NameCensus.

UK surname

Eason

An English surname derived from the given name Eason, which is of uncertain origin and meaning.

In the 1881 census there were 1,271 people recorded with the Eason surname, ranking it #3,206 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,773, ranked #3,545, down from #3,206 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Mudford, Preston and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Amber Valley, South Kesteven and Welwyn Hatfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eason is 1,879 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

1,271

Ranked #3,206

Modern count

1,773

2016, ranked #3,545

Peak year

1998

1,879 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eason had 1,271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,206 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,773 in 2016, ranked #3,545.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,815 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eason surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eason surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eason 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 803 #3,334
1861 historical 888 #3,120
1881 historical 1,271 #3,206
1891 historical 1,414 #3,086
1901 historical 1,553 #3,319
1911 historical 1,815 #2,710
1997 modern 1,787 #3,357
1998 modern 1,879 #3,335
1999 modern 1,872 #3,368
2000 modern 1,865 #3,355
2001 modern 1,821 #3,359
2002 modern 1,846 #3,387
2003 modern 1,780 #3,423
2004 modern 1,758 #3,471
2005 modern 1,719 #3,506
2006 modern 1,734 #3,491
2007 modern 1,747 #3,498
2008 modern 1,771 #3,484
2009 modern 1,785 #3,531
2010 modern 1,823 #3,527
2011 modern 1,795 #3,542
2012 modern 1,721 #3,609
2013 modern 1,796 #3,536
2014 modern 1,814 #3,533
2015 modern 1,793 #3,532
2016 modern 1,773 #3,545

Geography

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Where Easons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Mudford, Preston, Brighton and Merriott. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Amber Valley, South Kesteven, Welwyn Hatfield, Shepway and Adur. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Mudford, Preston Somerset
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Merriott Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Amber Valley 005 Amber Valley
2 South Kesteven 015 South Kesteven
3 Welwyn Hatfield 010 Welwyn Hatfield
4 Shepway 013 Shepway
5 Adur 004 Adur

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eason

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eason

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

Eason 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

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

Meaning and origin of Eason

The surname Eason is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Eason," which itself comes from the Germanic root "Eas," meaning "divine strength" or "godly."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Esone." This suggests that the name was already in use among the Anglo-Saxon population before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 12th century, the name was often spelled as "Easun" or "Eson," reflecting the phonetic evolution of the language. During this period, the Eason family was concentrated primarily in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire in northern England.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Eason, a knight who fought alongside King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War in the 14th century. He was born around 1310 and died in battle at the Siege of Calais in 1347.

Another significant figure was Robert Eason, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 15th century. He was born around 1420 and played an influential role in the city's governance and trade relations.

In the 16th century, the name Eason was sometimes associated with the village of Easington in County Durham, which was likely derived from the same Old English root. This connection may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

During the 17th century, the Eason family spread across England, with notable members including William Eason (1604-1674), a Puritan minister and author from Cambridgeshire, and Thomas Eason (1631-1705), a successful merchant and landowner in Yorkshire.

Another prominent figure was Sir Robert Eason (1670-1744), a British naval officer who served with distinction during the War of the Spanish Succession and later became an influential Member of Parliament.

As the Eason family continued to grow and disperse throughout the British Isles, various spellings and variations of the name emerged, such as Easson, Esson, and Eesan. However, the core meaning and origins of the surname remained rooted in its ancient Anglo-Saxon heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eason families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eason 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. Somerset leads with 131 Easons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.50x.

County Total Index
Somerset 131 6.50x
Middlesex 130 1.04x
Kent 122 2.86x
Lancashire 84 0.57x
Yorkshire 67 0.54x
Nottinghamshire 62 3.68x
Surrey 59 0.97x
Fife 57 7.69x
Lincolnshire 56 2.80x
Cambridgeshire 53 6.69x
Staffordshire 49 1.16x
Hampshire 45 1.75x
Northamptonshire 45 3.82x
Sussex 40 1.90x
Lanarkshire 30 0.74x
Derbyshire 29 1.48x
Berkshire 25 2.66x
Hertfordshire 21 2.43x
Huntingdonshire 16 6.44x
Norfolk 15 0.78x
Dorset 13 1.58x
Essex 13 0.53x
Glamorgan 12 0.55x
East Lothian 11 6.64x
Monmouthshire 11 1.22x
Angus 8 0.69x
Herefordshire 8 1.56x
Leicestershire 8 0.58x
Rutland 8 8.71x
Westmorland 7 2.54x
Isle of Man 6 2.58x
Midlothian 6 0.36x
Channel Islands 5 1.35x
Gloucestershire 5 0.20x
Warwickshire 5 0.16x
Cheshire 4 0.14x
Devon 3 0.12x
Northumberland 3 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.17x
Cumberland 2 0.19x
Oxfordshire 2 0.26x
Stirlingshire 2 0.43x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Merriott in Somerset leads with 40 Easons recorded in 1881 and an index of 679.12x.

