NameCensus.

UK surname

Singer

An occupational surname referring to a performer of vocal music or a tailor who specialized in making light clothing.

In the 1881 census there were 1,199 people recorded with the Singer surname, ranking it #3,363 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,087, ranked #3,099, up from #3,363 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Fyvie and Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells, Barnet and Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Singer is 2,245 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 74.1%.

1881 census count

1,199

Ranked #3,363

Modern count

2,087

2016, ranked #3,099

Peak year

2000

2,245 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Singer had 1,199 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,363 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,087 in 2016, ranked #3,099.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,679 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Singer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Singer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Singer 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 791 #3,373
1861 historical 823 #3,347
1881 historical 1,199 #3,363
1891 historical 1,286 #3,364
1901 historical 1,679 #3,072
1911 historical 1,635 #2,971
1997 modern 2,075 #2,961
1998 modern 2,185 #2,934
1999 modern 2,225 #2,910
2000 modern 2,245 #2,872
2001 modern 2,139 #2,938
2002 modern 2,174 #2,952
2003 modern 2,166 #2,907
2004 modern 2,171 #2,905
2005 modern 2,128 #2,912
2006 modern 2,111 #2,940
2007 modern 2,121 #2,953
2008 modern 2,096 #3,007
2009 modern 2,132 #3,039
2010 modern 2,194 #3,020
2011 modern 2,098 #3,103
2012 modern 2,072 #3,093
2013 modern 2,118 #3,078
2014 modern 2,136 #3,072
2015 modern 2,131 #3,045
2016 modern 2,087 #3,099

Geography

Back to top

Where Singers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Fyvie and Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells, Barnet, Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg South, Hackney and Hertsmere. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Fyvie Aberdeen
4 Warminster, Upton Scudamore, Great and Little Corsley, Norton Bavant Wiltshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Insch, Oyne and Ythanwells Aberdeenshire
2 Barnet 033 Barnet
3 Kincorth, Leggart and Nigg South Aberdeen City
4 Hackney 003 Hackney
5 Hertsmere 013 Hertsmere

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Singer

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Singer

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Singer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Singer 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Singer 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

Singer 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

Singer 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 Singer 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 Singer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Singer

The surname SINGER has its origins in medieval German-speaking Europe, particularly in the regions that now comprise modern-day Germany and Austria. The name is an occupational surname, derived from the Middle High German word "singære," which means "one who sings." This term itself stems from the Old High German "singan," meaning "to sing."

In the Middle Ages, occupational surnames were commonly adopted by artisans, tradespeople, and professionals to identify their line of work. The surname SINGER likely emerged to distinguish individuals who were employed as singers, minstrels, or entertainers in courts, churches, or public venues.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SINGER can be found in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval manuscript from the 9th century, which mentions a certain "Singarius" in the Duchy of Saxony. Additionally, the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of Saxon charters and documents, includes references to individuals bearing the surname SINGER in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Notable historical figures who bore the surname SINGER include Johann SINGER (1490-1529), a German theologian and Protestant reformer who worked alongside Martin Luther; Georg SINGER (1564-1626), a German composer and organist; and Ignaz SINGER (1654-1712), an Austrian Baroque painter and etcher.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname SINGER was particularly prevalent in regions such as Saxony, Bavaria, and Austria, where it appeared in various local records and documents. For instance, the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt had a notable SINGER family, with members such as Georg SINGER (1564-1617), a renowned lawyer and academic.

Other notable individuals with the surname SINGER include Isaac Merritt SINGER (1811-1875), the American inventor and entrepreneur who founded the Singer Sewing Machine Company; and Peter SINGER (born 1946), an Australian moral philosopher and professor known for his work in practical ethics and animal rights advocacy.

Throughout history, the surname SINGER has undergone various spelling variations, including Sänger, Saenger, and Zaenger, reflecting regional linguistic differences and scribal variations in record-keeping. However, the core meaning and occupational origin of the name have remained consistent across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Singer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Singer 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 244 Singers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.43x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 244 22.43x
Middlesex 187 1.59x
Somerset 167 8.83x
Surrey 102 1.78x
Lancashire 51 0.37x
Kent 50 1.25x
Wiltshire 39 3.75x
Yorkshire 37 0.32x
Gloucestershire 34 1.48x
Glamorgan 33 1.61x
Hampshire 29 1.20x
Midlothian 21 1.33x
Warwickshire 21 0.71x
Sussex 19 0.96x
Essex 18 0.78x
Oxfordshire 17 2.34x
Ross-shire 15 4.65x
Northumberland 14 0.80x
Staffordshire 13 0.33x
Devon 11 0.45x
Berkshire 10 1.13x
Monmouthshire 10 1.18x
Durham 9 0.26x
Banffshire 6 2.46x
Lanarkshire 6 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 5 0.70x
Royal Navy 5 3.57x
Angus 4 0.37x
Northamptonshire 4 0.36x
Bedfordshire 3 0.49x
Inverness-shire 3 0.86x
Norfolk 3 0.17x
Suffolk 3 0.21x
Fife 2 0.29x
Kincardineshire 2 1.40x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.13x
Worcestershire 2 0.13x
Dorset 1 0.13x
Isle of Man 1 0.46x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Frome in Somerset leads with 82 Singers recorded in 1881 and an index of 181.34x.

