NameCensus.

UK surname

Spoors

A surname derived from the Old English word "spor," meaning a track or trail left behind.

In the 1881 census there were 373 people recorded with the Spoors surname, ranking it #8,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 630, also still ranked #8,380.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spoors is 656 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.9%.

1881 census count

373

Ranked #8,380

Modern count

630

2016, ranked #8,380

Peak year

2011

656 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spoors had 373 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016, ranked #8,380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 552 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Spoors surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spoors surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spoors 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 192 #12,423
1881 historical 373 #8,380
1891 historical 483 #7,638
1901 historical 448 #8,735
1911 historical 552 #7,264
1997 modern 598 #8,162
1998 modern 628 #8,120
1999 modern 637 #8,084
2000 modern 615 #8,287
2001 modern 614 #8,147
2002 modern 648 #7,971
2003 modern 602 #8,313
2004 modern 594 #8,411
2005 modern 590 #8,378
2006 modern 597 #8,314
2007 modern 591 #8,450
2008 modern 592 #8,504
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 648 #8,260
2011 modern 656 #8,094
2012 modern 653 #8,049
2013 modern 646 #8,252
2014 modern 632 #8,434
2015 modern 629 #8,406
2016 modern 630 #8,380

Geography

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Where Spoors' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Dalton-le-Dale and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead and County Durham. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Newcastle All Saints Northumberland
4 Dalton-le-Dale Durham
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 005 Gateshead
2 County Durham 045 County Durham
3 Gateshead 002 Gateshead
4 County Durham 005 County Durham
5 Gateshead 004 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spoors

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spoors

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Spoors surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Spoors household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Spoors 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

Spoors is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Spoors falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Spoors is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Spoors, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Spoors

The surname Spoors originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "spor," meaning a track or footprint, particularly of animals or birds. This suggests that the name may have been originally borne by someone who lived near a hunting ground or worked as a tracker or hunter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a John del Spore. The "del" prefix indicates that the name was likely associated with a specific location or estate at that time.

In the 15th century, the name appears in various spellings such as Spore, Spore, and Spoore in records from counties like Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during that era.

The Spoors surname is also linked to several place names in England, such as Spoors Farm in Derbyshire and Spoors Hill in Somerset. These place names likely originated from the Old English word "spor" and may have influenced the surname's development.

One notable historical figure bearing the Spoors surname was Sir Thomas Spoors (1573-1631), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Skinners in London. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1628 and was involved in various charitable endeavors.

Another individual of note was John Spoors (1667-1726), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk.

In the 18th century, the Spoors surname gained prominence with the birth of William Spoors (1731-1809), a successful businessman and landowner in Gloucestershire. His descendants continued to play influential roles in the region's agricultural and social circles.

The 19th century saw the birth of Henry Spoors (1842-1917), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Household Cavalry Barracks in Knightsbridge.

Finally, one cannot overlook the contributions of Alice Spoors (1876-1958), a pioneering British educator and advocate for women's rights. She founded the Spoors School for Girls in Buckinghamshire, which was renowned for its progressive approach to education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spoors families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spoors 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. Durham leads with 211 Spoors' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.44x.

County Total Index
Durham 211 19.44x
Northumberland 143 26.34x
Middlesex 8 0.22x
Cumberland 4 1.27x
Gloucestershire 4 0.56x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Glamorgan 1 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gateshead in Durham leads with 35 Spoors' recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.07x.

Place Total Index
Gateshead 35 43.07x
Bishopwearmouth 34 36.50x
Elswick 23 53.09x
Byker 17 63.36x
Westgate 17 50.57x
Westoe 17 27.63x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 14 43.18x
Sunderland 14 73.03x
Benwell 13 219.22x
Newburn 13 838.71x
Dawdon 12 89.89x
Newburn Hall 11 1078.43x
Winlaton 10 96.06x
Ford 9 276.92x
St Andrew Holborn 8 64.67x
Boldon 7 180.88x
Cramlington 7 97.63x
Harraton 7 330.19x
Monkwearmouth Shore 6 28.32x
Seaham 6 151.52x
Stella 6 645.16x
Tanfield 6 46.48x
Heworth 5 23.38x
Jesmond 5 65.45x
North South Gosforth 5 724.64x
Brampton 4 92.81x
Clifton 4 11.06x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 8.51x
Penshaw 4 122.70x
Southwick 4 38.91x
Stockton On Tees 4 7.65x
Tynemouth 4 13.76x
Weetslade 4 421.05x
Witton Gilbert 4 93.46x
Helmington Row 3 59.29x
Houghton Le Spring 3 40.00x
Longbenton 3 13.05x
Ryton 3 78.74x
Greencroft Langley 2 416.67x
Ingleby Greenhow 2 408.16x
Medomsley 2 39.53x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 2 28.01x
South Gosforth 2 317.46x
Tunstall 2 37.04x
Bedlington 1 5.52x
Bishop Auckland 1 6.87x
Cardiff St John 1 4.82x
Hepple 1 1000.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.55x
Northwood 1 9.39x
Whitburn 1 39.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 33
Jane 20
Elizabeth 19
Margaret 13
Isabella 12
Ann 10
Sarah 9
Ellen 7
Hannah 5
Maria 4
Emma 3
Lydia 3
Margt. 3
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Laura 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Annabell 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
E...k 1
Ealoner 1
Elivia 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Hariett 1
Helen 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Lavina 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lowisa 1
Magaret 1
Maretia 1
Margery 1
Meggie 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Susannah 1
Theresa 1
Wilhelmina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 29
Robert 23
Thomas 19
George 13
Joseph 11
James 9
Michael 9
Edward 7
Richard 6
Andrew 3
Cuthbert 3
Henry 2
Matthew 2
Percival 2
Ralph 2
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Amor 1
Ernest 1
Fenwick 1
Geo. 1
Harding 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jospeh 1
Lawrence 1
Martin 1
Micheal 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Richd. 1
Samuel 1
Ward 1

FAQ

Spoors surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spoors surname in 1881?

In 1881, 373 people were recorded with the Spoors surname. That placed it at #8,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spoors surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016. That gives Spoors a modern rank of #8,380.

What does the Spoors surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "spor," meaning a track or trail left behind.

What does the Spoors map show?

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