NameCensus.

UK surname

Staves

An English surname derived from the plural of "staff," referring to those who carried staves or walking sticks.

In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Staves surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 385, ranked #12,232, up from #20,593 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Fulletby, Hull Holy Trinity and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Kingston upon Hull and West Lindsey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Staves is 400 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 314.0%.

1881 census count

93

Ranked #20,593

Modern count

385

2016, ranked #12,232

Peak year

2011

400 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Staves had 93 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,593 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016, ranked #12,232.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Staves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Staves surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Staves 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 57 #26,718
1881 historical 93 #20,593
1891 historical 151 #18,242
1901 historical 217 #14,381
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 351 #12,145
1998 modern 361 #12,280
1999 modern 367 #12,202
2000 modern 373 #11,996
2001 modern 371 #11,881
2002 modern 385 #11,771
2003 modern 377 #11,762
2004 modern 382 #11,672
2005 modern 384 #11,538
2006 modern 393 #11,398
2007 modern 382 #11,775
2008 modern 389 #11,723
2009 modern 383 #12,125
2010 modern 399 #12,018
2011 modern 400 #11,865
2012 modern 394 #11,854
2013 modern 396 #12,015
2014 modern 399 #12,030
2015 modern 387 #12,218
2016 modern 385 #12,232

Geography

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Where Staves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Fulletby, Hull Holy Trinity, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) and Tetney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Kingston upon Hull and West Lindsey. 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 Fulletby Lincolnshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Rawmarsh, Wath-on-Dearn (Swinton) Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Tetney Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
2 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 West Lindsey 003 West Lindsey
4 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
5 Kingston upon Hull 003 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Staves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Staves

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Staves, 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 Staves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Staves 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Staves is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Staves is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Staves falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Staves 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 Staves, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Staves

The surname STAVES is an English locational surname that originated in the medieval period, deriving from various places named "Stave" or "Staves" across England. It is thought to come from the Old English word "stæf," meaning a staff or walking stick, potentially indicating these places were once marked or known for prominent staves or boundary markers.

One of the earliest known records of the surname dates back to the 13th century in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire, where a Richard de la Stave is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the locational origin of the name and its tie to a specific place called "Stave" or "Staves."

In the 14th century, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire included an entry for a John Staves, suggesting the surname had solidified into its modern spelling by this time. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records, indicating STAVES likely referred to a landowner or individual of some means.

The surname STAVES can also be traced back to the village of Stave in Somerset, near Bridgwater. This place name appears in historical records as early as the Domesday Book of 1086, lending credence to the surname's ancient roots in this region.

Notable individuals with the surname STAVES throughout history include:

1. William Staves (c. 1470 - c. 1540), an English politician who served as Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in 1529.

2. John Staves (c. 1520 - 1594), an English clergyman and academic who was the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1589 to 1590.

3. Elizabeth Staves (c. 1570 - 1647), a renowned English herbalist and midwife who authored one of the earliest known medical treatises by an English woman.

4. Richard Staves (1621 - 1677), an English soldier who fought for the Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War and later became a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire.

5. Mary Staves (1749 - 1834), a English philanthropist and campaigner for women's rights, known for her advocacy work in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

While the surname STAVES is not among the most common in England today, its rich history spans centuries and encompasses individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse origins and evolution of English locational surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Staves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Staves 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. Lincolnshire leads with 62 Staves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.75x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 62 42.75x
Yorkshire 28 3.11x
Surrey 2 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Fulletby in Lincolnshire leads with 11 Staves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13750.00x.

Place Total Index
Fulletby 11 13750.00x
Ecclesfield 9 136.57x
Market Rasen 7 864.20x
East Barkwith 6 5454.55x
Rawmarsh 6 188.68x
Holy Trinity 5 23.13x
North Kelsey 5 1923.08x
Skircoat 5 141.24x
Tetney 5 2000.00x
Walesby 5 5000.00x
Bucknall 4 4000.00x
West Ravendale 3 15000.00x
Ashby Cum Fenby 2 2500.00x
Great Grimsby 2 21.72x
Healing 2 5000.00x
Humberstone 2 2500.00x
North Coates 2 2500.00x
Scarborough 2 24.48x
Apley 1 1666.67x
Ashtead 1 344.83x
Baumber 1 909.09x
Leatherhead 1 90.09x
Portsea 1 2.74x
Sculcoates 1 7.02x
Spalding 1 34.72x
Tetford 1 555.56x
Welton 1 476.19x
Woodhall 1 1111.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 6
George 5
William 5
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Herbert 3
John 3
Francis 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Alan 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Jonathan 1
Spensley 1
Thos. 1
Turner 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Staves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Staves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Staves surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Staves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 385 in 2016. That gives Staves a modern rank of #12,232.

What does the Staves surname mean?

An English surname derived from the plural of "staff," referring to those who carried staves or walking sticks.

What does the Staves map show?

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