NameCensus.

UK surname

Adler

An occupational surname of German origin referring to an eagle keeper or someone who hunted with eagles.

In the 1881 census there were 180 people recorded with the Adler surname, ranking it #13,735 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 772, ranked #7,122, up from #13,735 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Salford and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Adler is 778 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 328.9%.

1881 census count

180

Ranked #13,735

Modern count

772

2016, ranked #7,122

Peak year

2014

778 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Adler had 180 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,735 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 772 in 2016, ranked #7,122.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 497 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Adler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Adler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Adler 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 180 #13,735
1891 historical 280 #11,665
1901 historical 407 #9,374
1911 historical 497 #7,861
1997 modern 658 #7,596
1998 modern 687 #7,591
1999 modern 675 #7,725
2000 modern 686 #7,606
2001 modern 650 #7,797
2002 modern 661 #7,847
2003 modern 699 #7,393
2004 modern 691 #7,490
2005 modern 704 #7,310
2006 modern 690 #7,448
2007 modern 696 #7,455
2008 modern 694 #7,538
2009 modern 711 #7,549
2010 modern 742 #7,435
2011 modern 729 #7,469
2012 modern 739 #7,312
2013 modern 774 #7,163
2014 modern 778 #7,159
2015 modern 774 #7,125
2016 modern 772 #7,122

Geography

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Where Adlers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St George in the East, London parishes, Paddington and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Salford and Gateshead. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St George in the East London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 037 Barnet
2 Salford 010 Salford
3 Gateshead 008 Gateshead
4 Barnet 032 Barnet
5 Barnet 034 Barnet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Adler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Adler

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Adler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Adler 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Adler is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Adler is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Adler falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Adler 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Adler

The surname Adler is of German origin, derived from the German word "Adler," which means "eagle." The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages, possibly during the 12th or 13th century, as a surname denoting a person's occupation or personal characteristic.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Adler can be traced back to various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria, Saxony, and Westphalia. It is believed that the name was initially associated with individuals who worked with eagles, such as falconers or those who trained or kept eagles as hunting companions.

In some cases, the name Adler may have also been bestowed upon individuals who exhibited traits reminiscent of an eagle, such as strength, bravery, or keen eyesight. Alternatively, it could have been given to someone who lived near an area known for its eagle population or had an eagle symbol as part of their family crest or coat of arms.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Adler can be found in the 14th-century Stadtbuch (city book) of Nuremberg, which mentions an individual named Konrad Adler in the year 1349. Another notable early reference is from the 15th century, where a Johannes Adler is mentioned in the Chronica Regia Coloniensis, a chronicle of Cologne.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Adler. One such figure was Alfred Adler (1870-1937), an Austrian medical doctor and psychologist who founded the school of individual psychology. Another prominent Adler was Mortimer J. Adler (1902-2001), an American philosopher, educator, and author known for his work on the Great Books of the Western World.

Other notable individuals with the surname Adler include Felix Adler (1851-1933), a German-American professor and founder of the Ethical Culture movement, and Cyrus Adler (1863-1940), an American Semitic scholar and educator who served as the president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

In the realm of literature, the name Adler is associated with Renata Adler (1938-), an American author and critic known for her novels and non-fiction works.

While the surname Adler has its roots in Germany, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and has become a recognized surname in various countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Adler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Adler 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. Middlesex leads with 62 Adlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.59x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 62 3.59x
Warwickshire 37 8.50x
Glamorgan 13 4.32x
Surrey 11 1.31x
Northumberland 9 3.50x
Leicestershire 7 3.66x
Carmarthenshire 6 8.25x
Lancashire 6 0.29x
Shropshire 5 3.35x
Sussex 5 1.72x
Cheshire 4 1.05x
Yorkshire 4 0.23x
Hampshire 2 0.57x
Angus 1 0.63x
Brecknockshire 1 2.90x
Durham 1 0.19x
Kent 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.62x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.82x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 14 Adlers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.05x.

Place Total Index
Paddington London 14 22.05x
Merthyr Tydfil 13 44.98x
Coventry Holy Trinity 11 84.62x
Coventry St Michael 10 71.48x
St George In East London 10 61.58x
Islington London 9 5.38x
Nuneaton 7 138.89x
Lambeth 6 3.99x
Shoreditch London 6 8.02x
Carmarthen St Peter 5 80.39x
Drayton In Hales 5 162.87x
Hove 5 39.15x
Jesmond 5 138.50x
Mile End Old Town London 5 13.61x
Wolvey 5 1086.96x
Cheetham 4 26.18x
Dorking 4 70.80x
Hammersmith London 4 9.41x
Sale 4 85.47x
St Anne Soho London 4 40.57x
Uxbridge 4 203.05x
Willoughby Waterless 4 2105.26x
Holy Trinity 3 7.29x
Stoke Newington London 3 22.30x
Hinckley 2 44.05x
Amble 1 85.47x
Ashby St Ledgers 1 666.67x
Barrow In Furness 1 3.59x
Bedlington 1 11.66x
Bootle Cum Linacre 1 6.15x
Brinklow 1 217.39x
Burbage 1 100.00x
Camberwell 1 0.91x
Chilvers Coton 1 55.87x
Cowpen 1 16.89x
Dundee 1 1.67x
Earsdon 1 47.85x
Exhall 1 151.52x
Hampstead London 1 3.72x
Holdenhurst 1 10.78x
Kensington London 1 1.04x
Llanelly 1 24.21x
Middlesbrough 1 4.49x
Rugby 1 16.98x
Spitalfields London 1 7.70x
St Faith Winchester 1 60.61x
Sunderland 1 11.03x
Talley 1 200.00x
Warren 1 1111.11x
Woolwich 1 4.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 8
Mary 5
Elizabeth 4
Catherine 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Rebecca 3
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Johanna 2
Lucy 2
Silvia 2
Betsy 1
Blanch 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Celastine 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Diana 1
Eliza 1
Elma 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gottliebe 1
Hannah 1
Helena 1
Henretta 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Lily 1
Louise 1
Lucie 1
M. 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Menah 1
Minna 1
Phoeby 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Ruth 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Thomas 10
George 7
William 7
James 5
Joseph 5
Alfred 4
Henry 4
Christopher 2
Herbert 2
Herman 2
John 2
Louis 2
Nathan 2
Abraham 1
Adolph 1
Allan 1
Baptist 1
Benjamin 1
Berthold 1
C. 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eleazer 1
Elkan 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
L.H. 1
Ludwig 1
Magnus 1
Marcus 1
Marens 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
Morris 1
Reuben 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Siegfred 1
Soloman 1
Solomon 1
Tusdar 1
Viggo 1
Walter 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Adler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Adler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 180 people were recorded with the Adler surname. That placed it at #13,735 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Adler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 772 in 2016. That gives Adler a modern rank of #7,122.

What does the Adler surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin referring to an eagle keeper or someone who hunted with eagles.

What does the Adler map show?

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