NameCensus.

UK surname

Troy

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "foot soldier" in Old French.

In the 1881 census there were 356 people recorded with the Troy surname, ranking it #8,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 849, ranked #6,584, up from #8,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gateshead, Manchester and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tameside, Hambleton and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Troy is 849 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 138.5%.

1881 census count

356

Ranked #8,665

Modern count

849

2016, ranked #6,584

Peak year

2016

849 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Troy had 356 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 849 in 2016, ranked #6,584.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 440 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Troy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Troy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Troy 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 199 #10,441
1861 historical 229 #10,660
1881 historical 356 #8,665
1891 historical 361 #9,589
1901 historical 440 #8,843
1911 historical 392 #9,421
1997 modern 781 #6,668
1998 modern 791 #6,815
1999 modern 796 #6,825
2000 modern 777 #6,934
2001 modern 766 #6,876
2002 modern 788 #6,856
2003 modern 753 #7,002
2004 modern 752 #7,005
2005 modern 740 #7,035
2006 modern 734 #7,105
2007 modern 766 #6,938
2008 modern 775 #6,928
2009 modern 797 #6,912
2010 modern 816 #6,904
2011 modern 808 #6,874
2012 modern 804 #6,806
2013 modern 816 #6,826
2014 modern 840 #6,722
2015 modern 848 #6,619
2016 modern 849 #6,584

Geography

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Where Troys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gateshead, Manchester, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, St Marylebone and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tameside, Hambleton, Bradford and County Durham. 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 Gateshead Durham
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tameside 020 Tameside
2 Hambleton 001 Hambleton
3 Bradford 043 Bradford
4 County Durham 051 County Durham
5 Bradford 027 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Troy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Troy

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Troy, 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 Troy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Troy household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Troy 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

Troy 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

Troy 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 Troy 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Troy

The surname Troy has its roots in England and France, originating in the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "troie," which means a hamlet or small village. This name may have been given to someone who lived in a small settlement or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name was spelled as "Troye" in this historical document.

During the 13th century, the name Troy was also associated with the city of Troy in ancient Greece, as depicted in Homer's Iliad. This connection may have added a sense of nobility and heroism to the surname.

In the 14th century, the surname Troy appeared in several English records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Troye." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

One notable individual with the surname Troy was Sir John Troy, a Welsh soldier and military leader who lived in the late 14th century. He played a significant role in the Hundred Years' War and was knighted for his bravery on the battlefield.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Troy, an English politician and Member of Parliament who lived in the 16th century. He served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, the surname Troy was associated with several place names in England, such as Troy Town in Monmouthshire and Troy Farm in Wiltshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or vice versa.

During the 18th century, the name Troy gained prominence in Ireland. One notable Irish figure was John Troy, an Archbishop of Dublin who lived from 1739 to 1823. He played a significant role in the Catholic Church in Ireland during a period of religious tensions.

Another Irish individual with the surname Troy was Robert Troy, a politician and Member of Parliament who lived in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He represented the constituency of St. Johnstown in the Irish House of Commons.

