NameCensus.

UK surname

Apsey

A variant spelling of the English surname Appsey, of uncertain meaning and origin.

In the 1881 census there were 244 people recorded with the Apsey surname, ranking it #11,258 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 226, ranked #18,044, down from #11,258 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Weymouth and Portland and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Apsey is 324 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.4%.

1881 census count

244

Ranked #11,258

Modern count

226

2016, ranked #18,044

Peak year

1911

324 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Apsey had 244 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,258 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016, ranked #18,044.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 324 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Apsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Apsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Apsey 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 244 #11,258
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 304 #11,543
1911 historical 324 #10,814
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 238 #16,218
1999 modern 238 #16,308
2000 modern 237 #16,331
2001 modern 222 #16,806
2002 modern 224 #17,042
2003 modern 214 #17,343
2004 modern 217 #17,276
2005 modern 211 #17,520
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 215 #17,633
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 231 #17,331
2010 modern 235 #17,477
2011 modern 235 #17,328
2012 modern 219 #18,087
2013 modern 226 #17,969
2014 modern 228 #17,977
2015 modern 227 #17,941
2016 modern 226 #18,044

Geography

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Where Apseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, London parishes, Chard and Paddington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Weymouth and Portland, Cornwall and South Somerset. 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 Bedminster Somerset
3 London parishes London 1
4 Chard Somerset
5 Paddington London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 005 East Devon
2 Weymouth and Portland 007 Weymouth and Portland
3 Cornwall 069 Cornwall
4 South Somerset 001 South Somerset
5 East Devon 007 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Apsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Apsey

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

Apsey is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Apsey falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Apsey

The surname Apsey originates from England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "apsa," which referred to an aspen tree, suggesting that the name was initially a locational surname given to someone who lived near an aspen grove or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Apsie." This historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that era.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, including Apsie, Apsy, and Apsey. These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the influence of local dialects.

Renowned individuals bearing the Apsey surname include Sir John Apsey (1535-1612), a prominent English courtier and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another notable figure was William Apsey (1592-1670), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Canterbury in the 17th century.

In the literary world, the name is associated with Samuel Apsey (1785-1859), an English poet and writer known for his works on nature and rural life. His publications, such as "The British Naturalist" and "The Wonders of Nature," gained him recognition in his time.

The Apsey family also had a presence in the military, with Captain Henry Apsey (1801-1877) serving in the British Army and participating in various campaigns during the 19th century.

Additionally, the name has been linked to various place names in England, such as Apsey Green in Bedfordshire and Apsey Farm in Gloucestershire, further reinforcing its locational origins.

It is worth noting that the surname Apsey, while not among the most common in England, has maintained a consistent presence throughout history, with individuals bearing this name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on the cultural and historical tapestry of the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Apsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Apsey 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 48 Apseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.53x.

County Total Index
Somerset 48 12.53x
Surrey 33 2.85x
Middlesex 30 1.26x
Hampshire 26 5.33x
Dorset 22 14.08x
Berkshire 21 11.75x
Yorkshire 13 0.55x
Gloucestershire 12 2.57x
Kent 11 1.35x
Warwickshire 10 1.67x
Glamorgan 7 1.69x
Devon 5 1.01x
Northamptonshire 3 1.34x
Lancashire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.26x
Sussex 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedminster in Somerset leads with 17 Apseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.22x.

Place Total Index
Bedminster 17 47.22x
Chardstock 15 1388.89x
Lambeth 14 6.75x
Castle Cary 13 778.44x
Paddington London 13 14.86x
Southampton St Mary 13 42.37x
Brinklow 8 1250.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 18.20x
Compton Dundon 8 1702.13x
Reading St Mary 8 55.91x
Rotherhithe 8 27.20x
Cwmdu 7 138.61x
Leeds 7 5.26x
Holbeck 6 38.39x
South Stoneham 6 56.71x
Streatham 6 33.98x
Warfield 6 370.37x
Aldershot 5 30.60x
Hammersmith London 5 8.53x
Minster In Sheppey 5 37.17x
Reading St Giles 5 28.52x
Weymouth 5 168.92x
Bromley 4 32.31x
Poplar London 4 8.90x
Chard 3 64.66x
Harrow 3 82.42x
Membury 3 566.04x
Queen Camel 3 666.67x
Bristol St Peter 2 119.76x
Camberwell 2 1.32x
Clewer 2 27.32x
Greenwich 2 5.28x
Nether Heyford 2 303.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 4.18x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.77x
Westbury On Severn East 2 18.96x
Yeovil 2 25.71x
Axminster 1 43.10x
Birmingham 1 0.50x
Caterham 1 19.49x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.78x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 8.81x
Ilminster 1 37.31x
Kirkdale 1 2.10x
Leamington Priors 1 6.77x
Lurgashall 1 166.67x
Millbrook 1 8.14x
Portsea 1 1.05x
St George In East London 1 4.47x
St Martin Lincoln 1 28.33x
Stalbridge 1 67.57x
Watford 1 263.16x
West Chelborough 1 2000.00x
Whatley 1 285.71x
Willesden 1 4.46x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 13
Elizabeth 11
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Amelia 4
Emily 4
Rose 4
Anne 3
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Julia 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Emma 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Laura 2
Maud 2
Bessie 1
Bessy 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Hellen 1
Ida 1
Joseph 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lillian 1
Lois 1
Louisa 1
Loveania 1
Margarette 1
Marie 1
May 1
Minnie 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Sousoun 1
Susan 1
Susana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 14
John 13
Joseph 10
William 10
Henry 8
Albert 6
Thomas 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Harry 4
James 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Robert 3
Clarence 2
Abel 1
Aveling 1
E. 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Her. 1
Herbert 1
Israel 1
Jeremiah 1
Job 1
Orlando 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
Tom. 1
Wallis 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Apsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Apsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 244 people were recorded with the Apsey surname. That placed it at #11,258 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Apsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 226 in 2016. That gives Apsey a modern rank of #18,044.

What does the Apsey surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Appsey, of uncertain meaning and origin.

What does the Apsey map show?

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