NameCensus.

UK surname

Ede

A surname of Germanic origin meaning "prosperous".

In the 1881 census there were 1,629 people recorded with the Ede surname, ranking it #2,627 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,808, ranked #3,499, down from #2,627 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dorking, London parishes and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mole Valley, Derbyshire Dales and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ede is 2,120 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 11.0%.

1881 census count

1,629

Ranked #2,627

Modern count

1,808

2016, ranked #3,499

Peak year

1901

2,120 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ede had 1,629 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,627 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,808 in 2016, ranked #3,499.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,120 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ede surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ede surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ede 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 1,065 #2,630
1881 historical 1,629 #2,627
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 2,120 #2,539
1997 modern 1,949 #3,117
1998 modern 2,003 #3,157
1999 modern 1,984 #3,196
2000 modern 1,980 #3,192
2001 modern 1,903 #3,236
2002 modern 1,950 #3,237
2003 modern 1,890 #3,254
2004 modern 1,882 #3,269
2005 modern 1,827 #3,320
2006 modern 1,873 #3,270
2007 modern 1,870 #3,297
2008 modern 1,871 #3,311
2009 modern 1,882 #3,377
2010 modern 1,906 #3,409
2011 modern 1,857 #3,439
2012 modern 1,812 #3,457
2013 modern 1,836 #3,474
2014 modern 1,840 #3,491
2015 modern 1,801 #3,521
2016 modern 1,808 #3,499

Geography

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Where Edes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dorking, London parishes, Brighton, Reigate and Liskeard, St Cleer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mole Valley, Derbyshire Dales and East Staffordshire. 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 Dorking Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 Brighton Sussex
4 Reigate Surrey
5 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mole Valley 012 Mole Valley
2 Mole Valley 011 Mole Valley
3 Derbyshire Dales 010 Derbyshire Dales
4 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
5 East Staffordshire 001 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ede

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ede

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ede surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ede household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Ede is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ede 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

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

Meaning and origin of Ede

The surname Ede originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English word 'ede', meaning 'rich' or 'prosperous'. The name was likely adopted by someone who lived in an area known for its fertile lands or abundant resources.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ede can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Ede' and 'Edde'. This suggests that the name was already well-established in various parts of England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often associated with places such as Ede in Berkshire and Ede in Staffordshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Robert de Ede was mentioned in records from Gloucestershire. He was likely a landowner or person of some prominence in the area.

Another early bearer of the name was John Ede, who was born in Wiltshire around 1450. He was a farmer and is recorded as having owned substantial amounts of land in the village of Westbury.

In the 16th century, a man named William Ede lived in Oxfordshire. He was a merchant and is known to have traded goods throughout the region.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a soldier named Richard Ede fought for the Parliamentarian forces. He was from Essex and is believed to have participated in several key battles of the conflict.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Ede was Sir John Ede, a military officer who served in the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1778 in Kent and played a significant role in several campaigns against the French, earning numerous honors and distinctions.

Throughout its history, the surname Ede has maintained its connection to its English roots and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, from farmers and merchants to soldiers and landowners.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ede families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ede 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 555 Edes recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.15x.

County Total Index
Surrey 555 7.15x
Sussex 285 10.61x
Middlesex 213 1.34x
Cornwall 185 10.25x
Kent 106 1.95x
Hampshire 71 2.17x
Devon 48 1.45x
Staffordshire 40 0.74x
Lancashire 31 0.16x
Durham 17 0.36x
Essex 12 0.38x
Yorkshire 11 0.07x
Berkshire 10 0.84x
Warwickshire 8 0.20x
Northumberland 6 0.25x
Hertfordshire 5 0.46x
Royal Navy 5 2.63x
Cardiganshire 4 1.03x
Wiltshire 4 0.28x
Gloucestershire 3 0.10x
Shropshire 3 0.22x
Denbighshire 2 0.33x
Monmouthshire 2 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Cheshire 1 0.03x
Fife 1 0.11x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.32x
Leicestershire 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dorking in Surrey leads with 72 Edes recorded in 1881 and an index of 138.06x.

