UK surname
An English place name originally referring to someone from Ashbury, now Oxfordshire.
In the 1881 census there were 187 people recorded with the Ashbury surname, ranking it #13,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 58, ranked #34,457, down from #13,407 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Kings Norton, Manchester and West Derby. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashbury is 246 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 69.0%.
1881 census count
187
Ranked #13,407
Modern count
58
2016, ranked #34,457
Peak year
1891
246 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Ashbury surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Ashbury surname density by area, 1881 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 | 84 | #19,067 |
| 1861 | historical | 226 | #10,797 |
| 1881 | historical | 187 | #13,407 |
| 1891 | historical | 246 | #12,912 |
| 1901 | historical | 182 | #16,057 |
| 1911 | historical | 216 | #14,240 |
| 1997 | modern | 69 | #30,712 |
| 1998 | modern | 69 | #31,076 |
| 1999 | modern | 70 | #31,135 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 64 | #32,007 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 64 | #32,286 |
| 2005 | modern | 65 | #32,387 |
| 2006 | modern | 67 | #32,532 |
| 2007 | modern | 71 | #32,484 |
| 2008 | modern | 69 | #32,962 |
| 2009 | modern | 66 | #33,538 |
| 2010 | modern | 68 | #33,632 |
| 2011 | modern | 65 | #33,842 |
| 2012 | modern | 58 | #34,404 |
| 2013 | modern | 56 | #34,581 |
| 2014 | modern | 58 | #34,500 |
| 2015 | modern | 59 | #34,407 |
| 2016 | modern | 58 | #34,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Kings Norton, Manchester, West Derby, St Mary Islington and Sheffield. 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 | Kings Norton | Worcestershire |
| 2 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 3 | West Derby | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Ashbury 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 Ashbury, 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 Ashbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Ashbury 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, Ashbury 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 Ashbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Ashbury, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Ashbury has its origins in England and is believed to date back to the medieval period. The name is topographical in nature, derived from the Old English words "æsc," meaning ash tree, and "burh," which translates to fort or fortified place. This suggests that the original bearers of the name likely resided near a fort or dwelling surrounded by ash trees.
One of the earliest references to the name can be found in ancient English records. The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of England ordered by William the Conqueror, lists various locations with similar spelling, indicating the prevalence of ash trees and fortified settlements. The village of Ashbury in Oxfordshire, for example, lends credence to this etymological interpretation.
The first recorded instance of the surname in historical documents appears in the 13th century. A notable example is William de Ashbury, found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The prefix "de" indicates that William was from Ashbury, suggesting a geographical lineage. Another early mention is Richard de Asbery, recorded in the Placita de Quo Warranto during the reign of King Edward I.
In the following centuries, the surname Ashbury was borne by various prominent individuals. John Ashbury, an English clergyman born in 1606 and died in 1673, is one such figure. His contributions to his parish and written records make him a notable historical figure. Gregory Ashbury, a Royalist during the English Civil War, was known for his staunch support of King Charles I and participated in several significant battles during the 1640s.
In the literary world, Robert Ashbury, born in 1768 and active till 1842, was known for his written works that chronicled the changing landscapes of rural England. His documentation provides a glimpse into the evolution of agricultural practices and village life during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Another distinguished family member is Thomas Ashbury, born in 1820 and passed away in 1899. He was a notable industrialist during the Victorian era, contributing significantly to the development of railway infrastructure in England. His efforts helped modernize transportation, making travel more accessible and fostering economic growth.
Lastly, Emma Ashbury, born in 1854 and deceased in 1927, was a prominent suffragette and social reformer. Her dedication to women's rights and social justice left an enduring legacy, contributing to the eventual enfranchisement of women in the United Kingdom.
The surname Ashbury has a rich history rooted in its geographical origins and has been borne by individuals who made notable contributions to English society across various fields over the centuries. This enduring legacy highlights the significance of this surname in the tapestry of English history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashbury 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. Middlesex leads with 31 Ashburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 31 | 1.73x |
| Yorkshire | 23 | 1.29x |
| Lancashire | 22 | 1.03x |
| Nottinghamshire | 18 | 7.44x |
| Worcestershire | 17 | 7.25x |
| Warwickshire | 15 | 3.31x |
| Staffordshire | 11 | 1.82x |
| Devon | 6 | 1.61x |
| Derbyshire | 5 | 1.78x |
| Flintshire | 5 | 10.36x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.57x |
| Somerset | 4 | 1.38x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 0.96x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 1.78x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 1.93x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.33x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 1.01x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 0.92x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.88x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.25x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.28x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 0.81x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 4.68x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.63x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kings Norton in Worcestershire leads with 17 Ashburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 80.88x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Ashbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Sarah | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Eliza | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Julia | 3 |
| Ada | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Florence | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Rose | 2 |
| Adelaide | 1 |
| Amelia | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Dorothy | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ellenor | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Ethel | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Flora | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriete | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lilly | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Madeline | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Ashbury surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| William | 9 |
| Edward | 7 |
| John | 7 |
| Thomas | 7 |
| Henry | 6 |
| Charles | 4 |
| Joseph | 4 |
| Albert | 3 |
| Edwin | 3 |
| George | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Frederick | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| James | 2 |
| Robert | 2 |
| Sanuel | 2 |
| Stephen | 2 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Benj. | 1 |
| Benjamin | 1 |
| Burnard | 1 |
| Ed. | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Jas. | 1 |
| Lenard | 1 |
| Leonard | 1 |
| Mathew | 1 |
| Mercy | 1 |
| Percy | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Sarah | 1 |
| W. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wilford | 1 |
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 Ashbury households.
FAQ
In 1881, 187 people were recorded with the Ashbury surname. That placed it at #13,407 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 58 in 2016. That gives Ashbury a modern rank of #34,457.
An English place name originally referring to someone from Ashbury, now Oxfordshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Ashbury 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.