NameCensus.

UK surname

Trevethan

Of Cornish origin, indicating a location near the town of Treveven or Trevathan.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Trevethan surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Illogan, Wendron and Gwennap. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Plymouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trevethan is 244 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 21.3%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

1881

244 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trevethan had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016, ranked #20,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 244 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Trevethan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trevethan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trevethan 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 204 #10,250
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 183 #15,918
1901 historical 221 #14,212
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 188 #18,324
1998 modern 202 #17,991
1999 modern 202 #18,127
2000 modern 208 #17,772
2001 modern 201 #17,885
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 202 #18,110
2005 modern 196 #18,404
2006 modern 194 #18,627
2007 modern 193 #18,923
2008 modern 193 #19,077
2009 modern 195 #19,329
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 196 #19,463
2013 modern 206 #19,153
2014 modern 204 #19,439
2015 modern 202 #19,433
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Trevethans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Illogan, Wendron, Gwennap, Kenwyn, Tregavethan and Perranzabuloe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Plymouth. 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 Illogan Cornwall
2 Wendron Cornwall
3 Gwennap Cornwall
4 Kenwyn, Tregavethan Cornwall
5 Perranzabuloe Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 033 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 016 Cornwall
4 Plymouth 026 Plymouth
5 Plymouth 004 Plymouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trevethan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trevethan

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Trevethan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Trevethan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Trevethan is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Trevethan is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Trevethan falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trevethan

The surname Trevethan is of Cornish origin and has its roots in the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Cornish place name "Tre-ven-ethen," meaning "the homestead on the high ground." This suggests that the name originated from a specific location or settlement in Cornwall, England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Trevethan can be found in the Assize Rolls of Cornwall, dated 1284, where it is spelled "Trevenythen." This document provides valuable insight into the name's historical significance and its presence in the region during that era.

In the 16th century, the Trevethan name appeared in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document that recorded the names of individuals who took an oath of allegiance to the Protestant religion. This suggests that the Trevethan family played a role in the religious and political affairs of the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Trevethan include:

1. John Trevethan (c. 1590 - 1670), a Cornish landowner and Member of Parliament for Tregony in 1640. 2. William Trevethan (1640 - 1708), a Cornish clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the history of Cornwall. 3. Elizabeth Trevethan (1705 - 1788), a prominent figure in the Cornish mining industry, known for her involvement in the development of tin and copper mines in the region. 4. Richard Trevethan (1775 - 1848), a Cornish engineer and inventor who patented several mining innovations and contributed to the advancement of mining technology. 5. Mary Trevethan (1820 - 1901), a Cornish poet and author who published several collections of poems celebrating the beauty and heritage of Cornwall.

The Trevethan surname has also been associated with various place names in Cornwall, such as Trevethan Farm, Trevethan Downs, and Trevethan Moor, further reinforcing its connection to the region's geography and local history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trevethan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trevethan 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. Cornwall leads with 175 Trevethans recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.69x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 175 64.69x
Devon 21 4.22x
Cardiganshire 13 22.30x
Montgomeryshire 11 20.09x
Lancashire 6 0.21x
Surrey 6 0.52x
Durham 4 0.56x
Gloucestershire 4 0.85x
Glamorgan 2 0.48x
Cumberland 1 0.49x
Middlesex 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 3.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Perranzabuloe in Cornwall leads with 77 Trevethans recorded in 1881 and an index of 3304.72x.

Place Total Index
Perranzabuloe 77 3304.72x
Maker 27 1080.00x
St Issey 18 3272.73x
Beerferris 14 1443.30x
Wendron 12 319.15x
Illogan 11 153.63x
Llanidloes 9 221.67x
Trefeirig 7 769.23x
St Breock 6 410.96x
Bermondsey 5 7.03x
Kenwyn 5 70.72x
Bishop Auckland 4 41.93x
Falmouth 4 41.75x
Melindwr 4 493.83x
South Hamlet 4 137.93x
Devonport 3 52.45x
Kirkby Ireleth 3 212.77x
Little Petherick 3 1666.67x
South Brent 3 280.37x
Cardiff St John 2 14.72x
Egloshayle 2 157.48x
Gwennap 2 39.22x
Kea 2 99.01x
Padstow 2 111.11x
Parcel Canol 2 434.78x
Barrow In Furness 1 2.59x
Camberwell 1 0.66x
Helston 1 35.59x
Irton With Santon 1 196.08x
Little Bolton 1 2.74x
Newtown 1 28.57x
Oldham 1 1.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 2.61x
Pool 1 24.21x
Royal Navy 1 4.11x
St Gluvias Penryn 1 46.08x
St Martin In Fields 1 6.99x
St Wenn 1 227.27x
St Winnow 1 107.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Elizabeth 9
Sarah 8
Elizth. 7
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Eliza 5
Ann 3
Annie 3
Bessie 3
Clara 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Grace 3
Jessie 2
Nanny 2
Rebecka 2
Susan 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Augusta 1
Carllotta 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elanor 1
Elen 1
Emeline 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Johana 1
Julia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Margaretta 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nancy 1
Salome 1
Selina 1
Sussanna 1
Triphena 1
Wilmot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
William 16
Thomas 14
James 5
Joseph 5
Michael 5
Richard 3
Richd. 3
Albert 2
Charlie 2
Edward 2
George 2
Mark 2
Sampson 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Abraham 1
Agnes 1
Arthur 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ezekiel 1
Frank 1
Fred.T. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hender 1
Henry 1
Lewis 1
Lorenzo 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Philip 1
Simon 1
Sydney 1
Willm. 1
Wm 1
Zaccheus 1

FAQ

Trevethan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trevethan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Trevethan surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trevethan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 192 in 2016. That gives Trevethan a modern rank of #20,118.

What does the Trevethan surname mean?

Of Cornish origin, indicating a location near the town of Treveven or Trevathan.

What does the Trevethan map show?

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