NameCensus.

UK surname

Sprules

In the 1881 census there were 219 people recorded with the Sprules surname, ranking it #12,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 326, ranked #13,896, down from #12,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Mitcham, Swindon, Lyddington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Lancaster and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sprules is 358 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.9%.

1881 census count

219

Ranked #12,122

Modern count

326

2016, ranked #13,896

Peak year

2002

358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sprules had 219 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016, ranked #13,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 332 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sprules surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sprules surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sprules 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 123 #14,886
1861 historical 136 #16,556
1881 historical 219 #12,122
1891 historical 225 #13,714
1901 historical 281 #12,167
1911 historical 332 #10,642
1997 modern 340 #12,428
1998 modern 354 #12,438
1999 modern 353 #12,522
2000 modern 342 #12,771
2001 modern 346 #12,478
2002 modern 358 #12,402
2003 modern 357 #12,233
2004 modern 356 #12,299
2005 modern 333 #12,847
2006 modern 331 #12,990
2007 modern 328 #13,196
2008 modern 329 #13,286
2009 modern 330 #13,513
2010 modern 354 #13,135
2011 modern 339 #13,404
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 339 #13,477
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 325 #13,927
2016 modern 326 #13,896

Geography

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Where Sprules' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Mitcham, Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Lancaster and Cornwall. 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 Mitcham Surrey
2 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 022 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 019 Wiltshire
4 Lancaster 001 Lancaster
5 Cornwall 006 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sprules

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sprules

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Sprules surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sprules household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sprules is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sprules is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sprules falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sprules is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

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Sprules families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sprules 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. Wiltshire leads with 91 Sprules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.17x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 91 48.17x
Middlesex 48 2.25x
Kent 28 3.84x
Surrey 27 2.59x
Berkshire 9 5.61x
Warwickshire 6 1.11x
Essex 4 0.95x
Somerset 3 0.87x
Sussex 2 0.56x
Oxfordshire 1 0.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Overton in Wiltshire leads with 37 Sprules' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7551.02x.

Place Total Index
West Overton 37 7551.02x
Deptford St Paul 15 26.69x
Fyfield 13 11818.18x
Kensington London 13 10.95x
Margate St John Baptist 11 82.40x
Bermondsey 8 12.58x
Chaddleworth 8 2666.67x
Islington London 8 3.86x
St Pancras London 8 4.65x
Stratton St Margaret 7 241.38x
Sutton 7 92.96x
Swindon 7 47.78x
Westminster St John 7 26.91x
Aston 6 4.04x
Potterne 6 705.88x
Reigate Foreign 6 53.24x
Beddington 4 99.26x
Kington Langley 4 952.38x
Mile End Old Town 4 11.86x
North Savernake 4 5000.00x
West Ham 4 4.30x
Broad Hinton 3 750.00x
Bromley London 3 6.38x
North Newnton 3 1111.11x
Portishead 3 117.19x
Greenwich 2 5.88x
St Andrew Holborn 2 27.62x
Burbage 1 104.17x
Clapham 1 3.75x
Colerne 1 129.87x
Devizes St James 1 39.84x
Greenham 1 125.00x
Huish 1 1111.11x
Lambeth 1 0.54x
Limehouse London 1 4.26x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 1 75.19x
Marlborough St Peter St 1 103.09x
Oxford St Clement 1 30.03x
Preshute 1 86.21x
South Bersted 1 32.68x
St Ann Blackfriars 1 333.33x
St George Hanover 1 3.59x
Udimore 1 312.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 10
George 9
John 9
Henry 8
Thomas 8
William 8
Charles 7
Robert 5
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Stephen 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Andrew 1
Authur 1
Benjamin 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Gilbert 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sprules surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sprules surname in 1881?

In 1881, 219 people were recorded with the Sprules surname. That placed it at #12,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sprules surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 326 in 2016. That gives Sprules a modern rank of #13,896.

What does the Sprules map show?

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