NameCensus.

UK surname

Eagles

An English surname derived from the bird or referring to someone with an eagle-like appearance or characteristics.

In the 1881 census there were 844 people recorded with the Eagles surname, ranking it #4,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,327, ranked #4,526, down from #4,467 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lambeth and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Flintshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eagles is 1,519 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 57.2%.

1881 census count

844

Ranked #4,467

Modern count

1,327

2016, ranked #4,526

Peak year

1998

1,519 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eagles had 844 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,467 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,327 in 2016, ranked #4,526.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,274 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eagles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eagles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Eagles 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 597 #4,298
1861 historical 544 #4,830
1881 historical 844 #4,467
1891 historical 944 #4,388
1901 historical 1,085 #4,456
1911 historical 1,274 #3,729
1997 modern 1,400 #4,141
1998 modern 1,519 #4,000
1999 modern 1,503 #4,076
2000 modern 1,465 #4,139
2001 modern 1,438 #4,121
2002 modern 1,461 #4,152
2003 modern 1,416 #4,180
2004 modern 1,393 #4,242
2005 modern 1,334 #4,346
2006 modern 1,338 #4,349
2007 modern 1,332 #4,398
2008 modern 1,324 #4,440
2009 modern 1,348 #4,466
2010 modern 1,367 #4,495
2011 modern 1,358 #4,473
2012 modern 1,354 #4,413
2013 modern 1,355 #4,484
2014 modern 1,363 #4,489
2015 modern 1,335 #4,522
2016 modern 1,327 #4,526

Geography

Back to top

Where Eagles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lambeth, Liverpool and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Flintshire, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Ceredigion and Sandwell. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Lambeth London (South Districts)
3 Liverpool Lancashire
4 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Flintshire 016 Flintshire
2 Newcastle-under-Lyme 010 Newcastle-under-Lyme
3 Newcastle-under-Lyme 014 Newcastle-under-Lyme
4 Ceredigion 009 Ceredigion
5 Sandwell 004 Sandwell

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Eagles

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Eagles

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Eagles is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Eagles is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eagles falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eagles

The surname Eagles is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "Ealu" meaning "ale" or "beer", combined with a topographic suffix denoting a place where these beverages were brewed or sold. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "de Ealgard", referring to a place in Warwickshire.

In the 12th century, the name evolved into various forms such as "Algard", "Alegard", and "Alegar". These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and scribal errors in transcribing the name. Over time, the name eventually transformed into its modern spelling of "Eagles".

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname was John de Algard, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Staffordshire in 1203. Another notable figure was Sir William Eagles, a knight from Derbyshire who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1327-1377).

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Eagles surname became more widespread throughout England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Warwickshire. The name was also found in various parish records, such as baptisms, marriages, and burials.

A prominent figure in the 17th century was Sir William Eagles (1609-1677), a Member of Parliament for Derbyshire and a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War. In the 18th century, John Eagles (1698-1784) was a renowned English clergyman and author who served as the Bishop of Bangor.

Another notable bearer of the Eagles surname was Sir Walter Eagles (1807-1882), a British lawyer and politician who served as the Attorney General of the Duchy of Lancaster. In the 20th century, Sir Walter Malcolm Eagles (1879-1946) was a highly decorated British Army officer who fought in both World Wars and received the Distinguished Service Order.

