UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Eary.
In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Eary surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #15,046 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hedingham, Sible, Hedingham, Castle and Lavenham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eary is 172 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.4%.
1881 census count
157
Ranked #15,046
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1901
172 bearers
Map years
4
1881 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Eary surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Eary surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 66 | #21,617 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 157 | #15,046 |
| 1891 | historical | 139 | #19,311 |
| 1901 | historical | 172 | #16,643 |
| 1911 | historical | 157 | #17,348 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 73 | #30,681 |
| 1999 | modern | 66 | #31,509 |
| 2000 | modern | 68 | #31,380 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 62 | #32,214 |
| 2003 | modern | 69 | #31,587 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 71 | #33,102 |
| 2010 | modern | 75 | #33,081 |
| 2011 | modern | 70 | #33,465 |
| 2012 | modern | 65 | #33,964 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hedingham, Sible, Hedingham, Castle, Lavenham, London parishes and Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hedingham, Sible | Essex |
| 2 | Hedingham, Castle | Essex |
| 3 | Lavenham | Suffolk |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Eary surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Eary, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Eary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Eary household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Eary is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Eary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Eary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Eary is believed to have originated in England, with its roots tracing back to the 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "earding," meaning a person who lived near a plowed or cultivated field.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273, which mentions a certain Robertus de Erdington. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled Erdington or Eardington before evolving into its modern form.
In the 14th century, the Eary surname began appearing in various historical records across different regions of England. For instance, the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379 lists a John Erdyngton, while the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1397 mentions a William Eardyngton.
The Eary name may also be linked to certain place names, such as Erdington, a district in Birmingham, or Eardington, a village in Shropshire. These locations could have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.
Notable individuals bearing the Eary surname include William Eary (1560-1628), an English clergyman and writer who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon during the time of William Shakespeare. Another prominent figure was Sir Samuel Eary (1615-1680), a wealthy merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1673.
In the 18th century, John Eary (1720-1798) gained recognition as a successful farmer and landowner in Gloucestershire, while his contemporary, Elizabeth Eary (1735-1810), was a prominent philanthropist known for her contributions to various charitable causes in Somerset.
Furthermore, the Eary surname has been associated with the military, with Captain James Eary (1795-1856) serving in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars and later becoming a respected landowner in Wiltshire.
While the Eary surname may not be among the most common in England today, its rich history and evolution over the centuries are a testament to the diverse origins and influences that have shaped many of the country's family names.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eary surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 93 Earys recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.76x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 93 | 30.76x |
| Suffolk | 33 | 17.69x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.59x |
| Northamptonshire | 6 | 4.17x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.67x |
| Sussex | 5 | 1.94x |
| Hertfordshire | 2 | 1.89x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.59x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.44x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.06x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.26x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Maplestead in Essex leads with 20 Earys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9523.81x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Maplestead | 20 | 9523.81x |
| Sible Hedingham | 18 | 1782.18x |
| Castle Hedingham | 17 | 3090.91x |
| Preston | 12 | 7500.00x |
| Kirkley | 9 | 576.92x |
| Maldon St Peter | 9 | 584.42x |
| Romford | 9 | 188.28x |
| Sudbury St Gregory | 7 | 466.67x |
| Tolleshunt Major | 7 | 3333.33x |
| Daventry | 6 | 294.12x |
| Brighton | 5 | 9.60x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 6.12x |
| Lexden | 4 | 330.58x |
| Battersea | 3 | 5.32x |
| Hammersmith London | 3 | 7.95x |
| Lavenham | 3 | 306.12x |
| Wakes Colne | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Bures St Mary | 2 | 434.78x |
| Tollesbury | 2 | 263.16x |
| Barking | 1 | 11.31x |
| Broxbourne | 1 | 47.85x |
| Bures St Mary | 1 | 357.14x |
| Checkendon | 1 | 500.00x |
| Croydon | 1 | 2.41x |
| Danbury | 1 | 196.08x |
| Fordham | 1 | 270.27x |
| Hunsdon | 1 | 357.14x |
| Knighton | 1 | 104.17x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 10.53x |
| Newington | 1 | 1.77x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 1.78x |
| Wallsend | 1 | 13.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Eary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 7 |
| Ellen | 6 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Alice | 5 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Emma | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Emily | 3 |
| Florence | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Caroline | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Jane | 2 |
| Jemima | 2 |
| Jessie | 2 |
| Lydia | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Minnie | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Bertha | 1 |
| Clary | 1 |
| Georgina | 1 |
| Hanah | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lottie | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Nellie | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Salome | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
| Susanah | 1 |
| Syrena | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Eary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Eary households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 45 |
| Ag Lab | 10 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 5 |
| Domestic Servant | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Labourer General | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Parish Recipient | 2 |
| Straw Plaiter | 2 |
| Straw Platter | 2 |
| Agricult Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bakers Lad | 1 |
| Brewers Lab ((...)) | 1 |
| Brewers Labourer | 1 |
| Brewers Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Builder | 1 |
| Chemical Lab (Manuf) | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cocoa Mat Weaver | 1 |
| Cook Dom Serv | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Engineer | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Factory Hand | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Groom N D | 1 |
| Horse Hair Weaver | 1 |
| Housemaid Dom Servant | 1 |
| Housemaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Independant | 1 |
| Iron Fitter (Manfct) | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Labs Wife | 1 |
| Miller (Corn) | 1 |
| Needlework | 1 |
| Ostler (8) | 1 |
| Ostlers Wife | 1 |
| Servant Domestic Unemployed | 1 |
| Shepherd | 1 |
| Silk Weaver | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Under Nurse Domestic | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Eary surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Eary a modern rank of #33,700.
An English surname derived from a place name referring to someone from Eary.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Eary bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.