NameCensus.

UK surname

Algar

An English surname originating from an Old Norse personal name meaning "elf army".

In the 1881 census there were 765 people recorded with the Algar surname, ranking it #4,830 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 874, ranked #6,431, down from #4,830 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hatfield Peverell and Great Yarmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Fareham and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Algar is 1,071 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.2%.

1881 census count

765

Ranked #4,830

Modern count

874

2016, ranked #6,431

Peak year

1911

1,071 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Algar had 765 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,830 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 874 in 2016, ranked #6,431.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,071 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Algar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Algar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Algar 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 566 #4,489
1861 historical 480 #5,436
1881 historical 765 #4,830
1891 historical 863 #4,754
1901 historical 1,031 #4,634
1911 historical 1,071 #4,327
1997 modern 923 #5,853
1998 modern 947 #5,920
1999 modern 965 #5,879
2000 modern 947 #5,936
2001 modern 929 #5,925
2002 modern 934 #6,017
2003 modern 897 #6,107
2004 modern 913 #6,024
2005 modern 906 #5,998
2006 modern 901 #6,035
2007 modern 902 #6,074
2008 modern 914 #6,064
2009 modern 939 #6,051
2010 modern 975 #5,990
2011 modern 961 #6,013
2012 modern 925 #6,121
2013 modern 931 #6,189
2014 modern 904 #6,350
2015 modern 882 #6,407
2016 modern 874 #6,431

Geography

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Where Algars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hatfield Peverell, Great Yarmouth and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Fareham and Sheffield. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Hatfield Peverell Essex
4 Great Yarmouth Norfolk
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 012 Suffolk Coastal
2 Fareham 003 Fareham
3 Suffolk Coastal 015 Suffolk Coastal
4 Fareham 011 Fareham
5 Sheffield 059 Sheffield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Algar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Algar

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Algar, 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 Algar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Algar 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Algar is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Algar 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

Algar falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Algar 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 Algar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Algar

The surname Algar has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Ælgær," which is composed of the elements "ael," meaning "elf," and "gær," meaning "spear." This name likely referred to a person who was skilled with a spear or was known for their prowess in battle.

The Algar surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use during the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Algar was Richard Algar, who lived in Wiltshire, England, during the 13th century. Another early bearer of the name was John Algar, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327.

The surname Algar is also associated with various place names in England, such as Algarkirk, a village in Lincolnshire, which was recorded as "Algare" in the Domesday Book. This place name likely refers to an early settler or landowner with the Algar name.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Algar:

1. Sir Thomas Algar (1565-1636), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wigan. 2. John Algar (1737-1807), an English clergyman and mathematician who served as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge. 3. William Algar (1824-1899), a British architect known for designing several churches and public buildings in Staffordshire. 4. Richard Algar (1876-1955), a British trade unionist and politician who served as the General Secretary of the National Union of Foundry Workers. 5. Joan Algar (1899-1972), an English artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraiture.

The Algar surname has endured through the centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the Anglo-Saxon heritage of England. Its meaning and associations with spear-wielding warriors and place names have contributed to the rich tapestry of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Algar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Algar 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 181 Algars recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 181 2.41x
Norfolk 130 11.26x
Devon 88 5.63x
Suffolk 86 9.40x
Essex 80 5.40x
Surrey 26 0.71x
Kent 23 0.90x
Yorkshire 19 0.26x
Durham 16 0.72x
Northumberland 15 1.34x
Bedfordshire 13 3.34x
Cornwall 13 1.53x
Lancashire 11 0.12x
Hampshire 9 0.58x
Lincolnshire 9 0.75x
Berkshire 8 1.42x
Wiltshire 8 1.20x
Oxfordshire 6 1.29x
Worcestershire 6 0.61x
Hertfordshire 5 0.97x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.84x
Gloucestershire 3 0.20x
Royal Navy 3 3.35x
Sussex 3 0.24x
Channel Islands 2 0.90x
Cheshire 2 0.12x
Somerset 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hatfield Peverel in Essex leads with 24 Algars recorded in 1881 and an index of 750.00x.

