NameCensus.

UK surname

Addy

Derived from a nickname for Adam or from various place names with the Old English element "ēa" meaning "river."

In the 1881 census there were 1,278 people recorded with the Addy surname, ranking it #3,196 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,683, ranked #3,716, down from #3,196 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Silkstone, Pontefract and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wakefield, Kirklees and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Addy is 1,807 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.7%.

1881 census count

1,278

Ranked #3,196

Modern count

1,683

2016, ranked #3,716

Peak year

2009

1,807 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Addy had 1,278 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,196 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,683 in 2016, ranked #3,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,777 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Addy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Addy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Addy 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 827 #3,265
1861 historical 944 #2,937
1881 historical 1,278 #3,196
1891 historical 1,398 #3,115
1901 historical 1,628 #3,176
1911 historical 1,777 #2,754
1997 modern 1,684 #3,541
1998 modern 1,752 #3,546
1999 modern 1,785 #3,507
2000 modern 1,781 #3,494
2001 modern 1,731 #3,515
2002 modern 1,761 #3,536
2003 modern 1,716 #3,550
2004 modern 1,737 #3,507
2005 modern 1,722 #3,500
2006 modern 1,710 #3,527
2007 modern 1,751 #3,491
2008 modern 1,786 #3,454
2009 modern 1,807 #3,495
2010 modern 1,795 #3,577
2011 modern 1,740 #3,626
2012 modern 1,721 #3,609
2013 modern 1,732 #3,642
2014 modern 1,737 #3,654
2015 modern 1,705 #3,671
2016 modern 1,683 #3,716

Geography

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Where Addys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Silkstone, Pontefract, Sheffield, Kirkburton and Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wakefield, Kirklees, North Norfolk and Barnsley. 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 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Pontefract Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Ecclesfield (Ecclesfield), Rotherham (Dalton), Conisborough Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wakefield 012 Wakefield
2 Kirklees 056 Kirklees
3 Kirklees 026 Kirklees
4 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
5 Barnsley 011 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Addy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Addy

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Addy is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Addy 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

Addy falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Addy

The surname Addy originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "aedisc," which means "park" or "pasture." It was initially a place name that referred to a settlement or location near a park or pasture. The earliest recorded instance of this surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Adi" in Yorkshire.

During the medieval period, the name Addy was prevalent in various parts of Yorkshire, particularly in the West Riding area. Some historic records from the 13th century mention individuals with the surname Addy, such as Roger de Addi, who was recorded in the Yorkshire Assize Rolls of 1260.

The name Addy has also been associated with place names like Addy Green and Addy House, which were located in the parish of Bingley, West Yorkshire. These place names derived from the Old English words "aedisc" and "grene," meaning "green pasture."

In the 16th century, the surname Addy appeared in various spellings, including Addie, Addye, and Adeye. One notable individual from this period was William Addy, born in 1566 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent landowner and local official.

During the 17th century, the Addy family established itself in the West Riding of Yorkshire, with several members holding positions of importance in local communities. One such individual was John Addy, born in 1620, who served as a magistrate and landowner in the area.

In the 18th century, the surname Addy spread beyond Yorkshire to other parts of England. Notable individuals from this period include Samuel Addy, born in 1742 in Derbyshire, who was a renowned clockmaker and inventor.

The 19th century saw the Addy surname gain further prominence, with individuals like Joseph Addy, born in 1830 in Yorkshire, who was a respected historian and author of works on local history and folklore.

Other noteworthy individuals with the surname Addy include William Addy, born in 1835 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the region, and John Addy, born in 1848 in Lancashire, who was a successful industrialist and philanthropist.

