NameCensus.

UK surname

Urch

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English word 'cirice' meaning church.

In the 1881 census there were 252 people recorded with the Urch surname, ranking it #11,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 383, ranked #12,269, down from #11,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton and Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens, Mendip and Blaenau Gwent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Urch is 429 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.0%.

1881 census count

252

Ranked #11,012

Modern count

383

2016, ranked #12,269

Peak year

1999

429 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Urch had 252 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 383 in 2016, ranked #12,269.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 336 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Urch surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Urch surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Urch 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 223 #9,562
1861 historical 199 #12,062
1881 historical 252 #11,012
1891 historical 187 #15,679
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 336 #10,563
1997 modern 420 #10,608
1998 modern 419 #10,992
1999 modern 429 #10,874
2000 modern 407 #11,252
2001 modern 403 #11,163
2002 modern 413 #11,170
2003 modern 390 #11,467
2004 modern 393 #11,433
2005 modern 385 #11,512
2006 modern 387 #11,514
2007 modern 395 #11,481
2008 modern 395 #11,598
2009 modern 410 #11,503
2010 modern 406 #11,847
2011 modern 414 #11,533
2012 modern 386 #12,037
2013 modern 403 #11,850
2014 modern 404 #11,906
2015 modern 383 #12,295
2016 modern 383 #12,269

Geography

Back to top

Where Urchs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Clifton, Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent, Nailsea and Wedmore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens, Mendip, Blaenau Gwent and North 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Clifton Gloucestershire
3 Mark, Chapel Allerton, Weare, East Brent, South Brent Somerset
4 Nailsea Somerset
5 Wedmore Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 004 St. Helens
2 Mendip 010 Mendip
3 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent
4 Mendip 007 Mendip
5 North Somerset 008 North Somerset

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Urch

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Urch

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Urch surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Urch household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Urch 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

Urch is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Urch falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Urch is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Urch

The surname URCH is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "yr(i)c," which means a cowherd or a keeper of cattle. This occupational surname was likely first adopted by individuals whose primary occupation involved tending to herds of cattle.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname URCH can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Ur(i)c" in various entries, suggesting its widespread usage during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname URCH emerged in its modern spelling in various records and documents. One notable example is John Urch, a landowner mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221. The surname was also associated with place names, such as Urchfont in Wiltshire, which was recorded as "Urchefunte" in the Domesday Book.

As the surname URCH spread across England, regional variations in spelling emerged, including Urche, Urgh, and Urch. These variations were likely influenced by local dialects and pronunciation variations.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname URCH. One example is Thomas Urch (1530-1596), an English composer and organist who served under Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure is John Urch (1720-1791), a renowned English clockmaker whose timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy.

In the 16th century, the surname URCH appears in the records of the Inquisition in Spain, suggesting that some individuals with this surname may have been caught up in the religious persecution of the time. One such individual was Diego Urch, who was tried by the Spanish Inquisition in 1558.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname URCH continued to be found in various records and documents across England. Notable individuals from this period include William Urch (1675-1737), a renowned mathematician and astronomer, and Elizabeth Urch (1705-1782), a prominent philanthropist known for her charitable works in London.

The surname URCH has a rich history deeply rooted in the English tradition, originating from an occupational word describing those who tended to cattle. Its presence in various historical records, place names, and the lives of notable individuals over the centuries attests to its longevity and significance within the English cultural landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Urch families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Urch 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. Somerset leads with 133 Urchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.61x.

County Total Index
Somerset 133 33.61x
Gloucestershire 43 8.92x
Middlesex 27 1.10x
Monmouthshire 18 10.13x
Glamorgan 10 2.34x
Kent 5 0.60x
Devon 4 0.78x
Yorkshire 4 0.16x
Wiltshire 3 1.38x
Dorset 1 0.62x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Royal Navy 1 3.41x
Surrey 1 0.08x
Warwickshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weston Super Mare in Somerset leads with 35 Urchs recorded in 1881 and an index of 350.35x.

Place Total Index
Weston Super Mare 35 350.35x
Wedmore 15 583.66x
Kewstoke 12 1935.48x
Chelsea London 9 12.15x
Clifton 9 36.93x
Risca 9 268.66x
Axbridge 8 2105.26x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 17.63x
Nunney 8 930.23x
Coldashton 7 2121.21x
Islington London 7 2.94x
Westbury 7 1400.00x
Wraxall 7 933.33x
Bristol St Augustine 5 64.27x
Bristol St James In 5 70.52x
Mark 5 543.48x
South Brent 5 746.27x
Aberystruth 4 25.54x
Conisbrough 4 174.67x
East Stonehouse 4 39.68x
Frome 4 42.28x
Llandaff 4 28.09x
Llanhilleth 4 341.88x
Norton Folgate London 4 500.00x
Swansea Town 4 11.40x
Tonbridge 4 13.22x
Bathwick 3 68.49x
Clerkenwell London 3 5.17x
Midsomer Norton 3 80.43x
Nailsea 3 192.31x
Westbury On Trym 3 18.37x
Bedminster 2 5.38x
Cardiff St Mary 2 8.48x
Rodbourne Cheney 2 119.05x
Shepton Mallet 2 45.05x
Wellow 2 172.41x
Ashwick 1 156.25x
Beckenham 1 9.12x
Bitton 1 23.81x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 6.22x
Bristol St Paul In 1 7.79x
Bristol St Peter 1 58.14x
Brixton Deverill 1 714.29x
Camerton 1 86.96x
Cheddar 1 50.25x
Cheltenham 1 2.69x
Chepstow 1 33.00x
Croydon 1 1.50x
East Harptree 1 178.57x
Folke 1 434.78x
Hammersmith London 1 1.65x
Hinton Blewett 1 555.56x
Leamington 1 24.33x
Marston Bigott 1 333.33x
Royal Navy 1 3.99x
St George Hanover 1 3.12x
St Lawrence Jewry 1 1428.57x
St Marylebone London 1 0.76x
Uphill 1 185.19x
Walcot 1 4.75x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 31.35x
Westbury On Severn 1 52.36x
Windle 1 6.09x
Witham Friary 1 243.90x
Worle 1 121.95x
Yatton 1 64.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 10
Emma 7
Annie 6
Eliza 5
Emily 4
Jane 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Harriet 3
Susan 3
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Susanna 2
A. 1
Adelaide 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Anna 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Betsy 1
Elen 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Emmiline 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Isabel 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Lizzie 1
Mable 1
Marian 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Unity 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Urch surname: questions and answers

How common was the Urch surname in 1881?

In 1881, 252 people were recorded with the Urch surname. That placed it at #11,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Urch surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 383 in 2016. That gives Urch a modern rank of #12,269.

What does the Urch surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English word 'cirice' meaning church.

What does the Urch map show?

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