SOFFE
In the 1881 Census
Top Locations
See the bottom of the page for an explanation of the numeric columns.
Counties
Census Districts
Demographics
Numbers in brackets are the total recorded in the census. Note that for less common surnames, some of these may well be typos or transcription errors. See below for some more information on occupational titles.
Top male names
- John (12)
- George (10)
- Thomas (5)
- Henry (4)
- Charles (4)
- William (4)
- Joseph (3)
- Alfred (3)
- James (3)
- Ernest (3)
- Gabriel (2)
- Harry (2)
- Jeremiah (2)
- Samuel (2)
- Frederick (2)
- Abner (2)
- Frank (2)
- Christopher (2)
- Albert (2)
- Mathew (1)
- Matthew (1)
- Noah (1)
- Percy (1)
- Robert (1)
- Adam (1)
- Tom (1)
- Walter (1)
- Leonard (1)
- Arthur (1)
- Elijah (1)
- Eli (1)
- Edward (1)
- Daniel (1)
- Herbert (1)
- Infant (1)
- Dan (1)
- Clement (1)
- Joe (1)
- Frederic (1)
Top female names
- Mary (10)
- Jane (6)
- Emily (5)
- Sarah (4)
- Ann (4)
- Alice (4)
- Annie (3)
- Amelia (3)
- Ellen (3)
- Kate (3)
- Edith (3)
- Charlotte (3)
- Emma (2)
- Maria (2)
- Frances (2)
- Louisa (2)
- Jessie (2)
- Laura (2)
- Elizabeth (2)
- Catherine (2)
- Caroline (2)
- Winefred (1)
- Susannah (1)
- Roselin (1)
- Rosa (1)
- Lydia (1)
- Mabel (1)
- Miriam (1)
- Martha (1)
- Matilda (1)
- Jemima (1)
- Hannah (1)
- Anna (1)
- Annetta (1)
- Bessey (1)
- Betsy (1)
- Ada (1)
- Clara (1)
- Constance (1)
- Ethel (1)
- Fanny (1)
- Anne (1)
- Harriet (1)
- Harriett (1)
- Helen (1)
- Henrietta (1)
- Infant (1)
- Amey (1)
Top occupations
- Scholar (37)
- Labourer (7)
- No Occupation (2)
- Groom (2)
- Ladies Outfitter (Dress) (2)
- Baker (2)
- Shipwright (2)
- General Labourer (1)
- General Domestic Servant (1)
- General Clerk Out Of Employment (1)
- Gardener & Foreman (D) (1)
- Gen Lab Wife (1)
- Gen Lab (1)
- Gardener (Gen) N D (1)
- Gardener (D) (1)
- Gas Fitter (1)
- Genl Serv (Unemployed) (1)
- General Servant Domestic (1)
- Laborer (1)
- Kitchen Maid Domestic (1)
- Kitchen Maid (1)
- Independent (1)
- Housemaid Domestic Servant (1)
- Grocer &c (1)
- Grocer (1)
- Governess (Sch) (1)
- Gardener (1)
- Garden Labourer (7) (1)
- Garden Boy (1)
- Dealer Gen (1)
- Cook (1)
- Coal Porter Wife (1)
- Coal Porter (1)
- Clerk (Southampton Dock Coy) (1)
- Cellerman Unemployed (1)
- Wife Of Assistant Purser (1)
- Boot & Shoemaker (1)
- Blacksmiths Labourer (1)
- Doctor Of Medicine (1)
- Domestic (1)
- Domestic Servant (1)
- Gamekeeper (1)
- Game Keeper (1)
- Formerly Dressmaker (1)
- Farmers Wife (1)
- Farmers Servant (1)
- Farmer 574 Acres 10 Men 2 Boys (1)
- Farmer 200 Hund Acres Employing 6 Men (1)
- Farmer (1)
- Farm Servant (Indoor) (1)
Explanation of numeric columns in the county and district tables
The Total column shows the total number of people in that county or town with this surname. For example, there were 109 people with the surname Soffe in the county of Hampshire in 1881.
The Frequency column shows the percentage of people in this county or town with this surname. For example, 0.02% of the people in Hampshire were called Soffe.
The Index column shows how more or less common a surname is in a particular location compared to the population as a whole. If the index is higher than 1, then you more likely to find a person with this name here than you would in the country as a whole. And if it's less than 1, you are less likely to find someone with this surname here. For example, the Soffe surname has an index of 29.47 in Hampshire, meaning that you are 29.47 times as likely to find a Soffe here than you would in the population as a whole.
The Total value is an absolute figure which takes no account of the size of the county or town, so it tends to be biased towards larger towns and counties. The Frequency and Index values are relative to the local population, so they give a better idea of where a surname is most concentrated.
A note on occupational titles
Occupational titles are presented exactly as recorded on the census and later transcribed, with no attempt made to unify names that are the same. So, for example, 'Ag Lab' and 'Agricultural Labourer' will apear as separate entries, and so will any misspellings of them.
'Scholar' was the census term for any child in education. Given that families tended to be large, this means that school children, or scholars, are almost always the largest recorded occupational group for any surname. A better idea of what the family breadwinners did for a living will be found in the other job titles.