NameCensus.

UK surname

Albert

A French and English surname derived from the Germanic name Adalbrecht, meaning "noble and bright."

In the 1881 census there were 450 people recorded with the Albert surname, ranking it #7,321 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,256, ranked #4,761, up from #7,321 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, Westminster and Herefordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albert is 1,256 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 179.1%.

1881 census count

450

Ranked #7,321

Modern count

1,256

2016, ranked #4,761

Peak year

2016

1,256 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albert had 450 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,321 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,256 in 2016, ranked #4,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 801 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Albert surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albert surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albert 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 309 #7,449
1861 historical 740 #3,692
1881 historical 450 #7,321
1891 historical 687 #5,701
1901 historical 578 #7,272
1911 historical 801 #5,471
1997 modern 821 #6,405
1998 modern 887 #6,231
1999 modern 899 #6,209
2000 modern 897 #6,187
2001 modern 867 #6,237
2002 modern 909 #6,154
2003 modern 910 #6,032
2004 modern 943 #5,873
2005 modern 936 #5,851
2006 modern 987 #5,618
2007 modern 1,020 #5,521
2008 modern 1,048 #5,439
2009 modern 1,071 #5,442
2010 modern 1,137 #5,285
2011 modern 1,154 #5,168
2012 modern 1,157 #5,061
2013 modern 1,204 #4,967
2014 modern 1,215 #4,957
2015 modern 1,218 #4,901
2016 modern 1,256 #4,761

Geography

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Where Alberts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock, London parishes, Manchester and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, Westminster, Herefordshire, Telford and Wrekin and Salford. 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 Ribbesford (Bewdley), Abberley, Rock Worcestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 001 Malvern Hills
2 Westminster 009 Westminster
3 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
4 Telford and Wrekin 013 Telford and Wrekin
5 Salford 020 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albert

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albert

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

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Albert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Albert 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 younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Albert 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

Albert 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

Albert 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 Albert is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Albert

The surname ALBERT is believed to have originated in Germany, where it was derived from the Old German personal name Adalbert or Albrecht. This name is composed of the elements "adal," meaning noble, and "beraht," meaning bright or illustrious.

The name first appeared in Germany during the medieval period and was particularly prevalent in the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. It is thought to have been introduced to England and other parts of Europe through the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ALBERT can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The surname appears in various spellings, such as Albrecht and Albright, reflecting its Germanic roots.

In the 12th century, a notable figure bearing the name ALBERT was Albertus Magnus, a German Dominican friar and philosopher born in 1193 (or 1206, according to some sources) and died in 1280. He was a prolific writer and is considered one of the greatest thinkers of the Middle Ages.

Another historical figure with the surname ALBERT was Leon Battista Alberti, an Italian Renaissance humanist, author, artist, architect, poet, priest, linguist, philosopher, and cryptographer. He was born in 1404 in Genoa and died in 1472 in Rome.

In the 16th century, the name ALBERT was associated with a place in Picardy, France, known as Albert. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

During the 17th century, a prominent bearer of the name ALBERT was Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who was born in 1819 and died in 1861. He was the husband of Queen Victoria and is renowned for his support of the arts, sciences, and industrial development in Britain.

Another notable figure with the surname ALBERT was Albert Einstein, the renowned theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate. He was born in 1879 in Ulm, Germany, and died in 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey. Einstein's groundbreaking work on the theory of relativity revolutionized our understanding of space, time, and gravity.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albert 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 106 Alberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 106 2.35x
Surrey 70 3.18x
Lancashire 64 1.19x
Warwickshire 38 3.34x
Worcestershire 32 5.43x
Kent 21 1.36x
Midlothian 18 2.98x
Channel Islands 11 8.22x
Yorkshire 10 0.22x
Essex 9 1.01x
Monmouthshire 8 2.45x
Somerset 7 0.96x
Staffordshire 7 0.46x
Angus 6 1.43x
Cornwall 6 1.17x
Devon 6 0.64x
Lanarkshire 6 0.41x
Durham 5 0.37x
Brecknockshire 4 4.43x
Dumfriesshire 4 4.01x
Hampshire 4 0.43x
Leicestershire 4 0.80x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.70x
Glamorgan 2 0.25x
Herefordshire 2 1.08x
Ayrshire 1 0.30x
Berkshire 1 0.30x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.53x
Denbighshire 1 0.59x
Derbyshire 1 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.34x
Fife 1 0.37x
Gloucestershire 1 0.11x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.12x
Royal Navy 1 1.86x
Shropshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 19 Alberts recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.06x.

