The Metcalfe surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 4,725 people carried this name — #7,086 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 62,500 people counted. That is up 6% from 4,461 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Metcalfe surname

A surname, either characteristical or occupational in origin.

Variant of Metcalf.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Metcalfe» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

In the Nordic population registers

37 people named Metcalfe is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 37

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Metcalfe was found among the farmers of 5 counties.

It was most frequent in Yorkshire, North and East Ridings: 95 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 105. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Metcalf and Metcalfe.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Yorkshire, North and East Ridings 95
Yorkshire, West Riding 38
Durham 16
Lancashire 16
Cumberland and Westmorland 14

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Metcalfe was recorded 22 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 1076th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 14. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Metcalfe in American newspapers,
1894–1905.

Newspaper page from The Sea Coast Echo carrying the name Metcalfe
The Sea Coast Echo 1894-06-23
Newspaper page from The Philipsburg Mail carrying the name Metcalfe
The Philipsburg Mail 1894-05-17
Newspaper page from The Greenville Times carrying the name Metcalfe
The Greenville Times 1905-03-04

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 45,657 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Metcalfe in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

29,516 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Metcalfe. The most, 5,367, date from the 1930s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in New South Wales, at 1.6 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 15,646
Queensland 5,810
Victoria 4,117
Western Australia 1,839
South Australia 1,195
Tasmania 526
ACT (Canberra) 298
Northern Territory 11

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Metcalfe.

Who carried it

People named Metcalfe,
with a public archive behind them.

  • James Metcalfe d. 1730 · politician
  • Lascelles Metcalfe d. 1781 · politician
  • F. R. Metcalfe d. 1841 · physician
  • Margaret Metcalfe d. 1690
  • Felicite Metcalfe d. 1960
  • Catherine Maude Cholmeley d. 1933

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Metcalfe,
in the records of 8 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States614 records

614 records of the Metcalfe name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 181
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 138
  • Other U.S. records 295
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Winthrop Metcalfe

    Born 1903 in Illinois. Enlisted 1942 at Fort Jay Governors Island, New York; dairy farmer. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1964, buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Samuel M. Metcalfe

    Born 1915 in Alabama. Enlisted 1943 at Camp Forrest, Tennessee; meat cutter from Morgan County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1952, buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery, Tennessee.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Kester Metcalfe

    Arrived at New York in 1854 aboard the Jeremiah Thompson from Liverpool, aged 18; servant. From England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 614 records for Metcalfe in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia736 records

736 records of the Metcalfe name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 467
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 97
  • Other Australian records 172
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Pamela Metcalfe

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Westmoreland, sailing from Woolwich in 1836. Native of Leeds, Yorkshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1838. Married 1838 in Hamilton, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Albert Metcalfe

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Orient, aged 21; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Catherine Metcalfe

    Retired teacher of Camberwell, Victoria; died 1968.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 736 records for Metcalfe in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada163 records

163 records of the Metcalfe name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 52
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 34
  • Other Canadian records 77
  1. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Gordon Metcalfe

    Buried in 1990 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 66.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Norman Francis Metcalfe

    Buried in 1994 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 76.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Mary Metcalfe

    Died 1866 in Sheet Harbour, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 163 records for Metcalfe in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom86 records

86 records of the Metcalfe name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 69
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 10
  • Other British records 7
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record Alec Leith Metcalfe

    Born 1887 at Aberdeen. Served in the First World War. Named in the University of Aberdeen roll of service in the Great War, 1914-1919.

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Agnes Metcalfe

    Will proved in 1920; of Llandudno, Carnarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Eliz Metcalfe

    Buried in 1832 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 33.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 86 records for Metcalfe in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand10 records

10 records of the Metcalfe name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 9
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Metcalfe

    Died 1953, aged 80; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record R. Metcalfe

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John William Metcalfe

    Died 1948, aged 47; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Metcalfe in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

France6 records

6 records of the Metcalfe name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Stanley Horace Victor Metcalfe

    Born 1897 in the United Kingdom; died 1991 in Cannes (Alpes-Maritimes).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Robert William Metcalfe

    Born 1920 in Boulogne-sur-Mer (Pas-de-Calais); died 1985 in the United Kingdom.

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record David Raymond Metcalfe

    Born 1938 in the United Kingdom; died 1991 in Gannat (Allier).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Metcalfe in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Netherlands6 records

6 records of the Metcalfe name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 3
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 3
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Mary Metcalfe

    Married in 1758 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Alfred Metcalfe

    In the population register of 's-Gravenhage.

    Open Archives, Haags Gemeentearchief (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Civil record Isabella Metcalfe

    Baptised in 1741 in Rotterdam.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 6 records for Metcalfe in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Belgium1 record

1 record of the Metcalfe name in Belgium Belgian civil registers (births, marriages, deaths)
  1. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Lorne D. Metcalfe

    Married in 1947 in Aalst; born 1918 in Virden.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Aalst (CC BY 4.0)

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

Other spellings of this name

The same name, spelled another way.

Spellings that H. B. Guppy (England and Wales, 1890) or the Registrar-General for Ireland (births index of 1890) counted as one name together with Metcalfe.

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Metcalfe.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Metcalfe is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Metcalfe volume
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