NameCensus.

UK surname

Albury

From the Old English words "eald" and "burh," meaning "old fort or town."

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Albury surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basildon, St Saviour Southwark and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Cherwell and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Albury is 383 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.0%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

1911

383 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Albury had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 383 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Albury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Albury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Albury 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 184 #11,120
1861 historical 225 #10,843
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 311 #10,781
1901 historical 342 #10,608
1911 historical 383 #9,597
1997 modern 226 #16,306
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 222 #17,080
2000 modern 221 #17,089
2001 modern 210 #17,425
2002 modern 209 #17,803
2003 modern 205 #17,851
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 189 #18,807
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 187 #19,271
2008 modern 187 #19,465
2009 modern 177 #20,560
2010 modern 177 #21,034
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 170 #21,379
2013 modern 184 #20,643
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 181 #20,934
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Alburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basildon, St Saviour Southwark, London parishes, St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey and Loose, East Farleigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Cherwell, Guildford and Purbeck. 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 Basildon Berkshire
2 St Saviour Southwark London (South Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Mary Magdalen Bermondsey London (South Districts)
5 Loose, East Farleigh Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 007 Cornwall
2 Cherwell 011 Cherwell
3 Guildford 012 Guildford
4 Guildford 005 Guildford
5 Purbeck 006 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Albury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Albury

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Albury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Albury 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Albury is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Albury 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

Albury falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Albury

The surname Albury is of English origin, derived from the place name Albury, which is found in several locations across England, including Surrey, Hertfordshire, and Oxfordshire. The name is believed to have originated in the Anglo-Saxon era, with the earliest recorded spelling dating back to the late 11th century.

The name Albury is thought to have evolved from the Old English words "ald" or "eald," meaning "old," and "burg," meaning "fortified town" or "stronghold." This suggests that the name may have been associated with an ancient settlement or fortified place. Alternatively, some sources suggest that the name could derive from the Old English personal name "Aldburh" or "Aelfburh," combined with the word "burg."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, compiled by order of William the Conqueror, there are several references to places named Albury or similar spellings, such as Aldebury and Aldeberie. This indicates that the name was well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Albury was John de Albury, who lived in Oxfordshire in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was Sir William Albury, a Member of Parliament for Oxfordshire in the late 15th century. In the 16th century, there was a prominent family named Albury residing in Surrey, including Thomas Albury (c. 1520-1590), a landowner and local official.

In the 17th century, John Albury (1593-1663) was a Puritan clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of Stanton Harcourt in Oxfordshire. Another individual with the surname was Mary Albury (1670-1738), who was born in London and became a renowned actress and singer in the early 18th century.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, several Alburys achieved recognition in various fields. Richard Albury (1765-1842) was a successful merchant and philanthropist in London, while Joseph Albury (1786-1849) was a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. Additionally, Henry Albury (1784-1857) was a prominent evangelical writer and theologian who published works on biblical prophecy.

Throughout history, the surname Albury has been associated with various places, including the villages of Albury in Surrey and Hertfordshire, as well as the town of Albury in New South Wales, Australia, which was named after the English locations. While the name has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, reflecting the rich history and diversity of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Albury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Albury 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. Berkshire leads with 60 Alburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.59x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 60 33.59x
Hampshire 53 10.86x
Surrey 53 4.57x
Middlesex 16 0.67x
Bedfordshire 15 12.17x
Cumberland 9 4.39x
Kent 9 1.11x
Lancashire 7 0.25x
Oxfordshire 5 3.40x
Sussex 4 1.00x
Staffordshire 3 0.37x
Suffolk 3 1.03x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.39x
Gloucestershire 2 0.43x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.62x
Wiltshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reading St Mary in Berkshire leads with 21 Alburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.75x.

Place Total Index
Reading St Mary 21 146.75x
Basildon 15 2777.78x
Wilshampstead 12 1791.04x
Camberwell 11 7.24x
East Worldham 11 5000.00x
Headley 11 827.07x
Southwark St Saviour 10 81.77x
Bermondsey 9 12.70x
Selborne 9 909.09x
Whitehaven 9 82.42x
Wandsworth 8 34.92x
Beedon 7 2692.31x
Cheetham 7 33.24x
Newington 7 7.96x
Hartley Mauditt 6 7500.00x
Newton Valence 6 2000.00x
Reading St Giles 6 34.23x
Ashampstead 5 1785.71x
Chelsea London 4 5.58x
Loose 4 336.13x
St Luke London 4 10.48x
Aldershot 3 18.36x
Binsted 3 161.29x
Crondall 3 114.50x
Hawnes 3 394.74x
Rugeley 3 52.08x
Woodstock 3 326.09x
Croydon 2 3.11x
Dyrham Hinton 2 606.06x
Edmonton 2 10.43x
Lambeth 2 0.96x
Mapledurham 2 588.24x
Pangbourn 2 333.33x
Sevenoaks 2 30.40x
Stoke 2 36.56x
Sutton In Ashfield 2 28.74x
Upton Cum Chalvey 2 34.90x
Wallingford St Leonard 2 240.96x
Brighton 1 1.24x
Bromley 1 8.08x
Chatham 1 4.48x
Chiddingfold 1 91.74x
Chieveley 1 105.26x
East Grinstead 1 17.61x
Easton Grey 1 909.09x
Empshott 1 769.23x
Farnham 1 11.09x
Great Cornard 1 151.52x
Heene 1 144.93x
Isleworth 1 9.45x
Kensington London 1 0.76x
Lee 1 8.48x
Newbury 1 17.48x
Poplar London 1 2.23x
Singleton 1 222.22x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.38x
Sudbury All Sts 1 113.64x
Sudbury St Peter 1 62.89x
West Drayton 1 121.95x
Westminster St John 1 3.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 9
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Ann 6
Jane 6
Caroline 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Clara 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ellen 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Amilia 1
Anne 1
Beetie 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Harret 1
Lilian 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Marriane 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 16
John 9
William 9
James 8
Thomas 8
Charles 6
Alfred 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
C. 1
Chs. 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Elisha 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Fredick 1
Fredick. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Horrace 1
Kate 1
Lenard 1
Leonard 1
Marten 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Albury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Albury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Albury surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Albury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Albury a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Albury surname mean?

From the Old English words "eald" and "burh," meaning "old fort or town."

What does the Albury map show?

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