NameCensus.

UK surname

Allenby

An English surname derived from a place name referring to the old or elder by a place.

In the 1881 census there were 426 people recorded with the Allenby surname, ranking it #7,620 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 806, ranked #6,867, up from #7,620 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Kirby Moorside and Clee. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Allenby is 854 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.2%.

1881 census count

426

Ranked #7,620

Modern count

806

2016, ranked #6,867

Peak year

2013

854 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Allenby had 426 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,620 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016, ranked #6,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 673 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Allenby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Allenby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Allenby 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 266 #8,373
1861 historical 278 #8,998
1881 historical 426 #7,620
1891 historical 436 #8,262
1901 historical 503 #8,015
1911 historical 673 #6,272
1997 modern 825 #6,385
1998 modern 850 #6,441
1999 modern 839 #6,552
2000 modern 815 #6,682
2001 modern 803 #6,634
2002 modern 798 #6,786
2003 modern 776 #6,825
2004 modern 792 #6,733
2005 modern 783 #6,711
2006 modern 770 #6,844
2007 modern 763 #6,960
2008 modern 764 #6,999
2009 modern 773 #7,077
2010 modern 807 #6,976
2011 modern 811 #6,853
2012 modern 836 #6,613
2013 modern 854 #6,607
2014 modern 847 #6,676
2015 modern 825 #6,756
2016 modern 806 #6,867

Geography

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Where Allenbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme, Kirby Moorside, Clee, Birstall and Friskney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire. 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 Wainfleet All Saints, North Holme Lincolnshire
2 Kirby Moorside Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Clee Lincolnshire
4 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Friskney Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 004 North East Lincolnshire
2 North East Lincolnshire 005 North East Lincolnshire
3 North East Lincolnshire 022 North East Lincolnshire
4 North East Lincolnshire 010 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 014 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Allenby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Allenby

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Allenby 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

Allenby 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

Allenby falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Allenby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Allenby

The surname Allenby is of English origin, and its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to the 12th century. The name is believed to derive from the Old English words "alor" meaning "alder tree" and "by" meaning "village" or "settlement," suggesting that the name may have originated from a place where alder trees grew abundantly.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Robert de Allenby, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1176. This record suggests that the Allenby family may have had roots in the county of Northamptonshire. The name also appeared in various medieval records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was recorded as "Alenebi" and "Alanebi."

The Allenby surname is associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the most famous was Sir Edmund Allenby (1861-1936), a British military officer who played a significant role in World War I. He was best known for his successful leadership in the Palestine Campaign, which led to the capture of Jerusalem from the Ottoman Empire in 1917.

Another prominent figure was William Allenby (1792-1863), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was involved in several significant naval battles, including the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

In the literary world, John Allenby (1905-1995) was an English poet and writer known for his works on nature and the countryside. His collections of poetry included "The Whimbrel's Call" (1946) and "The Hawk's Way" (1952).

The Allenby surname is also associated with places in England. For instance, there is a village called Allenby in North Yorkshire, which may have derived its name from the surname or vice versa.

Throughout its history, the Allenby surname has undergone various spelling variations, such as Allenbie, Allenbee, and Allamby, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal practices of the time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Allenby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Allenby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 146 Allenbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.97x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 146 21.97x
Yorkshire 130 3.16x
Lancashire 32 0.65x
Durham 31 2.51x
Cheshire 15 1.64x
Middlesex 12 0.29x
Surrey 9 0.44x
Cambridgeshire 7 2.66x
Hertfordshire 7 2.44x
Northumberland 6 0.97x
Suffolk 5 0.99x
Warwickshire 5 0.48x
Derbyshire 4 0.61x
Somerset 3 0.45x
Devon 2 0.23x
Kent 2 0.14x
Royal Navy 2 4.04x
Berkshire 1 0.32x
Channel Islands 1 0.81x
Essex 1 0.12x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Northamptonshire 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.14x
Westmorland 1 1.10x
Worcestershire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wainfleet All Sts in Lincolnshire leads with 35 Allenbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1813.47x.

