UK surname
A North Indian surname derived from a village name or place name.
In the 1881 census there were 61 people recorded with the Arey surname, ranking it #24,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 43, ranked #35,285, down from #24,992 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Easton, St Pancras and St Mary Bishopshill Senior. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arey is 144 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.5%.
1881 census count
61
Ranked #24,992
Modern count
43
2016, ranked #35,285
Peak year
1861
144 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Arey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Arey surname density by area, 1891 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 | 91 | #18,187 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 61 | #24,992 |
| 1891 | historical | 120 | #21,292 |
| 1901 | historical | 76 | #25,734 |
| 1911 | historical | 79 | #24,903 |
| 1997 | modern | 41 | #33,552 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 43 | #33,683 |
| 2000 | modern | 35 | #34,420 |
| 2001 | modern | 33 | #34,436 |
| 2002 | modern | 35 | #34,554 |
| 2003 | modern | 34 | #34,681 |
| 2004 | modern | 35 | #34,783 |
| 2005 | modern | 38 | #34,741 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 40 | #35,037 |
| 2008 | modern | 41 | #35,067 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 41 | #35,358 |
| 2011 | modern | 43 | #35,228 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 39 | #35,483 |
| 2014 | modern | 42 | #35,350 |
| 2015 | modern | 42 | #35,322 |
| 2016 | modern | 43 | #35,285 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Easton, St Pancras, St Mary Bishopshill Senior, Preston and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. 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 | Easton | Suffolk |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Mary Bishopshill Senior | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Preston | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Arey 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 Arey, 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 Arey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Arey 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, Arey 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 Arey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Arey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname AREY is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "aera," which meant "messenger" or "herald." Some historians also suggest that the name may have been a variation of the Old French name "Aré," which means "consecrated."
The earliest recorded instance of the surname AREY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Arai." This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest. It is also possible that the name was brought to England by Norman settlers during this period.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with spellings such as "Arey," "Areye," and "Aray." These variations likely reflect the different dialects and accents of the regions where the name was found.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname AREY was Sir John Arey, a knight who lived in the late 13th century. He is mentioned in several historical documents from the reign of King Edward I.
Another notable figure with the surname AREY was Richard Arey, a merchant and landowner who lived in the 15th century. He is recorded as owning several properties in the county of Hertfordshire.
During the Renaissance period, the name AREY was associated with the arts and literature. William Arey, born in 1550, was a prominent playwright and poet who was part of the literary circle that included William Shakespeare.
In the 17th century, the name AREY gained prominence in the field of science. Thomas Arey, born in 1620, was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics.
The 18th century saw the rise of a notable military figure with the surname AREY. General James Arey, born in 1725, was a highly decorated officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout its history, the surname AREY has been associated with various place names and locations in England, such as Arey Green in Hertfordshire and Arey Manor in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from the presence of families bearing the AREY surname in those areas.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arey 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. Yorkshire leads with 32 Areys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 32 | 5.43x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.68x |
| Sussex | 9 | 8.97x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.70x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.28x |
| Worcestershire | 2 | 2.58x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.95x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.57x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 4.10x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holbeck in Yorkshire leads with 11 Areys recorded in 1881 and an index of 282.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Holbeck | 11 | 282.05x |
| Brighton | 8 | 39.55x |
| York St Cuthbert | 6 | 1111.11x |
| York St Mary | 6 | 245.90x |
| Chelsea London | 4 | 22.32x |
| York All Sts North | 4 | 1379.31x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 13.72x |
| York St Michael | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Brentwood | 2 | 277.78x |
| Hammersmith London | 2 | 13.65x |
| Toxteth Park | 2 | 8.37x |
| Wollaston | 2 | 408.16x |
| Crook Billy Row | 1 | 44.05x |
| Hereford St Peter | 1 | 153.85x |
| Mayfield | 1 | 169.49x |
| South Leith | 1 | 11.15x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 16.37x |
| Whicham | 1 | 1250.00x |
| York Davy Hall | 1 | 0.00x |
| York St Sampson | 1 | 769.23x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Arey 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 Arey 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 Arey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 61 people were recorded with the Arey surname. That placed it at #24,992 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 43 in 2016. That gives Arey a modern rank of #35,285.
A North Indian surname derived from a village name or place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arey 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.