NameCensus.

UK surname

Spurgeon

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of spurs, which are devices attached to horseback riders' boots.

In the 1881 census there were 953 people recorded with the Spurgeon surname, ranking it #4,061 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,014, ranked #5,744, down from #4,061 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bocking, Braintree and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waveney, Braintree and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Spurgeon is 1,371 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.4%.

1881 census count

953

Ranked #4,061

Modern count

1,014

2016, ranked #5,744

Peak year

1911

1,371 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Spurgeon had 953 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,061 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,014 in 2016, ranked #5,744.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,371 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Spurgeon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Spurgeon surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Spurgeon 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 556 #4,560
1861 historical 463 #5,613
1881 historical 953 #4,061
1891 historical 1,014 #4,099
1901 historical 1,262 #3,922
1911 historical 1,371 #3,507
1997 modern 1,149 #4,886
1998 modern 1,178 #4,959
1999 modern 1,171 #5,031
2000 modern 1,124 #5,179
2001 modern 1,095 #5,191
2002 modern 1,120 #5,211
2003 modern 1,079 #5,265
2004 modern 1,059 #5,356
2005 modern 1,004 #5,530
2006 modern 972 #5,679
2007 modern 993 #5,639
2008 modern 1,007 #5,621
2009 modern 1,033 #5,626
2010 modern 1,038 #5,700
2011 modern 1,007 #5,787
2012 modern 1,020 #5,646
2013 modern 1,044 #5,643
2014 modern 1,038 #5,684
2015 modern 1,029 #5,676
2016 modern 1,014 #5,744

Geography

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Where Spurgeons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bocking, Braintree, London parishes and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waveney, Braintree and Colchester. 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 Bocking Essex
2 Braintree Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Waveney 003 Waveney
2 Waveney 007 Waveney
3 Braintree 006 Braintree
4 Colchester 012 Colchester
5 Waveney 004 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Spurgeon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Spurgeon

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Spurgeon 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

Spurgeon 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

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

Meaning and origin of Spurgeon

The surname Spurgeon is of English origin, derived from the Old English term "spor" meaning "spur" or "track" and the suffix "-geon" meaning "little." It likely originated as a descriptive surname referring to a person who lived near a track or a path.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Spurgeon dates back to the 13th century in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex, England, where it was spelled as "Sporegon." Over time, various spellings emerged, including Spurgin, Spurgeon, and Spurgin.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Spurgeon was John Spurgeon, a prominent merchant who lived in the city of Norwich, England, in the late 15th century. His legacy included significant contributions to the construction of the Norwich Cathedral.

In the 16th century, the Spurgeon family established roots in the village of Stambourne, Essex. This area is believed to have been the ancestral home of the renowned Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), one of the most influential figures in the history of the Protestant Christian church.

Another notable Spurgeon was Sir John Spurgeon (1556-1610), a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the East India Company.

The name Spurgeon has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Spurgeon Hill in Kent and Spurgeon's Farm in Buckinghamshire. These place names likely derived from individuals with the surname Spurgeon who lived or owned land in those areas.

Other prominent individuals with the surname Spurgeon include William Spurgeon (1776-1856), a British artist known for his landscape paintings, and Thomas Spurgeon (1856-1917), the son of Charles Haddon Spurgeon and a Baptist minister in his own right.

While the surname Spurgeon is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including religion, commerce, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Spurgeon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Spurgeon 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. Essex leads with 370 Spurgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.14x.

County Total Index
Essex 370 20.14x
Middlesex 184 1.98x
Norfolk 131 9.16x
Suffolk 92 8.12x
Surrey 73 1.61x
Kent 20 0.63x
Hampshire 18 0.94x
Northumberland 11 0.79x
Worcestershire 10 0.82x
Warwickshire 9 0.38x
Huntingdonshire 6 3.25x
Bedfordshire 5 1.04x
Yorkshire 5 0.05x
Durham 3 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.36x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Lancashire 2 0.02x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.17x
Flintshire 1 0.40x
Glamorgan 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Inverness-shire 1 0.36x
Lincolnshire 1 0.07x
Somerset 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Halstead in Essex leads with 121 Spurgeons recorded in 1881 and an index of 564.63x.

