NameCensus.

UK surname

Early

Derived from the Old English word "eorl" meaning a nobleman, prince, or leader, or denoting someone who was brave or courageous.

In the 1881 census there were 1,109 people recorded with the Early surname, ranking it #3,592 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,186, ranked #5,013, down from #3,592 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lewisham, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Boston, Craigneuk Wishaw and Southampton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Early is 1,258 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.9%.

1881 census count

1,109

Ranked #3,592

Modern count

1,186

2016, ranked #5,013

Peak year

1999

1,258 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Early had 1,109 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,592 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,186 in 2016, ranked #5,013.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,128 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Early surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Early surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Early 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 660 #3,927
1861 historical 717 #3,795
1881 historical 1,109 #3,592
1891 historical 935 #4,426
1901 historical 1,128 #4,297
1911 historical 827 #5,337
1997 modern 1,192 #4,734
1998 modern 1,223 #4,807
1999 modern 1,258 #4,733
2000 modern 1,220 #4,828
2001 modern 1,156 #4,971
2002 modern 1,186 #4,951
2003 modern 1,159 #4,948
2004 modern 1,136 #5,052
2005 modern 1,129 #5,021
2006 modern 1,145 #4,950
2007 modern 1,169 #4,919
2008 modern 1,179 #4,907
2009 modern 1,215 #4,888
2010 modern 1,253 #4,866
2011 modern 1,213 #4,925
2012 modern 1,174 #4,996
2013 modern 1,184 #5,051
2014 modern 1,192 #5,053
2015 modern 1,185 #5,026
2016 modern 1,186 #5,013

Geography

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Where Earlys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lewisham, London parishes, Edinburgh, Southampton St Mary and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Boston, Craigneuk Wishaw, Southampton and Ballingry. 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 Lewisham London (South Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Boston 007 Boston
2 Craigneuk Wishaw North Lanarkshire
3 Southampton 007 Southampton
4 Ballingry Fife
5 Southampton 012 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Early

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Early

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Early surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Early household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Early 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

Early 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

Early 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 Early 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 Early, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Early

The surname Early has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "ærlic," which means "early" or "timely." This name was likely given as a descriptive nickname to someone who was known for being punctual or arriving early.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Early surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Erliche." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England and serves as a valuable historical record.

In the 13th century, variations of the name started to appear in different parts of England, such as "Erli" in Oxfordshire and "Erly" in Gloucestershire. These regional spellings reflect the local dialects and pronunciations of the time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Early surname was John Early, who was born in Wiltshire, England, around 1350. He was a prominent landowner and his family's coat of arms can still be seen in the Church of St. Mary in the village of Ludgershall.

During the 16th century, the Early family established themselves in the county of Berkshire, where they owned a significant amount of land and property. Thomas Early (1537-1602), a member of this family, was a successful merchant and served as a magistrate in the town of Reading.

Another notable figure was Sir Samuel Early (1642-1719), a military officer who fought in the Nine Years' War against France. He was knighted for his bravery and leadership on the battlefield and later became a member of the English Parliament.

In the 18th century, the Early family expanded their influence to Ireland, where they settled in County Cork. One of the most prominent members of this branch was Richard Early (1755-1832), a wealthy landowner and philanthropist who was instrumental in establishing several schools and hospitals in the region.

As the Early surname spread across the British Isles, it also found its way to other parts of the world through migration and colonization. For example, John Early (1786-1858), a farmer from Yorkshire, England, emigrated to the United States in the early 19th century and settled in Ohio, where he became a respected member of the local community.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Early families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Early 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. Surrey leads with 133 Earlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.52x.

County Total Index
Surrey 133 2.52x
Middlesex 115 1.06x
Hampshire 112 5.04x
Lancashire 75 0.58x
Midlothian 65 4.47x
Lanarkshire 62 1.77x
Kent 59 1.59x
Yorkshire 47 0.44x
Oxfordshire 42 6.27x
Durham 38 1.18x
Berkshire 32 3.93x
Wiltshire 30 3.13x
Devon 25 1.11x
Dunbartonshire 24 8.23x
Leicestershire 22 1.83x
Essex 19 0.89x
Cheshire 18 0.75x
Dorset 17 2.39x
Lincolnshire 14 0.81x
Warwickshire 14 0.51x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.82x
Staffordshire 12 0.33x
Angus 11 1.09x
Gloucestershire 11 0.52x
Sussex 11 0.60x
Northumberland 10 0.62x
Derbyshire 9 0.53x
East Lothian 9 6.26x
Cumberland 8 0.86x
Northamptonshire 8 0.78x
Buteshire 6 9.13x
Norfolk 6 0.36x
Renfrewshire 5 0.59x
West Lothian 5 3.06x
Glamorgan 4 0.21x
Somerset 4 0.23x
Flintshire 3 1.03x
Argyllshire 2 0.66x
Fife 2 0.31x
Stirlingshire 2 0.50x
Worcestershire 2 0.14x
Anglesey 1 0.52x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Berwickshire 1 0.76x
Channel Islands 1 0.31x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.46x
Royal Navy 1 0.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Southwark St George Martyr in Surrey leads with 39 Earlys recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.87x.

