NameCensus.

UK surname

Spenser

A surname of English origin meaning "dispenser of provisions" or "steward".

In the 1881 census there were 298 people recorded with the Spenser surname, ranking it #9,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 110, ranked #29,225, down from #9,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, Shropshire and Cheshire West and Chester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spenser is 298 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.1%.

1881 census count

298

Ranked #9,765

Modern count

110

2016, ranked #29,225

Peak year

1881

298 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spenser had 298 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016, ranked #29,225.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 298 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Spenser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spenser surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spenser 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 260 #9,516
1881 historical 298 #9,765
1891 historical 236 #13,278
1901 historical 171 #16,689
1911 historical 87 #24,147
1997 modern 78 #29,785
1998 modern 80 #29,966
1999 modern 81 #30,037
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 87 #29,161
2002 modern 95 #28,666
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 93 #29,065
2005 modern 91 #29,406
2006 modern 96 #28,946
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 105 #28,180
2009 modern 109 #28,145
2010 modern 108 #28,996
2011 modern 107 #28,979
2012 modern 101 #30,078
2013 modern 104 #30,076
2014 modern 112 #28,934
2015 modern 113 #28,645
2016 modern 110 #29,225

Geography

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Where Spensers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Preston and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, Shropshire, Cheshire West and Chester and Flintshire. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Preston Lancashire
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
2 Shropshire 010 Shropshire
3 Cheshire West and Chester 005 Cheshire West and Chester
4 Flintshire 015 Flintshire
5 Flintshire 008 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spenser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spenser

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Spenser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Spenser household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Spenser is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Spenser is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spenser falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Spenser

The surname Spenser originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word 'despensier', which means 'steward' or 'officer in charge of provisions'. The name was initially an occupational surname given to those who worked as stewards or held positions of authority over household provisions.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Dispenser' and 'Le Despencer'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, 'Spenser'.

One of the most notable historical figures bearing this surname was Hugh le Despenser the Younger (c.1286-1326). He was a prominent English nobleman and the chamberlain of King Edward II. His father, Hugh le Despenser the Elder (c.1262-1326), also held significant power and influence during the reign of Edward II.

Another famous bearer of the name was Edmund Spenser (c.1552-1599), the renowned English poet and author of the epic poem 'The Faerie Queene'. He is considered one of the greatest poets of the Elizabethan era and is often referred to as the 'Poet's Poet'.

In the 17th century, John Spenser (1559-1614) was an English historian and President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He is best known for his work 'De Legibus Hebraeorum Ritualibus et earum Rationibus' (On the Ritual Laws of the Hebrews and Their Reasons), published in 1685.

Sir John Spenser (1782-1845) was a British admiral who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He played a significant role in several naval battles, including the Battle of San Domingo in 1806.

Finally, one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century, Sir Stanley Spencer (1891-1959), bore the surname Spenser. He was an English painter and one of the leading figures of the British avant-garde movement in the early 20th century, known for his distinctive style and unique vision.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spenser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spenser 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. Lancashire leads with 56 Spensers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.63x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 56 1.63x
Middlesex 56 1.94x
Yorkshire 40 1.40x
Surrey 17 1.21x
Staffordshire 16 1.64x
Hampshire 15 2.53x
Cheshire 11 1.73x
Worcestershire 11 2.92x
Sussex 9 1.85x
Derbyshire 7 1.55x
Northamptonshire 7 2.58x
Renfrewshire 6 2.68x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.28x
Dorset 3 1.58x
Glamorgan 3 0.60x
Gloucestershire 3 0.53x
Hertfordshire 3 1.51x
Kent 3 0.30x
Monmouthshire 3 1.44x
Northumberland 3 0.70x
Warwickshire 3 0.41x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.15x
Herefordshire 2 1.69x
Oxfordshire 2 1.12x
Somerset 2 0.43x
Ayrshire 1 0.46x
Cardiganshire 1 1.42x
Devon 1 0.17x
Leicestershire 1 0.31x
Lincolnshire 1 0.22x
Midlothian 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 2.91x
Shropshire 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 18 Spensers recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.14x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 18 11.14x
Bethnal Green London 12 9.57x
Handsworth 11 45.80x
Worcester St John 11 244.44x
Whitechapel London 9 31.62x
Rainford 8 215.63x
Chester St Mary On Hill 7 127.97x
Rotherhithe 7 19.62x
Southampton St Mary 7 18.81x
Bowling 6 21.17x
Friern Barnet 6 94.34x
West Greenock 6 14.94x
Liverpool 5 2.40x
North Meols 5 14.91x
Wigan 5 10.44x
Accrington 4 12.84x
Barrowford Booth 4 105.54x
Halifax 4 9.52x
Kensington London 4 2.49x
Mile End Old Town 4 8.78x
Shoreditch London 4 3.20x
Wrenbury Cum Frith 4 800.00x
Alverstoke 3 14.01x
Ashton Under Lyne 3 4.01x
Aston 3 1.50x
Hove 3 14.04x
Hulme 3 4.19x
Ovenden 3 23.57x
Portsea 3 2.59x
Preston 3 3.27x
South Blyth Newsham 3 357.14x
St Pancras London 3 1.29x
St Woollos 3 12.88x
Stapenhill 3 44.58x
Streatham 3 14.01x
Tichmarsh 3 329.67x
Willenhall 3 16.44x
Wuerdle Wardle 3 28.85x
Yetminster 3 428.57x
Belper 2 22.83x
Bermondsey 2 2.33x
Brighton 2 2.04x
Broughton In Salford 2 6.38x
Bulwell 2 23.64x
Chelsea London 2 2.30x
Clayton 2 28.57x
Cobham 2 86.58x
Everton 2 1.83x
Hackney London 2 1.24x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 19.25x
Irthlingborough 2 75.19x
Manchester 2 1.30x
Neithrop 2 33.39x
Nether Hallam 2 5.17x
Paddington London 2 1.88x
Roath 2 8.76x
Shelford Saxondale 2 377.36x
Sowerby In Halifax 2 21.37x
St Marylebone London 2 1.30x
Ware 2 35.09x
Westbury On Trym 2 10.43x
Weston Super Mare 2 17.04x
Aberystwyth 1 89.29x
Barnsley 1 3.39x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.15x
Bristol St Michael 1 20.62x
Cronton 1 217.39x
East Farleigh 1 60.61x
Hampstead London 1 2.22x
Hayfield 1 36.10x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.28x
Mitcham 1 11.25x
Padiham 1 12.08x
Redbourn 1 46.08x
Royal Navy 1 3.40x
Spitalfields London 1 4.60x
St Devereux 1 500.00x
Tottenham 1 2.17x
Wellington 1 7.13x
Wycombe 1 7.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 15
Elizabeth 9
Ellen 9
Ann 7
Alice 5
Esther 5
Jane 5
Eliza 4
Hannah 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Anna 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Ester 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Elisabeth 1
Elisebeth 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Evelyn 1
Georgiana 1
Gertr. 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Henerite 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
May 1
Rose 1
Tilly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 19
Henry 9
Charles 7
George 7
James 7
Samuel 6
Arthur 5
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Francis 3
Richard 3
Walter 3
Edward 2
F. 2
Frederick 2
Tom 2
W. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Hamlet 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Ira 1
Jas. 1
Jethro 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Richd. 1
Solomon 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Spenser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spenser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 298 people were recorded with the Spenser surname. That placed it at #9,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spenser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 110 in 2016. That gives Spenser a modern rank of #29,225.

What does the Spenser surname mean?

A surname of English origin meaning "dispenser of provisions" or "steward".

What does the Spenser map show?

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