NameCensus.

UK surname

Ashmore

A locational surname derived from any of several places named Ashmore, likely referring to a moor with ash trees.

In the 1881 census there were 2,239 people recorded with the Ashmore surname, ranking it #1,987 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,390, ranked #2,008, down from #1,987 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chesterfield, Sheffield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sheffield, Chesterfield and High Peak.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ashmore is 3,538 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.4%.

1881 census count

2,239

Ranked #1,987

Modern count

3,390

2016, ranked #2,008

Peak year

1999

3,538 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ashmore had 2,239 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,987 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,390 in 2016, ranked #2,008.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,112 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ashmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ashmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ashmore 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 1,310 #2,189
1861 historical 1,370 #2,090
1881 historical 2,239 #1,987
1891 historical 2,473 #1,916
1901 historical 2,876 #1,945
1911 historical 3,112 #1,674
1997 modern 3,379 #1,916
1998 modern 3,504 #1,921
1999 modern 3,538 #1,921
2000 modern 3,477 #1,944
2001 modern 3,384 #1,953
2002 modern 3,428 #1,976
2003 modern 3,404 #1,946
2004 modern 3,394 #1,952
2005 modern 3,354 #1,945
2006 modern 3,350 #1,947
2007 modern 3,368 #1,954
2008 modern 3,405 #1,949
2009 modern 3,474 #1,957
2010 modern 3,473 #2,007
2011 modern 3,447 #1,995
2012 modern 3,396 #1,979
2013 modern 3,465 #1,980
2014 modern 3,463 #1,990
2015 modern 3,434 #1,989
2016 modern 3,390 #2,008

Geography

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Where Ashmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chesterfield, Sheffield, London parishes, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sheffield, Chesterfield and High Peak. 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 Chesterfield Derbyshire
2 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 2
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sheffield 019 Sheffield
2 Sheffield 009 Sheffield
3 Chesterfield 012 Chesterfield
4 High Peak 010 High Peak
5 High Peak 011 High Peak

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ashmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ashmore

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ashmore is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ashmore is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ashmore 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 Ashmore is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ashmore

The surname Ashmore is of English origin and is believed to have derived from a place name referring to an ash tree grove or meadow. The earliest known recorded spelling of the name dates back to the 12th century, with one Godefridus de Aschemere being mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The name is thought to have originated in the counties of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, where several locations bear similar names, such as Ashmore Brook and Ashmore Park. The prefix "ash" refers to the ash tree, which was abundant in these areas, while the suffix "-more" or "-mere" denotes a marshy or boggy area, indicating that the name likely described a settlement near an ash tree grove in a marshy area.

In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Aschemere, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Staffordshire in 1221. Another early recorded bearer of the name was John de Asshemere, mentioned in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1292.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Ashmore name was Sir William Ashmore (c. 1450-1521), a prominent English soldier and courtier during the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. He served in the Wars of the Roses and was knighted for his valor at the Battle of Stoke Field in 1487.

Another notable figure was John Ashmore (c. 1575-1638), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1628 to 1629.

In the realm of literature, the name Ashmore is associated with the English poet and playwright John Ashmore (1639-1700), who was a member of the Cavalier school of poets and wrote several plays and masques during the Restoration period.

During the 18th century, Sir Matthew Ashmore (1724-1795) was a prominent English barrister and Member of Parliament, representing Bridport from 1768 to 1784.

In more recent times, one of the most famous bearers of the Ashmore name was the British actor and director John Ashmore (1915-1992), known for his roles in films such as "The Way Ahead" and "The Longest Day".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ashmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ashmore 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. Derbyshire leads with 412 Ashmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.08x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 412 12.08x
Yorkshire 379 1.76x
Warwickshire 260 4.73x
Nottinghamshire 216 7.36x
Staffordshire 190 2.58x
Lancashire 175 0.68x
Middlesex 136 0.62x
Cheshire 91 1.89x
Worcestershire 81 2.85x
Durham 69 1.06x
Surrey 51 0.48x
Norfolk 34 1.02x
Kent 19 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 17 3.93x
Leicestershire 16 0.66x
Lincolnshire 16 0.46x
Devon 10 0.22x
Cumberland 9 0.48x
Somerset 9 0.26x
Hampshire 8 0.18x
Sussex 8 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 7 1.01x
Northumberland 5 0.15x
Gloucestershire 3 0.07x
Shropshire 3 0.16x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.09x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.07x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.07x
Essex 1 0.02x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Rutland 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 130 Ashmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.92x.

