NameCensus.

UK surname

Alexandra

An ancient feminine given name and surname derived from the Greek words "alexo" (to defend) and "andros" (man).

In the 1881 census there were 163 people recorded with the Alexandra surname, ranking it #14,689 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 240, ranked #17,278, down from #14,689 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, Hackney and Haringey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alexandra is 240 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.2%.

1881 census count

163

Ranked #14,689

Modern count

240

2016, ranked #17,278

Peak year

2016

240 bearers

Map years

6

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alexandra had 163 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,689 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016, ranked #17,278.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 210 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Alexandra surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alexandra surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alexandra 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 3 #32,890
1861 historical 17 #31,714
1881 historical 163 #14,689
1891 historical 160 #17,555
1901 historical 210 #14,677
1911 historical 129 #19,577
1997 modern 81 #29,436
1998 modern 88 #29,131
1999 modern 86 #29,496
2000 modern 89 #29,173
2001 modern 85 #29,396
2002 modern 84 #29,982
2003 modern 96 #28,381
2004 modern 111 #26,293
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 108 #27,015
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 143 #23,686
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 159 #22,382
2012 modern 169 #21,437
2013 modern 179 #21,028
2014 modern 199 #19,775
2015 modern 199 #19,640
2016 modern 240 #17,278

Geography

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Where Alexandras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester and Ham, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, Hackney, Haringey, Westminster and Gosport. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Ham, East Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 035 Enfield
2 Hackney 016 Hackney
3 Haringey 026 Haringey
4 Westminster 009 Westminster
5 Gosport 004 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alexandra

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alexandra

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

Alexandra 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

Alexandra 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 Alexandra 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 Alexandra, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Alexandra

The surname Alexandra has its origins in Ancient Greece, deriving from the Greek name "Alexandros," which means "defender of men." This name gained widespread popularity during the reign of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king and military leader who lived from 356 to 323 BC.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Alexandra can be traced back to ancient Greek texts and inscriptions from the Hellenistic period, which spanned from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC to the emergence of the Roman Empire in 31 BC. During this time, the name was borne by several notable figures, including Alexandra of Rhodes, a Greek philosopher who lived in the 4th century BC.

As the Greek culture and language spread throughout the Mediterranean region and beyond, the name Alexandra was adopted and adapted by various cultures and languages. In ancient Rome, for example, the name took on the form "Alexandra" or "Alexandria," as evidenced by the city of Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great in Egypt in 331 BC.

Throughout the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance, the name Alexandra continued to be used across Europe, often appearing in historical records and manuscripts. One notable bearer of the name was Alexandra of Denmark (1844-1925), the wife of King Edward VII of the United Kingdom. Another was Alexandra Feodorovna (1872-1918), the last Empress of Russia and wife of Nicholas II, who was executed along with her family during the Russian Revolution.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the name Alexandra gained popularity in various European countries, including Russia, where it was often spelled as "Aleksandra." One prominent figure with this name was Alexandra Kollontai (1872-1952), a Russian revolutionary and diplomat who played a significant role in the Bolshevik government after the Russian Revolution.

Other notable bearers of the surname Alexandra include Alexandra David-Neel (1868-1969), a Belgian-French explorer and writer who traveled extensively in Asia and became the first European woman to visit the forbidden city of Lhasa in Tibet. Additionally, there was Alexandra Mikhailovna (1825-1844), the daughter of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich of Russia and a renowned beauty of her time.

While the surname Alexandra has its origins in Ancient Greece, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures and languages throughout history, reflecting the rich diversity and complexity of human societies and their naming traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alexandra families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alexandra 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. Middlesex leads with 64 Alexandras recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.05x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 64 4.05x
Lancashire 20 1.07x
Durham 14 2.98x
Surrey 11 1.43x
Warwickshire 9 2.26x
Kent 7 1.30x
Yorkshire 7 0.45x
Hampshire 6 1.85x
Berkshire 5 4.22x
Gloucestershire 4 1.29x
Anglesey 3 10.71x
Essex 3 0.96x
Devon 2 0.61x
Cheshire 1 0.29x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.86x
Lanarkshire 1 0.20x
Monmouthshire 1 0.88x
Sussex 1 0.38x
Wiltshire 1 0.72x
Worcestershire 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. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 9 Alexandras recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.88x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 9 5.88x
Stretford 9 87.21x
Aston 8 7.29x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 39.29x
Bermondsey 7 14.88x
Bethnal Green London 7 10.20x
Clerkenwell London 7 18.77x
Kensington London 7 7.97x
Paddington London 7 12.05x
Whitechapel London 7 44.93x
Chelsea London 6 12.60x
Stockton On Tees 6 26.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 16.78x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 13.71x
Earley 4 202.02x
St Marylebone London 4 4.74x
Holyhead 3 57.47x
Lewisham 3 10.43x
Plumstead 3 16.69x
West Ham 3 4.36x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 4.88x
Chiswick 2 23.18x
Lytham 2 69.93x
Mirfield 2 23.26x
Shoreditch London 2 2.92x
South Stoneham 2 28.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 6.29x
St Pancras London 2 1.57x
West Derby 2 3.65x
Wolborough 2 48.08x
Aldworth 1 666.67x
Bedwellty 1 4.96x
Birmingham 1 0.75x
Bishops Sutton 1 434.78x
Castleford 1 17.54x
Cholmondeley 1 666.67x
Cottingham 1 29.67x
Deptford St Paul 1 2.41x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 3.14x
Filey 1 78.74x
Glasgow 1 1.10x
Gretna 1 151.52x
Hartley Wintney 1 103.09x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 17.61x
Kings Norton 1 5.41x
Lambeth 1 0.73x
Lonbridge Deverill 1 204.08x
Monxton 1 666.67x
Nether Hallam 1 4.72x
Newington 1 1.71x
Norwood 1 27.70x
Poplar London 1 3.35x
Southampton St Mary 1 4.91x
Spitalfields London 1 8.41x
Westminster St Margaret 1 13.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 6
Jane 5
Ann 4
Emily 4
Elizabeth 3
Alice 2
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Zipporah 2
Adelaide 1
Agnes 1
B.E.H. 1
Charlotte 1
Cristanie 1
Edith 1
Faith 1
Femina 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Hellen 1
Hersery 1
Isabella 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lizza 1
Louisa 1
Madelina 1
Margt. 1
Matilda 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Phobe 1
Polly 1
Rachel 1
Rebbecca 1
Rosa 1
Rosalia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
George 7
William 7
Charles 4
James 4
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Lionel 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Alexandra 1
Augustus 1
B. 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Dionus 1
Elick 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
H. 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Israel 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Manus 1
Moses 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Rueben 1
Stephen 1
Torcas 1
Victor 1
W. 1
Wilfred 1
Wm.A.C. 1
Wm.S. 1

FAQ

Alexandra surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alexandra surname in 1881?

In 1881, 163 people were recorded with the Alexandra surname. That placed it at #14,689 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alexandra surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 240 in 2016. That gives Alexandra a modern rank of #17,278.

What does the Alexandra surname mean?

An ancient feminine given name and surname derived from the Greek words "alexo" (to defend) and "andros" (man).

What does the Alexandra map show?

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