UK surname
An English habitational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire.
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Soby surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 31, ranked #35,942, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Boyton, Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger and Bridestow, Coryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soby is 119 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.9%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
31
2016, ranked #35,942
Peak year
1881
119 bearers
Map years
1
1881 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Soby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Soby surname density by area, 1881 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 89 | #22,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 75 | #27,414 |
| 1901 | historical | 81 | #25,130 |
| 1911 | historical | 83 | #24,531 |
| 1997 | modern | 59 | #31,734 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 57 | #32,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 56 | #32,514 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 57 | #32,661 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 51 | #33,478 |
| 2005 | modern | 47 | #34,011 |
| 2006 | modern | 42 | #34,714 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 40 | #35,137 |
| 2009 | modern | 39 | #35,321 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 37 | #35,553 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 31 | #35,942 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Boyton, Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger, Bridestow, Coryton, St Budeaux and Holsworthy. 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 | Boyton | Cornwall |
| 2 | Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger | Devon |
| 3 | Bridestow, Coryton | Devon |
| 4 | St Budeaux | Devon |
| 5 | Holsworthy | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Soby 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 Soby, 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 Soby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Soby 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, Soby 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 Soby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Soby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SOBY is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, particularly in the areas around the village of Suaby or Sowby.
The name SOBY is thought to be derived from the Old Norse words "sofa" and "by," which translate to "dwelling place of the swineherd." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name may have been individuals who resided in areas known for their pig farming or were themselves involved in the tending of swine.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SOBY surname can be found in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines, a collection of legal documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. In these records, a certain Robert de Souby is mentioned in relation to land transactions in the year 1301.
During the medieval period, variations of the SOBY spelling began to emerge, such as Sowby, Soubey, and Soughby. These alternative spellings likely arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.
In the 16th century, the SOBY surname appeared in the parish records of Kirkby Malzeard in Yorkshire, where a John Soby was documented as a landowner in 1564. Another notable mention is that of Thomas Soby, a clergyman who served as the rector of Bircham Newton in Norfolk in the late 16th century.
As the centuries progressed, individuals bearing the SOBY name continued to make their mark in various fields. One such figure was Sir Samuel Soby, a 17th-century English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1678-1679.
Other notable bearers of the SOBY surname include John Soby (1677-1746), an English composer and organist known for his church music compositions, and William Soby (1742-1809), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.
In the realm of literature, the SOBY name found representation in the works of Charles Dickens. In his novel "Bleak House," published in 1852-1853, Dickens featured a character named Mrs. Soby, a housekeeper at the Dedlock estate.
While the SOBY surname may not be among the most prevalent in modern times, its deep-rooted history and connections to various regions and notable individuals serve as a testament to its enduring legacy within the fabric of English heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soby 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. Devon leads with 59 Sobys recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.62x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halwell in Devon leads with 29 Sobys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11153.85x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Halwell | 29 | 11153.85x |
| Sheffield | 13 | 35.80x |
| Bratton Clovelly | 9 | 3750.00x |
| Mile End Old Town | 9 | 49.53x |
| Boyton | 8 | 5333.33x |
| Keynsham | 8 | 601.50x |
| Hornsey | 7 | 48.08x |
| Lifton | 7 | 1206.90x |
| Ashwater | 5 | 1470.59x |
| St Thomas Apostle | 4 | 1000.00x |
| Hatherleigh | 3 | 500.00x |
| Saltash | 3 | 297.03x |
| Perranzabuloe | 2 | 178.57x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 2 | 10.83x |
| Beerferris | 1 | 212.77x |
| Clawton | 1 | 555.56x |
| Clist Hydon | 1 | 909.09x |
| Devonport | 1 | 36.36x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.55x |
| St Just In Roseland | 1 | 175.44x |
| St Mabyn | 1 | 500.00x |
| St Stephen | 1 | 217.39x |
| Street | 1 | 100.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Soby 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 Soby 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 Soby households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Soby surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 31 in 2016. That gives Soby a modern rank of #35,942.
An English habitational surname derived from a place name in Yorkshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Soby 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.