NameCensus.

UK surname

Eales

A surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, possibly derived from the Old English word "ēa" meaning river or stream.

In the 1881 census there were 1,510 people recorded with the Eales surname, ranking it #2,780 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,861, ranked #3,416, down from #2,780 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Towcester and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Harborough, Northumberland and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eales is 2,168 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.2%.

1881 census count

1,510

Ranked #2,780

Modern count

1,861

2016, ranked #3,416

Peak year

1911

2,168 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eales had 1,510 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,780 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,861 in 2016, ranked #3,416.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,168 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eales surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eales 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 954 #2,911
1861 historical 1,048 #2,675
1881 historical 1,510 #2,780
1891 historical 1,756 #2,598
1901 historical 1,977 #2,682
1911 historical 2,168 #2,321
1997 modern 1,902 #3,173
1998 modern 2,015 #3,139
1999 modern 2,026 #3,151
2000 modern 1,980 #3,192
2001 modern 1,948 #3,176
2002 modern 2,021 #3,145
2003 modern 1,917 #3,218
2004 modern 1,877 #3,275
2005 modern 1,856 #3,273
2006 modern 1,862 #3,291
2007 modern 1,886 #3,275
2008 modern 1,907 #3,267
2009 modern 1,936 #3,302
2010 modern 1,970 #3,312
2011 modern 1,947 #3,315
2012 modern 1,911 #3,312
2013 modern 1,903 #3,380
2014 modern 1,910 #3,383
2015 modern 1,885 #3,387
2016 modern 1,861 #3,416

Geography

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Where Eales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Towcester, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory and Ashburton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Harborough, Northumberland, County Durham and Nuneaton and Bedworth. 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 1
2 Towcester Northamptonshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
5 Ashburton Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Harborough 006 Harborough
2 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
3 County Durham 055 County Durham
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 006 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Nuneaton and Bedworth 013 Nuneaton and Bedworth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eales

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Eales is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eales is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Eales falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eales

The surname EALES originated in England, with the earliest known references dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ealh," meaning "temple" or "hall," suggesting that the name may have been initially used to identify someone who lived near a prominent building or estate.

Records from the Domesday Book, the historic census commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, reveal several variations of the name, such as "Eale" and "Ealles." These early spellings provide insight into the evolution of the surname over time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Eales, who was born in Gloucestershire around 1260. His name appears in the Pipe Rolls of the County of Gloucester from that period, indicating his prominence in the local community.

During the 16th century, the name EALES was particularly prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. Notable individuals from this time include Thomas Eales, a merchant from Bristol born in 1534, and Richard Eales, a landowner in Oxfordshire born in 1572.

As the name spread across England, it became associated with various place names, such as Eales Green in Staffordshire and Eales Farm in Gloucestershire. These locations likely derived their names from early settlers bearing the EALES surname.

One of the most renowned historical figures with the surname EALES was Sir John Eales, a member of the English Parliament who lived from 1604 to 1679. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, serving as a colonel in the Parliamentarian army.

In the 18th century, the name EALES gained further recognition with the birth of John Eales (1744-1810), a renowned English architect who designed numerous buildings in Bath, Somerset, and the surrounding areas.

Another notable figure was Sir James Eales (1759-1833), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Admiral and was knighted for his distinguished service.

The 19th century saw the emergence of prominent literary figures with the surname EALES, including the poet and novelist Mary Eales (1817-1892) and the children's author Wilberforce Eales (1837-1904).

Throughout its history, the surname EALES has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eales 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. Northamptonshire leads with 280 Eales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.18x.

County Total Index
Northamptonshire 280 20.18x
Devon 175 5.70x
Middlesex 175 1.19x
Warwickshire 170 4.57x
Durham 104 2.37x
Yorkshire 79 0.54x
Lancashire 71 0.41x
Surrey 71 0.99x
Hampshire 58 1.92x
Leicestershire 56 3.42x
Kent 44 0.87x
Wiltshire 32 2.45x
Worcestershire 27 1.40x
Staffordshire 26 0.52x
Gloucestershire 23 0.80x
Essex 19 0.65x
Buckinghamshire 16 1.79x
Berkshire 14 1.26x
Somerset 11 0.46x
Derbyshire 9 0.39x
Glamorgan 7 0.27x
Hertfordshire 5 0.49x
Rutland 5 4.62x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Suffolk 4 0.22x
Sussex 4 0.16x
Midlothian 3 0.15x
Royal Navy 3 1.71x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.34x
Cornwall 2 0.12x
Dorset 2 0.21x
Norfolk 2 0.09x
Oxfordshire 2 0.22x
Ayrshire 1 0.09x
Bedfordshire 1 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.11x
Denbighshire 1 0.18x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bugbrooke in Northamptonshire leads with 51 Eales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1123.35x.

