NameCensus.

UK surname

Alex

A shortened form of the Greek name Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind" or "protector of men."

In the 1881 census there were 10 people recorded with the Alex surname, ranking it #32,243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 517, ranked #9,761, up from #32,243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Trafford, Newham and East Hertfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alex is 517 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5070.0%.

1881 census count

10

Ranked #32,243

Modern count

517

2016, ranked #9,761

Peak year

2016

517 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alex had 10 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016, ranked #9,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Alex surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alex surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alex 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 14 #30,790
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 10 #32,243
1891 historical 18 #32,706
1901 historical 12 #32,772
1911 historical 23 #30,923
1997 modern 51 #32,545
1998 modern 53 #32,633
1999 modern 57 #32,367
2000 modern 65 #31,641
2001 modern 62 #31,798
2002 modern 86 #29,771
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 122 #24,812
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 191 #18,825
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 244 #16,346
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 301 #14,697
2011 modern 321 #13,940
2012 modern 410 #11,518
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 440 #11,107
2015 modern 468 #10,518
2016 modern 517 #9,761

Geography

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Where Alex' 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 Trafford, Newham, East Hertfordshire and Canterbury. 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 Trafford 028 Trafford
2 Newham 018 Newham
3 Trafford 025 Trafford
4 East Hertfordshire 008 East Hertfordshire
5 Canterbury 001 Canterbury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alex

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alex

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

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Alex surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Alex 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Alex is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alex 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

Alex falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alex is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Alex

The surname ALEX has its origins in ancient Greece, where it was derived from the Greek name "Alexandros," meaning "defender of men." This name was later adopted by the Romans and became widely used throughout the Roman Empire.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ALEX can be found in the Codex Theodosianus, a collection of imperial decrees from the 4th and 5th centuries AD. This text mentions an individual named Alexius, which is a variant of the name Alexandros.

During the Middle Ages, the name ALEX was commonly found in various European regions, particularly in areas that were once part of the Byzantine Empire or had close ties to Greek culture. For example, the Venetian explorer and merchant Marco Polo (1254-1324) had a relative named Alex who accompanied him on his travels to Asia.

In England, the surname ALEX can be traced back to the Norman Conquest in the 11th century. It is believed that some Norman nobles with Greek or Byzantine roots brought the name to Britain. One notable early bearer of the name was Alexander of Hales (c. 1185-1245), an English philosopher and theologian who was nicknamed "the Ineffable Doctor."

Throughout the centuries, the surname ALEX has been associated with various notable individuals, including:

1. Alexandros Ypsilantis (1792-1828), a Greek revolutionary leader who played a crucial role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire.

2. Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859), a French political thinker and historian best known for his influential works, including "Democracy in America."

3. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (1918-2008), a Russian novelist, historian, and outspoken critic of the Soviet Union's totalitarian regime, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1970.

4. Alex Haley (1921-1992), an American writer and author of the groundbreaking novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family," which explored his African ancestry and the legacy of slavery.

5. Alex Trebek (1940-2020), a Canadian-American television personality best known as the longtime host of the popular game show "Jeopardy!"

While the surname ALEX has undergone various spellings and regional variations over time, its Greek roots and historical significance have remained constant, making it a enduring and notable name across cultures and generations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alex families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alex 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. Sussex leads with 4 Alex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.42x.

County Total Index
Sussex 4 30.42x
Lancashire 2 2.16x
Essex 1 6.49x
Middlesex 1 1.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hollington in Sussex leads with 4 Alex' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8000.00x.

Place Total Index
Hollington 4 8000.00x
Everton 1 33.90x
St George Hanover Square 1 72.99x
Wavertree 1 333.33x
West Ham 1 29.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Charles 1
Ephraim 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 Alex households.

FAQ

Alex surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alex surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10 people were recorded with the Alex surname. That placed it at #32,243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alex surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 517 in 2016. That gives Alex a modern rank of #9,761.

What does the Alex surname mean?

A shortened form of the Greek name Alexander, meaning "defender of mankind" or "protector of men."

What does the Alex map show?

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