Place Total Index
Aston 19 6.06x
Birmingham 19 5.01x
Lambeth 17 4.32x
Preston 17 11.86x
Battersea 13 7.82x
South Leith 13 19.09x
St Pancras London 13 3.58x
Rock 12 508.47x
St Marylebone London 12 4.98x
St George In East London 11 25.89x
St Helier 11 25.25x
Newington 10 5.99x
Hampstead London 9 12.80x
Ribbesford 9 183.30x
Toxteth Park 9 4.96x
West Ham 9 4.57x
Bermondsey 8 5.95x
Kensington London 8 3.19x
Manchester 8 3.32x
Southwark St John 8 57.93x
Otford 7 325.58x
Tottenham 7 9.73x
Liverpool 6 1.84x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 6.60x
St Luke London 6 8.28x
Bedminster 5 7.32x
Govan 5 1.38x
Islington London 5 1.14x
Linthorpe 5 18.72x
Trevethin 5 16.22x
Deptford St Paul 4 3.37x
Dumfries 4 40.65x
Dundee 4 2.56x
Harborne 4 8.19x
Leicester St Margaret 4 3.28x
Liskeard 4 46.73x
North Meols 4 7.62x
Streatham 4 11.94x
Thurlestone 4 714.29x
Walton On Hill 4 13.78x
Westminster St James 4 8.62x
Worcester All Sts 4 116.96x
Worsley 4 12.11x
Beckenham 3 14.90x
Blackburn 3 2.10x
Camberwell 3 1.04x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 3 1.23x
Old Artillery Ground 3 77.12x
Paddington London 3 1.81x
St Martin In Fields 3 11.09x
Westminster St Margaret 3 13.77x
Whitechapel London 3 6.74x
Woolwich 3 5.27x
Aughton 2 37.66x
Claines 2 12.35x
Crumpsall 2 15.84x
Everton 2 1.17x
Hammersmith London 2 1.80x
Hereford All Sts 2 23.58x
Heston 2 13.33x
Liff Benvie 2 3.15x
Llangattock 2 27.17x
Llywel 2 102.56x
Newport 2 12.84x
St Anne Soho London 2 7.75x
St Maurice Winchester 2 51.95x
West Bromwich 2 2.29x
Westoe 2 2.63x
Aberystruth 1 3.47x
Alderminster 1 131.58x
Budock 1 25.97x
Burnley 1 2.22x
Croydon 1 0.82x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 26.18x
Irvine 1 10.65x
Limehouse London 1 2.02x
Linkinhorne 1 28.09x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 1.32x
Royal Navy 1 2.17x
Spitalfields London 1 2.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 23
John 20
Henry 18
George 17
Thomas 16
James 15
Charles 11
Alfred 9
Edward 8
Arthur 7
Joseph 6
Peter 4
Robert 4
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Adam 2
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Henery 2
Adolphus 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Barnet 1
Burdett 1
Charley 1
Edmund 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Emanuel 1
Ernest 1
F. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Isidor 1
Jacob 1
Jasper 1
Johan 1
Jord 1
Karl 1
Lancelot 1
Leopold 1
Lister 1
Maximilian 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Albert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 450 people were recorded with the Albert surname. That placed it at #7,321 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,256 in 2016. That gives Albert a modern rank of #4,761.

What does the Albert surname mean?

A French and English surname derived from the Germanic name Adalbrecht, meaning "noble and bright."

What does the Albert map show?

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