NameCensus.

UK surname

Athey

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "at the hay" or "at the enclosure" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 356 people recorded with the Athey surname, ranking it #8,665 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 592, ranked #8,814, down from #8,665 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Athey is 648 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.3%.

1881 census count

356

Ranked #8,665

Modern count

592

2016, ranked #8,814

Peak year

1999

648 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Athey had 356 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,665 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016, ranked #8,814.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 514 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Athey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Athey surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Athey 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 181 #12,997
1881 historical 356 #8,665
1891 historical 347 #9,894
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 514 #7,669
1997 modern 639 #7,763
1998 modern 636 #8,041
1999 modern 648 #7,966
2000 modern 631 #8,125
2001 modern 613 #8,156
2002 modern 626 #8,196
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 597 #8,299
2006 modern 585 #8,440
2007 modern 589 #8,477
2008 modern 583 #8,606
2009 modern 599 #8,612
2010 modern 611 #8,669
2011 modern 610 #8,569
2012 modern 595 #8,671
2013 modern 597 #8,782
2014 modern 593 #8,884
2015 modern 594 #8,798
2016 modern 592 #8,814

Geography

Back to top

Where Atheys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, St Werburgh and Morpeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne and Sheffield. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 Gateshead Durham
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Morpeth Northumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 019 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Northumberland 003 Northumberland
5 Sheffield 039 Sheffield

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Athey

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Athey

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Athey is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Athey 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

Athey 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 Athey 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 Athey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Athey

The surname Athey has its origins in England, dating back to the 11th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "ætt," meaning "at the" or "near the," and the Old English word "hæth," meaning "heathland" or "uncultivated land." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a heath or area of uncultivated land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Athey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. In this document, the name is spelled as "Atti," which is likely an early variation of the modern spelling.

During the 13th century, the surname Athey began to appear in various historical records across England. In 1273, a record from the Hundred Rolls, a census-like survey of land ownership, mentions a "William Atteheth" from Lincolnshire. This spelling variation, "Atteheth," provides further evidence of the name's connection to the Old English words for "at the" and "heath."

Notable individuals with the surname Athey throughout history include:

1. Robert Athey (c. 1570 - 1640), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Eastlow, Cornwall, in the early 17th century.

2. John Athey (c. 1598 - 1659), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore in Ireland during the mid-17th century.

3. Elizabeth Athey (c. 1640 - 1707), an English Quaker preacher and activist who was arrested and imprisoned multiple times for her religious activities in the late 17th century.

4. Thomas Athey (1762 - 1839), an English landscape painter and engraver known for his topographical views of various regions in England.

5. William Athey (1830 - 1912), a British railway engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam locomotive design in the late 19th century.

While the surname Athey has roots in England dating back to the 11th century, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, through the process of immigration and migration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Athey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Athey 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. Durham leads with 104 Atheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.21x.

County Total Index
Durham 104 10.21x
Yorkshire 102 3.01x
Northumberland 73 14.33x
Surrey 25 1.50x
Derbyshire 16 2.98x
Leicestershire 8 2.11x
Essex 4 0.59x
Lancashire 4 0.10x
Renfrewshire 4 1.51x
Middlesex 3 0.09x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Warwickshire 2 0.23x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Dorset 1 0.45x
Hampshire 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherham in Yorkshire leads with 30 Atheys recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.82x.

Place Total Index
Rotherham 30 156.82x
Tanfield 18 148.64x
Litchurch 16 74.18x
Croydon 14 15.12x
Morpeth 14 233.72x
Gateshead 13 17.05x
Kimberworth 10 53.11x
Hartlepool 9 62.15x
Harton 9 223.88x
Newham In Belford 9 3214.29x
Barton 8 1333.33x
Horton In Bradford 8 15.10x
Kelloe 8 727.27x
Greencroft 7 374.33x
Harbottle Peels 7 3684.21x
Bedlington 6 35.27x
Darlington 6 15.26x
Embleton 6 550.46x
Pelton 6 123.71x
Camberwell 5 2.29x
Crigglestone 5 152.91x
Cudworth 5 409.84x
Darfield 5 161.81x
Ecclesfield 5 20.10x
Elvet 5 68.03x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 25.15x
Seaton Delaval 5 111.86x
Westoe 5 8.66x
Wigston Magna 5 99.40x
Cathcart 4 27.86x
Cowpen 4 34.10x
Eston 4 54.13x
Everton 4 3.09x
Hatfield In Thorne 4 188.68x
Rawmarsh 4 33.36x
St Giles 4 62.89x
Stockton On Tees 4 8.15x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 44.59x
Walthamstow 4 16.44x
Whitley 4 242.42x
Alnwick 3 34.25x
Leicester St Margaret 3 3.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 4.35x
Aston 2 0.84x
Belford 2 185.19x
Byker 2 7.94x
Gloucester St Nicholas 2 64.31x
Lambeth 2 0.67x
Lesbury 2 176.99x
Longbenton 2 9.27x
Nether Hallam 2 4.36x
North Sunderland 2 170.94x
Sherburn House 2 869.57x
St Pancras London 2 0.73x
Wadworth 2 298.51x
Wakefield 2 7.68x
Conistone Cum Kilnsey 1 476.19x
Elswick 1 2.46x
Handsworth 1 3.51x
Kensington London 1 0.53x
Kirkwhelpington 1 370.37x
Macclesfield 1 2.98x
Middlesbrough 1 2.26x
Millbrook 1 5.66x
Netherton N S Side 1 526.32x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 3.29x
Newington 1 0.79x
Newminster Abbey 1 476.19x
Portland 1 8.28x
Ryton 1 27.93x
Sedgefield 1 27.55x
Shadwell 1 77.52x
Washington 1 23.42x
Wath On Dearne 1 14.77x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Jane 9
Margaret 9
Ann 7
Annie 7
Isabella 7
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Agnes 3
Emily 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Elisabeth 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Lily 2
Margt. 2
Rachel 2
Adey 1
Amy 1
Anne 1
Barbra 1
Betsy 1
Catharine 1
Edith 1
Edna 1
Elenor 1
Eliza 1
Elleanor 1
Emiley 1
Euphemia 1
Everlin 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Jennie 1
Judith 1
Kate 1
Mabel 1
Margt.Annie 1
Melina 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 26
George 19
Thomas 17
Joseph 10
Robert 10
Christopher 5
James 5
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Charles 3
Mark 3
Michael 3
Walter 3
Fred 2
Mathew 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Arnold 1
Chas.Nicholson 1
Edgar 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Jn. 1
Job 1
Joe 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Rubin 1
Rueben 1
Ths. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Athey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Athey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 356 people were recorded with the Athey surname. That placed it at #8,665 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Athey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 592 in 2016. That gives Athey a modern rank of #8,814.

What does the Athey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "at the hay" or "at the enclosure" in Old English.

What does the Athey map show?

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