 #4,692
2008 modern 1,241 #4,715
2009 modern 1,269 #4,718
2010 modern 1,280 #4,765
2011 modern 1,251 #4,816
2012 modern 1,234 #4,802
2013 modern 1,257 #4,797
2014 modern 1,257 #4,832
2015 modern 1,257 #4,776
2016 modern 1,232 #4,842

Geography

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Where Sinfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tilsworth, Woburn, London parishes, Maulden and Brickhill, Great. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bradford, East Northamptonshire, Calderdale, Oldham and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Tilsworth Bedfordshire
2 Woburn Bedfordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Maulden Bedfordshire
5 Brickhill, Great Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bradford 009 Bradford
2 East Northamptonshire 007 East Northamptonshire
3 Calderdale 020 Calderdale
4 Oldham 021 Oldham
5 Central Bedfordshire 007 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sinfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sinfield

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Sinfield 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

Sinfield is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sinfield falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sinfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sinfield

The surname Sinfield is of English origin, with roots dating back to the medieval era. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from a place called Sinfield or Synfield, possibly located in the counties of Berkshire or Oxfordshire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Synfeld". This suggests that the name was already established in this region during the 13th century.

The name Sinfield is thought to be derived from the Old English words "synn" or "syn", meaning "sin" or "transgression", and "feld", meaning "field" or "open land". This combination may have referred to a field or piece of land associated with some transgression or conflict in its early history.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Synfelde", "Sinfelde", and "Sinfild". This variation in spelling was common during this period, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

One notable person bearing the Sinfield surname was John Sinfield, a 17th-century English clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, from 1632 until his death in 1662.

Another figure of historical significance was Thomas Sinfield, a 19th-century English industrialist and entrepreneur. Born in 1810 in Wolverhampton, he played a significant role in the development of the city's iron and steel industry, establishing several successful foundries and engineering works.

In the realm of literature, the name Sinfield is associated with Thomas Sinfield, a 19th-century English poet and writer. Born in 1813 in Warwickshire, he published several volumes of poetry, including "Lays of the Heart" and "Poems on Various Subjects".

Moving into the 20th century, we find Robert Sinfield, a British writer and scholar born in 1939. He is best known for his work on literary theory and his contributions to the field of cultural studies.

Lastly, a more contemporary figure is James Sinfield, a British actor and theatre director born in 1966. He has been involved in numerous productions, both on stage and screen, and is particularly known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

While the surname Sinfield may have its origins in a specific geographic location, it has since spread across various regions of England and beyond, with individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sinfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sinfield 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 331 Sinfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 90.14x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 331 90.14x
Middlesex 149 2.10x
Buckinghamshire 70 16.33x
Surrey 38 1.10x
Yorkshire 25 0.36x
Hertfordshire 20 4.09x
Leicestershire 20 2.54x
Kent 14 0.58x
Derbyshire 12 1.08x
Northamptonshire 12 1.80x
Essex 8 0.57x
Lincolnshire 6 0.53x
Warwickshire 6 0.34x
Hampshire 5 0.34x
Lancashire 5 0.06x
Sussex 2 0.17x
Anglesey 1 0.80x
Devon 1 0.07x
Norfolk 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 1.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Luton in Bedfordshire leads with 54 Sinfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 84.95x.

Place Total Index
Luton 54 84.95x
Maulden 50 1572.33x
Great Brickhill 36 2666.67x
Islington London 27 3.93x
Dunstable 26 230.50x
Bethnal Green London 19 6.17x
Bedford St Paul 18 71.46x
Toddington 16 303.61x
Husborne Crawley 15 1293.10x
Tilsworth 15 2459.02x
Woburn 15 470.22x
Clophill 14 520.45x
Ampthill 13 237.23x
Linslade 13 309.52x
Bedford St Mary 12 126.85x
Cranfield 12 339.94x
Lambeth 12 1.94x
Shoreditch London 12 3.90x
Leicester All Sts 11 71.24x
Spitalfields London 11 20.62x
Battlesden 9 3214.29x
Clerkenwell London 9 5.38x
Enfield 9 19.34x
Aspley Guise 8 227.27x
Chelsea London 8 3.74x
Northampton Priory St 8 19.99x
Scarborough 8 12.53x
Lidlington 7 437.50x
St Albans St Michael 7 128.21x
Wing 7 176.32x
Wootton 7 220.82x
Aston 6 1.22x
Barking 6 14.65x
Bermondsey 6 2.84x
Bow Brickhill 6 535.71x
Ecclesfield 6 11.64x
Hackney London 6 1.51x
Houghton Regis 6 102.39x
Manthorpe Cum Little 6 69.20x
Tottenham 6 5.31x
Turvey 6 258.62x
Ashborne 5 66.23x
Battersea 5 1.92x
Hampstead London 5 4.53x
Lewisham 5 3.88x
St Giles In Fields 5 20.44x
St Marylebone London 5 1.32x
St Pancras London 5 0.88x
Wigston Magna 5 47.94x
Wolverton 5 56.37x
Biggleswade 4 33.25x
Bromley 4 10.85x
Castle Donnington 4 61.35x
Clapham 4 270.27x
Holbeck 4 8.59x
Leighton Buzzard 4 25.32x
Ryde 4 12.81x
St Katherine 4 465.12x
Wandsworth 4 5.86x
Bramley In Bramley 3 11.15x
Cheshunt 3 17.55x
Croydon 3 1.56x
Isleworth 3 9.51x
Little Brickhill 3 508.47x
Prestwich 3 14.29x
Salford 3 555.56x
South Normanton 3 38.46x
Southwark St John 3 13.83x
St Albans 3 29.94x
St George Hanover 3 3.24x
St Luke London 3 2.64x
Sturston 3 163.04x
Wilshampstead 3 150.00x
Blunham 2 80.32x
Greenwich 2 1.77x
Marston Moretaine 2 69.93x
Ridgmont 2 110.50x
Saddleworth 2 3.69x
Sheffield 2 0.89x
South Mimms 2 20.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Sarah 38
Elizabeth 33
Emma 16
Jane 15
Annie 13
Ann 12
Eliza 12
Martha 12
Alice 11
Hannah 11
Ellen 9
Maria 8
Sophia 7
Susan 6
Clara 5
Louisa 5
Minnie 5
Betsy 4
Caroline 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Emily 4
Maryann 4
Rebecca 4
Ada 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Rose 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Margaret 2
Susannah 2
Betty 1
Carolin 1
Eleanor 1
Elizebeth 1
Lavinia 1
Leanna 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 40
George 37
James 25
Charles 21
Thomas 16
Joseph 15
Henry 13
Frederick 10
Samuel 9
Walter 9
Arthur 8
David 7
Edward 7
Harry 7
Richard 6
Robert 6
Alfred 5
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Daniel 3
Wm. 3
Barnard 2
Jonas 2
Mark 2
Philip 2
Robt. 2
T. 2
Amos 1
Aurthur 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Emma 1
Ephraim 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Herbert 1
Jessee 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
R. 1
Reginald 1

FAQ

Sinfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sinfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 725 people were recorded with the Sinfield surname. That placed it at #5,030 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sinfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,232 in 2016. That gives Sinfield a modern rank of #4,842.

What does the Sinfield surname mean?

A habitational name referring to someone from Singfield, Norfolk, England.

What does the Sinfield map show?

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