NameCensus.

UK surname

Springate

A geographical surname denoting someone who lived near a gate by a spring or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Springate surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 430, ranked #11,195, down from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Mary Rotherhithe and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Medway, Meadows and Southside and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Springate is 511 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.8%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

430

2016, ranked #11,195

Peak year

1998

511 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Springate had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016, ranked #11,195.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 377 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Springate surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Springate surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Springate 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 309 #7,449
1861 historical 333 #7,646
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 305 #10,976
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 377 #9,719
1997 modern 487 #9,482
1998 modern 511 #9,431
1999 modern 494 #9,752
2000 modern 487 #9,819
2001 modern 477 #9,798
2002 modern 474 #10,027
2003 modern 463 #10,026
2004 modern 454 #10,229
2005 modern 447 #10,266
2006 modern 451 #10,221
2007 modern 444 #10,445
2008 modern 455 #10,319
2009 modern 462 #10,444
2010 modern 473 #10,481
2011 modern 455 #10,691
2012 modern 439 #10,873
2013 modern 432 #11,210
2014 modern 442 #11,057
2015 modern 435 #11,120
2016 modern 430 #11,195

Geography

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Where Springates are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, St Mary Rotherhithe, London parishes, Smarden and Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Medway, Meadows and Southside, Rother, New Forest and Babergh. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 St Mary Rotherhithe London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Smarden Kent
5 Gillingham, Grange, Lidsing Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Medway 018 Medway
2 Meadows and Southside City of Edinburgh
3 Rother 005 Rother
4 New Forest 016 New Forest
5 Babergh 011 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Springate

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Springate

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Springate surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Springate household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Springate is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Springate 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

Springate falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Springate is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Springate

The surname Springate is of English origin, with records showing its earliest use in the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'spring' and 'geat', meaning 'spring gate' or 'gate near a spring'. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a gate or entrance situated close to a natural spring.

The earliest known record of the Springate surname appears in the parish registers of Cumbria, England, in the year 1591, where a Thomas Springate was listed as a resident. This region of northwestern England, known for its picturesque landscapes and numerous springs and waterways, was likely the birthplace of the Springate name.

In the 17th century, the name Springate began to spread across various counties in England, with records showing families bearing this surname in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. A notable example from this period is William Springate, a prominent merchant and member of the East India Company, who was born in 1622 and lived in the city of London.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Springate surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the formation of the name, such as Springwell in Derbyshire and Springvale in Herefordshire.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have carried the Springate surname. One of the earliest was Sir John Springate (1592-1669), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Richard Springate (1763-1837), an English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

In more recent history, Edward Springate (1890-1971) was a British trade unionist and Labour Party politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leeds West from 1945 to 1950. Additionally, John Springate (1915-1990), an English cricketer, played first-class cricket for Yorkshire and Oxford University in the 1930s and 1940s.

The Springate surname has also been found in other parts of the world, such as North America and Australia, likely due to migration from England in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, its origins can be firmly traced back to the Old English language and the early settlements of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Springate families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Springate 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. Kent leads with 138 Springates recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.00x.

County Total Index
Kent 138 11.00x
Middlesex 62 1.69x
Essex 53 7.30x
Surrey 52 2.90x
Channel Islands 19 17.44x
Sussex 15 2.42x
Lancashire 8 0.18x
Durham 5 0.46x
Lanarkshire 5 0.42x
Midlothian 5 1.01x
Cheshire 3 0.37x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Somerset 2 0.34x
Staffordshire 2 0.16x
Hampshire 1 0.13x
Hertfordshire 1 0.39x
Northumberland 1 0.18x
Suffolk 1 0.22x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatham in Kent leads with 23 Springates recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.63x.

Place Total Index
Chatham 23 66.63x
Gillingham 19 73.44x
Tonbridge 19 41.99x
Lambeth 16 4.99x
Smarden 15 1048.95x
St Martin 14 209.58x
Brenchley 13 289.53x
Bromley London 13 16.07x
Halstead 13 153.48x
Rotherhithe 13 28.61x
Castle Hedingham 11 839.69x
Clerkenwell London 10 11.52x
Elmstead 10 854.70x
Cressing 8 1176.47x
Islington London 8 2.24x
Kearsley 8 87.15x
Bermondsey 7 6.39x
Mile End Old Town 7 12.06x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 9.46x
Ashford 6 49.10x
Biddenden 6 348.84x
Deptford St Paul 6 6.20x
Kenardington 6 2500.00x
Barony 5 1.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 5 2.52x
Monk Hesleden 5 163.93x
St Andrew Holborn 5 40.10x
Westmeston 5 1219.51x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.50x
Fordham 4 449.44x
Limpsfield 4 233.92x
Rainham 4 115.94x
Grouville 3 98.68x
Hackney London 3 1.46x
Hornsey 3 6.45x
Lewes St Michael 3 243.90x
Preston Next Faversham 3 101.69x
Scarborough 3 9.06x
Stockport 3 7.18x
Tenterden 3 67.87x
Willesborough 3 89.02x
Chard 2 27.89x
Deptford St Nicholas 2 20.08x
Eastbourne 2 7.01x
Kensington London 2 0.98x
Loughton 2 55.71x
Milton In Milton 2 37.52x
Newington 2 1.47x
Pebmarsh 2 307.69x
Tudeley 2 289.86x
Wolverhampton 2 2.10x
Aldershot 1 3.96x
Benwell 1 16.72x
Colchester St Mary 1 149.25x
Colchester St Peter 1 34.48x
Ealing 1 3.04x
Etchingham 1 86.96x
Folkestone 1 4.11x
Frant 1 22.78x
Hammersmith London 1 1.10x
Hove 1 3.68x
Keymer 1 22.83x
Kidderminster Borough 1 3.56x
Limehouse London 1 2.48x
Little Warley 1 99.01x
Pembury 1 56.18x
Pluckley 1 86.21x
Ratcliffe London 1 4.92x
Richmond 1 3.98x
Salehurst 1 37.17x
Sevenoaks 1 9.83x
Shoreditch London 1 0.63x
Sittingbourne 1 10.09x
St George Hanover 1 2.08x
St Helier 1 2.82x
St Saviour 1 16.61x
Uxbridge 1 23.81x
Wateringbury 1 60.98x
Watford 1 5.09x
Woolverstone 1 322.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Jane 13
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Alice 9
Emma 9
Annie 7
Emily 7
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Martha 4
Sophia 4
Hannah 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ester 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Naomi 2
Rebecca 2
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Christine 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Elizh. 1
Emilly 1
Flora 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
Mannette 1
Margaret 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
George 15
James 13
Alfred 11
Henry 10
John 10
Robert 9
Stephen 8
Joseph 7
Richard 7
Edward 6
Frederick 6
Thomas 6
Charles 5
David 5
Samuel 3
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Archelaus 1
Auther 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Joshua 1
Luke 1
Normington 1
Roland 1
Rowland 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Springate surname: questions and answers

How common was the Springate surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Springate surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Springate surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 430 in 2016. That gives Springate a modern rank of #11,195.

What does the Springate surname mean?

A geographical surname denoting someone who lived near a gate by a spring or stream.

What does the Springate map show?

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