NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashe

An English toponymic surname derived from places named Ash or Ashe, referring to an ash tree.

In the 1881 census there were 288 people recorded with the Ashe surname, ranking it #9,988 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 949, ranked #6,049, up from #9,988 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Avebury (incl. Beckhampton), Doncaster and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Paisley North, Lanark North East and Lanark South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashe is 956 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 229.5%.

1881 census count

288

Ranked #9,988

Modern count

949

2016, ranked #6,049

Peak year

2014

956 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashe had 288 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,988 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 949 in 2016, ranked #6,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 319 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Ashe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashe 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 288 #9,988
1891 historical 298 #11,167
1901 historical 295 #11,783
1911 historical 319 #10,967
1997 modern 794 #6,573
1998 modern 823 #6,609
1999 modern 826 #6,633
2000 modern 823 #6,629
2001 modern 805 #6,624
2002 modern 834 #6,555
2003 modern 845 #6,374
2004 modern 842 #6,394
2005 modern 820 #6,477
2006 modern 851 #6,310
2007 modern 861 #6,311
2008 modern 875 #6,263
2009 modern 885 #6,347
2010 modern 924 #6,254
2011 modern 930 #6,173
2012 modern 915 #6,168
2013 modern 935 #6,172
2014 modern 956 #6,096
2015 modern 950 #6,078
2016 modern 949 #6,049

Geography

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Where Ashes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Avebury (incl. Beckhampton), Doncaster, Toxteth Park, Liverpool and Pewsham, Chippenham, Langley Burrell, Hardenhuish, Kington, Slaughterford, Biddestone St Nicholas an. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Paisley North, Lanark North East, Lanark South, Manchester and Bury. 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 Avebury (incl. Beckhampton) Wiltshire
2 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Liverpool Lancashire
5 Pewsham, Chippenham, Langley Burrell, Hardenhuish, Kington, Slaughterford, Biddestone St Nicholas an Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Paisley North Renfrewshire
2 Lanark North East South Lanarkshire
3 Lanark South South Lanarkshire
4 Manchester 048 Manchester
5 Bury 001 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashe

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Ashe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Ashe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Ashe is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ashe 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

Ashe falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ashe

The surname Ashe is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is derived from the Old English word "æsc," which means "ash tree." This suggests that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near an ash tree or a place where ash trees grew abundantly.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ashe can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions several individuals with the surname Ashe or variations of it, such as Asche or Aschen.

During the medieval period, the name Ashe was particularly prevalent in various counties of England, including Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. It is believed that the name may have been associated with certain place names, such as Ashbourne in Derbyshire or Ashby in Leicestershire, both of which incorporate the element "ash" in their names.

One notable individual bearing the surname Ashe was Sir Joseph Ashe (1617-1686), an English politician and member of parliament for Thetford during the 17th century. Another prominent figure was St. George Ashe (1658-1718), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Principal of Brasenose College, Oxford.

In the 18th century, the surname Ashe gained recognition with the birth of Samuel Ashe (1725-1813), a prominent American patriot and statesman who served as the governor of North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War. His son, John Baptista Ashe (1748-1802), also played a significant role in the Revolutionary War as a colonel in the Continental Army.

Another notable individual with the surname Ashe was Thomas Ashe (1836-1889), an English author and novelist who wrote several popular works during the Victorian era, including "The Tragedy of the Sowers" and "A Hardy Norseman."

While the surname Ashe has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking countries, carried by individuals and families who migrated from their ancestral homes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashe 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. Lancashire leads with 75 Ashes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 75 2.30x
Wiltshire 62 25.49x
Middlesex 27 0.98x
Yorkshire 23 0.84x
Staffordshire 20 2.15x
Hampshire 14 2.48x
Surrey 9 0.67x
Kent 8 0.85x
Rutland 8 39.60x
Devon 6 1.05x
Berkshire 4 1.94x
Durham 4 0.49x
Cheshire 3 0.49x
Gloucestershire 3 0.56x
Lincolnshire 3 0.68x
Bedfordshire 2 1.40x
Somerset 2 0.45x
Dorset 1 0.55x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Lanarkshire 1 0.11x
Monmouthshire 1 0.50x
Norfolk 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x
Oxfordshire 1 0.59x
Suffolk 1 0.30x
Warwickshire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chippenham in Wiltshire leads with 25 Ashes recorded in 1881 and an index of 490.20x.