Place Total Index
Frome 82 181.34x
Aberdeen Old Machar 53 23.34x
St Pancras London 39 4.13x
Hackney London 34 5.16x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 29 14.25x
Bermondsey 20 5.72x
Walcot 20 19.86x
Fyvie 19 107.04x
Hammersmith London 18 6.22x
Whitechapel London 17 14.68x
Newhills 16 71.85x
Rayne 16 309.48x
Birmingham 15 1.52x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 15 2.37x
Portsea 15 3.18x
Auchterless 14 162.04x
Marston Bigott 14 972.22x
Westbury 14 57.76x
Newington 13 3.00x
Battersea 12 2.78x
Rotherhithe 12 8.27x
Bristol St Paul In 10 16.29x
Camberwell 10 1.33x
Croydon 10 3.15x
Middlesbrough 10 6.60x
Paddington London 10 2.32x
Aberystruth 9 12.03x
Bedminster 9 5.07x
Deptford St Paul 9 2.91x
Fortrose 9 459.18x
Henley On Thames 9 60.57x
Kintore 9 95.24x
Leek Lowe 9 17.06x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 4.58x
St George In East 9 11.27x
West Ham 9 1.76x
Corsley 8 195.12x
Great Harwood 8 31.76x
Kirkdale 8 3.41x
Liverpool 8 0.95x
Oxford St Giles 8 23.12x
West Derby 8 1.96x
Brighton 7 1.75x
Cairney 7 110.41x
Lambeth 7 0.68x
Lonmay 7 70.92x
Methley 7 42.71x
Mile End Old Town 7 3.78x
Skene 7 97.09x
Avoch 6 88.11x
Bothal Demesne 6 71.77x
Gateshead 6 2.29x
Glasgow 6 0.89x
Holdenhurst 6 9.50x
Kensington London 6 0.92x
Llanwonno 6 8.17x
Shoreditch London 6 1.18x
Shorne 6 169.01x
South Brewham 6 425.53x
St George Hanover 6 3.91x
Thornaby 6 13.80x
Toxteth Park 6 1.27x
Udny 6 91.05x
Bowood 5 1351.35x
Cardiff St John 5 7.49x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 11.96x
Cheltenham 5 2.81x
Coventry St Michael 5 5.26x
Hadlow 5 50.30x
Newcastle Lower 5 117.10x
Southwark St Saviour 5 8.28x
Tonbridge 5 3.46x
Upton Cum Chalvey 5 17.67x
Whatley 5 287.36x
Culsalmond 4 119.76x
Ealing 4 3.81x
Ospringe 4 81.14x
South Stoneham 4 7.66x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 1.69x
White Waltham 4 121.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 45
Sarah 29
Elizabeth 22
Eliza 20
Annie 18
Emma 17
Ellen 16
Alice 13
Ann 13
Fanny 12
Jane 12
Caroline 11
Emily 10
Maria 10
Louisa 9
Margaret 9
Harriet 8
Lucy 7
Catherine 6
Rose 6
Ada 5
Anne 5
Florence 5
Martha 5
Minnie 5
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Harriett 4
Julia 4
Beatrice 3
Charlotte 3
Helen 3
Matilda 3
Phoebe 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Susan 3
Amy 2
Bessie 2
Eleanor 2
Elenor 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Hester 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lily 2
Lousia 2
Mabel 2
Rosa 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
John 34
George 33
Henry 24
James 24
Thomas 23
Charles 20
Alfred 14
Walter 14
Samuel 12
Arthur 11
Frederick 9
Robert 8
Frank 7
Joseph 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Edward 5
Francis 5
Richard 5
Edwin 4
Louis 4
Alexander 3
Benjamin 3
Elijah 3
Ernest 3
Isaac 3
Abraham 2
C. 2
Daniel 2
David 2
Edgar 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Hyam 2
Jeremiah 2
Jno. 2
Mark 2
Matthew 2
Morris 2
Waddington 2
Alfd. 1
Bmon 1
Elias 1
Elsie 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Hurbert 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Singer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Singer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,199 people were recorded with the Singer surname. That placed it at #3,363 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Singer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,087 in 2016. That gives Singer a modern rank of #3,099.

What does the Singer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a performer of vocal music or a tailor who specialized in making light clothing.

What does the Singer map show?

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