NameCensus.

UK surname

Amesbury

A locational surname derived from the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 186 people recorded with the Amesbury surname, ranking it #13,448 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 334, ranked #13,640, down from #13,448 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill and Burnham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sedgemoor, Neath Port Talbot and East Hampshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amesbury is 370 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 79.6%.

1881 census count

186

Ranked #13,448

Modern count

334

2016, ranked #13,640

Peak year

1999

370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Amesbury had 186 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,448 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016, ranked #13,640.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 282 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Amesbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Amesbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Amesbury 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 123 #17,914
1881 historical 186 #13,448
1891 historical 200 #14,913
1901 historical 268 #12,553
1911 historical 282 #11,915
1997 modern 353 #12,096
1998 modern 361 #12,280
1999 modern 370 #12,124
2000 modern 355 #12,430
2001 modern 346 #12,478
2002 modern 364 #12,268
2003 modern 366 #12,010
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 327 #13,011
2006 modern 331 #12,990
2007 modern 337 #12,950
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 340 #13,244
2010 modern 341 #13,477
2011 modern 332 #13,608
2012 modern 328 #13,625
2013 modern 335 #13,604
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 333 #13,676
2016 modern 334 #13,640

Geography

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Where Amesburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Shapwick (pt), Huntspill, Burnham, Bleadon and Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sedgemoor, Neath Port Talbot, East Hampshire, Merthyr Tydfil and High Peak. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Shapwick (pt), Huntspill Somerset
3 Burnham Somerset
4 Bleadon Somerset
5 Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke, Worle Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
2 Neath Port Talbot 011 Neath Port Talbot
3 East Hampshire 010 East Hampshire
4 Merthyr Tydfil 007 Merthyr Tydfil
5 High Peak 003 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Amesbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Amesbury

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Small Town Suburbia

Nationally, the Amesbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Amesbury 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 is predominantly comprised of married couples with no resident dependent children, living in areas characterised neither by under-occupancy nor overcrowding throughout the UK in or adjacent to small towns. White ethnic groups and affiliation with Christianity predominates. Housing tends to be predominantly semi-detached or detached and workers are employed principally in managerial and professional occupations, with semi-skilled occupations also in evidence. These areas of the Supergroup are of higher population density.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Amesbury is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Amesbury is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Amesbury falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amesbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Amesbury

The surname Amesbury finds its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire, which itself is believed to have originated from the Old English words "ambre" meaning "amber" and "burgh" meaning "fortified town or manor."

Records indicate that the name Amesbury was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Ambreberie." This suggests that the name has been in use for over 900 years and was likely associated with individuals who hailed from or had some connection to the town of Amesbury.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William de Amesbury, a 13th-century English clergyman who served as the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral from 1258 to 1268. Another notable figure was John Amesbury, a 14th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1348.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in the form of "Ambresbury" in various historical records, such as the Calendar of Patent Rolls from 1461. During this period, the Amesbury family was documented as owning lands and properties in the vicinity of the town of Amesbury.

Moving into the 16th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like Sir William Amesbury (1504-1572), an English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wiltshire in 1547. He was known for his involvement in local affairs and served as a Justice of the Peace for the county.

Another notable bearer of the name was Edward Amesbury (1620-1697), a 17th-century English clergyman who served as the Rector of Amesbury from 1660 until his death. He played a significant role in the religious life of the community and left a lasting legacy in the town.

As the centuries progressed, the Amesbury name continued to be associated with various individuals from different walks of life, including scholars, artists, and military personnel. Despite the variations in spelling, the name's connection to the town of Amesbury remained a constant thread throughout its history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Amesbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amesbury 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. Somerset leads with 128 Amesburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.83x.

County Total Index
Somerset 128 43.83x
Gloucestershire 43 12.09x
Lancashire 6 0.28x
Sussex 3 0.98x
Kent 2 0.32x
Glamorgan 1 0.32x
Middlesex 1 0.06x
Staffordshire 1 0.16x
Yorkshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mangotsfield in Gloucestershire leads with 21 Amesburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 591.55x.

Place Total Index
Mangotsfield 21 591.55x
Bleadon 16 4210.53x
Mark 11 1617.65x
Weston Super Mare 11 149.25x
Banwell 10 934.58x
Nailsea 9 782.61x
Walcot 9 57.88x
Wedmore 9 473.68x
Kenn 8 4444.44x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 7 216.05x
Hulme 6 13.35x
Bedminster 5 18.22x
Huntspill 5 416.67x
Bristol Temple 4 170.94x
Burnham 4 179.37x
Clevedon 4 131.58x
Timsbury 4 454.55x
Cannington 3 344.83x
Wells St Cuthbert 3 150.75x
Yatton 3 263.16x
Brighton 2 3.24x
Bristol St George 2 12.15x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 5.97x
Clifton 2 11.12x
Clutton 2 317.46x
Lympsham 2 714.29x
Portbury 2 408.16x
South Brent 2 408.16x
Twerton 2 66.45x
Berrow 1 370.37x
Bourton On The Water 1 138.89x
Bristol St James In 1 19.12x
Cirencester 1 20.75x
Cuckfield 1 32.36x
Islington London 1 0.57x
Lewisham 1 3.03x
Minster In Sheppey 1 9.76x
Neath 1 15.55x
Scarborough 1 6.12x
Stapleton 1 14.81x
Tipton 1 5.33x
Uphill 1 250.00x
Weare 1 250.00x
Westbury On Trym 1 8.30x
Wick St Lawrence 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Sarah 5
Emma 4
Annie 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Amelia 2
Anice 2
Ann 2
E. 2
Harriett 2
Lily 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Ada 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Celina 1
Charlotte 1
Dorcas 1
Eleonora 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Flocy 1
Florry 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lilly 1
Lousia 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Mercy 1
Octavia 1
Pamelia 1
Percy 1
Pheby 1
Selina 1
Victoria 1
Warbro 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 15
Henry 8
John 7
Albert 6
George 5
James 4
Thomas 4
Charles 3
Edward 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Joseph 2
Blagden 1
Dan 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
F.C.D. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Ivon 1
Jacob 1
Maurice 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Robt 1
Samuel 1
Tom 1
Wadham 1
Whester 1

FAQ

Amesbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Amesbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 186 people were recorded with the Amesbury surname. That placed it at #13,448 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Amesbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 334 in 2016. That gives Amesbury a modern rank of #13,640.

What does the Amesbury surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the town of Amesbury in Wiltshire, England.

What does the Amesbury map show?

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