NameCensus.

UK surname

Asbury

From the English place name, derived from the Old English words "æsc" (ash tree) and "burh" (fortified place).

In the 1881 census there were 702 people recorded with the Asbury surname, ranking it #5,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 814, ranked #6,810, down from #5,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Walton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kilbirnie South and Longbar, Kilbirnie North and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Asbury is 957 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.0%.

1881 census count

702

Ranked #5,177

Modern count

814

2016, ranked #6,810

Peak year

1911

957 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Asbury had 702 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 814 in 2016, ranked #6,810.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 957 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Small Town Suburbia.

Asbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Asbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Asbury 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 519 #4,826
1861 historical 473 #5,497
1881 historical 702 #5,177
1891 historical 747 #5,333
1901 historical 854 #5,341
1911 historical 957 #4,710
1997 modern 842 #6,288
1998 modern 857 #6,397
1999 modern 845 #6,515
2000 modern 838 #6,531
2001 modern 831 #6,459
2002 modern 867 #6,372
2003 modern 824 #6,494
2004 modern 830 #6,466
2005 modern 789 #6,673
2006 modern 798 #6,644
2007 modern 800 #6,691
2008 modern 805 #6,712
2009 modern 838 #6,641
2010 modern 853 #6,671
2011 modern 830 #6,732
2012 modern 823 #6,692
2013 modern 844 #6,674
2014 modern 847 #6,676
2015 modern 829 #6,722
2016 modern 814 #6,810

Geography

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Where Asburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Walton-on-Trent and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kilbirnie South and Longbar, Kilbirnie North, South Staffordshire, Birmingham and Barrow-in-Furness. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Walton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 2
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kilbirnie South and Longbar North Ayrshire
2 Kilbirnie North North Ayrshire
3 South Staffordshire 007 South Staffordshire
4 Birmingham 029 Birmingham
5 Barrow-in-Furness 001 Barrow-in-Furness

Forenames

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First names often paired with Asbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Asbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Asbury, 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 Asbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Small Town Suburbia, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Asbury 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Asbury 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

Asbury is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Asbury falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Asbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Asbury

The surname Asbury has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "æsc" (ash) and "burh" (fortified place), suggesting a connection to a place surrounded by ash trees.

During the medieval period, the name Asbury was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Ashebury, Ashbury, and Asshbury, reflecting the fluid nature of naming conventions at the time.

One of the earliest documented references to the name Asbury can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed landowners and tenants in England. This record mentions a Robert de Assebury, indicating the presence of the name in the 13th century.

In the 16th century, the Asbury surname gained prominence through John Asbury, a prominent English merchant and alderman of London. Born in 1522, John Asbury played a significant role in the city's trade and commerce during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure bearing the Asbury name was Francis Asbury, a renowned Methodist preacher and bishop. Born in 1745 in Handsworth, Staffordshire, Asbury is regarded as one of the founding figures of Methodism in America, traveling extensively and establishing numerous churches throughout the colonies.

Moving into the 19th century, the Asbury surname continued to be associated with notable individuals. One such example is Walter Asbury, born in 1833, a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

In the realm of literature, the name Asbury is tied to Herbert Asbury, an American author and journalist born in 1889. He is best known for his works on urban folklore and crime, including the influential book "The Gangs of New York," which inspired the critically acclaimed film of the same name.

While the surname Asbury may have originated from a specific geographic location in England, it has since spread across the globe, with descendants bearing the name contributing to various fields and leaving their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Asbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Asbury 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. Staffordshire leads with 169 Asburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.31x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 169 7.31x
Warwickshire 167 9.67x
Derbyshire 91 8.49x
Cheshire 49 3.24x
Lancashire 47 0.58x
Middlesex 44 0.64x
Surrey 44 1.32x
Worcestershire 31 3.47x
Hertfordshire 10 2.12x
Devon 8 0.56x
Leicestershire 8 1.05x
Bedfordshire 7 1.97x
Sussex 6 0.52x
Flintshire 5 2.72x
Kent 5 0.21x
Essex 3 0.22x
Northamptonshire 2 0.31x
Shropshire 2 0.34x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.12x
Yorkshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 75 Asburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.77x.

