NameCensus.

UK surname

Sunday

A surname likely derived from an ancestor born on the first day of the week.

In the 1881 census there were 9 people recorded with the Sunday surname, ranking it #32,416 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, up from #32,416 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham, Bexley and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sunday is 138 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1433.3%.

1881 census count

9

Ranked #32,416

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2015

138 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sunday had 9 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,416 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 50 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sunday surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sunday surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sunday 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 50 #27,636
1881 historical 9 #32,416
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1911 historical 2 #34,020
1997 modern 17 #36,181
1998 modern 20 #35,885
1999 modern 22 #35,725
2000 modern 17 #36,207
2001 modern 17 #36,053
2002 modern 26 #35,338
2003 modern 38 #34,361
2004 modern 41 #34,306
2005 modern 45 #34,160
2006 modern 68 #32,441
2007 modern 78 #31,748
2008 modern 90 #30,567
2009 modern 105 #28,815
2010 modern 101 #30,078
2011 modern 109 #28,653
2012 modern 107 #29,017
2013 modern 114 #28,347
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 138 #25,103
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Sundays 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 Lewisham, Bexley, Manchester and Harlow. 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 Lewisham 017 Lewisham
2 Bexley 001 Bexley
3 Manchester 013 Manchester
4 Manchester 018 Manchester
5 Harlow 007 Harlow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sunday

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sunday

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sunday is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sunday 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

Sunday falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sunday 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
Black - African

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

Meaning and origin of Sunday

The surname SUNDAY is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged around the 12th or 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "sunnandæg," which translates to "sun's day," referring to the day of the week dedicated to the sun in ancient times.

SUNDAY is thought to have originally been an occupational surname, given to individuals who worked or performed duties specifically on Sundays. It may have been bestowed upon clergymen, church officials, or even tradesmen who conducted their business on Sundays.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SUNDAY can be found in historical documents such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the late 12th century, where the name appears as "Sundai" and "Sondai." The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 also mention a "William Sundaye."

In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a "John Sondaye" is listed, indicating the surname's evolution in spelling over time. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1524 record a "Robert Sundaye."

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname SUNDAY was John Sunday, a prominent English merchant and alderman who lived in the 14th century. He was a respected figure in the city of Bristol and served as Mayor of Bristol in 1360.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Sir William Sunday, a renowned English soldier and knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 15th century. He was knighted for his bravery and military service by King Henry VI in 1445.

In the 16th century, Thomas Sunday, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry from Gloucestershire, left a significant legacy through his extensive estates and properties. His descendants continued to carry the SUNDAY name for generations.

During the 17th century, a prominent figure named Robert Sunday gained recognition as a successful merchant and ship owner in the city of London. He was involved in the lucrative transatlantic trade and amassed a considerable fortune.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname SUNDAY was the American evangelist and Christian reformer, William Ashley Sunday, who lived from 1862 to 1935. He was a prominent figure during the Protestant Christian revival movement and traveled extensively, preaching to large crowds across the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sunday families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sunday 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. Middlesex leads with 3 Sundays recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 3 3.08x
Durham 2 6.91x
Gloucestershire 1 5.24x
Kent 1 3.01x
Lancashire 1 0.87x
Monmouthshire 1 14.22x
Royal Navy 1 86.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 2 Sundays recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.28x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 2 47.28x
North Bailey South 2 20000.00x
Cheltenham 1 68.03x
Lancaster 1 144.93x
Lewisham 1 56.50x
Royal Navy 1 101.01x
Shire Newton 1 3333.33x
St Gilesin Fields 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Maria 1
Marion 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Dominico 1
Jack 1
John 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 Sunday households.

FAQ

Sunday surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sunday surname in 1881?

In 1881, 9 people were recorded with the Sunday surname. That placed it at #32,416 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sunday surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Sunday a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Sunday surname mean?

A surname likely derived from an ancestor born on the first day of the week.

What does the Sunday map show?

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