NameCensus.

UK surname

Edey

A locational surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 257 people recorded with the Edey surname, ranking it #10,861 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 288, ranked #15,180, down from #10,861 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Braintree and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edey is 314 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.1%.

1881 census count

257

Ranked #10,861

Modern count

288

2016, ranked #15,180

Peak year

2000

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edey had 257 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,861 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016, ranked #15,180.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 299 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Edey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edey 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 176 #11,489
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 257 #10,861
1891 historical 293 #11,319
1901 historical 291 #11,893
1911 historical 299 #11,475
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 292 #14,120
1999 modern 306 #13,782
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 301 #13,700
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 282 #14,410
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 275 #14,732
2007 modern 273 #14,959
2008 modern 276 #14,994
2009 modern 269 #15,589
2010 modern 288 #15,162
2011 modern 299 #14,631
2012 modern 291 #14,806
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 292 #15,129
2015 modern 286 #15,270
2016 modern 288 #15,180

Geography

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Where Edeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew and St Neots. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Braintree, Fenland and Babergh. 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 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Sudbury All Saints, Sudbury St Gregory, Sudbury St Peter, Sudbury St Bartholomew Suffolk
5 St Neots Huntingdonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
3 Braintree 004 Braintree
4 Fenland 006 Fenland
5 Babergh 007 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edey

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Edey 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

Edey 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

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

Meaning and origin of Edey

The surname EDEY is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "edisc," meaning a pasture or meadow. It is believed to have originated in the coastal regions of eastern England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the EDEY surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "de Edisca," referring to an individual from a place called Edisch or Edisca.

In the 13th century, the surname was commonly spelled as "Eddis" or "Edys," with variants like "Eddes" and "Eddyes" also being used. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.

The surname EDEY has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history, including:

1. Sir William Edey (1561-1616), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Hertfordshire in the early 17th century.

2. John Edey (1685-1747), a renowned English architect and surveyor known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London.

3. Mary Edey (1738-1821), a British writer and poet who published several works of fiction and poetry during the late 18th century.

4. Edward Edey (1812-1890), a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist who founded the Edey Textile Mills in Manchester.

5. Sir Robert Edey (1868-1944), a British naval officer and explorer who led several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the early 20th century.

In terms of place names, the EDEY surname is closely linked to the village of Eddish in Lincolnshire, which was formerly known as "Edisca" or "Edisch" in ancient records. The surname is also found in other areas of eastern England, such as Norfolk and Suffolk, where it may have originated from similar place names or meadow-related locations.

While the EDEY surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through British emigration and colonization efforts in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edey 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 67 Edeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 67 2.74x
Suffolk 45 15.09x
Hampshire 20 3.99x
Yorkshire 19 0.78x
Essex 15 3.10x
Northamptonshire 13 5.65x
Kent 10 1.20x
Surrey 9 0.75x
Cornwall 8 2.89x
Huntingdonshire 8 16.46x
Peeblesshire 6 52.08x
Bedfordshire 5 3.94x
Monmouthshire 5 2.82x
Norfolk 4 1.06x
Staffordshire 4 0.48x
Devon 3 0.59x
Berkshire 2 1.09x
Hertfordshire 2 1.19x
Somerset 2 0.51x
Cumberland 1 0.47x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Sussex 1 0.24x
Wiltshire 1 0.46x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sudbury St Peter in Suffolk leads with 16 Edeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 981.60x.

Place Total Index
Sudbury St Peter 16 981.60x
Islington London 14 5.90x
Kings Somborne 13 1238.10x
Great Waldingfield 12 2448.98x
Sheffield 11 14.24x
Chelsea London 9 12.20x
Sudbury St Gregory 9 376.57x
West Ham 9 8.43x
Brixworth 8 816.33x
Ecclesall Bierlow 8 16.21x
St Neots 8 303.03x
Bermondsey 7 9.60x
Hammersmith London 7 11.61x
St Luke London 7 17.83x
Stanwell 7 386.74x
Bures St Mary 6 821.92x
Peebles 6 176.47x
Norwich St Peter Southgate 4 851.06x
Pluckley 4 519.48x
Rugeley 4 67.45x
St Nicholas Olave London 4 8000.00x
Trelleck 4 540.54x
Budock 3 143.54x
Eaton Socon 3 150.75x
Great Baddow 3 174.42x
Kettering 3 32.22x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 28.30x
St Marylebone London 3 2.30x
Stoke Damerel 3 8.41x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.88x
Bray 2 37.04x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 22.96x
Colchester St Peter 2 103.63x
Ealing 2 9.14x
East Looe 2 178.57x
Hadleigh 2 69.20x
Kenwyn 2 27.59x
South Stoneham 2 18.37x
Southampton All Sts 2 23.23x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 4.06x
Toddington 2 109.89x
Watford 2 15.29x
Westminster St Margaret 2 16.93x
Avington 1 588.24x
Barton Upon Irwell 1 4.57x
Bath St James 1 24.33x
Bishops Waltham 1 47.85x
Britford 1 69.93x
Cleator 1 11.40x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.73x
Cobham 1 129.87x
Colchester St Mary At 1 58.48x
Falmouth 1 10.19x
Greenwich 1 2.57x
Hackney London 1 0.73x
Horsham 1 12.47x
Kensington London 1 0.73x
Monks Horton 1 833.33x
Northampton Priory St 1 7.24x
Paddington London 1 1.11x
St George Hanover Square 1 2.32x
St Pancras London 1 0.51x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 40.82x
Stoke Charity 1 1000.00x
Trelleck Grange 1 909.09x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 31.55x
Woodford 1 78.13x
Woolwich 1 3.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Charlotte 7
Elizabeth 7
Ellen 7
Caroline 6
Emma 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Sarah 5
Alice 4
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Matilda 4
Ada 3
Emily 3
Esther 3
Hannah 3
Catherine 2
Dorothy 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Cathrine 1
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Dorathy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Gabbrietta 1
H.M.S. 1
Harriett 1
Hester 1
Infant 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
May 1
Melinda 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Phebe 1
Rosie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 13
George 10
Alfred 8
James 8
Thomas 6
Arthur 5
Charles 5
David 4
Harry 3
Henry 3
Joseph 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Jonathan 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Albt. 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Herbert 1
Mark 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
S. 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Edey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 257 people were recorded with the Edey surname. That placed it at #10,861 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 288 in 2016. That gives Edey a modern rank of #15,180.

What does the Edey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name in Scotland.

What does the Edey map show?

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