NameCensus.

UK surname

Alfrey

An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "wise elf" or "wise counselor".

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Alfrey surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 107, ranked #29,762, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Rochdale and Gravesham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Alfrey is 150 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.3%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

107

2016, ranked #29,762

Peak year

1911

150 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Alfrey had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016, ranked #29,762.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Alfrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Alfrey surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Alfrey 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 84 #23,058
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 127 #20,496
1901 historical 111 #21,492
1911 historical 150 #17,866
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 133 #23,487
2000 modern 135 #23,250
2001 modern 121 #24,493
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 117 #25,448
2005 modern 120 #25,066
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 127 #24,748
2008 modern 129 #24,790
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 105 #29,362
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 111 #29,113
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 107 #29,762

Geography

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Where Alfreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, London parishes, St Werburgh, Patcham and Warboys. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Rochdale and Gravesham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Patcham Sussex
5 Warboys Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 007 Derby
2 Rochdale 001 Rochdale
3 Derby 004 Derby
4 Derby 006 Derby
5 Gravesham 013 Gravesham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Alfrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Alfrey

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Alfrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Alfrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Alfrey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Alfrey is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Alfrey falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Alfrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Alfrey

The surname Alfrey is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English words 'ælf' meaning 'elf' and 'rīce' meaning 'kingdom' or 'realm'. It is thought that the name was originally a locational name given to someone who lived near a place inhabited by elves or fairies, or perhaps a place that was considered to be enchanted.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Alfrey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Alfricus'. This suggests that the name was already in use during the 11th century in England.

During the medieval period, the name was also spelled as 'Alfray', 'Alfrey', and 'Alfrey'. Some variations of the name may have been influenced by the Old French word 'frerie', meaning 'brotherhood' or 'fraternity'.

One notable person with the surname Alfrey was Sir Thomas Alfrey (c. 1350 - 1415), a knight and landowner from Warwickshire, England. He served as a Member of Parliament for the county in 1388 and 1395.

Another historical figure was John Alfrey (1599 - 1653), an English clergyman and puritan preacher who was actively involved in the English Civil War. He served as a chaplain in the Parliamentarian army and was known for his strong religious beliefs.

In the 18th century, there was a Richard Alfrey (1694 - 1779) who was a successful merchant and landowner in the town of Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as the town's mayor in 1736.

A more recent notable person with the surname Alfrey was Sir John Alfrey (1882 - 1970), a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of British Guiana (now Guyana) from 1939 to 1947.

Another individual of note was Mary Alfrey (1903 - 1997), an American educator and civil rights activist who played a significant role in desegregating schools in the state of Kentucky during the 1950s and 1960s.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Alfrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Alfrey 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Alfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.74x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 3.74x
Surrey 8 2.81x
Middlesex 6 1.03x
Sussex 5 5.07x
Derbyshire 4 4.37x
Nottinghamshire 4 5.07x
Suffolk 2 2.81x
Bedfordshire 1 3.30x
Devon 1 0.82x
Norfolk 1 1.11x
Wiltshire 1 1.93x
Yorkshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Habergham Eaves in Lancashire leads with 10 Alfreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 157.48x.

Place Total Index
Habergham Eaves 10 157.48x
North Meols 9 132.35x
Enfield 6 156.25x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 32.94x
Nottingham St Mary 4 19.61x
Southwark St John 4 223.46x
Bermondsey 3 17.22x
Derby St Alkmund 3 109.09x
Clayton 2 540.54x
Halesworth 2 392.16x
Blackwell 1 222.22x
Brighton 1 5.03x
Burnley 1 17.09x
Ecclesfield 1 23.53x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 136.99x
Hunstanton 1 333.33x
Lambeth 1 1.96x
Luton 1 19.05x
Lympston 1 454.55x
Melksham 1 111.11x
Newton 1 18.69x
Preston 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Harriet 2
Annie 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Ellen 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Arthur 3
John 3
Alfred 2
Henry 2
James 2
Albert 1
Clarence 1
Earnest 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
J.H. 1
Richard 1
Samuel 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1
Walton 1

FAQ

Alfrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Alfrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Alfrey surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Alfrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 107 in 2016. That gives Alfrey a modern rank of #29,762.

What does the Alfrey surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname meaning "wise elf" or "wise counselor".

What does the Alfrey map show?

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