NameCensus.

UK surname

Axe

An Anglicized form of a German surname derived from a geographical name.

In the 1881 census there were 314 people recorded with the Axe surname, ranking it #9,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 379, ranked #12,371, down from #9,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Odcombe, Brimpton and Mexborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Cornwall and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Axe is 467 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.7%.

1881 census count

314

Ranked #9,417

Modern count

379

2016, ranked #12,371

Peak year

1998

467 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Axe had 314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 379 in 2016, ranked #12,371.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 435 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Axe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Axe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Axe 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 148 #13,028
1881 historical 314 #9,417
1901 historical 435 #8,922
1997 modern 453 #10,015
1998 modern 467 #10,120
1999 modern 455 #10,364
2000 modern 438 #10,669
2001 modern 419 #10,835
2002 modern 424 #10,950
2003 modern 409 #11,088
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 373 #11,794
2006 modern 361 #12,178
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 361 #12,407
2009 modern 384 #12,100
2010 modern 391 #12,207
2011 modern 381 #12,300
2012 modern 389 #11,963
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 395 #12,125
2015 modern 390 #12,139
2016 modern 379 #12,371

Geography

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Where Axes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Odcombe, Brimpton, Mexborough, Doncaster and Chinnock, East. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Cornwall, North Lincolnshire, Wakefield and West Dorset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Odcombe, Brimpton Somerset
3 Mexborough Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Chinnock, East Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 020 South Somerset
2 Cornwall 066 Cornwall
3 North Lincolnshire 023 North Lincolnshire
4 Wakefield 043 Wakefield
5 West Dorset 001 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Axe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Axe

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Axe is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Axe is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Axe falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Axe

The surname "Axe" is of English origin, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, referring to individuals who lived near a prominent axe-shaped hill or landmark.

The name is thought to derive from the Old English word "æx," meaning "axe," and likely evolved as a descriptive term for a particular geographic feature or settlement. This surname may also have occupational origins, potentially referring to individuals who worked as axe-makers or woodcutters.

Records from the Domesday Book of 1086 mention several places in England with names containing the word "axe," such as Axmouth in Devon and Axbridge in Somerset. These place names could have influenced the formation of the surname "Axe."

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was William Axe, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early bearer of the name was John Axe, who appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

Notable historical figures with the surname "Axe" include:

1. John Axe (c. 1510-1597), an English Protestant reformer and Bishop of Ely during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. Samuel Axe (1693-1759), an English clergyman and author known for his works on the Hebrew language and biblical exegesis. 3. Thomas Axe (1777-1835), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Naval General Service Medal. 4. Edward Axe (1807-1876), an American politician who served as the 8th Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey from 1851 to 1854. 5. William Axe (1828-1898), a British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the former premises of the Middlesex County Council.

While the surname "Axe" has maintained its distinct spelling over the centuries, variations such as "Axon" and "Axson" may have derived from the same origin. Additionally, the name could have connections to certain place names like Axmouth and Axbridge, reflecting the locational roots of the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Axe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Axe 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. Somerset leads with 116 Axes recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.53x.

County Total Index
Somerset 116 23.53x
Yorkshire 79 2.60x
Middlesex 24 0.78x
Lincolnshire 21 4.29x
Gloucestershire 13 2.16x
Dorset 12 5.97x
Lancashire 10 0.28x
Derbyshire 9 1.88x
Hampshire 9 1.43x
Surrey 7 0.47x
Devon 6 0.94x
Merionethshire 4 7.14x
Monmouthshire 2 0.90x
Hertfordshire 1 0.47x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Chinnock in Somerset leads with 73 Axes recorded in 1881 and an index of 11967.21x.

Place Total Index
East Chinnock 73 11967.21x
Odcombe 21 3230.77x
Sheffield 19 19.66x
Doncaster 16 72.17x
Ecclesall Bierlow 13 21.06x
Epworth 13 570.18x
Mile End Old Town London 10 15.34x
Islington London 9 3.03x
Yeovil 8 79.84x
Clifton 7 23.05x
Fordington 7 161.66x
Kingstonupon Hull 7 288.07x
Southampton St Mary 7 17.73x
York St Maurice 7 122.59x
Bedminster 6 12.95x
Belton 6 301.51x
Mexborough 6 99.67x
Southwark St Saviour 6 38.12x
Bonsall 5 352.11x
Bristol St James St Paul 5 24.96x
West Coker 5 500.00x
Brightside Bierlow 4 6.72x
Exeter St Sidwell 4 27.40x
Towyn 4 113.31x
Widnes 4 15.26x
Melcombe Regis 3 36.01x
Nether Hallam 3 7.31x
Pinner 3 111.94x
Wirksworth 3 68.81x
Glastonbury 2 49.75x
Hackney London 2 1.16x
Heeley 2 21.69x
Hulme 2 2.64x
Little Bolton 2 4.28x
Newport 2 18.94x
Sherborne 2 33.78x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 2 294.12x
Stokenham 2 111.11x
Bridlington 1 14.39x
Camberwell 1 0.51x
Crich 1 31.95x
Doulting 1 158.73x
East Retford 1 27.93x
Fulwood 1 25.45x
Great Grimsby 1 3.22x
Horfield 1 16.53x
Oldham 1 0.85x
St Martin Lincoln 1 22.03x
Thorne 1 26.60x
Watford 1 6.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Sarah 17
Ann 10
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Alice 5
Emily 5
Bessie 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Jane 3
Lilly 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Georgiana 2
Harriet 2
Rose 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Betsy 1
Carrie 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hepzibah 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Levinia 1
Lilley 1
Louis 1
Mabel 1
Madelina 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Millicent 1
Temperance 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 12
George 11
Henry 11
Thomas 10
Walter 8
Arthur 6
Charles 6
James 5
Joseph 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Frederick 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Nathaniel 3
Richard 3
Fred 2
Luke 2
Mark 2
Aldred 1
Archibald 1
Benjn. 1
Charlie 1
Chas.H. 1
Clifford 1
Demas 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwd.J. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Ewd. 1
Gilbert 1
Harry 1
Heber 1
Herbt. 1
Jonah 1
Mary 1
Mathew 1
Matthew 1
Reginald 1
Sansom 1
Sidney 1
Solomen 1
Stephen 1
Wilfred 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Axe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Axe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 314 people were recorded with the Axe surname. That placed it at #9,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Axe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 379 in 2016. That gives Axe a modern rank of #12,371.

What does the Axe surname mean?

An Anglicized form of a German surname derived from a geographical name.

What does the Axe map show?

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