UK surname
An English surname derived from sprout, referring to gardeners or farmers.
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Sprout surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 25, ranked #36,324, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Borgue, Kingsclere and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sprout is 112 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 73.1%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
25
2016, ranked #36,324
Peak year
1901
112 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sprout surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sprout surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 60 | #22,584 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 112 | #21,382 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 18 | #36,135 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 13 | #36,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 16 | #36,530 |
| 2006 | modern | 17 | #36,517 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 19 | #36,668 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 27 | #36,173 |
| 2016 | modern | 25 | #36,324 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Borgue, Kingsclere, Gateshead, Manchester and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borgue | Kirkcudbright |
| 2 | Kingsclere | Hampshire |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Dalton-in-Furness | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sprout surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sprout, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sprout surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sprout household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sprout is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sprout is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sprout, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SPROUT has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sprūt," meaning a sprout or a young shoot of a plant. This term was likely initially used as a nickname or descriptive surname for someone with a slender or small stature.
During the medieval period, the surname SPROUT appeared in various records and documents across different regions of England. One of the earliest recorded instances can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a person named Robert Sprout is mentioned.
In the 13th century, the surname SPROUT was also prevalent in areas like Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 document a certain William Sprout residing in the village of Sparsholt, Berkshire. This village name itself is derived from the Old English words "spær" (a woodpecker) and "holt" (a wood), suggesting a possible connection between the surname and the local area.
The renowned Domesday Book, compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname SPROUT. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Sproughton in Suffolk.
One notable individual bearing the SPROUT surname was Sir John Sprout (1510-1573), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He served as Lord Mayor of London in 1565 and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I.
Another prominent figure was Sir Henry Sprout (1587-1651), a military commander who fought for the Royalist forces during the English Civil War. He was involved in several battles and sieges, including the Siege of Colchester in 1648.
In the 17th century, the SPROUT surname also appeared in colonial records from the British settlements in North America. One such example is Thomas Sprout, who was listed as a landowner in Virginia in 1636.
During the 18th century, the surname SPROUT gained prominence in literary circles. William Sprout (1730-1802) was an English poet and writer known for his works on rural life and nature.
The 19th century saw the rise of another notable figure, Sir James Sprout (1818-1895), a British diplomat and politician. He served as the Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1873 to 1878 and played a crucial role in the development of the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sprout surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 64 Sprouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 64 | 6.01x |
| Durham | 8 | 3.00x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 7.37x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.63x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.33x |
| Cheshire | 2 | 1.01x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 2.59x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.46x |
| Caernarfonshire | 1 | 2.76x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 16 Sprouts recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barrow In Furness | 16 | 110.50x |
| Lowick | 12 | 10000.00x |
| Dalton In Furness | 9 | 218.98x |
| Great Bolton | 7 | 49.61x |
| Southwick | 6 | 237.15x |
| West Derby | 6 | 19.26x |
| Didsbury | 4 | 283.69x |
| Iver | 4 | 571.43x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 3 | 17.73x |
| Ratcliffe London | 3 | 60.48x |
| Aspatria | 2 | 270.27x |
| Govan | 2 | 2.79x |
| Manchester | 2 | 4.18x |
| Millbrook | 2 | 43.20x |
| Tranmere | 2 | 27.47x |
| Beswick | 1 | 36.76x |
| Clapham | 1 | 8.91x |
| Eastbourne | 1 | 14.37x |
| Kingsclere | 1 | 119.05x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.28x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.55x |
| Llanbedrog | 1 | 588.24x |
| Shildon | 1 | 46.51x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.77x |
| Tunstall | 1 | 75.19x |
| Ulverston | 1 | 32.26x |
| Urswick | 1 | 250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sprout surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sprout surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sprout households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 30 |
| Iron Miner | 3 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| (Dom Servant) | 1 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Butler | 1 |
| C Card Room Hnd (Unemployed) | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Dom Serv General | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Forge Labourer (Iron) | 1 |
| Formerly Laborers Wife | 1 |
| General Servant (Domestic) | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocer Assistant | 1 |
| Head Carter (Ag) | 1 |
| Iron Works Labr | 1 |
| Jute Works | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Lurryman Rly | 1 |
| Manager To Brass Foundry | 1 |
| Private Accountant | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Setts Quarry Man | 1 |
| Station Master | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
| Winder | 1 |
| Woodcutter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Sprout surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 25 in 2016. That gives Sprout a modern rank of #36,324.
An English surname derived from sprout, referring to gardeners or farmers.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sprout bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.