NameCensus.

UK surname

Ace

Derived from the Old French word "as," meaning a top-ranked or expert individual in their field.

In the 1881 census there were 255 people recorded with the Ace surname, ranking it #10,924 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 422, ranked #11,365, down from #10,924 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Penmaen, Rhoscilly, Penrice, Llangafelach and Port-Eynon. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ace is 427 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.5%.

1881 census count

255

Ranked #10,924

Modern count

422

2016, ranked #11,365

Peak year

2011

427 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ace had 255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,924 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016, ranked #11,365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 296 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ace surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ace surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ace 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 207 #10,148
1881 historical 255 #10,924
1901 historical 296 #11,749
1997 modern 379 #11,447
1998 modern 397 #11,400
1999 modern 400 #11,439
2000 modern 388 #11,664
2001 modern 385 #11,534
2002 modern 398 #11,478
2003 modern 383 #11,614
2004 modern 396 #11,372
2005 modern 375 #11,752
2006 modern 375 #11,796
2007 modern 385 #11,698
2008 modern 398 #11,525
2009 modern 409 #11,524
2010 modern 414 #11,673
2011 modern 427 #11,243
2012 modern 422 #11,223
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 427 #11,393
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 422 #11,365

Geography

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Where Aces are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Penmaen, Rhoscilly, Penrice, Llangafelach, Port-Eynon, Margam and Reynoldston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea and Powys. 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 Penmaen, Rhoscilly, Penrice Glamorganshire
2 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
3 Port-Eynon Glamorganshire
4 Margam Glamorganshire
5 Reynoldston Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 010 Swansea
2 Powys 021 Powys
3 Swansea 016 Swansea
4 Swansea 009 Swansea
5 Swansea 015 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ace

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ace

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ace 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

Ace is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ace falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ace

The surname Ace is believed to have originated from the Old English word 'aec,' which means 'oak.' It is primarily found in regions of England, particularly in the counties of Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, where oak trees were abundant.

The earliest recorded mention of the Ace surname dates back to the 13th century, with references found in the Hundred Rolls of Kent from 1273. This document lists individuals with the surname 'Atte Oke,' which translates to 'at the oak,' a common way of referring to people who lived near or worked with oak trees.

In the 14th century, the surname evolved to its modern spelling of 'Ace,' as evidenced in the Poll Tax Records of 1381, which mention a John Ace from the village of Pembury in Kent. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region by that time.

One notable figure bearing the Ace surname was Sir Robert Ace, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the late 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the city of Canterbury and served as the Mayor of Canterbury in 1487.

Another historical figure with the Ace surname was William Ace, a renowned clockmaker from London who lived in the early 17th century. He was known for his intricate and innovative clock designs, and his work was highly sought after by the nobility and wealthy merchants of the time.

In the 18th century, the Ace surname gained prominence in the literary world with the birth of John Ace, a poet and essayist who was born in Canterbury in 1725. His works, which often explored themes of nature and the English countryside, were widely acclaimed during his lifetime.

A more recent figure with the Ace surname was Edward Ace, a British Army officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1785 and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Battle of Waterloo in 1815, where he was commended for his bravery and leadership.

While the Ace surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, the origins of the name can be traced back to the oak-rich regions of southern England, where it first emerged as a way to identify individuals who lived or worked near these majestic trees.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ace families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ace 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. Glamorgan leads with 223 Aces recorded in 1881 and an index of 51.69x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 223 51.69x
Monmouthshire 7 3.91x
Carmarthenshire 5 4.79x
Gloucestershire 3 0.62x
Lanarkshire 3 0.37x
Surrey 3 0.25x
Lincolnshire 2 0.50x
Middlesex 2 0.08x
Warwickshire 2 0.32x
Cornwall 1 0.36x
Dorset 1 0.62x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Roxburghshire 1 2.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Swansea Town in Glamorgan leads with 53 Aces recorded in 1881 and an index of 149.84x.

Place Total Index
Swansea Town 53 149.84x
Oystermouth 39 1167.66x
Porteynon 16 8000.00x
Clase 14 87.28x
Margam 13 270.27x
Cardiff St Mary 11 46.30x
Oxwich 9 4736.84x
Aberystruth 7 44.33x
Reynoldston 7 2692.31x
Tythegston Higher 7 534.35x
Aberavon 6 151.13x
Knelston 6 7500.00x
Llangennith 6 2400.00x
Llantrisant 6 55.20x
Swansea St Thomas 6 138.57x
Llanelly 5 21.26x
Swansea Lower 5 227.27x
Penmaen 4 4000.00x
Pennard 4 1739.13x
St Brides Major 4 689.66x
Barony 3 1.48x
Laughton In Gainsborough 2 800.00x
Rhosilly 2 714.29x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.58x
Sutton Coldfield 2 30.44x
Tandridge 2 384.62x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 6.17x
Bristol St Michael 1 23.98x
Croydon 1 1.49x
Everton 1 1.07x
Laleston 1 217.39x
Linton 1 212.77x
Llanrhidian Higher 1 36.50x
Llansamlet Higher 1 31.06x
Madron Penzance 1 9.80x
Poole St James 1 16.37x
St John Near Swansea 1 18.76x
Stapleton 1 10.85x
Tythegston Lower 1 1250.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Margaret 16
Ann 12
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 9
Catherine 6
Jane 4
Maria 4
Margret 3
Annie 2
Beatrice 2
Edith 2
Elenor 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Bessie 1
Bessy 1
Catharine 1
E. 1
Eli. 1
Elin 1
Eliy 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Eva 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Jeanet 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Mabel 1
Maggie 1
Martha 1
May 1
Naomi 1
Saher 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 21
Thomas 15
George 10
Samuel 5
Abraham 4
David 4
James 4
Philip 3
Phillip 3
Daniel 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Wm. 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Benjamen 1
Edmund 1
Evan 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Gwillym 1
Henry 1
Rees 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Rees 1
W. 1
Will. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Ace surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ace surname in 1881?

In 1881, 255 people were recorded with the Ace surname. That placed it at #10,924 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ace surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 422 in 2016. That gives Ace a modern rank of #11,365.

What does the Ace surname mean?

Derived from the Old French word "as," meaning a top-ranked or expert individual in their field.

What does the Ace map show?

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