NameCensus.

UK surname

Acres

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name, indicating someone who lived near or on an acre of land.

In the 1881 census there were 329 people recorded with the Acres surname, ranking it #9,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 487, ranked #10,172, down from #9,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bengeo, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Braintree, Stroud and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Acres is 531 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.0%.

1881 census count

329

Ranked #9,107

Modern count

487

2016, ranked #10,172

Peak year

1999

531 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Acres had 329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016, ranked #10,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 450 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Acres surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Acres surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Acres 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 318 #7,293
1861 historical 276 #9,052
1881 historical 329 #9,107
1891 historical 385 #9,150
1901 historical 440 #8,843
1911 historical 450 #8,507
1997 modern 519 #9,058
1998 modern 529 #9,195
1999 modern 531 #9,219
2000 modern 526 #9,272
2001 modern 502 #9,440
2002 modern 528 #9,266
2003 modern 500 #9,481
2004 modern 506 #9,437
2005 modern 505 #9,379
2006 modern 496 #9,535
2007 modern 497 #9,615
2008 modern 515 #9,430
2009 modern 518 #9,588
2010 modern 518 #9,778
2011 modern 512 #9,777
2012 modern 505 #9,787
2013 modern 513 #9,839
2014 modern 509 #9,961
2015 modern 500 #10,009
2016 modern 487 #10,172

Geography

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Where Acres' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bengeo, London parishes, Lambeth and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Braintree, Stroud, Broadland, Tendring and Swale. 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 Bengeo Hertfordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Braintree 004 Braintree
2 Stroud 015 Stroud
3 Broadland 018 Broadland
4 Tendring 003 Tendring
5 Swale 017 Swale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Acres

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Acres

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Acres surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Acres household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Acres is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Acres is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Acres falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Acres is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Acres

The surname ACRES originated in England during the late medieval period, likely between the 12th and 14th centuries. It was derived from the Old English word "æcer," meaning "field" or "cultivated land." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived or worked on a field or farmland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ACRES can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, a series of financial records dating back to 1176. The name appears as "de Acres," indicating a connection to a specific place or location.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and tax assessments conducted in 1086 under the order of William the Conqueror, does not include the surname ACRES. However, it does mention several place names containing the word "acre," such as Acresfield in Cheshire and Acresbrook in Staffordshire, which may have given rise to the surname in later years.

In the 13th century, the surname ACRES appeared in various documents and records across England. Notably, a Thomas de Acres was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, while a Richard de Acres was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname ACRES. One of the earliest was Sir Robert Acres (c. 1330-1399), a member of the English gentry and landowner in Norfolk. Another prominent figure was John Acres (1542-1618), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1609 to 1610.

In the 17th century, Samuel Acres (1635-1719) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the development of logarithms and the study of celestial mechanics.

During the 18th century, Thomas Acres (1695-1770) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings, including Wanstead House in Essex and the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford.

In more recent times, Sir Jonathan Acres (1949-present) has been a distinguished English judge and barrister, serving as a Lord Justice of Appeal from 2007 to 2017.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Acres families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Acres 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. Hertfordshire leads with 83 Acres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.52x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 83 37.52x
Middlesex 82 2.56x
Kent 27 2.47x
Surrey 25 1.60x
Staffordshire 18 1.66x
Leicestershire 16 4.50x
Essex 15 2.37x
Yorkshire 13 0.41x
Devon 12 1.80x
Norfolk 8 1.62x
Lancashire 6 0.16x
Carmarthenshire 5 3.70x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.69x
Shropshire 3 1.08x
Warwickshire 3 0.37x
Somerset 2 0.39x
Wiltshire 2 0.70x
Berkshire 1 0.42x
Cheshire 1 0.14x
Glamorgan 1 0.18x
Gloucestershire 1 0.16x
Herefordshire 1 0.76x
Sussex 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bengeo in Hertfordshire leads with 21 Acres' recorded in 1881 and an index of 817.12x.

