NameCensus.

UK surname

Edgecombe

A surname derived from a place name, possibly "Edgecombe" in Devonshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 442 people recorded with the Edgecombe surname, ranking it #7,414 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 506, ranked #9,905, down from #7,414 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bovey Tracey, Hennock, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston and Ashburton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Plymouth, Sedgemoor and Torbay.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edgecombe is 537 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.5%.

1881 census count

442

Ranked #7,414

Modern count

506

2016, ranked #9,905

Peak year

2002

537 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edgecombe had 442 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,414 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016, ranked #9,905.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 534 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Edgecombe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edgecombe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edgecombe 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 302 #8,393
1881 historical 442 #7,414
1891 historical 446 #8,123
1901 historical 430 #9,000
1911 historical 534 #7,458
1997 modern 506 #9,218
1998 modern 516 #9,368
1999 modern 523 #9,332
2000 modern 517 #9,384
2001 modern 504 #9,413
2002 modern 537 #9,150
2003 modern 516 #9,275
2004 modern 522 #9,218
2005 modern 515 #9,251
2006 modern 502 #9,463
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 504 #9,575
2009 modern 507 #9,743
2010 modern 507 #9,947
2011 modern 501 #9,938
2012 modern 497 #9,902
2013 modern 510 #9,871
2014 modern 517 #9,846
2015 modern 508 #9,891
2016 modern 506 #9,905

Geography

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Where Edgecombes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bovey Tracey, Hennock, Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston, Ashburton, Lustleigh and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Plymouth, Sedgemoor, Torbay, Torridge and Doncaster. 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 Bovey Tracey, Hennock Devon
2 Modbury, Bigbury, Ermington, Kingston Devon
3 Ashburton Devon
4 Lustleigh Devon
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Plymouth 009 Plymouth
2 Sedgemoor 003 Sedgemoor
3 Torbay 008 Torbay
4 Torridge 007 Torridge
5 Doncaster 005 Doncaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edgecombe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edgecombe

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Edgecombe 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

Edgecombe 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

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

Meaning and origin of Edgecombe

The surname Edgecombe originated in the county of Devon, England, during the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name Edgcumbe, which is a combination of the Old English words "ecg," meaning edge or ridge, and "cumb," meaning a valley or hollow.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is written as "Ediecumbe." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir Richard Edgecombe, who lived in the 13th century and served as a knight in the service of King Edward I. Another notable figure was Sir Piers Edgecombe, who was born in 1392 and served as a Member of Parliament for Devon in the early 15th century.

During the Tudor period, the Edgecombe family became well-established in Devon and Cornwall, holding significant estates and playing a prominent role in local affairs. Sir Richard Edgecombe (1499-1562) was a notable member of the family, serving as a Member of Parliament and holding various positions at the court of King Henry VIII.

In the 17th century, Sir Richard Edgecombe (1610-1668) was a prominent Royalist during the English Civil War, and his son, Sir Richard Edgecombe (1642-1689), was a Member of Parliament and a supporter of King James II.

Another notable bearer of the name was George Edgecombe (1818-1888), a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Royal Navy and led several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

Throughout its history, the surname Edgecombe has been associated with various place names, including Edgcumbe in Devon, Edgcumbe Park in Cornwall, and Edgcumbe Hall in Cheshire. The name has also been spelled in various ways, such as Edgcumbe, Edgecumb, and Edgcombe.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edgecombe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edgecombe 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. Devon leads with 208 Edgecombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.18x.

County Total Index
Devon 208 23.18x
Middlesex 49 1.14x
Lancashire 26 0.51x
Surrey 24 1.14x
Cornwall 21 4.30x
Yorkshire 20 0.47x
Hampshire 15 1.70x
Durham 12 0.94x
Kent 11 0.75x
Essex 10 1.17x
Worcestershire 9 1.60x
Derbyshire 6 0.89x
Gloucestershire 5 0.59x
Suffolk 5 0.95x
Cheshire 4 0.42x
Lanarkshire 3 0.22x
Warwickshire 3 0.28x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.77x
Dorset 2 0.71x
Lincolnshire 2 0.29x
Somerset 2 0.29x
Berkshire 1 0.31x
Midlothian 1 0.17x
Oxfordshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aveton Gifford in Devon leads with 27 Edgecombes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2076.92x.

