NameCensus.

UK surname

Easy

A surname transferred from a nickname denoting someone who was easygoing or placid.

In the 1881 census there were 321 people recorded with the Easy surname, ranking it #9,277 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 269, ranked #15,956, down from #9,277 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Milton and Willingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rotherham, Suffolk Coastal and South Cambridgeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Easy is 333 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 16.2%.

1881 census count

321

Ranked #9,277

Modern count

269

2016, ranked #15,956

Peak year

1998

333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Easy had 321 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,277 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016, ranked #15,956.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 326 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Easy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Easy surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Easy 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 197 #12,166
1881 historical 321 #9,277
1891 historical 303 #11,039
1901 historical 326 #10,990
1911 historical 314 #11,077
1997 modern 314 #13,136
1998 modern 333 #12,964
1999 modern 329 #13,147
2000 modern 318 #13,415
2001 modern 311 #13,423
2002 modern 313 #13,615
2003 modern 292 #14,065
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 291 #14,105
2006 modern 289 #14,234
2007 modern 287 #14,464
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 295 #14,594
2010 modern 296 #14,877
2011 modern 281 #15,276
2012 modern 260 #16,090
2013 modern 276 #15,683
2014 modern 283 #15,495
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 269 #15,956

Geography

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Where Easys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Milton, Willingham, Soham 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 Rotherham, Suffolk Coastal, South Cambridgeshire and North Hertfordshire. 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 Milton Cambridgeshire
3 Willingham Cambridgeshire
4 Soham Cambridgeshire
5 Littleport, Hilgay (Downham, Norfolk), Southery (Downham, Norfolk) Cambridgeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rotherham 033 Rotherham
2 Suffolk Coastal 003 Suffolk Coastal
3 South Cambridgeshire 006 South Cambridgeshire
4 Rotherham 031 Rotherham
5 North Hertfordshire 002 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Easy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Easy

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Easy surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Easy 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Easy 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

Easy 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

Easy falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Easy is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Easy, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Easy

The surname "EASY" is believed to have originated in England during the late 13th century. It is thought to be a locational name derived from the town of Easby in North Yorkshire, which was recorded as "Esebi" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name likely evolved from the Old Norse words "eys" meaning "ridge" and "by" meaning "settlement" or "village."

Early records show variations in the spelling of the name, including "Aiseby," "Aisbie," and "Easbie," before settling on the modern form "EASY." One of the earliest documented instances of the name is found in the Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like survey conducted in 1273, where a certain Robert de Esebi is mentioned as a resident of Yorkshire.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname began to spread beyond Yorkshire as families migrated to other parts of England. In 1379, a Johannes Esby is recorded as a resident of Lincolnshire, while in 1428, a William Esby is mentioned in the records of Oxfordshire.

Notable individuals with the surname "EASY" throughout history include:

1. Sir Walter Easy (1555-1621), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Northamptonshire.

2. John Easy (1633-1699), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of Aylsham in Norfolk.

3. Mary Easy (1785-1865), a British author and poet known for her works on religious themes and moral education.

4. William Easy (1803-1886), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a renowned maritime author.

5. Thomas Easy (1856-1917), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Easy Charitable Trust, which supported education and medical research in his hometown of Liverpool.

Throughout its history, the surname "EASY" has also been associated with various place names, such as Easby Abbey in North Yorkshire, Easby Hall in Yorkshire, and Easby Hill in County Durham.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Easy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Easy 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 127 Easys recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.84x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 127 63.84x
Middlesex 53 1.69x
Suffolk 32 8.36x
Essex 30 4.84x
Yorkshire 27 0.87x
Kent 9 0.84x
Lancashire 9 0.24x
Norfolk 8 1.66x
Sussex 8 1.51x
Durham 6 0.64x
Northamptonshire 5 1.69x
Hertfordshire 2 0.92x
Surrey 2 0.13x
Devon 1 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Lincolnshire 1 0.20x
Somerset 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 27 Easys recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.72x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 27 19.72x
Milton 20 3389.83x
Whaddon 17 4594.59x
Littleport 16 421.05x
Willingham 14 823.53x
Cottenham 13 492.42x
Bolton In Bradford 11 550.00x
Stradbroke 9 697.67x
Paddington London 8 6.93x
Stapleford 8 1333.33x
Tottington Lower End 8 45.17x
Upwell 8 355.56x
Brighton 7 6.55x
Leiston 7 266.16x
Soham 7 163.55x
St Pancras London 7 2.77x
Downham 6 284.36x
Haddenham 6 320.86x
Lamesley 6 119.28x
Laxfield 6 631.58x
Brightside Bierlow 5 8.19x
Chesterton 5 81.57x
Greenwich 5 10.00x
Headingley Cum Burley 5 24.95x
Kettering 5 41.84x
St George Hanover Square 5 9.04x
Tottenham 5 9.99x
Badingham 4 555.56x
Fulham London 4 8.78x
Harrow On The Hill 4 63.80x
Mile End Old Town London 4 5.98x
Shoreditch London 4 2.94x
Sotherton 4 2105.26x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.20x
Calverley Cum Farsley 3 33.94x
Duxford 3 361.45x
Hauxton 3 1071.43x
Witchford 3 625.00x
Islington London 2 0.66x
Leyton Low 2 15.87x
Maidstone 2 6.27x
Alverstoke 1 4.29x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 1 3.45x
Battersea 1 0.87x
Camberwell 1 0.50x
Catsfield 1 131.58x
Chelsea London 1 1.06x
Cheshunt 1 13.21x
East Barnet 1 23.31x
East Stonehouse 1 7.76x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.58x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 1 11.52x
Elythe College 1 833.33x
Great Shelford 1 95.24x
Hammersmith London 1 1.29x
Hampstead London 1 2.04x
Holbeach 1 17.89x
Kensington London 1 0.57x
Leyton 1 9.36x
Lyncombe Widcombe 1 7.55x
Manningham 1 2.61x
Margate St John Baptist 1 5.10x
Plumstead 1 2.80x
Poplar London 1 1.69x
Saxmundham 1 70.42x
St Andrewthe Great 1 38.91x
St Marythe Great 1 153.85x
Sternfield 1 400.00x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.09x
Toxteth Park 1 0.79x
Trumpington 1 99.01x
Westminster St Margaret 1 6.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 19
John 12
George 11
Henry 9
James 8
Joseph 7
Alfred 6
Harry 5
Simeon 5
Simon 5
Charles 4
Benjamin 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Fred 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Henery 1
Hy.M. 1
Jacob 1
Jonathan 1
Josiah 1
Oscar 1
Phillip 1
Rich. 1
Richard 1
Rueben 1
Simmeon 1
Stacy 1
Thomas 1
Tom 1
Willson 1

FAQ

Easy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Easy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 321 people were recorded with the Easy surname. That placed it at #9,277 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Easy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 269 in 2016. That gives Easy a modern rank of #15,956.

What does the Easy surname mean?

A surname transferred from a nickname denoting someone who was easygoing or placid.

What does the Easy map show?

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