Place Total Index
Bengeo 21 817.12x
Lambeth 19 6.79x
Islington London 18 5.79x
Stapleford 12 5454.55x
Standon 11 482.46x
Hunsdon 9 1551.72x
Leicester St Mary 9 31.30x
Chelsea London 8 8.27x
Manningham 8 20.42x
St Pancras London 8 3.10x
Teddington London 8 110.04x
Hammerwich 7 454.55x
Leicester St Margaret 7 8.07x
St Marylebone London 7 4.09x
Bromley London 6 8.50x
Holme 6 2068.97x
Kensington London 6 3.36x
Maidstone 6 18.40x
Ramsgate 6 33.58x
Sandford 6 368.10x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 5.22x
Enfield 5 23.74x
Pembrey 5 80.39x
Charlton 4 55.02x
Chigwell 4 66.89x
Deal 4 42.83x
Hertford St Andrew 4 146.52x
Limehouse London 4 11.35x
Thirsk 4 108.99x
Ware 4 63.09x
West Ham 4 2.86x
Wolverhampton 4 4.80x
Aston 3 1.35x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 3 95.54x
Furneux Pelham 3 476.19x
Great Amwell 3 135.14x
Hornsey 3 7.39x
Nottingham St Mary 3 2.68x
West Derby 3 2.69x
Widford 3 535.71x
Beckenham 2 13.98x
Bromley 2 11.98x
Broxbourne 2 45.66x
Plymouth Charles The 2 6.80x
Roydon 2 215.05x
Rushden 2 666.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 3.10x
St Luke London 2 3.89x
Stebbing 2 162.60x
Stevenage 2 58.31x
Stoke Newington London 2 8.00x
Swindon 2 9.09x
Tedburn St Mary 2 285.71x
Thundridge 2 384.62x
Walkern 2 215.05x
Westminster St Margaret 2 12.92x
Weston Super Mare 2 15.34x
Birkenhead 1 1.77x
Brickendon 1 97.09x
Caterham 1 14.47x
Cheltenham 1 2.06x
Clavering 1 86.96x
Ealing 1 3.49x
Everton 1 0.82x
Hatfield Broad Oak 1 46.73x
Hellingly 1 55.25x
Hertford All Saints 1 80.65x
Hunstanton 1 59.88x
Kirkdale 1 1.56x
Liverpool 1 0.43x
Munsley 1 526.32x
Newington 1 0.84x
Norton Canes 1 25.32x
Penarth 1 18.32x
Pluckley 1 99.01x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.94x
South Lynn 1 17.95x
Stanstead Abbots 1 74.63x
Thorpe 1 149.25x
Wormshill 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 12
Annie 7
Emma 6
Charlotte 5
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Ada 4
Alice 4
Emily 4
Ann 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Constance 2
Harriet 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Maria 2
Anne 1
Bessie 1
Cecilia 1
Elena 1
Elizth.M. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Hariet 1
Harriett 1
Heneretta 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Margarita 1
Martha 1
Mrs. 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rhoda 1
Silphar 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
George 16
Thomas 12
William 11
Henry 8
Alfred 7
Barnard 7
Arthur 6
Walter 6
Albert 5
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Jeremiah 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Edward 3
James 3
Randall 3
Abram 2
Austin 2
Charles 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edwin 2
Horace 2
Percival 2
Samson 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Sullins 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Benjamen 1
Benjamin 1
Chars.Ernest 1
Chas. 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Elizabeth 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Glande 1
Harold 1
Harrington 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
W.G. 1

FAQ

Acres surname: questions and answers

How common was the Acres surname in 1881?

In 1881, 329 people were recorded with the Acres surname. That placed it at #9,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Acres surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 487 in 2016. That gives Acres a modern rank of #10,172.

What does the Acres surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name, indicating someone who lived near or on an acre of land.

What does the Acres map show?

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