UK surname
An English surname originating from a person's job or occupation relating to staring or watching.
In the 1881 census there were 47 people recorded with the Stare surname, ranking it #27,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #27,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Stare is 122 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 63.8%.
1881 census count
47
Ranked #27,019
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1891
122 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Stare surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Stare surname density by area, 1891 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 | 73 | #20,581 |
| 1861 | historical | 77 | #23,975 |
| 1881 | historical | 47 | #27,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 122 | #21,053 |
| 1901 | historical | 36 | #30,099 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 1997 | modern | 18 | #36,053 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 14 | #36,522 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 13 | #36,570 |
| 2003 | modern | 14 | #36,512 |
| 2004 | modern | 17 | #36,342 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 14 | #36,801 |
| 2007 | modern | 15 | #36,793 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 18 | #36,682 |
| 2010 | modern | 19 | #36,687 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 16 | #36,897 |
| 2013 | modern | 14 | #37,127 |
| 2014 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2015 | modern | 17 | #36,887 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Romsey Extra, Michelmersh, London parishes, St Pancras, Sturminster Marshall and Lambeth. 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 | Romsey Extra, Michelmersh | Hampshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Sturminster Marshall | Dorset |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Stare 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 Stare, 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 Stare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Stare 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, Stare 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 Stare is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Stare, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Stare is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "starian," which means "to stare" or "to gaze." It is thought that the surname was initially given as a descriptive name to someone who had a particularly intense or penetrating gaze.
The earliest known recorded instances of the surname Stare can be found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from the late 12th century, where a certain Radulfus le Stare is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 also reference a William le Stare.
The Stare surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sir John Stare, a knight who fought in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 during the Hundred Years' War. Another notable bearer of the name was Robert Stare, a wealthy merchant who lived in London during the 16th century.
In the 17th century, there was a clergyman named William Stare who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was born in 1610 and died in 1678. Around the same time, there was a landowner named Thomas Stare who owned estates in Hertfordshire, born in 1625 and died in 1698.
During the 18th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the surname Stare was Sir Henry Stare, a politician and Member of Parliament for the borough of Wigan from 1754 to 1768. He was born in 1710 and died in 1781.
The name Stare has also been associated with various place names, such as Stare Green in Buckinghamshire and Stare Bridge in Lancashire, both of which likely derive their names from individuals with the surname Stare who once lived or owned property in those areas.
While the surname Stare is not among the most common surnames in English-speaking countries today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period, and it has been borne by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Stare 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. Hampshire leads with 18 Stares recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.16x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hampshire | 18 | 19.16x |
| Surrey | 8 | 3.58x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.09x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 2.02x |
| Devon | 2 | 2.10x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 2.22x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.37x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 3.26x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.17x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.64x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.42x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.29x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 2.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnes in Surrey leads with 8 Stares recorded in 1881 and an index of 851.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Barnes | 8 | 851.06x |
| Romsey Extra | 5 | 892.86x |
| Upper Clatford | 4 | 3333.33x |
| Barony | 3 | 8.00x |
| Hound | 3 | 468.75x |
| St Pancras London | 3 | 8.13x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 2 | 66.67x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 8.10x |
| Titchfield | 2 | 281.69x |
| Basingstoke | 1 | 92.59x |
| Brighton | 1 | 6.41x |
| Codicote | 1 | 526.32x |
| East Allington | 1 | 1250.00x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 40.65x |
| Islington London | 1 | 2.25x |
| Kings Lynn St Margaret | 1 | 47.17x |
| Manchester | 1 | 4.09x |
| Monk Sherborne | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Salisbury St Thomas | 1 | 312.50x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 49.02x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 16.72x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 24.75x |
| West Derby | 1 | 6.29x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 17.30x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Stare 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 Stare 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 Stare households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Dressmaker | 5 |
| Milliner | 2 |
| Cap Dressmaker | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Confectioner | 1 |
| Corporal R A | 1 |
| Engineer | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Carter | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| Grocerland Mastr Asst Oversear & Beer Retailer Outdoor | 1 |
| Ho Maid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Iron Traveller | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Newsvendor | 1 |
| School Mistress | 1 |
| Sempstress | 1 |
| Sergant Pensioner (Army) | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Shopwoman Grocer | 1 |
| Stationer | 1 |
| Stillroommaid | 1 |
| Tram Car Conductor | 1 |
| Warehouseman | 1 |
| Wheelwright | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 47 people were recorded with the Stare surname. That placed it at #27,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Stare a modern rank of #36,904.
An English surname originating from a person's job or occupation relating to staring or watching.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Stare 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.