NameCensus.

UK surname

Algie

Derived from a place name meaning "dweller at the hut" in Old English, or from a Norman French nickname meaning "joyous."

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Algie surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 213, ranked #18,785, down from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Greenock and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Warrington, Torry East and Denbighshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Algie is 219 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.5%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

213

2016, ranked #18,785

Peak year

1998

219 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Algie had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016, ranked #18,785.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 212 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Algie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Algie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Algie 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 198 #10,483
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 182 #15,983
1901 historical 178 #16,284
1911 historical 68 #26,050
1997 modern 217 #16,761
1998 modern 219 #17,115
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 209 #17,723
2001 modern 209 #17,469
2002 modern 218 #17,338
2003 modern 204 #17,909
2004 modern 206 #17,883
2005 modern 192 #18,640
2006 modern 188 #19,023
2007 modern 189 #19,146
2008 modern 197 #18,818
2009 modern 196 #19,274
2010 modern 201 #19,387
2011 modern 194 #19,662
2012 modern 194 #19,606
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 209 #19,018
2016 modern 213 #18,785

Geography

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Where Algies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Greenock, Glasgow, Neilston and Eastwood. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Warrington, Torry East and Denbighshire. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Greenock Renfrew
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Neilston Renfrew
5 Eastwood Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Warrington 013 Warrington
2 Warrington 018 Warrington
3 Warrington 019 Warrington
4 Torry East Aberdeen City
5 Denbighshire 008 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Algie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Algie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Algie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Algie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Algie is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Algie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Algie falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Algie 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Algie

The surname Algie is believed to have originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Gaelic personal name Alghe or Ailghe, which means "precious" or "valuable." The name may also have connections to the Algeo family, who were landowners in the Scottish Highlands.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Algie surname can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the late 13th century. These rolls document the collection of taxes and other financial transactions, suggesting that individuals bearing this name held some level of importance or wealth at the time.

In the 15th century, there are records of an Andro Algie, a merchant from Aberdeen, who was granted a safe conduct pass to travel to England for trade purposes. This indicates that the Algie surname was present in Scotland's urban centers and associated with commercial activities.

During the 16th century, the Algie family had established themselves as landowners in the Scottish Borders region. Records from this era mention a John Algie of Craighouse, whose family owned estates in the vicinity of Jedburgh.

One notable bearer of the Algie surname was Sir William Algie (1570-1634), a Scottish writer and poet. He is best known for his work "The Defiance," which celebrated Scotland's resistance against English rule during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 17th century, the Algie surname spread to other parts of the British Isles, including England and Ireland. One prominent figure was Thomas Algie (1652-1712), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Crayford in Kent.

Another individual of note was James Algie (1785-1858), a Scottish architect and civil engineer. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Scottish National Gallery and the Royal Institution.

Other bearers of the Algie surname include Robert Algie (1820-1895), a Scottish-born Australian politician who served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, and William Algie (1856-1935), a Canadian physician and academic who helped establish the University of Alberta's medical school.

While the Algie surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to various parts of the world, carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in fields such as literature, architecture, politics, and medicine.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Algie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Algie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 103 Algies recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.40x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 103 15.40x
Renfrewshire 57 35.57x
Cumberland 14 7.86x
Dunbartonshire 10 18.00x
Durham 8 1.30x
Bedfordshire 7 6.54x
Monmouthshire 5 3.34x
Essex 4 0.98x
Buteshire 1 7.98x
Derbyshire 1 0.31x
Midlothian 1 0.36x
Sussex 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 61 Algies recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.88x.

Place Total Index
Govan 61 36.88x
Glasgow 20 16.84x
Barony 14 8.27x
Eastwood 11 111.45x
Cathcart 9 103.81x
Neilston 9 111.80x
Workington 9 88.32x
Bedford St Paul 7 95.37x
Cardross 6 89.96x
Abbey 5 20.45x
Arlecdon 5 105.49x
Newport 5 70.13x
Renfrew 5 94.52x
Throston 5 423.73x
West Greenock 5 17.38x
Dalziel 4 55.56x
Inchinnan 4 1111.11x
Row 4 55.63x
West Ham 4 4.44x
Hylton 3 277.78x
Kilmalcolm 3 156.25x
Old Monkland 3 11.30x
Eaglesham 2 204.08x
Paisley Middle Church 2 21.44x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 18.55x
Hamilton 1 5.36x
Hastings St Andrew 1 80.00x
Inverkip 1 26.46x
Middle Greenock 1 22.88x
Ockbrook 1 72.99x
Rothesay 1 16.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Katie 2
Mary 2
Alicia 1
Ann 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Elizabeth 1
Elsie 1
Judith 1
Margaret 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
David 2
Thomas 2
Alex 1
Allan 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Comley 1
Hugh 1
Ivor 1
Jas. 1
John 1
Jonathan 1
Ronald 1
William 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 Algie households.

FAQ

Algie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Algie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Algie surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Algie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 213 in 2016. That gives Algie a modern rank of #18,785.

What does the Algie surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "dweller at the hut" in Old English, or from a Norman French nickname meaning "joyous."

What does the Algie map show?

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