NameCensus.

UK surname

Easey

A surname derived from a place name or locality, possibly related to the Old English words "ēa" (river) and "ēg" (island).

In the 1881 census there were 207 people recorded with the Easey surname, ranking it #12,555 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 452, ranked #10,768, up from #12,555 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and Soham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Cambridgeshire, Mid Suffolk and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Easey is 548 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 118.4%.

1881 census count

207

Ranked #12,555

Modern count

452

2016, ranked #10,768

Peak year

2002

548 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Easey had 207 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,555 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016, ranked #10,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 458 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Easey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Easey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Easey 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 150 #12,905
1861 historical 210 #11,551
1881 historical 207 #12,555
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 309 #11,418
1911 historical 458 #8,376
1997 modern 527 #8,948
1998 modern 535 #9,118
1999 modern 539 #9,116
2000 modern 527 #9,264
2001 modern 530 #9,055
2002 modern 548 #9,000
2003 modern 514 #9,299
2004 modern 509 #9,390
2005 modern 498 #9,467
2006 modern 486 #9,675
2007 modern 476 #9,916
2008 modern 483 #9,890
2009 modern 490 #10,019
2010 modern 479 #10,370
2011 modern 466 #10,495
2012 modern 462 #10,470
2013 modern 468 #10,516
2014 modern 466 #10,608
2015 modern 468 #10,518
2016 modern 452 #10,768

Geography

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Where Easeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Soham, St Mary Islington and Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Cambridgeshire, Mid Suffolk and Waveney. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 Soham Cambridgeshire
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Cambridgeshire 002 East Cambridgeshire
2 East Cambridgeshire 005 East Cambridgeshire
3 East Cambridgeshire 003 East Cambridgeshire
4 Mid Suffolk 001 Mid Suffolk
5 Waveney 014 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Easey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Easey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Easey 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

Easey is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Easey falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Easey

The surname "Easey" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ēaseg," which means "ridge" or "raised ground." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived or worked on a ridge or elevated area of land.

One of the earliest known records of the name "Easey" is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Esigg." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded the names of landowners and tenants across England at the time.

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in various forms, such as "Essegg" and "Esy." These variations likely arose from local dialects and the evolving spelling conventions of the time.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name "Easey" became more standardized in its spelling, and several notable individuals with this surname emerged. One such person was John Easey, a merchant from London who was active in the late 14th century.

Another significant figure was Sir Richard Easey, a military commander who served under King Henry V during the Hundred Years' War in the early 15th century. He was present at the Battle of Agincourt in 1415 and later became a prominent landowner in Oxfordshire.

In the 16th century, the name "Easey" was associated with several places in England, including Easey Green in Hertfordshire and Easey Farm in Gloucestershire. These place names may have derived from the surname or vice versa, reflecting the connection between surnames and geographical locations.

One notable individual from this period was William Easey, a scholar and author who lived in the late 16th century. He wrote several works on theology and philosophy, including "A Treatise on the Immortality of the Soul."

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname "Easey" continued to be present in various parts of England. One prominent figure was Robert Easey, a successful merchant and landowner who lived in Cheshire during the late 17th century.

Another notable person was Sarah Easey, a writer and poet who was active in the early 18th century. She published several works of poetry and was known for her involvement in literary circles in London.

While the surname "Easey" has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, the majority of historical records and notable individuals bearing this name can be traced back to its English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Easey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Easey 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 54 Easeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 54 2.67x
Suffolk 50 20.33x
Cambridgeshire 21 16.42x
Yorkshire 14 0.70x
Surrey 13 1.32x
Essex 12 3.01x
Lincolnshire 12 3.72x
Durham 9 1.50x
Monmouthshire 8 5.48x
Northamptonshire 4 2.11x
Kent 3 0.44x
Huntingdonshire 2 4.99x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Cumberland 1 0.58x
Hertfordshire 1 0.72x
Staffordshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 24 Easeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.26x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 24 12.26x
Soham 15 545.45x
Sotterley 12 6666.67x
Sutton St Mary St James 12 3157.89x
Whickham 9 162.75x
Shoreditch London 8 9.14x
Trevethin 7 50.76x
Wrentham 7 1029.41x
West Ham 6 6.82x
Battersea 5 6.73x
Leiston 5 295.86x
Lowestoft 5 43.03x
Mile End Old Town London 5 11.63x
York St Cuthbert 5 273.22x
Bromley London 4 9.01x
Hackney London 4 3.53x
Ipswich St Margaret 4 47.90x
Lambeth 4 2.27x
Leyton Low 4 49.38x
Littleport 4 163.93x
Pakefield 4 655.74x
Westleton 4 689.66x
Bethnal Green London 3 3.42x
Headingley Cum Burley 3 23.29x
Newborough 3 625.00x
Ormesby 3 55.76x
Saxmundham 3 329.67x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 7.38x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 2 10.73x
Gillingham 2 14.08x
Kirby Le Soken 2 350.88x
Ramsey 2 62.31x
Southwold 2 136.99x
St Anne Soho London 2 17.35x
St Pancras London 2 1.23x
Accrington 1 4.59x
Brundish 1 384.62x
Bungay Holy Trinity 1 79.37x
East Barnet 1 36.23x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 17.92x
Laxfield 1 163.93x
Newington 1 1.34x
Peterborough 1 7.27x
Risca 1 36.36x
St Andrewthe Great 1 60.61x
St Cuthbert W O 1 11.81x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.81x
St George In East London 1 5.27x
Walton Le Dale 1 15.53x
Westhall 1 333.33x
Wolverhampton 1 1.91x
Woolwich 1 3.93x
York Marygate St Olave 1 129.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 12
Mary 9
Sarah 6
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Emily 4
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Emma 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Eve 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Charlot 1
Elizabth. 1
Emeline 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Georgianna 1
Helen 1
Jane 1
Lettey 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Matila 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Nora 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Rachel 1
Rahah 1
Ruth 1
Sarh 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 10
George 8
Henry 7
Alfred 5
Charles 5
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Thomas 4
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Horace 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Chester 2
Ernest 2
Joseph 2
Richard 2
Willm. 2
Adam 1
Benjamin 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Jas.Thos. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Johnathan 1
Mark 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Oscar 1
Robert 1
Simon 1
Stanbridge 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Easey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Easey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 207 people were recorded with the Easey surname. That placed it at #12,555 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Easey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 452 in 2016. That gives Easey a modern rank of #10,768.

What does the Easey surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name or locality, possibly related to the Old English words "ēa" (river) and "ēg" (island).

What does the Easey map show?

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