NameCensus.

UK surname

Uncles

An old English surname referring to one's maternal relatives or siblings of parents.

In the 1881 census there were 149 people recorded with the Uncles surname, ranking it #15,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 113, ranked #28,691, down from #15,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Acton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Wychavon and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Uncles is 200 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 24.2%.

1881 census count

149

Ranked #15,551

Modern count

113

2016, ranked #28,691

Peak year

1911

200 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Uncles had 149 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,551 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016, ranked #28,691.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 200 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Uncles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Uncles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Uncles 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 95 #17,707
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 149 #15,551
1891 historical 149 #18,420
1901 historical 189 #15,684
1911 historical 200 #14,960
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 129 #23,722
1999 modern 125 #24,366
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 119 #24,733
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 111 #26,260
2006 modern 101 #28,125
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 106 #29,305
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 112 #28,675
2014 modern 116 #28,253
2015 modern 115 #28,319
2016 modern 113 #28,691

Geography

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Where Uncles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Acton, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Wychavon, East Staffordshire, Spelthorne and South Somerset. 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 Acton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 027 Wiltshire
2 Wychavon 016 Wychavon
3 East Staffordshire 015 East Staffordshire
4 Spelthorne 009 Spelthorne
5 South Somerset 010 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Uncles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Uncles

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Uncles is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Uncles is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Uncles falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Uncles

The surname UNCLES has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "unca," meaning "uncle." This word was likely used as a nickname for an uncle-like individual or one who held a position of respect or authority within their community.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the UNCLES surname can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where a Richard Unckles is mentioned as residing in Oxfordshire. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during this period, as they were often adapted based on local dialects and scribes' interpretations.

In the 14th century, the UNCLES name appeared in various manorial records and tax rolls across counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. This suggests that the name had spread across eastern England, possibly through familial ties or migration patterns.

The 1379 Poll Tax records for Yorkshire list a John Vnkille, showcasing another early spelling variation. This document provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across medieval England and their evolution over time.

Notable individuals with the UNCLES surname include Thomas Uncles (1532-1594), a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol during the Elizabethan era. His legacy is reflected in the naming of Uncles Passage, a historic alleyway in Bristol's city center.

During the 17th century, the UNCLES family had a presence in the Oxfordshire town of Banbury. Records from 1628 mention a Richard Uncles, who served as a church warden in the parish of St. Mary's.

Moving into the 18th century, the 1776 will of John Uncles, a wealthy landowner from Cambridgeshire, provides insights into the family's holdings and social standing during this period.

In the 19th century, the UNCLES surname gained literary recognition through the works of poet and playwright Thomas Uncles (1805-1876), whose works were widely published and celebrated during his lifetime.

Throughout its history, the UNCLES surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, with notable individuals contributing to the fabric of their local communities and broader society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Uncles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Uncles 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. Wiltshire leads with 45 Uncles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.01x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 45 35.01x
Middlesex 43 2.96x
Surrey 16 2.26x
Somerset 15 6.41x
Worcestershire 11 5.80x
Midlothian 7 3.60x
Yorkshire 6 0.42x
Durham 3 0.69x
Lancashire 3 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford On Avon in Wiltshire leads with 30 Uncles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 729.93x.

Place Total Index
Bradford On Avon 30 729.93x
Chippenham 13 481.48x
Kensington London 12 14.85x
Lambeth 10 7.89x
Hammersmith London 8 22.35x
Walcot 7 56.18x
Portishead 6 344.83x
Colinton 5 230.41x
Upper Mitton 5 1162.79x
Teddington London 4 121.58x
Enfield 3 31.45x
Kidderminster Borough 3 27.00x
Penistone 3 267.86x
Poplar London 3 10.94x
Rumworth 3 121.95x
St Clement Danes 3 127.66x
St Giles In Fields 3 59.88x
Stockton On Tees 3 14.40x
Thornhill 3 71.43x
Battersea 2 3.74x
Bethnal Green London 2 3.17x
South Leith 2 9.13x
Southwark St Saviour 2 26.77x
St Gilesin Fields 2 235.29x
Worcester St Peter 2 55.71x
Bath St Michael 1 84.75x
Chelsea London 1 2.28x
Claines 1 19.19x
Clapham 1 5.50x
Islington London 1 0.71x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.42x
St Marylebone London 1 1.29x
Trowbridge 1 17.61x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 53.19x
Westwood 1 370.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 9
Mary 6
Ellen 4
Maria 4
Annie 3
Emily 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Selina 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Bridget 1
Edith 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizebath 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Hester 1
Isabella 1
Jan 1
Jessie 1
Lois 1
Lottie 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Margerate 1
Mariah 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Nicola 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 12
William 11
Henry 7
Thomas 5
Albert 3
Frank 3
Benjamin 2
Berkley 2
Chapman 2
Charles 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Amos 1
Edwin 1
Erenst 1
Frederick 1
Jno. 1
John 1
Joseph 1
Nelson 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Roland 1
Ruben 1
Septimus 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Uncles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Uncles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 149 people were recorded with the Uncles surname. That placed it at #15,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Uncles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 113 in 2016. That gives Uncles a modern rank of #28,691.

What does the Uncles surname mean?

An old English surname referring to one's maternal relatives or siblings of parents.

What does the Uncles map show?

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