Place Total Index
Sheffield 130 18.92x
Birmingham 126 6.88x
Hartington Upper 71 436.39x
Aston 69 4.56x
Brimington 65 250.97x
Brightside Bierlow 52 12.28x
Nottingham St Mary 43 5.66x
Brampton 30 62.93x
Tibshelf 27 161.39x
Chesterfield 26 20.34x
Little Bolton 25 7.52x
Worksop 25 28.71x
Bethnal Green London 24 2.54x
Nether Hallam 24 8.22x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 4.78x
Clive 20 1626.02x
Mansfield 20 19.69x
Bradwell 18 235.91x
Darlaston 18 17.71x
Paddington London 17 2.12x
St Marylebone London 17 1.46x
West Rainham 17 677.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 16 7.96x
Edgbaston 16 9.39x
Pilsley 15 133.21x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 14 17.86x
Barnard Castle 14 43.71x
Harborne 14 5.94x
Liverpool 14 0.89x
Ryhope 14 31.12x
St George In East London 14 6.83x
Stockton On Tees 14 4.48x
Warwick St Nicholas 14 34.75x
Wednesbury 14 7.62x
Deptford St Paul 13 2.27x
Mansfield Woodhouse 13 66.53x
Shoreditch London 13 1.38x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 12 90.63x
Camberwell 12 0.86x
Doncaster 12 7.61x
Hackney London 12 0.98x
Kimberworth 12 10.02x
Marple 12 36.35x
Dunstall 11 539.22x
Fernilee 11 138.71x
Handsworth 11 6.07x
Wolverhampton 11 1.95x
Castleton 10 3.87x
Church Gresley 10 18.43x
Rowley Regis 10 4.88x
Sedgley 10 3.66x
Sheepshed 10 30.21x
St Ives 10 44.58x
Wandsworth 10 4.77x
Derby St Alkmund 9 8.81x
Duffield 9 33.48x
Dukinfield 9 4.05x
Hucknall Under 9 59.45x
Kensington London 9 0.74x
Kidderminster Borough 9 5.41x
Newark Upon Trent 9 8.53x
Newton 9 4.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 1.15x
Alsager 8 66.83x
Babworth 8 146.79x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 8 175.05x
Carlton 8 23.88x
Crediton 8 18.62x
Hagley 8 86.96x
Melbourne 8 34.32x
Newbold Dunston 8 24.68x
Rotherham 8 6.57x
Skegby 8 44.49x
Wharton 8 30.55x
Whittington 8 16.96x
Dudley 7 2.02x
Houghton 7 184.21x
Thorpe Salvin 7 259.26x
Uttoxeter 7 18.60x
Workington 7 6.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 160
Sarah 97
Elizabeth 87
Ann 44
Annie 41
Eliza 39
Jane 39
Emma 38
Hannah 35
Alice 33
Ellen 31
Margaret 22
Ada 19
Harriet 18
Martha 17
Clara 16
Fanny 15
Lucy 15
Florence 14
Frances 14
Maria 14
Emily 13
Harriett 12
Kate 11
Louisa 11
Amelia 10
Edith 10
Anne 9
Caroline 9
Catherine 9
Isabella 9
Amy 8
Rebecca 8
Charlotte 7
Eleanor 7
Jessie 7
Susannah 6
Agnes 5
Elizth. 5
Esther 5
Julia 5
Lizzie 5
Matilda 5
Rachel 5
Bertha 4
Lilly 4
Lily 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Selina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 133
William 130
George 88
Thomas 68
James 52
Charles 48
Joseph 47
Henry 40
Arthur 33
Samuel 33
Albert 21
Edward 16
Herbert 16
Alfred 15
Harry 15
Robert 15
Walter 15
Richard 13
Frederick 12
Edwin 11
Wm. 11
Ernest 8
Frank 8
Thos. 8
David 7
Geo. 7
Abraham 6
Benjamin 6
Chas. 6
Fredrick 6
Isaac 6
Daniel 5
Fred 5
Edmund 4
Fred. 4
Willie 4
Aaron 3
Fredk. 3
Leonard 3
Oliver 3
Sam 3
Tom 3
Andrew 2
Frederic 2
Job 2
Joe 2
Levi 2
Morris 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2

FAQ

Ashmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ashmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,239 people were recorded with the Ashmore surname. That placed it at #1,987 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ashmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,390 in 2016. That gives Ashmore a modern rank of #2,008.

What does the Ashmore surname mean?

A locational surname derived from any of several places named Ashmore, likely referring to a moor with ash trees.

What does the Ashmore map show?

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