NameCensus.

UK surname

Eager

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a keen or enthusiastic person, from the Old French "aigre" meaning "keen, eager."

In the 1881 census there were 407 people recorded with the Eager surname, ranking it #7,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 580, ranked #8,938, down from #7,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newhaven, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewes, Adur and Gateshead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eager is 642 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.5%.

1881 census count

407

Ranked #7,868

Modern count

580

2016, ranked #8,938

Peak year

1999

642 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eager had 407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016, ranked #8,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 562 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Eager surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eager surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eager 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 280 #8,043
1861 historical 314 #8,088
1881 historical 407 #7,868
1891 historical 406 #8,765
1901 historical 562 #7,419
1911 historical 557 #7,210
1997 modern 600 #8,140
1998 modern 630 #8,104
1999 modern 642 #8,039
2000 modern 637 #8,054
2001 modern 621 #8,078
2002 modern 625 #8,209
2003 modern 596 #8,376
2004 modern 591 #8,442
2005 modern 572 #8,559
2006 modern 556 #8,744
2007 modern 555 #8,841
2008 modern 561 #8,822
2009 modern 564 #8,989
2010 modern 583 #8,971
2011 modern 597 #8,723
2012 modern 567 #8,971
2013 modern 589 #8,855
2014 modern 586 #8,954
2015 modern 588 #8,864
2016 modern 580 #8,938

Geography

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Where Eagers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newhaven, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Brighton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lewes, Adur, Gateshead, North Devon and Herefordshire. 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 Newhaven Sussex
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Brighton Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewes 009 Lewes
2 Adur 005 Adur
3 Gateshead 015 Gateshead
4 North Devon 012 North Devon
5 Herefordshire 019 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eager

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eager

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Eager is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Eager is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eager falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eager

The surname Eager has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the 12th century. It derives from the Old English word "eger," meaning "keen" or "eager." This was likely an occupational name given to someone who displayed a particularly enthusiastic or zealous demeanor.

The earliest known record of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Eggarus" and "Egharus." These were early spelling variations that later evolved into the modern form of Eager. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire during the Middle Ages.

In the 13th century, records show an Eagar de Clivelay, who held lands in Clivelay, Lancashire. This indicates that some Eager families were landowners and had adopted the name as a surname. The Eagers of Sandbach, Cheshire, were another prominent family, with their ancestral seat located in the town of Sandbach.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Eager was John Eager (c.1470-1534), a English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wigan in 1529. Another notable bearer of the name was William Eager (1547-1618), a clergyman who served as the Bishop of Ardfert and Aghadoe in Ireland.

During the 17th century, the Eager family spread across various parts of England. Robert Eager (1605-1684) was a wealthy merchant and landowner in Middlesex, while Thomas Eager (1628-1692) was a prominent clothier and benefactor in the town of Kendal, Westmorland.

In the 18th century, the name gained further recognition with individuals like John Eager Howard (1752-1827), a Revolutionary War hero and the fifth Governor of Maryland. Another notable figure was Sir William Eager (1766-1839), a British naval officer and Vice-Admiral who served in the Napoleonic Wars.

As the centuries passed, the Eager surname continued to be carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, scholars, and professionals. Some examples include Samuel Eager (1813-1883), an English engraver and artist, and William Eager (1832-1912), a British Wesleyan minister and author.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eager families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eager 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. Sussex leads with 137 Eagers recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.93x.

