NameCensus.

UK surname

Sussex

A surname derived from the county of Sussex in southern England.

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Sussex surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 443, ranked #10,921, up from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and St Giles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge, North Devon and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sussex is 459 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.2%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

443

2016, ranked #10,921

Peak year

2002

459 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sussex had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016, ranked #10,921.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 363 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sussex surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sussex surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sussex 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 124 #14,792
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 254 #12,598
1901 historical 287 #12,001
1911 historical 363 #10,005
1997 modern 409 #10,818
1998 modern 443 #10,526
1999 modern 443 #10,577
2000 modern 434 #10,730
2001 modern 434 #10,539
2002 modern 459 #10,264
2003 modern 426 #10,742
2004 modern 429 #10,718
2005 modern 420 #10,781
2006 modern 426 #10,712
2007 modern 434 #10,639
2008 modern 442 #10,573
2009 modern 451 #10,649
2010 modern 448 #10,947
2011 modern 447 #10,847
2012 modern 438 #10,896
2013 modern 446 #10,911
2014 modern 450 #10,902
2015 modern 435 #11,120
2016 modern 443 #10,921

Geography

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Where Sussex' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, St Giles, Merthyr Tydfil and Bideford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge, North Devon, Powys and Cornwall. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Giles Devon
4 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
5 Bideford Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 006 Torridge
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 Powys 018 Powys
4 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
5 Torridge 004 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sussex

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sussex

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Sussex surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sussex 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sussex is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sussex is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sussex falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sussex

The surname Sussex originated in the county of Sussex, England, in the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from the Old English words "Sūþsēaxe," which translates to "South Saxons." This refers to the Saxon settlers who inhabited the area south of the River Thames in the 5th and 6th centuries.

Sussex was first recorded as a place name in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appeared in various forms, such as "Suthsexe" and "Suþsexe," reflecting the evolution of the language over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sussex was William de Sussex, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1194. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, documenting tax payments and other financial transactions.

Another notable bearer of the name was John Sussex, a 14th-century English landowner and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament for Sussex in 1376 and held various positions in local government.

In the 16th century, Thomas Sussex (c. 1501-1551) was a prominent figure in the English Reformation. He was a Protestant reformer and a member of the Privy Council under King Edward VI.

During the 17th century, Robert Sussex (1638-1697) was an English clergyman and author. He served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and wrote several religious works, including "A Treatise on the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper."

In the 18th century, Sarah Sussex (1719-1795) was a notable English artist known for her portraiture and flower paintings. She was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists and exhibited her works regularly in London.

The surname Sussex has a rich history rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon settlements of southern England. While its geographical origins are well-documented, the name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, contributing to the cultural and historical tapestry of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sussex families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sussex 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. Devon leads with 92 Sussex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.36x.

County Total Index
Devon 92 24.36x
Middlesex 24 1.32x
Glamorgan 23 7.28x
Surrey 13 1.47x
Kent 10 1.62x
Cornwall 8 3.90x
Essex 8 2.23x
Somerset 6 2.05x
Hampshire 1 0.27x
Lancashire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Giles In The Wood in Devon leads with 41 Sussex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7321.43x.

Place Total Index
St Giles In The Wood 41 7321.43x
Great Torrington 16 747.66x
Merthyr Tydfil 13 42.82x
Alverdiscott 8 4705.88x
Bideford 7 172.84x
St Cleer 7 393.26x
St Martin In Fields 7 64.46x
Camberwell 6 5.18x
Clevedon 6 197.37x
St Gilesin Fields 6 566.04x
Ystradyfodwg 6 21.65x
Erith 5 81.97x
Huntshaw 5 4166.67x
Margate St John Baptist 5 44.13x
St Giles In Fields 5 79.87x
St Pancras London 5 3.42x
Atherington 4 1250.00x
Newington 4 5.97x
Wanstead 4 63.80x
West Ham 4 5.06x
Lambeth 3 1.90x
Llantrisant 3 37.69x
Tavistock 3 69.77x
Tawstock 2 298.51x
All Hallows London 1 769.23x
Braunton 1 78.13x
Exeter St David 1 30.96x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 11.56x
Linkinhorne 1 69.93x
Minstead 1 185.19x
Newton Tracey 1 1250.00x
Plymouth Charles The 1 6.01x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 3.44x
Stretford 1 8.45x
Swansea St Thomas 1 31.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 18
John 17
Thomas 10
James 8
George 6
Charles 5
Joseph 4
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Chas. 2
Edwin 2
Henry 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Caleb 1
Edmund 1
Fredrick 1
Jno. 1
Michael 1
Mulford 1
Percy 1
Thos. 1
W.S. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sussex surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sussex surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Sussex surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sussex surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 443 in 2016. That gives Sussex a modern rank of #10,921.

What does the Sussex surname mean?

A surname derived from the county of Sussex in southern England.

What does the Sussex map show?

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