Place Total Index
Merriott 40 679.12x
Crewkerne 36 168.30x
Brightside Bierlow 28 11.51x
Dunfermline 27 23.70x
Portsea 26 5.17x
Brighton 24 5.64x
Wemyss 23 73.37x
Whittlesey St Mary St 22 79.45x
Swavesey 21 413.39x
Kislingbury 20 671.14x
Stoke Upon Trent 20 4.46x
Mudford 19 1158.54x
West Derby 19 4.37x
Liverpool 18 2.00x
Long Wittenham 18 746.89x
Nottingham St Mary 18 4.13x
Shoreditch London 17 3.13x
Barony 16 1.56x
Islington London 15 1.24x
Milton In Milton 15 82.64x
Ashton Under Lyne 14 4.31x
Maidstone 14 11.01x
Yeovil 14 34.20x
Alfreton 13 21.84x
Cranbrook 13 71.86x
Holbeach 12 53.84x
Newington 12 2.60x
St Pancras London 12 1.19x
West Ham 12 2.20x
Berwick North 11 94.75x
Camberwell 11 1.38x
Horsham 11 26.84x
Newborough 11 394.27x
Stibbington 11 472.10x
Bedminster 10 5.28x
Carluke 10 27.21x
Clapham 10 6.39x
Mile End Old Town London 10 3.75x
St Marylebone London 10 1.50x
Throwley 10 375.94x
Whaplode Drove 10 296.74x
Kensington London 9 1.29x
Merthyr Tydfil 9 4.30x
Trevethin 9 10.53x
Whaplode 9 131.96x
Wolverhampton 9 2.77x
Carisbrooke 8 22.47x
Empingham 8 226.63x
Hackney London 8 1.14x
Harbledown 8 259.74x
Lambeth 8 0.73x
Leominster 8 37.66x
Sherborne 8 33.07x
St Albans St Stephen 8 106.10x
West Retford 8 228.57x
Bethnal Green London 7 1.29x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.37x
Craig 7 62.50x
Duston 7 65.54x
Flintham 7 429.45x
Hawkhurst 7 52.75x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 7 105.74x
Hinton St George 7 239.73x
Moulton 7 72.69x
Oldham 7 1.46x
St Albans St Peter 7 24.05x
Stapenhill 7 24.00x
Battersea 6 1.30x
Bourn 6 37.13x
Chelsea London 6 1.59x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 0.89x
Faversham 6 14.73x
Kirkcaldy 6 16.33x
Linthorpe 6 8.11x
Onchan 6 8.96x
Tonbridge 6 3.90x
Wakefield 6 6.30x
Wortley In Bramley 6 6.11x
Hucknall Torkard 5 11.69x
Withington 5 10.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 75
Elizabeth 44
Sarah 42
Ann 26
Eliza 25
Jane 21
Emma 18
Emily 16
Annie 15
Hannah 14
Martha 14
Ellen 12
Harriet 10
Alice 9
Clara 8
Fanny 8
Rose 8
Esther 7
Florence 7
Kate 7
Ada 6
Maria 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Bessie 5
Charlotte 5
Harriett 5
Louisa 5
Margaret 5
Anna 4
Caroline 4
Catherine 4
Elizth. 4
Agnes 3
Amy 3
Anne 3
Ethel 3
Isabella 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Marianne 3
Adelaide 2
Amelia 2
Augusta 2
Beatrice 2
Christina 2
Edith 2
Lily 2
Marey 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 85
John 53
George 45
Henry 38
Thomas 33
Charles 30
James 28
Joseph 21
Alfred 20
Edward 20
Robert 13
Samuel 13
Richard 11
Albert 10
Frederick 10
Walter 9
Arthur 7
Alexander 6
Wm. 6
David 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Tom 4
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Jesse 3
Jethro 3
Lewis 3
Matthew 3
Sam 3
Stephen 3
Arther 2
Claude 2
Eli 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Mary 2
Mathew 2
Reuben 2
Richd. 2
Robt. 2
Saul 2
Willm. 2
Zachariah 2
Charlie 1
F. 1
Ferdinand 1

FAQ

Eason surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eason surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,271 people were recorded with the Eason surname. That placed it at #3,206 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eason surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,773 in 2016. That gives Eason a modern rank of #3,545.

What does the Eason surname mean?

An English surname derived from the given name Eason, which is of uncertain origin and meaning.

What does the Eason map show?

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