Place Total Index
Halstead 121 564.63x
Bethnal Green London 43 10.64x
West Ham 35 8.63x
Braintree 34 206.19x
Lambeth 32 3.94x
Islington London 22 2.44x
Bocking 20 181.00x
Lowestoft 19 35.48x
Maldon All Sts 18 494.51x
Bromley London 16 7.81x
Gorleston 16 55.56x
Newington 16 4.65x
Great Coggeshall 15 157.07x
Shoreditch London 15 3.72x
Clare 13 239.41x
Loddon 13 353.26x
Stanway 12 371.52x
Byker 11 16.07x
Little Ellingham 10 990.10x
Sudbury St Gregory 10 110.01x
Burnham 9 132.55x
Dudley 9 6.09x
Great Ellingham 9 426.54x
Heigham 9 11.72x
St Pancras London 9 1.20x
Coventry Holy Trinity 8 11.42x
Croydon 8 3.18x
Great Baddow 8 122.51x
Hackney London 8 1.53x
Hales 8 952.38x
Havant 8 82.82x
St Marylebone London 8 1.61x
Norwich St Clement 7 42.19x
Pulham St Mary Virgin 7 267.18x
Stowmarket 7 53.44x
Thaxted 7 114.75x
Aldborough 6 535.71x
Clapham 6 5.16x
Colchester St James 6 80.65x
Colchester St Leonard 6 101.52x
Hammersmith London 6 2.62x
Hethersett 6 165.75x
Hillingdon 6 20.22x
Paddington London 6 1.75x
Rendlesham 6 530.97x
Rettendon 6 262.01x
Stisted 6 253.16x
Warboys 6 112.36x
Bedford St Mary 5 40.29x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 15.74x
Leyton Low 5 13.39x
Loose 5 107.30x
Ormesby St Margaret W 5 139.28x
St Luke London 5 3.35x
St Sepulchre London 5 36.71x
Twyford 5 2777.78x
Witham 5 52.85x
Battersea 4 1.17x
Bow London 4 3.38x
Bracon Ash 4 444.44x
Brooke 4 177.78x
Dedham 4 71.81x
Hampstead London 4 2.76x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 10.40x
Lakenham 4 19.68x
Mile End Old Town 4 2.72x
Norwich St Helen 4 224.72x
Paglesham 4 243.90x
Portsea 4 1.07x
Sible Hedingham 4 65.15x
Wickford 4 307.69x
Broxted 3 135.14x
Finchingfield 3 52.08x
Heworth 3 5.50x
Seething 3 240.00x
Southwold 3 44.71x
St Bartholomew Hyde 3 65.79x
St George Bloomsbury 3 5.62x
Strelley 3 370.37x
Strumpshaw 3 230.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 35
Sarah 32
Elizabeth 26
Eliza 25
Emily 20
Jane 19
Alice 17
Emma 17
Ellen 16
Annie 14
Charlotte 10
Kate 10
Ada 9
Ann 9
Clara 9
Frances 9
Susannah 9
Ethel 8
Caroline 7
Fanny 7
Florence 7
Hannah 7
Susan 7
Agnes 6
Elizth. 6
Harriet 6
Louisa 6
Lucy 6
Margaret 5
Martha 5
Anne 4
Edith 4
Flora 4
Jessie 4
Laura 4
Maria 4
Sophia 4
Catherine 3
Lydia 3
Mabel 3
Minnie 3
Nellie 3
Rebecca 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Bertha 2
Eva 2
Nora 2
Phillis 2
Phoebe 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
George 45
John 41
James 27
Charles 23
Henry 21
Joseph 20
Arthur 19
Robert 16
Samuel 13
Thomas 13
Frederick 12
Alfred 11
Herbert 10
Walter 10
Harry 9
Ernest 6
David 5
Edward 5
Albert 4
Stephen 4
Clement 3
Frank 3
Fredrick 3
Sidney 3
Cecil 2
Ellis 2
Fredk. 2
Jacob 2
Leonard 2
Nathaniel 2
Richard 2
Augustus 1
Bill 1
Chars. 1
Chas 1
Conrad 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Eliza 1
F. 1
Geo. 1
Haddon 1
Hensey 1
Isaac 1
Isacc 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Spurgeon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Spurgeon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 953 people were recorded with the Spurgeon surname. That placed it at #4,061 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Spurgeon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,014 in 2016. That gives Spurgeon a modern rank of #5,744.

What does the Spurgeon surname mean?

An occupational surname for a maker or seller of spurs, which are devices attached to horseback riders' boots.

What does the Spurgeon map show?

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