NameCensus.

UK surname

Anstey

An English locational surname derived from a place in Cambridgeshire or Hertfordshire.

In the 1881 census there were 867 people recorded with the Anstey surname, ranking it #4,369 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,367, ranked #4,406, down from #4,369 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Devon, South Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Anstey is 1,447 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.7%.

1881 census count

867

Ranked #4,369

Modern count

1,367

2016, ranked #4,406

Peak year

1998

1,447 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Anstey had 867 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,369 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,367 in 2016, ranked #4,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,230 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Anstey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Anstey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Anstey 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 566 #4,489
1861 historical 372 #6,857
1881 historical 867 #4,369
1891 historical 643 #6,038
1901 historical 1,078 #4,482
1911 historical 1,230 #3,842
1997 modern 1,390 #4,161
1998 modern 1,447 #4,177
1999 modern 1,446 #4,202
2000 modern 1,437 #4,208
2001 modern 1,377 #4,266
2002 modern 1,414 #4,261
2003 modern 1,376 #4,280
2004 modern 1,360 #4,329
2005 modern 1,333 #4,348
2006 modern 1,337 #4,352
2007 modern 1,324 #4,413
2008 modern 1,348 #4,381
2009 modern 1,381 #4,378
2010 modern 1,423 #4,351
2011 modern 1,414 #4,332
2012 modern 1,400 #4,303
2013 modern 1,437 #4,285
2014 modern 1,414 #4,359
2015 modern 1,381 #4,397
2016 modern 1,367 #4,406

Geography

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Where Ansteys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster, St Philip and Jacob and Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Devon, South Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Christchurch. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Kenn, Ide, Ashton, Exminster Devon
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Devon 001 West Devon
2 South Gloucestershire 024 South Gloucestershire
3 Monmouthshire 005 Monmouthshire
4 South Gloucestershire 016 South Gloucestershire
5 Christchurch 002 Christchurch

Forenames

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First names often paired with Anstey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Anstey

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Anstey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Anstey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Anstey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Anstey is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Anstey

The surname Anstey originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "anstigan" meaning "a path" and "ieg" meaning "island." The name likely referred to someone who lived near a path or causeway leading to an island or marshy area.

The earliest known records of the name date back to the 13th century. The Anstey family was first established in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, but later branched out to other parts of England, including Devon, Wiltshire, and Gloucestershire.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name is recorded as "Anstie." Other early spellings include Anstye, Anstee, and Anstie. The varied spellings reflect the lack of standardized spelling rules in earlier times.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Anstey was John Anstey, who was born around 1460 in Cambridgeshire. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Cambridge in 1491.

Another notable figure was Christopher Anstey (1724-1805), an English poet and writer best known for his satirical work "The New Bath Guide." He was born in Cambridgeshire and lived in Bath, England.

In the 17th century, the Anstey family established themselves in Devon, where they owned estates and properties. One prominent member was John Anstey (1609-1693), who served as a Member of Parliament for Launceston in 1660.

The Anstey name is also associated with several place names in England, such as Anstey in Hertfordshire and Anstey in Wiltshire. These places likely derived their names from the Anstey family who settled there or owned land in those areas.

Other notable individuals with the Anstey surname include:

1. Thomas Anstey (1816-1873), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London. 2. Henry Anstey (1817-1894), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Youghal in Ireland. 3. Martin Anstey (1924-2005), a British actor and director known for his work in television and theater. 4. Roger Anstey (born 1939), a British historian and academic who specialized in the study of the Atlantic slave trade. 5. Nigel Anstey (born 1967), a former professional cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Anstey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Anstey 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. Devon leads with 163 Ansteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.38x.

