NameCensus.

UK surname

Trust

An English surname referring to one considered trustworthy or reliable.

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Trust surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 192, ranked #20,118, up from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) and Brixham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tewkesbury, Torbay and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trust is 213 in 2005. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 170.4%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

192

2016, ranked #20,118

Peak year

2005

213 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trust had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 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 159 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trust surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trust surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trust 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 124 #17,797
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 111 #22,421
1901 historical 144 #18,505
1911 historical 159 #17,219
1997 modern 212 #16,996
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 207 #17,855
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 203 #17,967
2004 modern 212 #17,540
2005 modern 213 #17,435
2006 modern 202 #18,160
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 196 #18,895
2009 modern 199 #19,090
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 203 #19,025
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 203 #19,504
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 192 #20,118

Geography

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Where Trusts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841), Brixham, St Austell and Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tewkesbury, Torbay, Cornwall and Chichester. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Plymouth St Andrew (incl. Eddystone Lighthouse in 1841) Devon
3 Brixham Devon
4 St Austell Cornwall
5 Gravesend, Milton next Gravesend Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tewkesbury 002 Tewkesbury
2 Torbay 004 Torbay
3 Cornwall 039 Cornwall
4 Chichester 010 Chichester
5 Torbay 017 Torbay

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trust

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trust

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Trust is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Trust 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

Trust falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Trust is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Trust

The surname Trust is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is likely derived from the Old English word "trost," which means "trust" or "confidence." This name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone who was considered trustworthy or reliable.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Trust can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named William Trost is mentioned. This suggests that variations of the name were already in use by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname Trust appeared in various forms, such as Trost, Truste, and Truste, in records from different parts of England. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 mention a John de Truste.

During the 15th century, the surname Trust began to take on its modern spelling. In the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524, a Richard Trust is recorded as residing in Somerset.

One notable figure with the surname Trust was Sir John Trust (c. 1560-1623), an English merchant and explorer who voyaged to the East Indies and helped establish trade relations between England and the Spice Islands.

Another prominent individual with this surname was William Trust (1630-1689), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Doctrine of the Sabbath" and "A Treatise on Repentance."

In the 18th century, John Trust (1725-1796) was a renowned English clockmaker and inventor. He patented several innovations in clock design and was appointed Clockmaker to King George III.

Sir Robert Trust (1780-1856) was a British military officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament.

Sarah Trust (1842-1919) was a British educator and philanthropist who founded several schools and orphanages in her hometown of Bristol.

While the surname Trust has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and intermarriage. However, the earliest recorded instances and the majority of historical references to this surname can be traced back to its origins in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trust families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trust 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 24 Trusts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.47x.

County Total Index
Devon 24 18.47x
Middlesex 13 2.08x
Somerset 6 5.97x
Surrey 6 1.97x
Sussex 6 5.70x
Kent 5 2.35x
Hampshire 2 1.56x
Lancashire 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 8.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brixham in Devon leads with 8 Trusts recorded in 1881 and an index of 529.80x.

Place Total Index
Brixham 8 529.80x
Wolborough 8 487.80x
Battersea 6 26.12x
East Wittering 6 12000.00x
Gravesend 5 277.78x
Kensington London 5 14.41x
Taunton St Mary 5 271.74x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 39.96x
St Marylebone London 4 12.00x
Paddington London 3 13.07x
Highweek 2 434.78x
Portsmouth 2 67.80x
Kirkdale 1 8.03x
North Petherton 1 123.46x
Plymouth Charles The 1 17.45x
St Pancras London 1 1.99x
Torbrian 1 2500.00x
Towyn 1 138.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Thomas 6
Henry 4
William 4
Harry 3
John 3
Arthur 2
James 2
Alfred 1
Ferdinand 1
George 1
Nicholas 1
Oscar 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Wm. 1
Wm.G. 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 Trust households.

FAQ

Trust surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trust surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Trust surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trust surname today?

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

What does the Trust surname mean?

An English surname referring to one considered trustworthy or reliable.

What does the Trust map show?

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