NameCensus.

UK surname

Edghill

A surname derived from a place name meaning a hill with a sharp edge or ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 85 people recorded with the Edghill surname, ranking it #21,573 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 239, ranked #17,322, up from #21,573 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, St Leonard Shoreditch and Frant. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Watford and Ealing.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edghill is 266 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 181.2%.

1881 census count

85

Ranked #21,573

Modern count

239

2016, ranked #17,322

Peak year

2010

266 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edghill had 85 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,573 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016, ranked #17,322.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 101 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Edghill surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edghill surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edghill 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 68 #21,302
1861 historical 71 #24,765
1881 historical 85 #21,573
1891 historical 81 #26,632
1901 historical 78 #25,500
1911 historical 101 #22,589
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 248 #15,772
1999 modern 248 #15,884
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 250 #15,819
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 232 #16,539
2005 modern 224 #16,876
2006 modern 222 #17,092
2007 modern 227 #17,041
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 255 #16,183
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 240 #17,093
2012 modern 234 #17,291
2013 modern 243 #17,114
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 240 #17,279
2016 modern 239 #17,322

Geography

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Where Edghills are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street, St Leonard Shoreditch, Frant, London parishes and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Watford, Ealing, Lincoln and Conwy. 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 Glastonbury St Benedict and St John, Street Somerset
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 Frant Sussex
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 010 East Devon
2 Watford 003 Watford
3 Ealing 012 Ealing
4 Lincoln 007 Lincoln
5 Conwy 012 Conwy

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edghill

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edghill

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

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Edghill surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Edghill household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Edghill is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Edghill is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Edghill falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Edghill 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 Edghill, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Edghill

The surname Edghill is an English locational name that originated in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'ecg' meaning 'edge' and 'hyll' meaning 'hill'. This suggests the name originally referred to someone who lived near a sharp ridge or hill.

Edghill was first recorded in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, when Roger de Eggehull was listed as a landowner. Other early mentions include John Edgehyll in the Assize Court Rolls of Somerset in 1359 and William Edghill in the Lancashire Wills records of 1548.

In the 16th century, variations of the spelling included Edgehyll, Edgill, and Edghyll. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Lancashire, and Oxfordshire, where many Edghill families were landowners and farmers.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with this surname was Sir Thomas Edghill (c.1540-1607), a English Member of Parliament who represented Somerset in the House of Commons. Other notable bearers include John Edghill (1593-1670), an English clergyman and writer, and Nathaniel Edghill (1675-1743), a Welsh Anglican priest.

In the 18th century, James Edghill (1718-1801) was a prominent English banker and landowner in Oxfordshire. His son, Sir Robert Edghill (1759-1837), was a respected judge and served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature in Calcutta, India.

During the 19th century, William Edghill (1811-1890) was a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in the Crimean War. His contemporary, Charles Edghill (1826-1905), was a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings in London.

While the Edghill surname originated in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and immigration. However, its roots can be traced back to the old English locational name referring to those who lived near a distinctive hill or ridge.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edghill families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edghill 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 27 Edghills recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.22x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 27 3.22x
Somerset 17 12.59x
Surrey 13 3.18x
Sussex 10 7.07x
Warwickshire 9 4.25x
Devon 4 2.29x
Hampshire 3 1.75x
Berkshire 1 1.59x
Cumberland 1 1.38x
Lancashire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glastonbury in Somerset leads with 12 Edghills recorded in 1881 and an index of 1090.91x.

Place Total Index
Glastonbury 12 1090.91x
Islington London 10 12.30x
Frant 8 800.00x
Edgbaston 5 76.22x
Enfield 5 90.91x
Ockham 5 3125.00x
Aston 4 6.87x
Bermondsey 4 16.02x
Paddington London 4 12.97x
Rotherhithe 4 38.61x
Stoke Damerel 4 32.73x
Aldershot 3 52.08x
Wells St Cuthbert In 3 1428.57x
Brighton 2 7.01x
Kensington London 2 4.29x
Mile End Old Town London 2 11.20x
Yatton 2 377.36x
Hampstead London 1 7.66x
Hendon 1 33.11x
Preston Quarter 1 49.51x
Sandhurst 1 81.97x
Shoreditch London 1 2.75x
St Luke London 1 7.43x
West Derby 1 3.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Annie 3
Eliza 3
Mary 3
Agnes 2
Elizabeth 2
Ellen 2
M.A. 2
Martha 2
Matilda 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Henry 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Lizzie 1
Lucy 1
Mahala 1
Minnie 1
Pleasance 1
Rosa 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 5
John 5
Ernest 4
Henry 4
George 3
William 3
Aubrey 1
Auther 1
Frank 1
H.R. 1
J. 1
J.N. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Nathaniel 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
W.T. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Edghill surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edghill surname in 1881?

In 1881, 85 people were recorded with the Edghill surname. That placed it at #21,573 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edghill surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 239 in 2016. That gives Edghill a modern rank of #17,322.

What does the Edghill surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning a hill with a sharp edge or ridge.

What does the Edghill map show?

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