NameCensus.

UK surname

Ames

Derived from the Old French for "friend," likely referring to a person who was well-liked or kind.

In the 1881 census there were 2,053 people recorded with the Ames surname, ranking it #2,148 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,241, ranked #2,898, down from #2,148 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Bedford and Norwich.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ames is 2,700 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9.2%.

1881 census count

2,053

Ranked #2,148

Modern count

2,241

2016, ranked #2,898

Peak year

1911

2,700 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ames had 2,053 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,148 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,241 in 2016, ranked #2,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,700 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ames surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ames surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ames 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 1,218 #2,341
1861 historical 1,233 #2,315
1881 historical 2,053 #2,148
1891 historical 1,964 #2,353
1901 historical 2,425 #2,240
1911 historical 2,700 #1,919
1997 modern 2,365 #2,640
1998 modern 2,423 #2,681
1999 modern 2,445 #2,683
2000 modern 2,423 #2,687
2001 modern 2,381 #2,680
2002 modern 2,422 #2,694
2003 modern 2,378 #2,686
2004 modern 2,314 #2,735
2005 modern 2,292 #2,727
2006 modern 2,275 #2,745
2007 modern 2,285 #2,759
2008 modern 2,302 #2,766
2009 modern 2,343 #2,786
2010 modern 2,381 #2,807
2011 modern 2,332 #2,822
2012 modern 2,301 #2,807
2013 modern 2,321 #2,836
2014 modern 2,326 #2,842
2015 modern 2,275 #2,865
2016 modern 2,241 #2,898

Geography

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Where Ames' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Bedford, Norwich, Broadland and South Tyneside. 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 Child Okeford, Oakford Fitzpaine, Bellchalwell, Fifehead Neville Dorset
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
2 Bedford 014 Bedford
3 Norwich 004 Norwich
4 Broadland 015 Broadland
5 South Tyneside 019 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ames

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ames

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ames, 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 Ames surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ames 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ames 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

Ames is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ames 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 Ames 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 Ames, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ames

The surname Ames has its origins in the French language, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "aime," meaning "beloved" or "loved one." This name was likely given as a nickname or a descriptive name to someone who was greatly admired or cherished in their community.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Ames can be traced back to the 12th century in the regions of Normandy and Brittany in France. In medieval records, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Aimé, Aymé, and Amé, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ames can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Aimé in the county of Cambridgeshire, England, suggesting that the name had already made its way across the English Channel by the 11th century.

As the name spread across Europe, it evolved into various forms, including Ames in England and Amos in Scotland. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include:

1. William Ames (1576-1633), an English Protestant theologian and philosopher, known for his work "Medulla Theologica." 2. Joseph Ames (1687-1759), an English bibliographer and antiquary, best known for his work "Typographical Antiquities." 3. Fisher Ames (1758-1808), an American politician, diplomat, and one of the founding members of the Federalist Party. 4. Nathaniel Ames (1708-1764), an American almanac maker and innkeeper from Dedham, Massachusetts. 5. Adelbert Ames (1835-1933), a Union Army general during the American Civil War and later a senator from Mississippi.

The name Ames has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the town of Ames in Iowa, USA, was named after Oakes Ames, a prominent railroad entrepreneur and congressman. Similarly, the town of Amesbury in Massachusetts took its name from the combination of "Ames" and "bury," an Old English word for a fortified town or settlement.

