NameCensus.

UK surname

Spargo

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "sparg" meaning someone who gathers twigs and branches.

In the 1881 census there were 552 people recorded with the Spargo surname, ranking it #6,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, down from #6,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stithians, Mabe and Budock. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include The Vale of Glamorgan and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spargo is 552 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.6%.

1881 census count

552

Ranked #6,255

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

1881

552 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spargo had 552 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 552 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Spargo surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spargo surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spargo 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 493 #5,073
1861 historical 395 #6,492
1881 historical 552 #6,255
1891 historical 494 #7,504
1901 historical 525 #7,771
1911 historical 503 #7,800
1997 modern 412 #10,759
1998 modern 440 #10,581
1999 modern 432 #10,827
2000 modern 433 #10,750
2001 modern 434 #10,539
2002 modern 446 #10,521
2003 modern 419 #10,875
2004 modern 430 #10,697
2005 modern 414 #10,899
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 406 #11,249
2008 modern 404 #11,374
2009 modern 414 #11,407
2010 modern 426 #11,396
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 420 #11,489
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 420 #11,458
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Spargos are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stithians, Mabe, Budock, Wendron and Gwennap. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to The Vale of Glamorgan and Cornwall. 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 Stithians Cornwall
2 Mabe Cornwall
3 Budock Cornwall
4 Wendron Cornwall
5 Gwennap Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 The Vale of Glamorgan 011 Vale of Glamorgan
2 Cornwall 043 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 063 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 049 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 064 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spargo

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spargo

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Spargo is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Spargo is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spargo falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Spargo 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 Spargo, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Spargo

The surname Spargo originates from England and dates back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sparg," which means "to scatter or spread." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who worked in agriculture, perhaps a sower or a planter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Spargo can be found in the parish records of Westmorland, England, in the year 1597. The name appears to have been concentrated in the northern counties of England, such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Durham, during its early years.

In the Domesday Book, a record of land ownership compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, there are no direct references to the surname Spargo. However, there are mentions of place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Sparsholt in Berkshire and Sparsholte in Lincolnshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Spargo throughout history include:

1. John Spargo (1876-1966), an American author and socialist activist who wrote extensively on labor issues and social reform. 2. William Spargo (1881-1953), a Scottish-born American trade unionist and socialist politician who served as a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly. 3. Isaac Spargo (1817-1890), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Spargo Charity in Kendal, Cumbria. 4. Elizabeth Spargo (1868-1927), a British author and feminist who campaigned for women's suffrage and wrote several novels and plays. 5. Thomas Spargo (1788-1864), an English farmer and landowner in County Durham, known for his contributions to agricultural innovations.

While the surname Spargo may have originated from an occupational or descriptive term, it has since evolved into a distinct family name with a rich history and notable bearers across various fields, including literature, politics, and philanthropy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spargo families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spargo 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. Cornwall leads with 451 Spargos recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.58x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 451 73.58x
Lancashire 13 0.20x
Surrey 11 0.42x
Caernarfonshire 9 4.11x
Cheshire 9 0.75x
Durham 8 0.50x
Hampshire 8 0.72x
Royal Navy 7 10.85x
Devon 6 0.53x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 7.66x
Staffordshire 6 0.33x
Warwickshire 6 0.44x
Kent 5 0.27x
Glamorgan 3 0.32x
Anglesey 2 2.08x
Middlesex 1 0.02x
Norfolk 1 0.12x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 1 0.15x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mabe in Cornwall leads with 62 Spargos recorded in 1881 and an index of 4920.63x.

Place Total Index
Mabe 62 4920.63x
Gwennap 55 475.78x
Wendron 54 634.55x
St Stithians 43 1272.19x
Redruth 23 132.64x
Budock 21 455.53x
St Gluvias Penryn 21 427.70x
Kea 20 437.64x
St Gluvias 20 583.09x
Stoke Climsland 18 460.36x
Illogan 14 86.26x
Calstock 13 108.15x
Falmouth 12 55.30x
St Blazey 11 204.46x
Paul 10 89.77x
Farnworth 9 23.38x
Madron Penzance 9 40.38x
Tranmere 9 20.49x
St Breward 8 592.59x
Constantine 7 196.08x
Kenwyn 7 43.67x
Rotherhithe 7 10.46x
Royal Navy 7 12.69x
St Clement 7 109.38x
Minnigaff 6 204.08x
Birmingham 5 1.10x
Bishopwearmouth 5 3.62x
Ramsgate 5 16.58x
St Mary Extra 5 55.99x
Camborne 4 15.84x
Croydon 4 2.73x
Tywardreath 4 101.52x
Walsall Foreign 4 4.24x
Denio 3 58.59x
Llangeinor 3 54.05x
Monkwearmouth 3 19.46x
Pistill 3 178.57x
Spotland 3 4.20x
Antony 2 33.78x
Llanengan 2 76.05x
Llanrhyddlad 2 170.94x
Marazion 2 273.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 2 2.30x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.87x
St Ive 2 50.89x
Upper Penn 2 43.67x
Aston 1 0.27x
Exeter Heavitree 1 11.90x
Exeter St David 1 10.38x
Giggleswick 1 55.25x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.45x
Ilfracombe 1 8.62x
Ipswich St Margaret 1 4.47x
Manchester 1 0.35x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.53x
Perranarworthal 1 48.78x
Shoreditch London 1 0.43x
Southampton All Sts 1 5.25x
St Cleer 1 18.83x
Tormoham 1 2.10x
Trefriw 1 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Elizabeth 34
Jane 21
Ellen 16
Eliza 14
Ann 8
Catherine 8
Sarah 8
Emily 7
Margaret 7
Annie 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Edith 4
Emma 4
Grace 4
Beatrice 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Bessie 2
Elizebeth 2
Harriet 2
Jenny 2
Joanna 2
Johanna 2
Louisa 2
Matilda 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Sopia 2
Alexandra 1
Annetta 1
Betrice 1
Betsy 1
Bicena 1
C.A. 1
Cordelia 1
Ealfrida 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth.J. 1
Ester 1
H. 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 43
James 33
Thomas 21
George 9
Henry 5
Josiah 5
Nicholas 5
Alfred 4
Joseph 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Peter 3
Simon 3
E. 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Jno. 2
Paul 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Solomon 2
Stephen 2
Courtney 1
David 1
Edmond 1
Elizabeth 1
Emanuel 1
Emily 1
Frank 1
G.C. 1
Herclues 1
Lewis 1
Nichs.J. 1
Nicolas 1
Norman 1
Obed 1
Phillip 1
Pilip 1
Richd.Henry 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Hocking 1
Thos.Hy. 1
Wm.Thos. 1

FAQ

Spargo surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spargo surname in 1881?

In 1881, 552 people were recorded with the Spargo surname. That placed it at #6,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spargo surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Spargo a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Spargo surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "sparg" meaning someone who gathers twigs and branches.

What does the Spargo map show?

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