County Total Index
Sussex 137 19.93x
Middlesex 65 1.59x
Surrey 44 2.21x
Gloucestershire 42 5.25x
Lancashire 28 0.58x
Yorkshire 27 0.67x
Hampshire 21 2.51x
Channel Islands 13 10.76x
Devon 9 1.06x
Pembrokeshire 5 3.86x
Kent 3 0.22x
Suffolk 3 0.60x
Dorset 2 0.75x
Glamorgan 2 0.28x
Norfolk 2 0.32x
Somerset 2 0.30x
Worcestershire 2 0.38x
Berkshire 1 0.33x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.41x
Cornwall 1 0.22x
Cumberland 1 0.28x
Herefordshire 1 0.60x
Inverness-shire 1 0.82x
Leicestershire 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.18x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 51 Eagers recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.77x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 51 36.77x
Lewes All Sts 17 620.44x
Cheltenham 16 25.93x
Chelsea London 14 11.39x
Portsea 14 8.55x
Ditchling 13 695.19x
St Helier 13 33.05x
Newhaven 11 197.13x
Bristol St James In 10 85.03x
St Pancras London 10 3.05x
Eastbourne 9 28.45x
Tong 9 115.38x
Battersea 8 5.33x
Godalming 8 63.95x
Islington London 8 2.02x
Liverpool 8 2.72x
Manchester 8 3.68x
Gomersal 7 37.12x
Portslade 7 166.67x
Preston 7 58.33x
Shoreditch London 7 3.96x
Tarring Neville 7 7777.78x
Bristol St Paul In 6 28.17x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 7.31x
Woking 6 50.13x
Aldershot 5 17.86x
Dartmouth Townstall 5 144.51x
Everton 5 3.24x
Pembroke St Mary 5 29.96x
Westminster St Margaret 5 25.42x
Bethnal Green London 4 2.26x
Bramley 4 228.57x
Bristol Temple 4 76.05x
Kensington London 4 1.76x
Normanby In 4 37.04x
Coneythorpe 3 2727.27x
East Stonehouse 3 17.94x
Limehouse London 3 6.70x
Melton 3 153.06x
St George In East London 3 7.82x
St Marylebone London 3 1.38x
Wivelsfield 3 111.52x
Wonersh 3 120.97x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 1.89x
Carshalton 2 26.32x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.86x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 10.63x
Leckhampton 2 40.57x
Middleton In Oldham 2 13.78x
Paddington London 2 1.33x
Poole St James 2 19.90x
Roath 2 6.20x
Rottingdean 2 85.11x
South Malling 2 196.08x
Stourbridge 2 14.60x
Acton 1 4.18x
Bishopstone 1 256.41x
Blackburn 1 0.78x
Boleskine Abertarff 1 49.51x
Burghill 1 52.63x
Calne 1 13.48x
Camberwell 1 0.38x
Crowhurst 1 166.67x
Frampton Cotterell 1 35.59x
Great Crosby 1 7.58x
Holy Trinity 1 1.03x
Hook 1 11.25x
Hove 1 3.32x
Kirkbampton 1 169.49x
Lewes St Michael 1 73.53x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.70x
Portsmouth 1 5.20x
St Ives 1 11.07x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 1 71.94x
Stroud 1 6.43x
White Waltham 1 86.96x
Whittingham 1 46.95x
Wimbledon 1 4.48x
Wycombe 1 5.44x
Yeadon 1 10.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 21
Alice 10
Elizabeth 10
Emily 8
Fanny 7
Jane 7
Ann 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Caroline 5
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Frances 3
Harriet 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Matilda 2
Rosina 2
Alicia 1
Beatrice 1
Bridget 1
Elisabeth 1
Emly 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Hansley 1
Harriott 1
Hephzebah 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Lelia 1
Lizzie 1
Sussanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
Henry 16
James 16
Thomas 16
George 15
John 15
Edward 14
Frederick 9
Robert 9
Alfred 7
Joseph 6
Charles 5
Harry 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Stephen 4
Richard 3
Alexander 2
Ebenezer 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Archer 1
August 1
Berty 1
Charley 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Fred 1
Garth 1
Geo.C. 1
Gwynne 1
Jeremiah 1
Joe 1
Lewes 1
Luther 1
Mervyn 1
Nicholas 1
Reginald 1
Rudolph 1
Thos 1
Thos.H. 1
Walter 1
Ward 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Eager surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eager surname in 1881?

In 1881, 407 people were recorded with the Eager surname. That placed it at #7,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eager surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016. That gives Eager a modern rank of #8,938.

What does the Eager surname mean?

Derived from a Middle English nickname for a keen or enthusiastic person, from the Old French "aigre" meaning "keen, eager."

What does the Eager map show?

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