Place Total Index
Aveton Gifford 27 2076.92x
Ashburton 18 419.58x
Plymouth St Andrew 18 26.03x
Mile End Old Town London 16 17.43x
Bovey Tracey 14 445.86x
Portsea 13 7.51x
Tormoham 13 34.24x
Churchstow 11 2037.04x
Lustleigh 11 2037.04x
Paddington London 11 6.94x
Bishopwearmouth 10 9.08x
Camberwell 10 3.63x
Kingston 10 1428.57x
Loddiswell 9 756.30x
Bowling 8 18.90x
Great Crosby 8 57.35x
Sewerby Cum Marton 8 987.65x
Exeter Alphington 7 424.24x
Newton Abbot St Mary 7 92.96x
Thurlestone 7 1296.30x
Toxteth Park 7 4.04x
Bigbury 6 895.52x
Derby St Werburgh 6 15.39x
Gillingham 6 19.78x
Walton Le Soken 6 297.03x
Barnes 5 56.31x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 5 102.67x
Islington London 5 1.20x
Stoke Damerel 5 7.96x
Swimbridge 5 276.24x
Beckenham 4 20.80x
Brixham 4 38.46x
Helston 4 78.90x
Himbleton 4 588.24x
Landulph 4 533.33x
Malborough 4 112.04x
St Stephen 4 231.21x
St Stephens By Saltash 4 190.48x
Stoke 4 110.19x
Wolborough 4 35.24x
Aston 3 1.00x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 10.64x
Govan 3 0.87x
Litherland 3 28.04x
Martin Hussingtree 3 1200.00x
Plymouth Charles The 3 7.59x
Salford 3 1.99x
Shadwell London 3 24.86x
South Milton 3 576.92x
St Marylebone London 3 1.30x
St Pancras London 3 0.86x
West Ham 3 1.60x
Woodleigh 3 1000.00x
Bideford 2 20.81x
Birkenhead 2 2.64x
Carshalton 2 24.88x
Ermington 2 61.35x
Great Grimsby 2 4.57x
Holdenhurst 2 8.63x
Horbury 2 26.77x
Kenwyn 2 15.66x
Moreton Hampstead 2 86.21x
North Meols 2 3.99x
Penge 2 7.26x
Sunderland 2 8.83x
Weybridge 2 44.35x
Willesden 2 4.92x
Barnstaple 1 7.10x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 6.52x
Datchet 1 56.18x
Great Driffield 1 11.40x
Headington 1 24.21x
Higher Bebington 1 16.42x
Kea 1 27.47x
Kensington London 1 0.42x
Littleham 1 15.24x
St Andrew Holborn London 1 5.36x
Stourbridge 1 6.90x
Werrington 1 103.09x
Withycombe Rawleigh 1 21.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Elizabeth 17
Emma 12
Emily 11
Alice 8
Annie 8
Eliza 8
Sarah 8
Ann 7
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Catherine 6
Fanny 6
Louisa 6
Edith 4
Julia 4
Susan 4
Bessie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Hannah 3
Henrietta 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Sophia 3
Agnes 2
Florence 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Minnie 2
E.G. 1
Eleanor 1
Elisth. 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Faith 1
Florry 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Hanna 1
Harriett 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
M. 1
Marian 1
Marrian 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Trena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 28
James 19
Thomas 17
George 16
Richard 9
Robert 7
Alfred 6
Charles 6
Henry 6
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Joseph 3
Walter 3
Willm. 3
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Alonzo 1
Bertie 1
Edgar 1
Eli 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Fred 1
Fred.J. 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Robt. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jephthah 1
Jo. 1
Lewis 1
Matthew 1
Nicholas 1
Oliver 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1
Saml.G. 1
W. 1
Wilfrid 1

FAQ

Edgecombe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edgecombe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 442 people were recorded with the Edgecombe surname. That placed it at #7,414 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edgecombe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 506 in 2016. That gives Edgecombe a modern rank of #9,905.

What does the Edgecombe surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name, possibly "Edgecombe" in Devonshire, England.

What does the Edgecombe map show?

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