County Total Index
Devon 163 9.38x
Gloucestershire 131 8.00x
Middlesex 114 1.37x
Surrey 69 1.70x
Warwickshire 64 3.04x
Somerset 63 4.69x
Hampshire 34 1.99x
Cornwall 32 3.39x
Dorset 31 5.66x
Staffordshire 27 0.96x
Essex 21 1.27x
Glamorgan 17 1.17x
Kent 16 0.56x
Wiltshire 14 1.90x
Buckinghamshire 13 2.58x
Oxfordshire 11 2.13x
Sussex 6 0.43x
Herefordshire 4 1.17x
Merionethshire 4 2.62x
Northumberland 4 0.32x
Yorkshire 4 0.05x
Berkshire 3 0.48x
Lancashire 3 0.03x
Midlothian 2 0.18x
Monmouthshire 2 0.33x
Cardiganshire 1 0.49x
Durham 1 0.04x
Royal Navy 1 1.00x
Worcestershire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 31 Ansteys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.42x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 31 4.42x
Bitton 18 126.32x
Exeter St Sidwell 18 45.21x
Aston 17 2.93x
Dyrham Hinton 17 1478.26x
Crediton 15 91.07x
Portsea 15 4.47x
Westbury On Trym 15 27.04x
Newington 14 4.54x
St Marylebone London 14 3.14x
Willesden 13 16.52x
Camberwell 12 2.25x
Hackney London 12 2.56x
Harborne 12 13.28x
Kenn 12 442.80x
Upton Cum Chalvey 11 54.67x
Chew Magna 10 212.31x
Clase 10 18.50x
Falmouth 10 29.89x
Iddesleigh 10 847.46x
Shoreditch London 10 2.76x
West Ham 10 2.75x
Bermondsey 9 3.62x
Brockenhurst 9 304.05x
Coventry St Michael 9 13.31x
Lambeth 9 1.24x
Sutton 9 30.57x
Wapley Codrington 9 1139.24x
Clifton 8 9.66x
Handsworth 8 11.52x
Morden 8 344.83x
Rotherhithe 8 7.75x
Topsham 8 97.56x
Wick Abson 8 318.73x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.55x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 39.50x
Hammersmith London 7 3.40x
Little Sampford 7 714.29x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 19.89x
Monk Okehampton 7 1147.54x
North Tawton 7 131.09x
Poole St James 7 34.00x
Stonehouse 7 75.19x
Tiverton 7 23.38x
West Bromwich 7 4.34x
Westminster St James 7 8.15x
Winterbourne 7 77.35x
Bow London 6 5.64x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 10.99x
Exeter St Leonard 6 126.05x
Madron Penzance 6 17.45x
Oxford St Giles 6 24.39x
St Luke London 6 4.48x
Stroud 6 18.83x
Bedminster 5 3.96x
Corsham 5 46.38x
Culmstock 5 203.25x
Exeter St David 5 33.67x
Hendon 5 16.64x
Horfield 5 30.34x
Huish 5 1562.50x
Liskeard 5 31.61x
Milborne Port 5 92.94x
Minster In Sheppey 5 10.59x
Owslebury 5 205.76x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.73x
Studland 5 287.36x
Tonbridge 5 4.87x
Urchfont 5 165.56x
Weston 5 48.36x
Bristol St George 4 5.28x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 2.59x
Clifford 4 176.21x
Cutcombe 4 248.45x
Sampford Courtenay 4 153.85x
Seaton Delaval 4 36.66x
South Molton 4 41.88x
St Bartholomew Less 4 93.02x
Tormoham 4 5.44x
Yeovil 4 14.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 61
William 48
George 30
Henry 27
Thomas 22
Charles 19
Frederick 14
James 13
Albert 10
Robert 10
Alfred 9
Arthur 8
Edward 7
Frank 7
Samuel 7
Edwin 6
Harry 6
Herbert 6
Joseph 5
Francis 4
Fredrick 3
Sydney 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Fred 2
Fred. 2
Nicholas 2
Phillip 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Alex 1
Archibald 1
Arther 1
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Eli 1
Enoch 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Walter 1
Herbt.J. 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Josh.W. 1
Lenard 1
Lewis 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Anstey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Anstey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 867 people were recorded with the Anstey surname. That placed it at #4,369 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Anstey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,367 in 2016. That gives Anstey a modern rank of #4,406.

What does the Anstey surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from a place in Cambridgeshire or Hertfordshire.

What does the Anstey map show?

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