NameCensus.

UK surname

Altree

An English surname denoting someone who lived near an alder tree.

In the 1881 census there were 84 people recorded with the Altree surname, ranking it #21,690 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, down from #21,690 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Stottesden, Kinlet. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland, South Staffordshire and Richmond upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Altree is 156 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.6%.

1881 census count

84

Ranked #21,690

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1891

156 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Altree had 84 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,690 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 156 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Altree surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Altree surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Altree 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 67 #21,440
1861 historical 66 #25,487
1881 historical 84 #21,690
1891 historical 156 #17,842
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 132 #22,821
1998 modern 137 #22,922
1999 modern 140 #22,789
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 129 #24,021
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 126 #24,287
2006 modern 133 #23,711
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 126 #25,131
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 125 #26,695
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 124 #26,944
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Altrees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Stottesden, Kinlet, Cannock and Lichfield St Michael. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland, South Staffordshire, Richmond upon Thames, Barnsley and Cornwall. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Stottesden, Kinlet Shropshire
4 Cannock Staffordshire
5 Lichfield St Michael Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 008 Copeland
2 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
3 Richmond upon Thames 013 Richmond upon Thames
4 Barnsley 017 Barnsley
5 Cornwall 050 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Altree

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Altree

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Altree surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Altree 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Altree is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Altree 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

Altree falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Altree

The surname Altree is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Altree or Altry, the precise location of which has been lost to history.

One of the earliest known references to the name Altree can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire, a record of financial accounts from the late 12th century. The entry, dated 1195, mentions a William de Altree, suggesting that the name was already in use during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Altry, Awtry, and Awtree, reflecting the fluid nature of spelling in those times. One notable bearer of the name was John de Awtree, who was recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1279.

The Domesday Book, the comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the Altree surname. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Aletree (Wiltshire) and Aldritone (Gloucestershire), which may have influenced the development of the surname.

During the 14th century, the Altree surname gained further recognition. Geoffrey Awtry, a prominent landowner in Lincolnshire, was mentioned in the Patent Rolls of 1341. In the same century, Thomas Altree, born around 1350, was a notable figure in the city of York, where he served as a merchant and alderman.

The 15th century saw the rise of a prominent Altree family in Staffordshire. William Altree, born in 1425, was a respected landowner and a member of the local gentry. His descendants continued to hold positions of influence in the region for several generations.

In the 16th century, the name Altree appeared in various records across England. One notable bearer was Richard Altree, born in 1534 in Lancashire, who was a renowned scholar and theologian. He authored several works on religious subjects and served as a rector in the Church of England.

Throughout history, the Altree surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, landowners, merchants, and clergymen. While the exact origins of the name remain shrouded in mystery, its enduring presence in historical records attests to its significance in English genealogy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Altree families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Altree 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. Staffordshire leads with 22 Altrees recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.96x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 22 7.96x
Warwickshire 14 6.78x
Shropshire 12 16.96x
Kent 6 2.15x
Herefordshire 4 11.91x
Middlesex 4 0.49x
Essex 3 1.86x
Glamorgan 3 2.10x
Hampshire 3 1.79x
Surrey 3 0.75x
Sussex 3 2.17x
Berkshire 2 3.25x
Lancashire 2 0.21x
Aberdeenshire 1 1.32x
Northamptonshire 1 1.30x
Worcestershire 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 9 Altrees recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.82x.

Place Total Index
Aston 9 15.82x
Cheslyn Hay 8 1600.00x
Kinlet 6 5000.00x
Birmingham 5 7.26x
Wolverhampton 5 23.52x
Dorstone 4 3076.92x
Gillingham 4 69.44x
Stottesdon 4 1250.00x
East Ham 3 100.00x
Hammerwich 3 769.23x
Handsworth 3 43.99x
Lambeth 3 4.20x
Mile End Old Town London 3 17.21x
Neath 3 103.45x
Brighton 2 7.18x
Earley 2 196.08x
Romsey Extra 2 200.00x
Whitchurch 2 145.99x
Wigan 2 14.73x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 7.05x
Bromsgrove 1 27.78x
Burntwood Edial 1 56.50x
Hastings St Mary 1 29.07x
Lower Halstow 1 500.00x
Portsea 1 3.04x
St Pancras London 1 1.52x
Tonbridge 1 9.92x
Walsall Foreign 1 7.00x
Warkworth 1 144.93x
Wednesfield 1 24.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Minnie 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Clarrissa 2
Edith 2
Maria 2
Ann 1
Eliza 1
Esther 1
Jannette 1
Lily 1
Lizze 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 7
Thomas 5
Charles 4
John 4
Frederick 2
William 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
Archibald 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Frank 1
Handel 1
Henery 1
James 1
Philemon 1
Richard 1
Rowland 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Altree surname: questions and answers

How common was the Altree surname in 1881?

In 1881, 84 people were recorded with the Altree surname. That placed it at #21,690 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Altree surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Altree a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Altree surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone who lived near an alder tree.

What does the Altree map show?

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