As the centuries passed, the surname Troy continued to spread to different parts of the world, carried by individuals who emigrated from England, France, and Ireland. While its origins can be traced back to the Middle Ages, the name has endured and continues to hold a rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Troy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Troy 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. Lancashire leads with 111 Troys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 111 2.67x
Middlesex 49 1.40x
Yorkshire 44 1.27x
Surrey 26 1.52x
Angus 16 4.93x
Lanarkshire 14 1.24x
Durham 13 1.25x
Kent 12 1.00x
Cheshire 11 1.42x
Cumberland 10 3.32x
Staffordshire 8 0.68x
Channel Islands 7 6.75x
Glamorgan 7 1.15x
Essex 6 0.87x
Sussex 5 0.85x
Norfolk 4 0.74x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.42x
Hampshire 3 0.42x
Berkshire 2 0.76x
Cornwall 2 0.50x
Gloucestershire 1 0.15x
Hertfordshire 1 0.41x
Monmouthshire 1 0.40x
Northumberland 1 0.19x
Perthshire 1 0.64x
Royal Navy 1 2.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 21 Troys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.24x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 21 11.24x
Liverpool 14 5.55x
St Marylebone London 13 6.95x
Dundee 12 9.91x
Bradford 11 13.09x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 16.66x
Bury 10 21.07x
Dukinfield 9 25.20x
Leeds 9 4.59x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 12.77x
Cowpe Lench Newhall Hey 8 180.18x
Oldham 8 5.96x
Brightside Bierlow 7 10.29x
Caldewgate 7 42.37x
Dewsbury 7 19.67x
Putney 7 43.86x
St Helier 7 20.72x
Warrington 7 14.21x
Brampton Bierlow 6 135.14x
Burnley 6 17.15x
Gateshead 6 7.69x
St Pancras London 6 2.13x
West Ham 6 3.93x
Glasgow 5 2.49x
Kirkdale 5 7.15x
Little Bolton 5 9.36x
Brighton 4 3.36x
Cambuslang 4 35.03x
Gillingham 4 16.24x
Hammersmith London 4 4.64x
Mile End New Town 4 83.68x
Plumstead 4 10.04x
Stockton On Tees 4 7.97x
Swansea Town 4 8.00x
Barton Under Needwood 3 139.53x
Blackburn 3 2.71x
Govan 3 1.07x
Lambeth 3 0.98x
Paddington London 3 2.33x
Royton 3 23.60x
Spitalfields London 3 11.39x
St Luke London 3 5.34x
Wraysbury 3 379.75x
Dalziel 2 16.42x
Great Yarmouth 2 4.48x
Habergham Eaves 2 5.27x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 4.43x
Liff Benvie 2 4.06x
Llandaff 2 9.86x
Newcastle Under Lyme 2 9.56x
Reading St Mary 2 9.50x
Shadwell London 2 20.41x
Shoreditch London 2 1.32x
St Cuthbert W O 2 13.61x
Sutton 2 14.35x
Toxteth Park 2 1.42x
Wandsworth 2 5.93x
Westminster St James 2 5.56x
Willenhall 2 9.03x
Woolwich 2 4.53x
Bedwellty 1 2.24x
Bermondsey 1 0.96x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.66x
Bristol St James In 1 9.90x
Cleator 1 7.97x
Craig 1 31.95x
Falmouth 1 7.13x
Gate Fulford 1 12.35x
Greenwich 1 1.79x
Gulval 1 39.22x
Langley 1 270.27x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.71x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.81x
Parr 1 6.72x
Royal Navy 1 2.80x
Salford 1 0.82x
St Botolph Aldgate 1 20.92x
Strathmartine 1 69.44x
Streatham 1 3.85x
Wath On Dearne 1 14.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Margaret 15
Catherine 14
Elizabeth 14
Bridget 9
Ellen 8
Ann 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Agnes 3
Jane 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Amelia 1
Amin 1
Annice 1
Annietta 1
C.E. 1
Caroline 1
Cissy 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Ethel 1
F.R. 1
Frederick 1
Grace 1
Hanna 1
Helen 1
Josephine 1
Katherine 1
Lydia 1
Macy 1
Margt. 1
R.S. 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosenia 1
Selina 1
Thirsa 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 33
William 19
James 14
Thomas 12
Edward 10
Henry 10
Patrick 10
George 6
Michael 6
Richard 6
Andrew 4
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Augustine 1
Charles 1
Charley 1
D.S. 1
Dan 1
Ed. 1
Fantum 1
Francis 1
H.P. 1
Hugh 1
Kenshaw 1
Lawerence 1
M. 1
Martin 1
Morris 1
Pat 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
W.E. 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Troy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Troy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 356 people were recorded with the Troy surname. That placed it at #8,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Troy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 849 in 2016. That gives Troy a modern rank of #6,584.

What does the Troy surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "foot soldier" in Old French.

What does the Troy map show?

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