UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname for a person with a cheerful or bright disposition or fair hair or complexion.
In the 1881 census there were 111 people recorded with the Albright surname, ranking it #18,597 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 92, ranked #32,035, down from #18,597 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Erith, Lancaster Borough and Dartford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albright is 138 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.1%.
1881 census count
111
Ranked #18,597
Modern count
92
2016, ranked #32,035
Peak year
1891
138 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Albright surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Albright surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 85 | #18,940 |
| 1861 | historical | 94 | #21,883 |
| 1881 | historical | 111 | #18,597 |
| 1891 | historical | 138 | #19,411 |
| 1901 | historical | 133 | #19,372 |
| 1911 | historical | 109 | #21,611 |
| 1997 | modern | 83 | #29,216 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 81 | #29,828 |
| 2002 | modern | 79 | #30,499 |
| 2003 | modern | 81 | #30,311 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 74 | #32,190 |
| 2008 | modern | 75 | #32,373 |
| 2009 | modern | 76 | #32,635 |
| 2010 | modern | 83 | #32,396 |
| 2011 | modern | 85 | #32,127 |
| 2012 | modern | 90 | #31,790 |
| 2013 | modern | 87 | #32,472 |
| 2014 | modern | 88 | #32,495 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 92 | #32,035 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Erith, Lancaster Borough, Dartford, Ramsgate and Edgbaston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erith | Kent |
| 2 | Lancaster Borough | Lancashire |
| 3 | Dartford | Kent |
| 4 | Ramsgate | Kent |
| 5 | Edgbaston | Worcestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Albright surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Albright, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Albright surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Albright household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Albright is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Albright is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Albright, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Albright is of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from the Old English words "æl" meaning "elf" and "beorht" meaning "bright" or "radiant." It is believed to have originated in the regions of Wessex and Mercia in England during the 8th to 10th centuries.
The earliest known records of the Albright surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions several individuals with variations of the name, such as Aelfbriht and Ælbryht, residing in various counties across England.
In the 13th century, historical records show the name being spelled as Albricht, Albryght, and Albrith, reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional dialects. One notable individual was John Albright, a prominent landowner in Oxfordshire, who lived during the reign of King Henry III (1216-1272).
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Albright surname became more widely dispersed across England, with records indicating families residing in counties such as Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire. A significant figure from this period was Sir Thomas Albright (c. 1370-1430), a nobleman and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War.
In the 16th century, the Albright surname gained prominence in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable figure was Robert Albright (c. 1530-1585), a wealthy merchant and landowner in York.
The 17th century saw the Albright surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One prominent individual from this time was William Albright (1632-1701), an Irish clergyman and philosopher who served as the Bishop of Kilmore.
As the British Empire expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, many Albrights emigrated to the American colonies and other parts of the world. One notable figure was Jacob Albright (1759-1808), a German-American evangelist and founder of the Evangelical Association, now part of the United Methodist Church.
Other notable individuals with the Albright surname throughout history include Madeleine Albright (1937-), the first female United States Secretary of State, and Ivan Albright (1897-1983), an American artist known for his realistic and macabre paintings.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albright surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 19 Albrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 19 | 1.45x |
| Warwickshire | 19 | 6.84x |
| Leicestershire | 11 | 9.00x |
| Middlesex | 11 | 1.00x |
| Berkshire | 8 | 9.67x |
| Kent | 8 | 2.13x |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 9.00x |
| Oxfordshire | 6 | 8.81x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 1.34x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 1.64x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.84x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 3.86x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.27x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.37x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.75x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.69x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 9 Albrights recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Aston | 9 | 11.76x |
| Beaumont Leys | 7 | 70000.00x |
| Edgbaston | 7 | 81.21x |
| Erith | 7 | 188.68x |
| Charlbury | 6 | 789.47x |
| Bolton Le Sands | 5 | 1666.67x |
| Reading St Mary | 5 | 75.41x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 4 | 38.50x |
| Brafield On Green | 4 | 2000.00x |
| Chesham | 4 | 162.60x |
| Lancaster | 4 | 51.41x |
| Leicester St Mary | 4 | 40.53x |
| Rainham | 4 | 851.06x |
| Tranmere | 4 | 44.74x |
| Reading St Giles | 3 | 36.95x |
| Ulverston | 3 | 78.74x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 2.16x |
| Bradford | 2 | 32.68x |
| Burton Upon Trent | 2 | 22.99x |
| Chenies | 2 | 1333.33x |
| Limehouse London | 2 | 16.53x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 4.93x |
| Wolverhampton | 2 | 6.99x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 25.58x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 1.42x |
| Chatham | 1 | 9.66x |
| Corsham | 1 | 70.42x |
| Croydon | 1 | 3.35x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.62x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.94x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.63x |
| Kings Norton | 1 | 7.75x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 14.62x |
| Manchester | 1 | 1.70x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.26x |
| Nether Hallam | 1 | 6.77x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 2.09x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 12.06x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 5.15x |
| Wakefield | 1 | 11.92x |
| West Bromwich | 1 | 4.69x |
| Wressell | 1 | 714.29x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Albright surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Rachel | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Ann | 3 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Adeline | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| August | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Bland | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Elizibth. | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lury | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Albright surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Albright households.
FAQ
In 1881, 111 people were recorded with the Albright surname. That placed it at #18,597 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 92 in 2016. That gives Albright a modern rank of #32,035.
A surname derived from a nickname for a person with a cheerful or bright disposition or fair hair or complexion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Albright bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.