NameCensus.

UK surname

Trelfa

A surname originating from the Old Norse words for woodland, clearing or grove.

In the 1881 census there were 91 people recorded with the Trelfa surname, ranking it #20,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 206, ranked #19,183, up from #20,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, St Werburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, Manchester and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trelfa is 238 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.4%.

1881 census count

91

Ranked #20,843

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2009

238 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trelfa had 91 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Trelfa surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trelfa surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trelfa 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 77 #19,998
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 91 #20,843
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 198 #17,729
1998 modern 204 #17,896
1999 modern 204 #18,021
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 197 #18,108
2002 modern 204 #18,062
2003 modern 215 #17,286
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 202 #18,016
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 217 #17,520
2008 modern 224 #17,337
2009 modern 238 #17,002
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 222 #17,999
2012 modern 205 #18,909
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 210 #19,064
2015 modern 208 #19,085
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Trelfas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, St Werburgh, Manchester, Middlewich and Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, Manchester, Salford, High Peak and Chorley. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 St Werburgh Derbyshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Middlewich Cheshire
5 Ellesmere (Ellesmere), Welshampton, Whittington, Halston Shropshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 025 Cheshire East
2 Manchester 050 Manchester
3 Salford 030 Salford
4 High Peak 008 High Peak
5 Chorley 004 Chorley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trelfa

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trelfa

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Trelfa surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Trelfa household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Trelfa 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

Trelfa is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trelfa 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 Trelfa is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Trelfa

The surname TRELFA is of English origin, originating from the county of Devon in the southwestern part of England during the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "treow," meaning tree, and "leah," meaning a clearing or meadow, suggesting that the name referred to someone who lived in a clearing surrounded by trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name TRELFA can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This entry indicates that the name was already established in the area around this time.

During the 13th century, the name TRELFA appeared in various documents and records from Devon, often associated with landowners or prominent local families. One notable bearer of the name was John TRELFA, a landowner and businessman born in the village of Trelfa near Totnes in 1245.

In the 15th century, the name TRELFA was found in records from the nearby town of Kingsbridge, where a family of that name held significant land and property. Robert TRELFA, born in 1412, was a wealthy merchant and landowner who served as a magistrate in Kingsbridge during this period.

The TRELFA surname was also associated with the village of Trelfa, located in the parish of Ugborough, Devon. This village likely took its name from the TRELFA family, who were among the earliest settlers in the area. In the 16th century, records show a William TRELFA, born in 1532, who was a prominent farmer and landowner in Trelfa.

Another notable bearer of the TRELFA name was Sir Thomas TRELFA, a soldier and knight who fought in the English Civil War during the 17th century. Born in 1610 in Kingsbridge, he was a staunch Royalist and served in the King's army, earning a knighthood for his loyalty and bravery on the battlefield.

Throughout its history, the TRELFA surname has remained closely tied to its origins in the county of Devon, with many bearers of the name still residing in the area or tracing their ancestry back to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trelfa families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trelfa 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. Cheshire leads with 50 Trelfas recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.80x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 50 25.80x
Lancashire 13 1.25x
Derbyshire 12 8.73x
Lincolnshire 4 2.85x
Nottinghamshire 4 3.38x
Durham 2 0.77x
Shropshire 2 2.64x
Flintshire 1 4.24x
Staffordshire 1 0.34x
Yorkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newton In Northwich in Cheshire leads with 19 Trelfas recorded in 1881 and an index of 3220.34x.

Place Total Index
Newton In Northwich 19 3220.34x
Derby St Werburgh 12 151.13x
Manchester 7 14.94x
Wimboldsley 7 23333.33x
Macclesfield 6 69.69x
Weaver 6 15000.00x
Basford 4 73.39x
Frodsham 4 533.33x
Newhall In Nantwich 4 1904.76x
Spittlegate 4 206.19x
Hankelow 3 4285.71x
Newton 3 37.36x
Haughton Le Skerne 2 909.09x
Oldham 2 5.95x
Whitchurch Broughall 2 2500.00x
Bradford 1 4.75x
Minshull Vernon 1 1000.00x
Prestwich 1 38.46x
Stafford St Mary 1 23.87x
Worthenbury 1 769.23x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Ann 4
Sarah 4
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Betsy 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Martha 1
Olive 1
Phebe 1
Rachel 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
Samuel 7
Richard 4
William 4
Joseph 3
Charles 2
George 2
Thomas 2
Albert 1
Amos 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Jno. 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Thos 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Trelfa surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trelfa surname in 1881?

In 1881, 91 people were recorded with the Trelfa surname. That placed it at #20,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trelfa surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Trelfa a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Trelfa surname mean?

A surname originating from the Old Norse words for woodland, clearing or grove.

What does the Trelfa map show?

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