UK surname
French occupational surname for someone who kept or cared for moose or elk, derived from Old French alce.
In the 1881 census there were 68 people recorded with the Alce surname, ranking it #23,950 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #23,950 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Piddinghoe, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Preston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alce is 104 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.8%.
1881 census count
68
Ranked #23,950
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1901
104 bearers
Map years
1
1901 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Alce surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Alce surname density by area, 1901 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 | 27 | #28,467 |
| 1861 | historical | 52 | #27,369 |
| 1881 | historical | 68 | #23,950 |
| 1891 | historical | 60 | #29,204 |
| 1901 | historical | 104 | #22,310 |
| 1911 | historical | 98 | #22,959 |
| 1997 | modern | 62 | #31,412 |
| 1998 | modern | 67 | #31,282 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 63 | #31,693 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 50 | #33,566 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 50 | #34,077 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 58 | #33,918 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 61 | #34,143 |
| 2011 | modern | 61 | #34,121 |
| 2012 | modern | 55 | #34,565 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 62 | #34,281 |
| 2015 | modern | 63 | #34,178 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Piddinghoe, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Preston, Dean, East and East Blatchington. 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 | Piddinghoe | Sussex |
| 2 | Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew | Sussex |
| 3 | Preston | Sussex |
| 4 | Dean, East | Sussex |
| 5 | East Blatchington | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Alce 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 Alce, 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 Alce surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Alce 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, Alce 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 Alce is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Alce, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ALCE has its origins in northern Italy, emerging during the late medieval period around the 13th century. It is believed to derive from the Italian word "alce," which means "elk" or "moose." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near an area inhabited by these animals or worked with them in some capacity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ALCE appears in a document from the city of Verona in 1287, where a merchant named Giacomo ALCE is mentioned as a participant in a trade agreement. Another early reference can be found in the tax records of the city of Ferrara from 1312, listing a landowner named Pietro ALCE.
During the Renaissance period, the name ALCE gained some prominence in the Republic of Venice. In the 15th century, a wealthy Venetian merchant family bearing this surname was involved in the lucrative trade of spices and silks with the East. One notable member was Marco ALCE (1438-1512), who served as a diplomat for the Venetian republic and helped negotiate several important trade agreements with the Ottoman Empire.
In the 17th century, the ALCE name appeared in the annals of the Papal States. Francesco ALCE (1612-1687) was a renowned architect who worked on several significant projects in Rome, including the design of the Palazzo Altieri and the renovation of the Basilica of St. Peter.
As the ALCE family spread throughout Italy, variations in spelling emerged, such as Alci, Alzia, and Alzia. These alternative forms can be found in historical records from various regions, including Tuscany, Umbria, and Lombardy.
Another notable bearer of the ALCE surname was Girolamo ALCE (1724-1801), a prominent Italian philosopher and theologian from the city of Naples. He was a prolific writer and contributed significantly to the intellectual discourse of the Enlightenment period.
In more recent times, the surname ALCE has been associated with several notable figures in the arts and sciences. Emilio ALCE (1888-1972) was an Italian painter and sculptor whose works were exhibited in galleries across Europe. Meanwhile, Mario ALCE (1912-1998) was a distinguished physicist who made important contributions to the field of nuclear research.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alce 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. Sussex leads with 53 Alces recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.70x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 10 Alces recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brighton | 10 | 43.67x |
| Eastbourne | 10 | 191.57x |
| East Blatchington | 7 | 14000.00x |
| Heighton South | 7 | 35000.00x |
| Preston | 7 | 353.54x |
| Chelsea London | 6 | 29.59x |
| Lewes St Ann | 6 | 1538.46x |
| Whitstable | 4 | 353.98x |
| Hastings All Sts | 3 | 280.37x |
| Ealing | 2 | 33.22x |
| Wadhurst | 2 | 266.67x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.70x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.58x |
| Rye | 1 | 92.59x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 12.08x |
| Wanstead | 1 | 42.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Alce surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Alce 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 Alce households.
FAQ
In 1881, 68 people were recorded with the Alce surname. That placed it at #23,950 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Alce a modern rank of #34,227.
French occupational surname for someone who kept or cared for moose or elk, derived from Old French alce.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Alce 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.