NameCensus.

UK surname

Abey

Derived from a Middle English personal name, itself from a Hebrew name meaning "my father is Yahweh."

In the 1881 census there were 138 people recorded with the Abey surname, ranking it #16,292 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 119, ranked #27,704, down from #16,292 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barnetby-le-Wold, Hull Holy Trinity and Cadney, Newstead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Bassetlaw.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Abey is 187 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 13.8%.

1881 census count

138

Ranked #16,292

Modern count

119

2016, ranked #27,704

Peak year

1911

187 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Abey had 138 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,292 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016, ranked #27,704.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 187 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Suburban Professionals.

Abey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Abey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Abey 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 125 #17,678
1881 historical 138 #16,292
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1911 historical 187 #15,600
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 109 #26,381
2001 modern 104 #26,765
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 107 #26,875
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 116 #27,062
2010 modern 121 #27,005
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 118 #27,686
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 121 #27,405
2016 modern 119 #27,704

Geography

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Where Abeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barnetby-le-Wold, Hull Holy Trinity, Cadney, Newstead, Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) and Hartlepool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Bassetlaw and Kingston upon Hull. 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 Barnetby-le-Wold Lincolnshire
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Cadney, Newstead Lincolnshire
4 Horncastle (incl. Horncastle allotments) Lincolnshire
5 Hartlepool Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 007 North Lincolnshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 029 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw
4 Kingston upon Hull 021 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Kingston upon Hull 026 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Abey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Abey

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Suburban Professionals

Nationally, the Abey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Suburban Professionals, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Abey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Employment in this Group is typically in managerial and professional occupations, and education to degree level is common. Residents are typically of working age, many of whom identify with an Indian ethnicity. Households are unlikely to be of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities, and English is not the main language used in some households. This Group is found on the outskirts of most conurbations as well as in the suburbs of some free-standing towns.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Abey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Abey is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Abey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Abey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Abey

The surname Abey is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Abba," which means "father" or "patriarch." The name Abey is believed to have originated in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Abey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Abbe." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of landholdings across England and served as a valuable record of names and places at the time.

During the 13th century, the name Abey was sometimes spelled as "Aby" or "Abye." This variation is evident in the records of the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which documented landowners and their holdings. The name was also associated with certain place names, such as Abey Farm in Norfolk, which was mentioned in the 16th century.

One notable figure bearing the surname Abey was Sir Thomas Abey (1497-1560), a prominent English jurist and politician who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another was Robert Abey (1608-1684), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts.

In the 17th century, the name Abey was sometimes spelled as "Abey" or "Abbye." A notable bearer of this spelling was Sir Edward Abey (1619-1696), an English lawyer and member of Parliament who represented the borough of Hindon in Wiltshire.

During the 18th century, the name Abey was also associated with the arts. John Abey (1726-1795) was an English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. Another individual with this surname was Samuel Abey (1751-1810), an English engraver and printmaker who produced numerous illustrations for books and magazines.

Throughout the 19th century, the surname Abey continued to be found across various regions of England. One notable figure was William Abey (1819-1892), a British architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Abey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Abey 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. Lincolnshire leads with 70 Abeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.52x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 70 32.52x
Yorkshire 24 1.80x
Durham 14 3.50x
Northamptonshire 9 7.11x
Middlesex 8 0.59x
Surrey 6 0.91x
Staffordshire 3 0.66x
Sussex 2 0.88x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.17x
Kent 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnetby Le Wold in Lincolnshire leads with 16 Abeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4102.56x.

Place Total Index
Barnetby Le Wold 16 4102.56x
Thornton Curtis 12 5454.55x
Holy Trinity 10 31.16x
Cadney 9 4285.71x
Stamford Baron St Martin 9 1323.53x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 25.80x
Wrawby 7 1206.90x
Horncastle 6 270.27x
Lambeth 6 5.11x
Stranton 6 44.51x
Bishopwearmouth 5 14.54x
Frodingham 5 649.35x
Southcoates 5 67.48x
East Halton 4 1333.33x
St Pancras London 4 3.69x
Waddingham 4 1212.12x
Caistor 3 348.84x
Hartlepool 3 52.72x
Wolverhampton 3 8.59x
Brighton 2 4.37x
Kirton In Lindsey 2 235.29x
Limehouse London 2 13.53x
St George Hanover Square 2 8.43x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 8.05x
Chapel Allerton 1 50.00x
Cliffe 1 96.15x
Goxhill 1 188.68x
North South Killingholme 1 277.78x
Witchford 1 500.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 11
William 10
George 8
Edward 3
Henry 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Adolphus 1
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Anderson 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Cornelus 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Horace 1
Jabez 1
Joseph 1
Osmund 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Theophilus 1
Thomas 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Abey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Abey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 138 people were recorded with the Abey surname. That placed it at #16,292 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Abey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 119 in 2016. That gives Abey a modern rank of #27,704.

What does the Abey surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English personal name, itself from a Hebrew name meaning "my father is Yahweh."

What does the Abey map show?

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