NameCensus.

UK surname

Aspey

Of English origin, a locational surname derived from a place name meaning "aspen tree meadow".

In the 1881 census there were 388 people recorded with the Aspey surname, ranking it #8,141 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 718, ranked #7,566, up from #8,141 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca, Wigan and Bidstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aspey is 755 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 85.1%.

1881 census count

388

Ranked #8,141

Modern count

718

2016, ranked #7,566

Peak year

2010

755 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aspey had 388 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,141 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016, ranked #7,566.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 638 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Aspey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aspey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aspey 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 126 #14,626
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 388 #8,141
1891 historical 457 #7,988
1901 historical 514 #7,888
1911 historical 638 #6,534
1997 modern 733 #6,988
1998 modern 693 #7,538
1999 modern 738 #7,239
2000 modern 736 #7,213
2001 modern 729 #7,128
2002 modern 737 #7,206
2003 modern 711 #7,288
2004 modern 717 #7,251
2005 modern 704 #7,310
2006 modern 704 #7,318
2007 modern 710 #7,342
2008 modern 707 #7,426
2009 modern 754 #7,217
2010 modern 755 #7,348
2011 modern 734 #7,440
2012 modern 716 #7,481
2013 modern 721 #7,570
2014 modern 729 #7,543
2015 modern 720 #7,561
2016 modern 718 #7,566

Geography

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Where Aspeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca, Wigan, Bidstone and Wakefield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wigan. 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 Chester St John the Baptist, St Mary-on-the-Hill, St Olave, St Michael, Spittle Boughton, Chester Ca Cheshire
2 Wigan Lancashire
3 Bidstone Cheshire
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wigan 014 Wigan
2 Wigan 015 Wigan
3 Wigan 010 Wigan
4 Wigan 005 Wigan
5 Wigan 021 Wigan

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aspey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aspey

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Aspey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Aspey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Aspey is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Aspey 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

Aspey 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 Aspey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Aspey

The surname Aspey is of English origin and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to have originated in the county of Northumberland, located in the northernmost part of England, along the Scottish border.

The name Aspey is thought to have derived from the Old English word "aesp," meaning "aspen tree." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a grove of aspen trees or worked with aspen wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Aspey surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland from the year 1195, where a person named William Aspey is mentioned. This document recorded financial transactions and accounts related to the Crown's holdings and revenues.

The Aspey name also appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and resources commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This early record suggests that the Aspey family had established roots in England before the Norman Conquest.

Over the centuries, various spellings of the name have emerged, including Aspey, Aspy, Aspaye, and Aispey. These variations reflect regional dialects and the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping during earlier times.

Notable individuals with the Aspey surname include:

1. Sir Thomas Aspey (1560-1628), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Westbury in the early 17th century. 2. John Aspey (1713-1784), a renowned English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London. 3. Mary Aspey (1768-1841), a British writer and poet known for her romantic verses and nature-inspired works. 4. William Aspey (1820-1892), an English industrialist and entrepreneur who founded the Aspey Manufacturing Company, which produced textile machinery. 5. George Aspey (1892-1968), a British military officer who served with distinction during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery.

The Aspey surname has also been associated with various place names in England, particularly in the counties of Northumberland and Durham, where the name is believed to have originated. These place names include Aspey Croft, Aspey Farm, and Aspey Bridge, among others.

While the Aspey name may not be as widespread as some other English surnames, it has a rich history and has left its mark on various aspects of British society, from politics and architecture to literature and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aspey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aspey 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 189 Aspeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 189 4.23x
Cheshire 64 7.70x
Yorkshire 54 1.45x
Worcestershire 21 4.27x
Durham 12 1.07x
Herefordshire 8 5.18x
Warwickshire 7 0.74x
Kent 6 0.47x
Shropshire 6 1.84x
Middlesex 5 0.13x
Staffordshire 4 0.31x
Hampshire 3 0.39x
Surrey 3 0.16x
Sussex 3 0.47x
Channel Islands 1 0.90x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pemberton in Lancashire leads with 38 Aspeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 213.24x.

Place Total Index
Pemberton 38 213.24x
Ince In Makerfield 25 120.25x
Wigan 19 30.43x
Orrell 15 269.78x
Runcorn 14 73.07x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 12 88.56x
Chester St John Baptist 12 80.32x
Warrington 10 18.88x
Lancaster 9 33.86x
Leeds 8 3.80x
Radcliffe 8 37.14x
Shevington 8 392.16x
Skelmersdale 8 107.38x
Upholland 8 139.62x
Birmingham 7 2.21x
Bransford 7 2121.21x
Chester St Oswald 7 46.51x
Hetton Le Hole 7 49.30x
Standish With Langtree 7 127.27x
Toxteth Park 7 4.63x
Bowdon 6 181.82x
Burley In Wharfdale 6 182.37x
Swinton In Rotherham 6 60.79x
Ellesmere 5 89.61x
Gillingham 5 18.88x
Horsforth 5 61.12x
Hulme 5 5.36x
Kings Norton 5 11.34x
Tudhoe 5 51.02x
Widnes 5 15.51x
Childer Thornton 4 500.00x
Horbury 4 61.26x
Leigh 4 67.00x
Manningham 4 8.70x
Northwich 4 303.03x
Sculcoates 4 6.76x
Westhoughton 4 33.56x
Yarkhill 4 701.75x
Alverstoke 3 10.74x
Ardwick 3 7.44x
Birkenhead 3 4.53x
Eggleton 3 1875.00x
Liverpool 3 1.11x
Preston 3 27.05x
St George Hanover Square 3 4.52x
Wakefield 3 10.47x
Lambeth 2 0.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 2 1.48x
Wharton 2 44.15x
Whiston 2 57.31x
Whittington 2 76.92x
Witton Cum Twambrooks 2 27.03x
Worcester St John 2 34.07x
Altrincham 1 6.89x
Beswick 1 8.75x
Bredon 1 59.52x
Broughton In Salford 1 2.45x
Chatham 1 2.83x
Chester St Martin 1 75.76x
Chorlton Cum Hardy 1 33.78x
Daresbury 1 555.56x
Great Boughton 1 34.84x
Hammersmith London 1 1.08x
Hockenhull 1 3333.33x
Kelsall 1 121.95x
Kidderminster Borough 1 3.47x
Latchford 1 18.12x
Leominster Out 1 68.97x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 1 10.63x
Monks Coppenhall 1 3.19x
North Meols 1 2.29x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 7.50x
Oswestry Town 1 9.60x
Over 1 11.83x
Paddington London 1 0.72x
St Helier 1 2.75x
Stockport 1 2.34x
Stone 1 123.46x
Thurnham 1 144.93x
Woking 1 9.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Jane 19
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 15
Ann 13
Ellen 10
Alice 8
Emily 8
Margaret 8
Eliza 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Florence 4
Hannah 4
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Susannah 3
Harriet 2
Harriot 2
Isabella 2
Margeret 2
Naomi 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Anabella 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Bella 1
Blanch 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanney 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Nancy 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 26
Joseph 25
Thomas 19
William 18
George 16
Henry 14
James 8
Richard 7
Peter 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Luke 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Walter 2
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Josphe 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Saml.D.N. 1
Urban 1
Wilfred 1
Will. 1
Willie 1
Willm.Geo. 1

FAQ

Aspey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aspey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 388 people were recorded with the Aspey surname. That placed it at #8,141 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aspey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 718 in 2016. That gives Aspey a modern rank of #7,566.

What does the Aspey surname mean?

Of English origin, a locational surname derived from a place name meaning "aspen tree meadow".

What does the Aspey map show?

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