Place Total Index
Hatfield Peverel 24 750.00x
Great Yarmouth 21 21.95x
Tottenham 21 17.55x
Islington London 20 2.75x
Plymouth St Andrew 19 15.78x
Weybread 19 1085.71x
Kensington London 16 3.83x
St George Hanover Square 16 12.09x
Ipswich St Margaret 14 45.10x
Mile End Old Town London 14 8.76x
Bethnal Green London 13 3.98x
Luton 13 19.31x
Witham 13 170.16x
Lowestoft 12 27.76x
St Pancras London 12 1.98x
Battersea 11 3.98x
Aldeby 10 606.06x
Bothal Demesne 10 186.92x
Heigham 10 16.13x
Lanlivery 10 280.11x
Newton Ferrers 10 549.45x
Southampton All Sts 9 34.07x
Terling 9 405.41x
Paddington London 8 2.90x
Plumstead 8 9.37x
Clewer 7 30.30x
Earsham 7 445.86x
Great Bolton 7 5.93x
Hackney London 7 1.66x
Rushall 7 1296.30x
Stoke Newington London 7 11.96x
Willesden 7 9.89x
Brightside Bierlow 6 4.11x
Dudley 6 5.03x
Helmington Row 6 57.64x
Lambeth 6 0.92x
Market Deeping 6 192.31x
Norwich St James 6 66.23x
Trowse Cum Newton 6 209.79x
Yaxley 6 631.58x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.61x
Buckland Monachorum 5 149.70x
Byker 5 9.05x
Diss 5 50.51x
Exeter St Paul 5 161.29x
Heybridge 5 116.01x
Hornsey 5 5.26x
Isleworth 5 14.97x
North Bierley 5 12.44x
Norwich St Peter 5 65.96x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 5 172.41x
Redenhall 5 111.36x
Shoreditch London 5 1.54x
Stoke Damerel 5 4.57x
Wolborough 5 25.30x
Banbury 4 43.06x
Chelsea London 4 1.77x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.26x
Dartmouth Townstall 4 62.79x
Dickleburgh 4 187.79x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 2.64x
Exeter St George The 4 231.21x
Hoxne 4 154.44x
Lakenham 4 24.38x
Norwich St Benedict 4 77.67x
Prittlewell 4 19.46x
Romford 4 17.06x
Rumburgh 4 434.78x
Scole Cum Frenze 4 238.10x
St Albans St Peter 4 22.90x
St Mary Cray 4 81.63x
Stoke 4 63.19x
West Ham 4 1.22x
Woolwich 4 4.22x
Camberwell 3 0.63x
Dullingham 3 140.19x
Geldeston 3 400.00x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 3 147.78x
Shottesham St Mary 3 370.37x
Swindon 3 5.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Sarah 27
Elizabeth 26
Eliza 22
Emily 19
Emma 18
Alice 17
Ann 10
Annie 10
Edith 10
Ellen 10
Harriet 9
Maria 9
Jane 8
Anna 7
Caroline 7
Agnes 6
Clara 6
Hannah 6
Louisa 6
Lydia 6
Charlotte 5
Laura 5
Rose 5
Amelia 4
Florence 4
Gertrude 4
Harriett 4
Phoebe 4
Susan 4
Adelaide 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Rebecca 3
Susanna 3
Ada 2
Bessie 2
Blanche 2
Esther 2
Jessie 2
Lavinia 2
Matilda 2
Susannah 2
Bertha 1
Elizth.A. 1
Julia 1
Kissar 1
Winnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
Charles 33
James 25
John 25
George 22
Henry 20
Robert 18
Thomas 17
Richard 12
Alfred 11
Harry 11
Walter 10
Ernest 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Samuel 7
Edward 6
Edwin 5
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Abraham 3
Horace 3
Daniel 2
Henley 2
Percy 2
Reuben 2
Caleb 1
Claudine 1
Danl. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Fredc. 1
Fredc.P. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Fredrick 1
Gerald 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jeremiah 1
Johnathan 1
Nathaniel 1
Owen 1
Paul 1
Pris 1
Rice 1

FAQ

Algar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Algar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 765 people were recorded with the Algar surname. That placed it at #4,830 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Algar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 874 in 2016. That gives Algar a modern rank of #6,431.

What does the Algar surname mean?

An English surname originating from an Old Norse personal name meaning "elf army".

What does the Algar map show?

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