Place Total Index
Chippenham 25 490.20x
Tottington Lower End 13 83.82x
Liverpool 10 5.04x
Wolstanton Oldcott 10 297.62x
Yatton Keynell 10 2000.00x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 36.63x
Middlesbrough 8 22.54x
Newport 8 261.44x
Stafford St Mary 8 60.88x
Uppingham 8 331.95x
West Overton 8 1269.84x
Doncaster 7 35.16x
Kirkdale 7 12.75x
Kensington London 6 3.92x
Kington Langley 6 1111.11x
Lambeth 6 2.50x
Langley Burrell 6 594.06x
Layton With Warbreck 6 50.08x
Much Woolton 6 135.44x
Stretford 6 33.41x
Westminster St James 6 21.22x
Blackburn 5 5.76x
Chelsea London 5 6.03x
Hulme 5 7.34x
Linthorpe 5 30.73x
Islington London 4 1.50x
Moss Side 4 23.28x
Stranton 4 14.52x
Swindon 4 21.20x
Donington On Bain 3 666.67x
Folkestone 3 16.48x
Houghton 3 731.71x
Twickenham 3 25.45x
Camberwell 2 1.14x
Checkley 2 82.99x
Cheltenham 2 4.81x
Copt Hewick 2 869.57x
Dartmouth Townstall 2 85.84x
Holsworthy 2 123.46x
Luton 2 8.11x
Portsmouth 2 15.41x
Reading St Mary 2 12.09x
Bloxham 1 59.88x
Bromley 1 6.99x
Bruton 1 57.47x
Cardiff St Mary 1 3.79x
Charlton Kings 1 26.81x
Chilton Foliat 1 188.68x
Churchover 1 333.33x
Crumpsall 1 13.00x
Dalwood 1 256.41x
Deptford St Paul 1 1.38x
Downe 1 192.31x
Gillingham 1 5.17x
Govan 1 0.45x
Great Witchingham 1 185.19x
Hankelow 1 476.19x
Hythe St Leonard 1 30.12x
Ipswich St Clement 1 11.74x
Keynsham 1 31.45x
Leatherhead 1 29.76x
Levenshulme 1 29.76x
Market Lavington 1 75.76x
Marshfield 1 204.08x
Marton In Prestbury 1 344.83x
Monkton Farleigh 1 256.41x
Paddington London 1 0.99x
Pamber 1 153.85x
Portland 1 10.30x
Radford 1 5.31x
Reading St Giles 1 4.94x
Salford 1 1.04x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.06x
St George Martyr London 1 17.95x
Topsham 1 37.04x
Tranmere 1 4.48x
Ulverston 1 10.52x
Warmfield Cum Heath 1 108.70x
West Kington 1 344.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 14
James 11
George 7
Arthur 5
Edward 5
Francis 5
Robert 5
Thomas 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Richard 4
Frederick 3
Fredk. 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Edwin 2
Henry 2
Isaac 2
Jeremiah 2
Charles 1
Chas.S. 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Ebby 1
Ed. 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Evelyn 1
F. 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Hubert 1
Hy. 1
Lovat 1
Matthew 1
Maurice 1
Morris 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
S. 1
St 1
Thos. 1
Verinder 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Ashe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 288 people were recorded with the Ashe surname. That placed it at #9,988 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 949 in 2016. That gives Ashe a modern rank of #6,049.

What does the Ashe surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from places named Ash or Ashe, referring to an ash tree.

What does the Ashe map show?

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