Throughout its long history, the surname Ames has carried a sense of endearment and affection, reflecting the original meaning of the Old French word "aime." Its presence in various records and its association with notable individuals across different fields showcase the widespread adoption and adaptation of this name over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ames families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ames 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 504 Ames' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.51x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 504 2.51x
Kent 191 2.78x
Norfolk 155 5.01x
Surrey 118 1.20x
Somerset 107 3.30x
Hampshire 96 2.33x
Lancashire 88 0.37x
Flintshire 81 14.98x
Dorset 78 5.91x
Essex 69 1.74x
Warwickshire 53 1.04x
Yorkshire 50 0.25x
Suffolk 41 1.67x
Gloucestershire 37 0.94x
Staffordshire 37 0.54x
Bedfordshire 36 3.46x
Sussex 32 0.94x
Wiltshire 31 1.74x
Worcestershire 31 1.18x
Lincolnshire 27 0.84x
Derbyshire 21 0.67x
Cambridgeshire 19 1.49x
Fife 14 1.18x
Glamorgan 14 0.40x
Devon 12 0.29x
Channel Islands 11 1.85x
Shropshire 10 0.58x
Angus 9 0.48x
Northamptonshire 9 0.48x
Westmorland 9 2.04x
Durham 7 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.49x
Cornwall 6 0.26x
Hertfordshire 6 0.43x
Northumberland 6 0.20x
Berkshire 5 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 5 0.18x
Perthshire 5 0.55x
Anglesey 4 1.12x
Herefordshire 4 0.49x
Midlothian 3 0.11x
Oxfordshire 3 0.24x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.47x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 2 0.05x
Stirlingshire 2 0.27x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Merionethshire 1 0.27x
Royal Navy 1 0.42x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 120 Ames' recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.73x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 120 13.73x
Mile End Old Town London 41 9.58x
Shoreditch London 40 4.59x
Heigham 37 22.29x
Frome 34 43.91x
St Marylebone London 34 3.17x
Child Okeford 32 549.83x
Great Yarmouth 32 12.49x
Lambeth 29 1.65x
St Pancras London 28 1.73x
Ysceifiog 27 324.13x
Birmingham 25 1.48x
Kensington London 22 1.97x
Hackney London 21 1.86x
Alton 20 64.37x
Kempston 20 84.60x
Toxteth Park 20 2.47x
Southampton St Mary 18 6.94x
Cheltenham 17 5.59x
Battersea 16 2.16x
Edmonton 16 9.87x
Holywell 16 23.57x
Bow London 15 5.86x
Islington London 15 0.77x
Leeds 15 1.33x
Maidstone 15 7.34x
Sellinge 15 335.57x
Bedford St Paul 14 19.60x
Paddington London 14 1.89x
Aston 13 0.93x
Newington 13 1.75x
Soham 13 47.41x
Tonbridge 13 5.25x
Tottenham 13 4.06x
Bathwick 12 33.49x
Folkestone 12 9.01x
Newland 12 36.20x
Sible Hedingham 12 90.43x
West Derby 12 1.72x
Clapham 11 4.37x
Ramsey 11 210.73x
Rye 11 34.13x
Whitechapel London 11 5.55x
Bowling 10 5.07x
Bromley London 10 2.26x
Camberwell 10 0.78x
Christchurch 10 11.19x
Flint 10 32.58x
Gedney 10 76.16x
Hornsey 10 3.93x
Pendleton In Salford 10 3.52x
Portsea 10 1.24x
Smeeth 10 233.64x
Stowmarket 10 35.32x
West Ham 10 1.14x
Alfreton 9 9.41x
Brabourne 9 174.76x
Brighton 9 1.32x
Burton Upon Trent 9 5.67x
Church 9 26.71x
Fleet 9 98.25x
Fugglestone St Peter 9 127.84x
Holdenhurst 9 8.32x
Killington 9 526.32x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 9 231.36x
St George Hanover Square 9 2.54x
Wickmere 9 538.92x
Appledore 8 178.57x
Ashford 8 11.97x
Brightlingsea 8 35.26x
Buckland In Dover 8 35.18x
Clerkenwell London 8 1.69x
Cossington 8 509.55x
Dundee 8 1.15x
Fulham London 8 2.74x
Ingham 8 253.97x
Littlebury 8 145.99x
Mold Gwernaffield 8 404.04x
North Petherton 8 30.63x
Plumstead 8 3.50x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 107
John 82
Thomas 62
George 59
Henry 49
Joseph 38
Edward 37
James 36
Charles 35
Frederick 33
Arthur 32
Alfred 24
Robert 23
Walter 23
Albert 21
Richard 19
Benjamin 14
Ernest 13
Frank 13
Harry 13
Herbert 12
Samuel 12
David 11
Edwin 10
Francis 10
Daniel 6
Basil 5
Stephen 5
Fredk. 4
Percy 4
Philip 4
Christopher 3
Earnest 3
Edwd. 3
Fredrick 3
Isaac 3
Raymond 3
Reginald 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Augustus 2
Elias 2
Enoch 2
Jonas 2
Martin 2
Oliver 2
Percival 2
Peter 2
Phillip 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Ames surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ames surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,053 people were recorded with the Ames surname. That placed it at #2,148 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ames surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,241 in 2016. That gives Ames a modern rank of #2,898.

What does the Ames surname mean?

Derived from the Old French for "friend," likely referring to a person who was well-liked or kind.

What does the Ames map show?

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