Place Total Index
Wainfleet All Sts 35 1813.47x
Kirkby Moorside 24 916.03x
Liversedge 18 98.20x
Habrough 16 2909.09x
Helmsley 15 678.73x
Great Grimsby 14 33.20x
Friskney 12 568.72x
Cleethorpes 11 281.33x
Leeds 11 4.73x
Clifton In York 10 116.14x
Stoke 9 94.24x
Bishop Auckland 8 48.22x
Great Boughton 8 253.16x
Laceby 8 551.72x
Stallingborough 8 1159.42x
Toxteth Park 8 4.79x
Dukinfield 7 16.51x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 7 60.98x
Firsby 7 2058.82x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 13.07x
Kensington London 7 3.03x
Kirkdale 7 8.44x
St Albans 7 119.25x
Clifton In Halifax 6 243.90x
Elvington 6 1132.08x
Aston 5 1.73x
Preston 5 3.79x
Stockton On Tees 5 8.39x
Wylam 5 367.65x
Barnard Castle 4 65.47x
Eston 4 44.59x
Litchurch 4 15.28x
Metheringham 4 150.94x
Dawdon 3 19.72x
Dinder 3 1034.48x
Evenwood Barony 3 71.43x
Felixstow 3 243.90x
Fotherby 3 882.35x
Luttons Ambo 3 348.84x
Naburn 3 370.37x
Pockley 3 1111.11x
Sculcoates 3 4.60x
Skelmanthorpe 3 67.42x
South Thoresby 3 1304.35x
Wavertree 3 19.01x
Harmston 2 408.16x
Heckmondwike 2 15.11x
Holy Trinity 2 2.02x
Louth 2 13.13x
Ramsgate 2 8.64x
Royal Navy 2 4.72x
Saleby Cum Thoresthorpe 2 952.38x
Sinnington 2 444.44x
Skelton In Guisbrough 2 17.95x
Spilsby 2 94.79x
Tathwell 2 333.33x
Thoresway 2 540.54x
Wrightington 2 93.02x
York St Margaret 2 78.43x
Barrow In Furness 1 1.49x
Belstead 1 222.22x
Casterton 1 120.48x
Chelsea London 1 0.80x
Droxford 1 30.77x
Dudley 1 1.52x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 5.05x
Hastings St Mary 1 5.73x
Holmpton 1 322.58x
Limber Magna 1 142.86x
Little Edstone 1 5000.00x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 3.12x
Nunnington 1 175.44x
Paddington London 1 0.65x
Sandhurst 1 16.56x
Sproxton 1 434.78x
St Michael Lincoln 1 55.56x
Thorpe St Peter 1 123.46x
Whittingham 1 46.08x
Wildmore 1 114.94x
Wintringham 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Jane 18
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 14
Ann 6
Anne 6
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Louisa 6
Alice 5
Margaret 5
Maria 5
Annie 4
Hannah 4
Amy 3
Betsy 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Gertrude 3
Lucy 3
Edith 2
Elebeth 2
Emma 2
Ethel 2
Faith 2
Fanny 2
Harriet 2
Helena 2
Martha 2
Maud 2
May 2
Salome 2
Caroline 1
Daisy 1
Ellen 1
Elzth.Ann 1
Esther 1
Ethal 1
Evelina 1
F. 1
Isabella 1
Jennie 1
Joanna 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lily 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 20
George 18
Thomas 18
Joseph 13
James 12
Henry 8
Robert 8
Alfred 6
David 5
Charles 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Wm. 3
Arthur 2
Burton 2
Edwin 2
Everitt 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Reginald 2
Samuel 2
Christopher 1
Clifford 1
Cornelius 1
Ed. 1
Edley 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Enoch 1
Esaias 1
Fras. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Jno. 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Marmaduke 1
Martin 1
Michael 1
S. 1
Sewell 1
Sidney 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Allenby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Allenby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 426 people were recorded with the Allenby surname. That placed it at #7,620 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Allenby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016. That gives Allenby a modern rank of #6,867.

What does the Allenby surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name referring to the old or elder by a place.

What does the Allenby map show?

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