Overall, the surname Eagles has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England, where it originated as a topographic name associated with the brewing and selling of ale. Throughout the centuries, individuals with this surname have made significant contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, and military service.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Eagles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eagles 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. Middlesex leads with 145 Eagles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 145 1.76x
Warwickshire 129 6.20x
Surrey 115 2.86x
Lancashire 76 0.78x
Kent 73 2.59x
Staffordshire 61 2.19x
Gloucestershire 44 2.72x
Wiltshire 29 3.97x
Oxfordshire 24 4.71x
Worcestershire 21 1.95x
Northamptonshire 16 2.06x
Yorkshire 14 0.17x
Berkshire 13 2.10x
Buckinghamshire 13 2.61x
Bedfordshire 11 2.57x
Devon 11 0.64x
Sussex 11 0.79x
Essex 8 0.49x
Hampshire 5 0.30x
Shropshire 5 0.70x
Norfolk 4 0.32x
Royal Navy 4 4.07x
Durham 3 0.12x
Hertfordshire 3 0.53x
Dorset 2 0.37x
Herefordshire 2 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.18x
Leicestershire 1 0.11x
Lincolnshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 33 Eagles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.59x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 33 4.59x
Birmingham 29 4.18x
Aston 28 4.89x
Highworth 25 267.95x
Liverpool 22 3.70x
Mile End Old Town London 20 11.39x
Bethnal Green London 18 5.02x
Battersea 14 4.61x
Bloxham 13 260.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 13 7.83x
West Derby 13 4.54x
Brenchley 12 119.05x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 11 37.14x
Leamington Priors 11 21.48x
Poplar London 11 7.06x
Westminster St John 11 10.95x
Aylesbury 10 45.23x
Broughton In Salford 10 11.17x
Cheltenham 10 8.01x
Ecclesall Bierlow 10 6.01x
Hackney London 10 2.16x
Sedgley 10 9.66x
Carshalton 9 58.48x
Deerhurst 9 382.98x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.14x
Handsworth 9 13.11x
Maidstone 9 10.73x
Wroxhall 9 1800.00x
Camberwell 8 1.52x
Chertsey 8 30.79x
Hardwicke 8 437.16x
Mathon 8 253.16x
Shoreditch London 8 2.24x
Tipton 8 9.38x
Great Bolton 7 5.40x
Meopham 7 201.15x
Newington 7 2.30x
Solihull 7 46.79x
St Luke London 7 5.29x
Whitechapel London 7 8.60x
Wolstanton 7 8.27x
Bedford St Paul 6 20.47x
Coventry St Michael 6 8.98x
Ealing 6 8.14x
Hampstead London 6 4.67x
Hougham 6 35.84x
Knowle 6 140.19x
Paddington London 6 1.98x
Spratton 6 257.51x
St Marylebone London 6 1.36x
Wednesbury 6 8.62x
Basingstoke 5 25.69x
Beckbury 5 537.63x
Chigwell 5 32.51x
Clapham 5 4.85x
East Farndon 5 793.65x
Edgbaston 5 7.75x
Exeter St David 5 34.06x
Gorton 5 5.43x
Grandborough 5 413.22x
Hastings St Mary 5 14.44x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.78x
Rishton 5 43.52x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 1.69x
Tottenham 5 3.80x
West Bromwich 5 3.14x
Bedford St Mary 4 36.33x
Charlecote 4 540.54x
Cropredy 4 259.74x
Easenhall 4 563.38x
East Hendred 4 173.91x
Edmonton 4 6.02x
Egham 4 16.20x
Everton 4 1.28x
Kidderminster Borough 4 6.34x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 8.12x
Pentney 4 264.90x
Royal Navy 4 4.76x
St Pancras London 4 0.60x
Staplehurst 4 86.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 61
Henry 34
James 33
George 32
John 32
Thomas 32
Charles 31
Joseph 24
Edward 14
Arthur 9
Albert 7
Alfred 7
Edwin 6
Frederick 6
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Richard 5
Walter 4
Amos 3
Edmund 3
Francis 3
Fred 3
Samuel 3
Stephen 3
Emanuel 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Marshall 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Robert 2
Stanley 2
Aurthur 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Ebenezer 1
Elias 1
Fredk.H. 1
G. 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Job 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Philip 1
Woodfield 1

FAQ

Eagles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eagles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 844 people were recorded with the Eagles surname. That placed it at #4,467 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eagles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,327 in 2016. That gives Eagles a modern rank of #4,526.

What does the Eagles surname mean?

An English surname derived from the bird or referring to someone with an eagle-like appearance or characteristics.

What does the Eagles map show?

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