NameCensus.

UK surname

Ault

A toponymic surname derived from the Old English "aewielm," meaning a spring or source of a river.

In the 1881 census there were 702 people recorded with the Ault surname, ranking it #5,177 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 806, ranked #6,867, down from #5,177 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, All Saints and Burton-on-Trent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cheshire East, North West Leicestershire and Amber Valley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ault is 984 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.8%.

1881 census count

702

Ranked #5,177

Modern count

806

2016, ranked #6,867

Peak year

2000

984 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ault had 702 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,177 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016, ranked #6,867.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 946 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ault surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ault surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ault 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 435 #5,644
1861 historical 419 #6,133
1881 historical 702 #5,177
1891 historical 711 #5,528
1901 historical 803 #5,624
1911 historical 946 #4,756
1997 modern 893 #5,995
1998 modern 976 #5,788
1999 modern 966 #5,869
2000 modern 984 #5,772
2001 modern 952 #5,806
2002 modern 952 #5,918
2003 modern 912 #6,019
2004 modern 891 #6,148
2005 modern 876 #6,149
2006 modern 861 #6,255
2007 modern 847 #6,393
2008 modern 858 #6,374
2009 modern 870 #6,450
2010 modern 873 #6,561
2011 modern 853 #6,594
2012 modern 808 #6,784
2013 modern 816 #6,826
2014 modern 822 #6,826
2015 modern 806 #6,896
2016 modern 806 #6,867

Geography

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Where Aults are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, All Saints, Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and St Werburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cheshire East, North West Leicestershire, Amber Valley, Thanet and Derby. 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 Alkmund Derbyshire
2 All Saints Derbyshire
3 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Werburgh Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cheshire East 019 Cheshire East
2 North West Leicestershire 001 North West Leicestershire
3 Amber Valley 006 Amber Valley
4 Thanet 010 Thanet
5 Derby 029 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ault

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ault

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Ault is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ault 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

Ault falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ault

The surname Ault is of Anglo-Norman origin, deriving from the Old French word "aval" which means "downstream" or "below". This name likely originated in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many French settlers arrived and established themselves in various parts of the country.

The earliest known record of the name Ault can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and property commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings such as "Auualt", "Aulte", and "Aulte".

In the 12th century, the name Ault was associated with several place names in England, such as Ault Hucknall in Derbyshire and Ault Cliffe in Lancashire. These place names likely referred to locations situated downstream or below a particular landmark, reflecting the topographical meaning of the name.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Ault was Richard de Ault, who lived in Lincolnshire in the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was John Ault, a merchant from York who was mentioned in records from the late 14th century.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Ault family established itself in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire. Notable members of the family during this period included William Ault (1557-1629), a landowner in Derbyshire, and Thomas Ault (1618-1692), a clergyman who served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.

In the 18th century, the Ault family continued to thrive, with several members achieving prominence in various fields. One such individual was John Ault (1738-1812), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Guildhall and the Royal Exchange.

Throughout the 19th century, the Ault name spread beyond England to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as members of the family sought new opportunities and adventures. Notable individuals from this period include Henry Ault (1813-1891), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and James Ault (1844-1918), an Australian businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Melbourne.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ault families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ault 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 216 Aults recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.47x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 216 20.47x
Staffordshire 115 5.05x
Middlesex 91 1.35x
Lancashire 69 0.86x
Surrey 35 1.07x
Cheshire 27 1.81x
Yorkshire 25 0.37x
Warwickshire 17 1.00x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.54x
Worcestershire 14 1.59x
Essex 11 0.83x
Leicestershire 8 1.07x
Denbighshire 6 2.36x
Gloucestershire 6 0.45x
Somerset 6 0.55x
Hampshire 5 0.36x
Kent 5 0.22x
Lincolnshire 4 0.37x
Suffolk 4 0.49x
Northamptonshire 3 0.47x
Royal Navy 2 2.49x
Bedfordshire 1 0.29x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.21x
Shropshire 1 0.17x
Sussex 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. Derby St Werburgh in Derbyshire leads with 41 Aults recorded in 1881 and an index of 67.29x.

Place Total Index
Derby St Werburgh 41 67.29x
Burton Upon Trent 27 50.72x
Kirk Langley 24 1528.66x
Derby St Peter 19 56.53x
Derby St Alkmund 16 50.58x
Shoreditch London 15 5.13x
Normanton 14 157.13x
Litchurch 13 30.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 12 4.97x
Harborne 11 15.09x
Paddington London 11 4.44x
Camberwell 10 2.32x
Chelsea London 10 4.92x
Derby All Sts 10 113.51x
Hurdsfield 10 109.17x
Salford 10 4.25x
Burslem 9 13.81x
Hollington 9 1730.77x
Islington London 9 1.38x
Monks Coppenhall 9 16.03x
St Marylebone London 9 2.50x
Accrington 8 11.00x
Battersea 8 3.23x
Hackney London 8 2.12x
Kings Norton 8 10.14x
Marston Upon Dove 8 235.99x
North Meols 8 10.22x
St George Hanover Square 8 6.74x
Aston 7 1.50x
Hampstead London 7 6.67x
Horton In Bradford 7 6.71x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.98x
Quarndon 7 546.88x
Wednesbury 7 12.31x
Wirksworth 7 72.99x
Barking 6 15.41x
Boulton 6 1276.60x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 4.72x
Dudley 6 5.61x
Manningham 6 7.29x
Mickleover 6 184.05x
Otterhampton 6 1090.91x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 6 35.07x
Uttoxeter 6 51.50x
West Bromwich 6 4.61x
Wrexham Regis 6 31.73x
Alfreton 5 15.60x
Ardwick 5 6.93x
Ashby De La Zouch 5 28.87x
Barrow In Furness 5 4.60x
Bilston 5 11.34x
Bristol St George 5 8.18x
Clavering 5 207.47x
Clerkenwell London 5 3.14x
Farnworth 5 10.43x
Lambeth 5 0.85x
Manchester 5 1.39x
Newcastle Under Lyme 5 12.42x
St Luke London 5 4.62x
Tutbury 5 90.09x
Warrington 5 5.27x
Birmingham 4 0.71x
Braceborough 4 952.38x
Bradford Girlington 4 133.78x
Church Gresley 4 23.82x
Doveridge 4 248.45x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 14.36x
Newbold Dunston 4 39.88x
Pendleton In Salford 4 4.20x
Penkridge 4 68.14x
Portsea 4 1.48x
Whittington 4 27.40x
Belper 3 14.66x
Cannock 3 7.56x
Eastwood 3 36.95x
Edgbaston 3 5.69x
Holbeck 3 6.78x
Osgathorpe 3 428.57x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.21x
Whitwood 3 31.61x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 33
James 26
Thomas 22
Charles 21
George 20
Henry 18
Joseph 13
Samuel 13
Arthur 12
Frederick 11
Alfred 8
Herbert 8
Edwin 6
Robert 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Ernest 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Josiah 3
Reuben 3
Tom 3
David 2
Percy 2
Rowland 2
Saml. 2
Thos. 2
Bertram 1
Car 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmund 1
Fredric 1
Harold 1
Hary 1
Hiram 1
Horatio 1
Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Maurice 1
Philip 1
Ralph 1
Reubin 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Rueben 1
Sam 1

FAQ

Ault surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ault surname in 1881?

In 1881, 702 people were recorded with the Ault surname. That placed it at #5,177 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ault surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 806 in 2016. That gives Ault a modern rank of #6,867.

What does the Ault surname mean?

A toponymic surname derived from the Old English "aewielm," meaning a spring or source of a river.

What does the Ault map show?

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