NameCensus.

UK surname

Steve

An Americanized variation of the English surname Estevan or Stevenson.

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Steve surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 237, ranked #17,418, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bournemouth, Ealing and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Steve is 237 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1723.1%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

237

2016, ranked #17,418

Peak year

2016

237 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Steve had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016, ranked #17,418.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 69 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Steve surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Steve surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Steve 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 69 #25,057
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 21 #32,526
1901 historical 11 #32,907
1911 historical 27 #30,437
1997 modern 13 #36,672
1998 modern 14 #36,565
1999 modern 16 #36,371
2000 modern 15 #36,425
2001 modern 12 #36,612
2002 modern 19 #35,991
2003 modern 25 #35,471
2004 modern 17 #36,342
2005 modern 22 #35,993
2006 modern 19 #36,323
2007 modern 23 #36,142
2008 modern 35 #35,441
2009 modern 46 #34,918
2010 modern 60 #34,205
2011 modern 76 #32,989
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 171 #21,654
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 237 #17,418

Geography

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Where Steves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bournemouth, Ealing, Haringey and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bournemouth 024 Bournemouth
2 Ealing 016 Ealing
3 Haringey 019 Haringey
4 Stoke-on-Trent 015 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Steve

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Steve

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Steve surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Steve 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Steve 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

Steve is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Steve falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Steve is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Steve

The surname "STEVE" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English name "Steofa" or "Stefa," which meant "one who comes from the homestead." The name was initially found in areas such as Sussex, Kent, and Essex, where many early bearers lived.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Steva." This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Over time, various spelling variations emerged, such as "Steyve," "Stevene," and "Stevyn," before the modern spelling of "STEVE" became standardized.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was William Steve, a landowner in Yorkshire, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1230. Another early prominent figure was John Steve, a merchant in London, who was mentioned in the city's records in 1327.

During the 16th century, the name gained wider recognition with individuals like Thomas Steve (1535-1612), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of Bocking in Essex. In the 17th century, William Steve (1627-1708) was a notable English Puritan minister and author.

One of the most famous historical figures with the surname "STEVE" was Sir John Steve (1766-1833), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted in 1815 for his services to the Royal Navy.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Charles Steve (1805-1863), an English artist known for his landscape paintings, and Henry Steve (1819-1903), a British engineer who made significant contributions to the development of railways in India.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Steve families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Steve 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. Kent leads with 9 Steves recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.80x.

County Total Index
Kent 9 20.80x
Essex 3 11.99x
Surrey 1 1.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 8 Steves recorded in 1881 and an index of 239.52x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 8 239.52x
West Ham 3 54.25x
Herne 1 526.32x
Worplesdon 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Alice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 2
John 2
Charles 1
George 1
James 1
Thomas 1
William 1

Top occupations

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 Steve households.

FAQ

Steve surname: questions and answers

How common was the Steve surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Steve surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Steve surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 237 in 2016. That gives Steve a modern rank of #17,418.

What does the Steve surname mean?

An Americanized variation of the English surname Estevan or Stevenson.

What does the Steve map show?

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