Throughout its history, the surname Addy has maintained a strong connection to its Yorkshire roots, with many individuals bearing this name making significant contributions to various fields, including literature, architecture, and industry.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Addy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Addy 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. Yorkshire leads with 808 Addys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 808 6.56x
Lancashire 131 0.89x
Norfolk 60 3.14x
Kent 53 1.25x
Cheshire 42 1.53x
Derbyshire 32 1.64x
Middlesex 31 0.25x
Northumberland 20 1.08x
Sussex 16 0.76x
Essex 13 0.53x
Leicestershire 11 0.80x
Surrey 10 0.17x
Gloucestershire 7 0.29x
Durham 6 0.16x
Hertfordshire 6 0.70x
Devon 5 0.19x
Lincolnshire 5 0.25x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.24x
Staffordshire 3 0.07x
Berkshire 2 0.21x
Hampshire 2 0.08x
Northamptonshire 2 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.11x
Berwickshire 1 0.66x
Cumberland 1 0.09x
Fife 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 46 Addys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.72x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 46 11.72x
Knottingley 42 193.91x
Leeds 37 5.32x
Huddersfield 35 19.49x
Dewsbury 34 26.90x
Shelley 34 471.57x
Salford 31 7.14x
Nether Hallam 27 16.19x
Wath On Dearne 23 93.53x
Barnsley 22 17.31x
Heeley 18 48.06x
Hunslet 18 9.37x
Dukinfield 16 12.61x
Ecclesfield 16 17.71x
Sutton 16 993.79x
Carlton In Barnsley 15 324.68x
Skelmanthorpe 15 112.78x
Ecclesall Bierlow 14 5.58x
Kexborough 14 530.30x
Macclesfield 14 11.47x
Wickersley 14 410.56x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 4.03x
Castleton 13 8.82x
Mexborough 12 49.06x
Cumberworth 11 175.16x
Elton 11 21.57x
Mirfield 11 16.26x
Thurlstone 11 90.54x
Derby St Werburgh 10 8.89x
Fairburn 10 460.83x
Kirkburton 10 68.82x
Manchester 10 1.51x
Matlock 10 38.26x
Rolvenden 10 181.82x
West Ardsley 10 67.43x
Almondbury 9 15.10x
Catfield 9 334.57x
Goole 9 43.58x
North Meols 9 6.23x
Shepley 9 132.55x
Tweedmouth 9 39.01x
Appledore 8 288.81x
Austonley 8 114.61x
Carbrooke 8 306.51x
Doncaster 8 8.88x
Gildersome 8 53.98x
Manningham 8 5.27x
Monk Bretton 8 64.10x
Warehorne 8 353.98x
Wombwell 8 22.26x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 7 15.64x
Beswick 7 18.55x
Bradfield 7 14.73x
Camberwell 7 0.88x
Chorlton On Medlock 7 2.99x
Golcar 7 21.48x
Hockwold Cum Wilton 7 214.72x
Kenardington 7 875.00x
Kimberworth 7 10.23x
Leicester St Margaret 7 2.08x
Leyton Low 7 14.03x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 7 22.52x
Orlestone 7 397.73x
Rumworth 7 33.19x
Ryhill 7 207.10x
Sykehouse 7 402.30x
Wakefield 7 7.40x
West Clayton 7 114.38x
York St Lawrence 7 54.47x
Beckley 6 114.50x
Brightside Bierlow 6 2.48x
Glass Houghton 6 134.23x
Pontefract 6 22.60x
Repps Cum Bastwick 6 530.97x
Rodborough 6 50.93x
Rotherham 6 8.64x
Swinton In Rotherham 6 18.41x
Thorpe Next Norwich 6 29.60x
Wentworth 6 78.64x
Wittersham 6 158.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 70
William 67
George 61
Thomas 37
Joseph 30
Charles 21
James 21
Arthur 18
Henry 18
Edward 16
Albert 13
Fred 12
Robert 12
Frank 11
Alfred 10
Benjamin 10
Richard 10
Samuel 10
Walter 10
David 9
Frederick 6
Herbert 6
Daniel 5
Joe 5
Mark 5
Tom 5
Wm. 5
Chas. 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Abraham 3
Geo. 3
Jonathan 3
Spencer 3
Andrew 2
Ann 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Jim 2
Jno. 2
Louis 2
Maurice 2
Michael 2
Richd. 2
Sam 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Wilson 2

FAQ

Addy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Addy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,278 people were recorded with the Addy surname. That placed it at #3,196 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Addy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,683 in 2016. That gives Addy a modern rank of #3,716.

What does the Addy surname mean?

Derived from a nickname for Adam or from various place names with the Old English element "ēa" meaning "river."

What does the Addy map show?

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