UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place named Amesbury in England.
In the 1881 census there were 28 people recorded with the Amsbury surname, ranking it #29,646 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 26, ranked #36,254, down from #29,646 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Mynyddyslwyn, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Englishcombe, Tiverton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Amsbury is 101 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.1%.
1881 census count
28
Ranked #29,646
Modern count
26
2016, ranked #36,254
Peak year
1861
101 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Amsbury surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Amsbury surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 101 | #20,955 |
| 1881 | historical | 28 | #29,646 |
| 1891 | historical | 55 | #29,744 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 35 | #29,478 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 30 | #34,833 |
| 1999 | modern | 31 | #34,821 |
| 2000 | modern | 33 | #34,607 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 29 | #35,030 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 30 | #35,186 |
| 2005 | modern | 30 | #35,347 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 33 | #35,671 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 32 | #35,876 |
| 2016 | modern | 26 | #36,254 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Mynyddyslwyn, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Englishcombe, Tiverton, Dudley and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mynyddyslwyn | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 3 | Englishcombe, Tiverton | Somerset |
| 4 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 5 | Bedwelty | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Amsbury surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Amsbury, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Amsbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Amsbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Amsbury is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Amsbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Amsbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Amsbury has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "æt" meaning "at" and "burg" meaning "fortified town or manor." Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived or worked in a fortified town or manor.
Early spellings of the name included Atesbury, Attesbury, and Attesburie. These variations reflect the evolution of the English language over time and regional dialects. The name is also thought to be associated with several place names in England, such as Amesbury in Wiltshire, which was recorded as "Ambresbyrig" in the Domesday Book of 1086.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Amsbury was John Atesbury, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Sussex in 1196. Another notable figure was Sir Robert Amsbury, a knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century.
In the 16th century, records show a Thomas Amsbury who was a merchant in London, trading with various European countries. His son, William Amsbury, born in 1560, became a respected scholar and author of several works on theology and philosophy.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Henry Amsbury was a prominent military leader who fought for the Parliamentarian forces under Oliver Cromwell. He was known for his bravery and tactical skills in several battles.
In the 18th century, a notable figure was Sir William Amsbury, a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of his local community. He funded the construction of schools, hospitals, and infrastructure projects in his region.
Another individual of note was Elizabeth Amsbury, born in 1792, who was a pioneering educator and advocate for women's education. She established one of the first schools for girls in her area and campaigned tirelessly for equal educational opportunities for women.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Amsbury surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Gloucestershire leads with 12 Amsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.42x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 12 | 22.42x |
| Middlesex | 7 | 2.57x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 10.52x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 10.14x |
| Somerset | 2 | 4.55x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mangotsfield in Gloucestershire leads with 11 Amsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2075.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Mangotsfield | 11 | 2075.47x |
| Islington London | 7 | 26.47x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 5 | 119.90x |
| Bedwellty | 2 | 57.47x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 56.18x |
| Congresbury | 1 | 909.09x |
| Weston Super Mare | 1 | 90.09x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Amsbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Amsbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Amsbury households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 6 |
| Coal Miner | 2 |
| Bottle Labeller | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| Coal Miner Miners Son | 1 |
| Coal Miners Wife | 1 |
| D Gardener | 1 |
| Dress Maker | 1 |
| Fancy Basket Lining | 1 |
| General Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Servant Domestic | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Mason | 1 |
| Plumber & Gassfitter | 1 |
| Publican | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
| Wheelchair Man | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 28 people were recorded with the Amsbury surname. That placed it at #29,646 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 26 in 2016. That gives Amsbury a modern rank of #36,254.
A locational surname derived from a place named Amesbury in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Amsbury bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.