Place Total Index
Southwark St George Martyr 39 17.87x
Lambeth 33 3.49x
Camberwell 28 4.04x
Lewisham 28 14.19x
Southampton St Mary 28 20.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 22 3.76x
Leicester St Margaret 20 6.82x
Witney 19 169.64x
Govan 16 1.84x
Birmingham 14 1.54x
Carluke 14 43.96x
Carisbrooke 13 42.11x
Cumbernauld 13 81.40x
Hamilton 13 13.29x
Newington 13 3.24x
Ratcliffe London 13 21.70x
Liverpool 12 1.54x
Portsea 12 2.75x
Ringwood 12 84.39x
South Leith 12 7.34x
Dundee 11 2.93x
Potterne Marston 11 1774.19x
Brighton 10 2.71x
Christchurch 10 20.74x
Dukinfield 10 9.04x
New Kilpatrick 10 36.06x
Cheltenham 9 5.48x
Hailey 9 191.49x
Hampreston 9 174.08x
St Bartholomew Hyde 9 169.17x
St Marylebone London 9 1.55x
West Ham 9 1.90x
Bishopwearmouth 8 2.89x
Congleton 8 19.34x
Edinburgh Canongate 8 21.63x
Gateshead 8 3.31x
Imber 8 551.72x
Tormoham 8 8.37x
Wolsingham 8 27.20x
Clewer 7 20.99x
Dawlish 7 41.57x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.45x
Glasgow 7 1.12x
Longbenton 7 10.24x
Moresby 7 196.63x
Northfleet 7 21.47x
Paddington London 7 1.76x
Rainhill 7 84.85x
Rotherham 7 11.55x
Salford 7 1.85x
Southampton All Sts 7 18.35x
Wantage 7 53.93x
Wilton In Guisbrough 7 145.53x
Battersea 6 1.50x
Bethnal Green London 6 1.27x
Crakehall 6 333.33x
Manchester 6 1.04x
Nottingham St Mary 6 1.59x
Rothesay 6 18.85x
Stapleford 6 50.55x
Sutterton 6 173.91x
Wellingborough 6 11.70x
Widnes 6 6.46x
Wolverhampton 6 2.13x
Berwick North 5 49.70x
Bradford 5 1.92x
Chelsea London 5 1.53x
Dewsbury 5 4.54x
Hendon 5 12.81x
Islington London 5 0.48x
Kirton 5 71.94x
Litchurch 5 7.32x
North Hinksey 5 476.19x
Norwich St James 5 38.23x
Oldham 5 1.20x
Spitalfields London 5 6.13x
St Pancras London 5 0.57x
Stranton 5 4.60x
Uphall 5 27.84x
Westminster St John 5 3.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 49
William 44
James 33
Thomas 31
George 30
Henry 25
Charles 22
Edward 14
Frederick 14
Joseph 14
Patrick 13
Arthur 12
Richard 11
Frank 10
Albert 8
Michael 8
Walter 7
Alfred 5
Daniel 5
Francis 5
Herbert 5
Isaac 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Edwin 3
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
Harry 3
Nicholas 3
Percy 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Cornelius 2
David 2
Hugh 2
Thos. 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Bernard 1
Caleb 1
Carolne 1
Edw. 1
Egbert 1
Elizah 1
Elsie 1
Jos 1

FAQ

Early surname: questions and answers

How common was the Early surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,109 people were recorded with the Early surname. That placed it at #3,592 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Early surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,186 in 2016. That gives Early a modern rank of #5,013.

What does the Early surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "eorl" meaning a nobleman, prince, or leader, or denoting someone who was brave or courageous.

What does the Early map show?

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