Place Total Index
Bugbrooke 51 1123.35x
Towcester 51 356.39x
Ashburton 49 333.79x
Aston 44 4.30x
Chelsea London 29 6.52x
Lambeth 27 2.10x
Leeds 26 3.15x
Tormoham 23 17.70x
Islington London 21 1.47x
Nether Heyford 20 489.00x
St Marylebone London 20 2.54x
Coventry Holy Trinity 18 16.21x
Northampton Priory St 18 21.62x
Birmingham 17 1.37x
Greens Norton 17 386.36x
Leicester St Margaret 16 4.01x
Northampton St Giles 15 28.38x
Fulham London 14 6.54x
Newton Abbot St Mary 14 54.37x
Oldbury 14 14.77x
West Derby 14 2.73x
West Ham 14 2.18x
Brixham 13 36.55x
Downton 13 76.16x
Cliddesden 12 710.06x
Dummer 12 609.14x
Eatington 12 341.88x
Nuneaton 12 27.85x
Toxteth Park 12 2.02x
Billesdon 11 259.43x
Doncaster 10 9.37x
Escomb 10 49.60x
Kislingbury 10 284.90x
Leamington 10 40.57x
Long Buckby 10 77.94x
Northampton St Sepulchre 10 14.17x
Usworth 10 42.92x
West Bromwich 10 3.51x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 9 3.30x
Enfield 9 9.30x
Garston 9 17.43x
Irthlingborough 9 66.18x
Paddington London 9 1.66x
Portsea 9 1.52x
Wolston 9 743.80x
Manningham 8 4.44x
Milford 8 114.45x
North Waltham 8 380.95x
Oldham 8 1.42x
Ovington 8 1052.63x
Passenham 8 140.35x
St Pancras London 8 0.67x
Tonbridge 8 4.41x
Willington 8 31.55x
Arnesby 7 327.10x
Bishop Auckland 7 11.89x
Coventry St Michael 7 5.86x
Croydon 7 1.75x
Exeter Alphington 7 124.33x
Hugglescote 7 29.09x
Kensington London 7 0.85x
Kings Norton 7 4.05x
Lewisham 7 2.61x
Pinhoe 7 254.55x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.31x
Stoke Damerel 7 3.26x
Wokingham 7 27.70x
Ystradyfodwg 7 3.11x
Bow London 6 3.20x
Byers Green 6 48.47x
Egham 6 13.60x
Handsworth 6 4.89x
Heeley 6 13.51x
Kingswear 6 243.90x
Litchurch 6 6.46x
Marsh Gibbon 6 160.00x
Middlesbrough 6 3.15x
Northampton All Sts 6 12.74x
Ruckinge 6 300.00x
Whiteparish 6 108.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 95
Elizabeth 68
Sarah 54
Ellen 30
Alice 27
Eliza 27
Annie 26
Emma 26
Emily 23
Jane 23
Ann 16
Louisa 16
Margaret 13
Charlotte 11
Harriet 11
Ada 10
Caroline 10
Edith 10
Hannah 10
Martha 10
Anne 9
Catherine 9
Florence 9
Kate 9
Clara 8
Fanny 8
Agnes 7
Harriett 6
Frances 5
Julia 5
Lucy 5
Maria 5
Rebecca 5
Susan 5
Elizth. 4
Laura 4
Amy 3
Dinah 3
Esther 3
Gertrude 3
Helen 3
Isabella 3
Minnie 3
Rose 3
Selina 3
Susannah 3
Ethel 2
Mabel 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 102
John 93
George 51
Thomas 48
James 36
Charles 34
Henry 30
Alfred 28
Joseph 25
Samuel 20
Edward 19
Richard 19
Frederick 15
Robert 14
Walter 14
Albert 11
Arthur 11
Harry 11
Herbert 11
Ernest 9
Edwin 8
Francis 8
Frank 7
Ralph 5
Christopher 4
Fredrick 4
Josiah 4
Mark 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
David 3
Edgar 3
Edmund 3
Fred 3
Isaac 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Bassett 2
Cyril 2
Jesse 2
Matthew 2
Owen 2
Wm. 2
Ebenezer 1
Frederic 1
Fredick 1
Fredk.J. 1

FAQ

Eales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,510 people were recorded with the Eales surname. That placed it at #2,780 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,861 in 2016. That gives Eales a modern rank of #3,416.

What does the Eales surname mean?

A surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, possibly derived from the Old English word "ēa" meaning river or stream.

What does the Eales map show?

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