NameCensus.

UK surname

Ale

A Germanic surname derived from the Alemanni tribe or from a short form of names beginning with "Adal-."

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Ale surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Reading, Richmondshire and Rushmoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ale is 207 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 989.5%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

2014

207 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ale had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Ale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ale surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Ale 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 13 #30,970
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1901 historical 3 #34,063
1997 modern 34 #34,282
1998 modern 33 #34,532
1999 modern 36 #34,323
2000 modern 33 #34,607
2001 modern 34 #34,356
2002 modern 32 #34,790
2003 modern 32 #34,862
2004 modern 38 #34,555
2005 modern 49 #33,859
2006 modern 63 #32,943
2007 modern 67 #32,871
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 108 #28,311
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 174 #21,065
2013 modern 196 #19,790
2014 modern 207 #19,259
2015 modern 201 #19,494
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

Back to top

Where Ales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Reading, Richmondshire, Rushmoor and Greenwich. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Reading 010 Reading
2 Richmondshire 004 Richmondshire
3 Rushmoor 002 Rushmoor
4 Greenwich 006 Greenwich
5 Rushmoor 008 Rushmoor

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Ale

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Ale

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Ale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Ale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Ale is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ale 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

Ale 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 Ale is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Ale

The surname Ale has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old German word 'ali' meaning 'ale' or 'beer'. The name was likely given to someone who brewed or sold ale, or lived near an ale house.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ale can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae, a collection of historical documents from Saxony, where a person named Alemann is mentioned in 1192. This is thought to be an early variation of the surname Ale.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various medieval records across Germany, such as the Liber Censuum of Cologne from 1237, which listed a person named Heynricus Ale. The spelling variations included Alen, Alin, and Alein.

The name Ale was also associated with several place names in Germany, such as Alemannia, an area that is now part of modern-day Baden-Württemberg. This suggests that the name may have been derived from a location where ale was brewed or sold.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Ale was Johannes Ale, a German theologian and professor at the University of Erfurt in the 15th century (c. 1430-1495). Another notable figure was Hans Ale, a German painter and engraver active in the 16th century (c. 1500-1570).

Other notable individuals with the surname Ale include:

1. Philipp Ale (1567-1616), a German composer and organist during the Renaissance period. 2. Johann Ale (1625-1687), a German Lutheran theologian and author. 3. Johann Friedrich Ale (1721-1788), a German Lutheran minister and writer. 4. Johann Heinrich Ale (1729-1805), a German jurist and professor of law at the University of Leipzig. 5. Johann Christian Gottlieb Ale (1762-1819), a German theologian and philosopher.

While the surname Ale was most prevalent in Germany, it also spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, likely due to migration and intermarriage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Ale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ale 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. Hertfordshire leads with 2 Ales recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.17x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 2 37.17x
Lancashire 2 2.16x
Glamorgan 1 7.36x
Kent 1 3.76x
Middlesex 1 1.28x
Pembrokeshire 1 40.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hatfield in Hertfordshire leads with 2 Ales recorded in 1881 and an index of 1818.18x.

Place Total Index
Hatfield 2 1818.18x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 49.51x
Cardiff St John 1 227.27x
Milford Haven 1 5000.00x
Milton In Gravesend 1 250.00x
Rusholme 1 400.00x
St George Hanover Square 1 72.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Bertha 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
George 1
Phillip 1

Top occupations

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 Ale households.

FAQ

Ale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Ale surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Ale a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Ale surname mean?

A Germanic surname derived from the Alemanni tribe or from a short form of names beginning with "Adal-."

What does the Ale map show?

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