Place Total Index
Aston 75 15.77x
Birmingham 52 9.04x
Stapenhill 40 250.63x
West Bromwich 38 28.72x
Lambeth 18 3.01x
Walsall Foreign 16 13.40x
Walton On Trent 16 1538.46x
Edingale 14 3333.33x
Clerkenwell London 13 8.04x
Kings Norton 13 16.21x
Oldbury 13 29.55x
Sedgley 13 15.14x
Linton 12 425.53x
West Derby 12 5.05x
Great Barr 11 416.67x
Bow London 10 11.47x
St Paul Walden 10 418.41x
Berkswell 9 263.93x
Camberwell 9 2.06x
Barrow In Furness 8 7.24x
Bermondsey 8 3.92x
Haslington 8 188.24x
Repton 8 197.53x
Rosliston 8 740.74x
Toxteth Park 8 2.91x
Dunham On The Hill 7 1093.75x
Hamstall Ridware 7 777.78x
Harborne 7 9.45x
Kingswinford 7 8.34x
Norton Canes 7 83.14x
Nuneaton 7 34.98x
Uttoxeter 7 59.17x
Alsager 6 159.57x
Brighton 6 2.58x
Burton Upon Trent 6 11.09x
Horninglow 6 55.10x
Kirkdale 6 4.39x
Newton Abbot St Mary 6 50.17x
Seals 6 224.72x
Baddesley Ensor 5 226.24x
Balsall 5 185.19x
Barrow 5 294.12x
Battersea 5 1.98x
Coventry St Michael 5 9.01x
Holywell 5 21.64x
Tarvin Pryors Hayes 5 250.00x
Chester St Mary On Hill 4 30.84x
Islington London 4 0.60x
Pendleton In Salford 4 4.13x
Tranmere 4 7.20x
Winshill 4 58.48x
Wollaston 4 70.55x
Wolverhampton 4 2.25x
Barton Under Needwood 3 71.43x
Harlington 3 238.10x
Kensington London 3 0.79x
Oldham 3 1.14x
Rowley Regis 3 4.66x
Sale 3 16.18x
St Pancras London 3 0.54x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 1.22x
Streatham 3 5.90x
Streatley 3 410.96x
Bolehall Glascote 2 27.32x
Burton Extra 2 15.09x
Chatham 2 3.11x
Coleshill 2 36.10x
Dilhorne 2 51.95x
Great Boughton 2 38.39x
Hythe St Leonard 2 24.21x
Lichfield St Michael 2 27.59x
Madeley 2 9.22x
Manchester 2 0.55x
Poplar London 2 1.55x
Salford 2 0.84x
Solihull 2 16.12x
St Marylebone London 2 0.55x
Tutbury 2 35.52x
Wednesfield 2 5.88x
West Ham 2 0.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 48
John 40
Joseph 30
Thomas 29
George 18
James 18
Richard 14
Alfred 12
Henry 11
Samuel 11
Charles 10
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Frederick 7
Francis 6
Frank 5
Robert 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Ernest 4
Harry 4
Amos 3
Herbert 3
Edwin 2
Leonard 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Samson 2
Sidney 2
Bearnard 1
C. 1
Chas.H. 1
Chas.W. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Ebenezer 1
Edgar 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Jabez 1
Job 1
Jonah 1
Josh. 1
Raymond 1
Richd. 1
S. 1
Sampson 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Asbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Asbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 702 people were recorded with the Asbury surname. That placed it at #5,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Asbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 814 in 2016. That gives Asbury a modern rank of #6,810.

What does the Asbury surname mean?

From the English place name, derived from the Old English words "æsc" (ash tree) and "burh" (fortified place).

What does the Asbury map show?

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