Place Total Index
Dorking 72 138.06x
Croydon 60 13.92x
Cuckfield 43 158.44x
Lambeth 34 2.45x
Stoke 31 84.58x
Broadwater 30 48.67x
Portsea 28 4.37x
Brighton 27 4.98x
Epsom 27 71.33x
St Pinnock 26 948.91x
Reigate Foreign 23 27.35x
Bethnal Green London 21 3.03x
Islington London 21 1.36x
Liskeard 20 66.25x
St Pancras London 19 1.48x
Alfold 18 610.17x
Arundel 18 119.60x
Bermondsey 18 3.79x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 7.04x
Reigate Borough 18 100.50x
Kensington London 17 1.92x
St Austell 17 27.56x
Stoke Upon Trent 17 2.98x
Camberwell 16 1.57x
Dunsfold 16 379.15x
Guildford St Nicholas 16 116.62x
Hackney London 15 1.68x
Deptford St Paul 14 3.34x
Shalford 14 162.79x
Newington 13 2.21x
Capel 12 163.93x
Leominster 12 138.57x
Uttoxeter 12 43.57x
Kingston On Thames 11 5.90x
St Gilesin Fields London 11 81.54x
Wandsworth 11 7.17x
Godalming 10 20.45x
Hastings St Leonards 10 25.32x
Hornsey 10 4.96x
Ospringe 10 149.48x
Slaugham 10 115.07x
Southampton All Sts 10 17.84x
St George Martyr London 10 30.98x
Streatham 10 8.46x
Willesden 10 6.66x
Broughton In Salford 9 5.20x
Calstock 9 25.43x
Esher 9 82.80x
Lanreath 9 292.21x
Leek Lowe 9 12.57x
Madron Penzance 9 13.72x
Send Ripley 9 88.93x
South Bersted 9 39.37x
South Stoneham 9 12.70x
Tiverton 9 15.75x
Withington 9 14.77x
Wonersh 9 92.88x
Chelsea London 8 1.67x
Compton 8 232.56x
Denton In North 8 672.27x
Eastbourne 8 6.47x
Ewhurst 8 164.61x
Farnborough 8 23.32x
Lewisham 8 2.76x
St Cleer 8 51.12x
St Teath 8 73.60x
Sutton 8 454.55x
Teynham 8 81.63x
West Ham 8 1.15x
Woking 8 17.09x
Bideford 7 19.70x
Bodmin 7 23.44x
Cobham 7 54.90x
Cranleigh 7 61.57x
Hendon 7 12.21x
Lower Beeding 7 98.04x
Paddington London 7 1.19x
Plymouth Charles The 7 4.79x
St Marylebone London 7 0.82x
Tintagel 7 142.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 115
John 70
Henry 64
George 62
James 62
Charles 44
Thomas 36
Alfred 32
Walter 27
Frederick 24
Edward 23
Arthur 18
Richard 17
Joseph 16
Robert 11
Samuel 11
Albert 9
Edwin 8
Francis 7
Ernest 6
Harry 6
Benjamin 5
Edgar 5
Cecil 4
Daniel 4
Elias 4
Frank 4
Fredk. 4
Peter 4
Stephen 4
Wm. 4
Caleb 3
David 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Sidney 3
Allen 2
Andrew 2
Cornelius 2
Edmund 2
Lewis 2
Luke 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Timothy 2
Auther 1
Battle 1
E. 1
Ebenezer 1
Wm.Ed. 1

FAQ

Ede surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ede surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,629 people were recorded with the Ede surname. That placed it at #2,627 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ede surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,808 in 2016. That gives Ede a modern rank of #3,499.

What does the Ede surname mean?

A surname of Germanic origin meaning "prosperous".

What does the Ede map show?

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