NameCensus.

UK surname

Spivey

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person with an unkempt or untidy appearance.

In the 1881 census there were 669 people recorded with the Spivey surname, ranking it #5,393 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 850, ranked #6,581, down from #5,393 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkheaton, Birstall and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spivey is 923 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.1%.

1881 census count

669

Ranked #5,393

Modern count

850

2016, ranked #6,581

Peak year

1999

923 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spivey had 669 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,393 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 850 in 2016, ranked #6,581.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 896 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Spivey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spivey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spivey 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 373 #6,385
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 669 #5,393
1891 historical 766 #5,212
1901 historical 896 #5,163
1911 historical 887 #5,020
1997 modern 851 #6,233
1998 modern 900 #6,159
1999 modern 923 #6,087
2000 modern 886 #6,243
2001 modern 877 #6,186
2002 modern 860 #6,411
2003 modern 817 #6,541
2004 modern 803 #6,652
2005 modern 807 #6,572
2006 modern 820 #6,486
2007 modern 817 #6,578
2008 modern 822 #6,589
2009 modern 830 #6,688
2010 modern 839 #6,759
2011 modern 845 #6,645
2012 modern 841 #6,580
2013 modern 853 #6,613
2014 modern 850 #6,655
2015 modern 845 #6,646
2016 modern 850 #6,581

Geography

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Where Spiveys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkheaton, Birstall, Batley, Almondbury and Huddersfield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds, Kingston upon Hull and Kirklees. 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 Kirkheaton Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Almondbury Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 017 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Leeds 104 Leeds
3 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 037 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Kirklees 054 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spivey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spivey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Spivey, 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 Spivey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Spivey 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Spivey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Spivey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Spivey

The surname Spivey originates from England and dates back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "spiwi," which means a small bird or sparrow. The name may have initially been a descriptive nickname given to someone who was small or had a bird-like appearance.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are records of individuals with the name Spivey or similar spellings such as Spyveye and Spyvie. These early records suggest the name was present in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1198, where a Robert Spivey is mentioned. Another notable early reference is in the Assize Rolls of Somerset from 1243, which mention a William Spyvie.

The name Spivey is also associated with certain place names in England. For example, the village of Spivey in Somerset may have derived its name from individuals bearing the surname Spivey who lived in the area.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Spivey:

1. Sir Thomas Spivey (born around 1480, died 1545) was an English politician and Member of Parliament for Bristol during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. John Spivey (born around 1620, died 1679) was an English sailor and explorer who participated in several voyages to the West Indies and the Caribbean.

3. Elizabeth Spivey (born around 1730, died 1807) was an English author and poet known for her work "The Poetic Garland," published in 1776.

4. William Spivey (born 1795, died 1862) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including St. Pancras Church.

5. Henry Spivey (born 1828, died 1904) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a judge in Georgia and was involved in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier.

While the surname Spivey has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old English language, reflecting the rich history and evolution of surnames in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spivey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spivey 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. Yorkshire leads with 516 Spiveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.05x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 516 8.05x
Middlesex 46 0.71x
Lancashire 35 0.46x
Lincolnshire 22 2.13x
Bedfordshire 9 2.69x
Carmarthenshire 8 2.93x
Essex 6 0.47x
Warwickshire 6 0.37x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.46x
Surrey 3 0.10x
Flintshire 2 1.15x
Hertfordshire 2 0.45x
Staffordshire 2 0.09x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Kent 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. Huddersfield in Yorkshire leads with 58 Spiveys recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.12x.

Place Total Index
Huddersfield 58 62.12x
Almondbury 46 148.44x
Liversedge 38 133.19x
Beverley St Martin 31 289.72x
Oldham 22 8.88x
Batley 18 29.55x
Heckmondwike 17 82.48x
Bromley London 16 11.24x
Howden 16 367.82x
Dewsbury 15 22.82x
Mirfield 15 42.63x
Lepton 13 194.32x
Gomersal 12 40.12x
Lockwood 12 52.04x
Louth 12 50.63x
Donington 9 242.59x
Kirkheaton 9 86.62x
Poplar London 9 7.37x
Soothill 9 38.88x
Southcoates 9 25.30x
Bowling 8 12.60x
Carmarthen St Peter 8 34.33x
Flockton 8 306.51x
Howden Thorpe In 8 1159.42x
Luton 8 13.80x
Manningham 8 10.13x
Snaith Cowick 8 208.88x
Conisbrough 7 116.47x
Cumberworth 7 214.72x
Doncaster 7 14.95x
Golcar 7 41.32x
Kirkburton 7 92.59x
Linthwaite 7 51.97x
Beverley St Nicholas 6 114.07x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 41.78x
Hunshelf 6 191.08x
Kingstonupon Hull 6 116.73x
Selby 6 44.81x
Bradfield 5 20.23x
Great Hallingbury 5 359.71x
Morley 5 15.01x
Norton In Doncaster 5 384.62x
Potter Newton 5 44.21x
Wavertree 5 20.36x
Aston 4 0.89x
Beverley St Mary 4 42.74x
Cleckheaton 4 16.94x
Cottingham 4 28.96x
Feliskirk 4 1600.00x
Fulham London 4 4.26x
Holy Trinity 4 2.59x
Marnham 4 909.09x
Saddleworth 4 8.09x
Westminster St John 4 5.08x
Ackworth 3 60.98x
Blackburn 3 1.47x
Cliff Cum Lund 3 211.27x
Hook 3 21.28x
Longwood 3 29.04x
Newington 3 1.26x
Royton 3 12.78x
Scarborough 3 5.15x
St Marylebone London 3 0.87x
Willesden 3 4.92x
Castleton 2 2.61x
Eston 2 14.33x
Goole 2 18.62x
Harpenden 2 29.41x
Islington London 2 0.32x
Kimberworth 2 5.62x
North Cave Drewton 2 79.37x
Northop Golftyn 2 98.04x
Paddington London 2 0.84x
Rugby 2 9.07x
Shepley 2 56.66x
Sherburn 2 37.95x
Shipley 2 6.01x
St George Hanover 2 2.37x
Upperthong 2 36.70x
Kelfield 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 20
Ann 17
Annie 14
Eliza 14
Martha 14
Jane 13
Hannah 10
Ada 9
Louisa 9
Emma 8
Emily 7
Alice 6
Caroline 5
Clara 5
Ellen 5
Anne 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Rebecca 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Frances 3
Margaret 3
Nancy 3
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Rachel 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Bessey 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Clare 1
Eliz. 1
Elizbeth 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Zilla 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 46
William 34
George 21
Charles 15
Joseph 13
Henry 12
James 12
Thomas 12
Arthur 9
Richard 8
Fred 7
Herbert 7
Edward 6
Frank 5
Harry 5
Robert 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Allen 4
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Joe 4
Tom 4
Wm. 4
Fredrick 3
Walter 3
Willie 3
Edwin 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Luke 2
Ralph 2
Sam 2
Vincent 2
Abram. 1
Arminadale 1
Benjimen 1
Benson 1
Bentley 1
Elli 1
Enoch 1
Francis 1
Fread 1
Fred. 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Major 1
Marmaduke 1
Wm.Hattersley 1

FAQ

Spivey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spivey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 669 people were recorded with the Spivey surname. That placed it at #5,393 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spivey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 850 in 2016. That gives Spivey a modern rank of #6,581.

What does the Spivey surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a person with an unkempt or untidy appearance.

What does the Spivey map show?

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