UK surname
Derived from a place name meaning "old ridge" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near a ridge.
In the 1881 census there were 144 people recorded with the Aldrige surname, ranking it #15,891 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11, ranked #37,501, down from #15,891 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Kingsclere and Braughin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aldrige is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 92.4%.
1881 census count
144
Ranked #15,891
Modern count
11
2016, ranked #37,501
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Aldrige surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Aldrige 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 | 163 | #12,156 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 144 | #15,891 |
| 1891 | historical | 173 | #16,600 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 155 | #17,485 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 20 | #35,885 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 11 | #36,879 |
| 2001 | modern | 9 | #36,980 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 13 | #37,140 |
| 2010 | modern | 13 | #37,215 |
| 2011 | modern | 11 | #37,397 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 11 | #37,467 |
| 2016 | modern | 11 | #37,501 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Kingsclere, Braughin, London parishes and Iver. 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 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Kingsclere | Hampshire |
| 3 | Braughin | Hertfordshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Iver | Buckinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Aldrige 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 Aldrige, 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 Aldrige surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Aldrige 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, Aldrige 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 Aldrige is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Aldrige, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Aldrige has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ald" meaning old and "rycg" meaning ridge, referring to a prominent geographical feature or settlement located on a ridge.
The name is thought to have originated in the county of Dorset, where several villages and hamlets bear similar names, such as Aldridge, Alderholt, and Alderton. These place names likely pre-date the surname itself, as they are mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Aldrige was William Aldrige, a landowner in Somerset whose name appears in the Pipe Rolls of 1194. Another early record is of John Aldrige, a merchant from Bristol who is mentioned in the town's guild records in 1282.
In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings such as Aldryge, Aldrigge, and Aldryche. Notable individuals from this period include Roger Aldrige, a member of the gentry from Gloucestershire, who was born around 1320, and Thomas Aldrige, a prominent cleric and scholar from Oxford, who lived from 1360 to 1425.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Aldrige family rose to prominence in the West Midlands region of England. Sir Robert Aldrige, born in 1564, was a successful merchant and landowner in Staffordshire. His grandson, also named Robert Aldrige (1598-1663), was a prominent parliamentarian during the English Civil War and served as a member of the House of Commons.
Another notable figure was Edward Aldrige (1630-1695), a renowned architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Clement Danes and the Royal Exchange. His son, also named Edward Aldrige (1670-1738), followed in his footsteps as an architect and served as the Surveyor of the King's Works under Queen Anne.
As the surname spread across England, it also gave rise to various place names, such as Aldridge in Staffordshire and Aldridge Hill in Wiltshire. These locations likely derived their names from families or individuals bearing the Aldrige surname who settled in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aldrige 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Aldriges recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.79x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 1.79x |
| Northamptonshire | 19 | 14.48x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.01x |
| Staffordshire | 13 | 2.76x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.68x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.48x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 2.27x |
| Essex | 6 | 2.18x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 3.19x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 1.71x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 2.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 1.79x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 2.35x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.10x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.05x |
| Oxfordshire | 3 | 3.48x |
| Buckinghamshire | 2 | 2.37x |
| Northumberland | 2 | 0.96x |
| West Lothian | 2 | 9.52x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 1.38x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.13x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.24x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Piddington in Northamptonshire leads with 9 Aldriges recorded in 1881 and an index of 3750.00x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Aldrige surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Catherine | 2 |
| Charlot | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Henrietta | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| M.A. | 2 |
| Alice | 1 |
| Amilia | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Elzbeth | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Margret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Salome | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Tamar | 1 |
| Thirza | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Aldrige 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 Aldrige households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 32 |
| Ag Lab | 10 |
| Carman | 2 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Grocer | 2 |
| Shoe Machinist | 2 |
| Shoe Maker | 2 |
| Annuitant Formerly Platelayer | 1 |
| Barmaid (Inn) | 1 |
| Basket Maker | 1 |
| Bricklayer | 1 |
| Bricklayer Wife | 1 |
| Captain of Barge Tey | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Cellarman | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Clock Maker | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Coachman (Dom) | 1 |
| Colly Stoker | 1 |
| Commercial Traveller | 1 |
| Cook Domestic (Servt) | 1 |
| Deacones | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farm Lab (Ag) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer | 1 |
| Flatman | 1 |
| Gas Stoker | 1 |
| Gas Stoker Wife | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| Handmaid | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer In Ironworks | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Manufactoring Jeweller | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Monthly Nurse | 1 |
| Needle Woman | 1 |
| Nurse (DOM) | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Railway Signalman | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Serv | 1 |
| Shoe Fitter | 1 |
| Warehouse Woman | 1 |
| Widow Of Seaman | 1 |
| Worker At Marine Stores | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 144 people were recorded with the Aldrige surname. That placed it at #15,891 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 11 in 2016. That gives Aldrige a modern rank of #37,501.
Derived from a place name meaning "old ridge" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near a ridge.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Aldrige 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.