NameCensus.

UK surname

Thorby

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Thorby surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 132, ranked #25,882, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stretham, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Babergh and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thorby is 147 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 120.0%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

132

2016, ranked #25,882

Peak year

2010

147 bearers

Map years

4

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thorby had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016, ranked #25,882.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 132 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thorby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thorby surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thorby 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 80 #19,558
1861 historical 132 #16,957
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 87 #24,386
1911 historical 97 #23,076
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 136 #23,013
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 127 #24,121
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 139 #22,991
2003 modern 139 #22,734
2004 modern 129 #24,019
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 133 #24,059
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 135 #24,594
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 138 #24,614
2013 modern 140 #24,779
2014 modern 138 #25,218
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 132 #25,882

Geography

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Where Thorbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stretham, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Soham and Exning. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Babergh, Waveney and Forest Heath. 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 Stretham Cambridgeshire
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Soham Cambridgeshire
5 Exning Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 006 East Cambridgeshire
2 Babergh 004 Babergh
3 Waveney 010 Waveney
4 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
5 East Cambridgeshire 004 East Cambridgeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thorby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thorby

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Thorby is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Thorby is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thorby falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Thorby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thorby 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 19 Thorbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.27x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 19 51.27x
Essex 15 12.99x
Middlesex 14 2.39x
Kent 5 2.50x
Lancashire 4 0.58x
Cheshire 1 0.77x
Surrey 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Soham in Cambridgeshire leads with 18 Thorbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2250.00x.

Place Total Index
Soham 18 2250.00x
Islington London 10 17.63x
Prittlewell 10 625.00x
Grays Thurrock 5 467.29x
Deptford St Paul 4 25.97x
Wavertree 4 180.18x
Fulham London 2 23.56x
Camberwell 1 2.68x
Erith 1 50.76x
Hackney London 1 3.05x
Mile End New Town 1 125.00x
Odd Rode 1 156.25x
Ore 1 136.99x
Stetchworth 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Amelia 2
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Betsy 1
Bithia 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Maria 1
Phoebe 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 5
John 4
Robert 3
Edward 2
Martin 2
Thomas 2
Alfred 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Christopher 1
Josiah 1
Walter 1
Wm.Alfred 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 Thorby households.

FAQ

Thorby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thorby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Thorby surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thorby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 132 in 2016. That gives Thorby a modern rank of #25,882.

What does the Thorby map show?

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