NameCensus.

UK surname

Aveyard

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a clearing or meadow near oats.

In the 1881 census there were 343 people recorded with the Aveyard surname, ranking it #8,889 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 553, ranked #9,240, down from #8,889 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Birstall, Bradford and Batley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aveyard is 608 in 2009. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.2%.

1881 census count

343

Ranked #8,889

Modern count

553

2016, ranked #9,240

Peak year

2009

608 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aveyard had 343 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,889 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016, ranked #9,240.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Aveyard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aveyard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aveyard 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 182 #11,209
1861 historical 216 #11,273
1881 historical 343 #8,889
1891 historical 379 #9,254
1901 historical 438 #8,881
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 567 #8,475
1998 modern 590 #8,492
1999 modern 603 #8,419
2000 modern 600 #8,426
2001 modern 579 #8,495
2002 modern 576 #8,674
2003 modern 573 #8,592
2004 modern 588 #8,471
2005 modern 571 #8,571
2006 modern 572 #8,587
2007 modern 588 #8,486
2008 modern 591 #8,512
2009 modern 608 #8,509
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 591 #8,793
2012 modern 562 #9,037
2013 modern 565 #9,124
2014 modern 557 #9,287
2015 modern 563 #9,130
2016 modern 553 #9,240

Geography

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Where Aveyards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Birstall, Bradford and Batley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds and Bradford. 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 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 106 Leeds
2 Leeds 102 Leeds
3 Leeds 096 Leeds
4 Leeds 108 Leeds
5 Bradford 057 Bradford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aveyard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aveyard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Aveyard, 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 Aveyard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Aveyard 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Aveyard is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Aveyard is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aveyard 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 Aveyard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Aveyard

The surname Aveyard traces its origins to England, specifically from the West Yorkshire region. This area has a rich tapestry of history dating back to medieval times. The name is believed to be of topographical origin, referring to a notable piece of land or feature in the landscape. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "aefen" meaning evening and "geard" meaning enclosure or yard, which would suggest a place where cattle were kept in the evening.

The earliest records of the surname Aveyard can be found in medieval manuscripts and land records, particularly in the regions around Leeds and Wakefield. One of the earliest documented uses of the name dates back to the early 15th century. An individual named Richard Aveyard is mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in 1425, indicating the name’s establishment in that locale.

Historically, the Aveyard surname appears sporadically in various legal and financial documents throughout the 16th and 17th centuries. For instance, in the Muster Rolls of Yorkshire in 1569, a Thomas Aveyard is listed as a yeoman, which indicates a man holding and cultivating a small landed estate. The distribution of the surname in documents from that period underscores its roots in a specific region within Yorkshire.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Robert Aveyard, born in 1610 and documented in parish records of Leeds. He is mentioned in several legal disputes concerning land rights, reflecting the agrarian lifestyle associated with the name. The persistent appearance of the Aveyard surname in property and court documents throughout this era suggests that members of this family were primarily involved in farming and rural trades.

Moving into the 18th century, Joseph Aveyard, born in 1756, made notable contributions to the community as an early industrialist in the West Riding of Yorkshire. He established a small textile mill, which played a role in the early phases of the Industrial Revolution, showcasing how the Aveyard family adapted to and influenced sweeping economic changes of that period.

One of the more prominent figures to carry the surname into modern history was John Aveyard, born in 1823, who became known for his philanthropic efforts. He was instrumental in setting up several educational initiatives in Leeds, emphasizing the importance of literacy and education at a time when such values were becoming crucial in a rapidly industrializing society.

The surname Aveyard, with its deep roots in the English countryside and its association with agricultural and industrial development, highlights the adaptability and influence of its bearers over several centuries. The legacy of the Aveyard name continues to echo through its historical documentation and the contributions of its notable figures, reflecting a rich heritage intertwined with the development of the Yorkshire region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aveyard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aveyard 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. Yorkshire leads with 293 Aveyards recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.84x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 293 8.84x
Cheshire 29 3.93x
Lancashire 19 0.48x
Leicestershire 2 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gildersome in Yorkshire leads with 40 Aveyards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1002.51x.

Place Total Index
Gildersome 40 1002.51x
Gomersal 34 219.64x
Manningham 23 56.30x
West Ardsley 23 576.44x
East Ardsley 22 766.55x
Stockport 20 52.62x
Morley 18 104.41x
Drighlington 16 331.26x
Middleton In Hunslet 16 3404.26x
Lofthouse Cum Carlton 15 371.29x
Soothill 15 125.21x
Leeds 14 7.48x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 10 64.94x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 9.22x
Dewsbury 8 23.53x
Mirfield 8 43.96x
Batley 7 22.22x
Horton In Bradford 6 11.59x
Monks Coppenhall 6 21.53x
Openshaw 6 32.28x
Hunslet 5 9.67x
Southcoates 5 27.16x
Bradford 3 3.74x
Macclesfield 3 9.14x
Manchester 3 1.68x
Barnsley 2 5.85x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.21x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 72.99x
Gorton 1 2.68x
Idle 1 6.51x
Little Bolton 1 1.96x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 1 8.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 24
Mary 17
Elizabeth 14
Ann 11
Hannah 9
Annie 7
Emily 6
Jane 6
Martha 6
Alice 5
Edith 5
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 2
Elizth. 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Maria 2
Susannah 2
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Caraline 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Dorinda 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Florence 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Mariam 1
Maryann 1
Mearid 1
Miranda 1
Nancy 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Ruby 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 15
George 13
Joseph 11
Thomas 10
Samuel 6
Henry 5
James 5
Robert 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
David 4
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Brook 2
Ernest 2
Ezra 2
Fred 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Solomon 2
Asa 1
Bentley 1
Byrom 1
Collins 1
Cornelius 1
Daniel 1
Denby 1
Edward 1
Elliott 1
Geo.Shaw 1
Harry 1
Harvey 1
Helita 1
Joe 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Newman 1
Norman 1
Oliver 1
Orlando 1
Willie. 1

FAQ

Aveyard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aveyard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 343 people were recorded with the Aveyard surname. That placed it at #8,889 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aveyard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 553 in 2016. That gives Aveyard a modern rank of #9,240.

What does the Aveyard surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name referring to a clearing or meadow near oats.

What does the Aveyard map show?

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