NameCensus.

UK surname

Edmunds

Derived from the Old English personal name Ēadmund, meaning "rich or blessed protection."

In the 1881 census there were 3,918 people recorded with the Edmunds surname, ranking it #1,162 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,162, ranked #1,310, down from #1,162 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Hastings.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Edmunds is 5,595 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.8%.

1881 census count

3,918

Ranked #1,162

Modern count

5,162

2016, ranked #1,310

Peak year

1911

5,595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Edmunds had 3,918 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,162 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,162 in 2016, ranked #1,310.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,595 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Edmunds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Edmunds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Edmunds 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 2,424 #1,228
1861 historical 2,061 #1,405
1881 historical 3,918 #1,162
1891 historical 4,281 #1,115
1901 historical 5,585 #999
1911 historical 5,595 #938
1997 modern 5,171 #1,262
1998 modern 5,459 #1,240
1999 modern 5,477 #1,251
2000 modern 5,409 #1,260
2001 modern 5,310 #1,254
2002 modern 5,362 #1,265
2003 modern 5,223 #1,266
2004 modern 5,193 #1,271
2005 modern 5,103 #1,279
2006 modern 5,130 #1,272
2007 modern 5,142 #1,283
2008 modern 5,085 #1,308
2009 modern 5,206 #1,309
2010 modern 5,308 #1,309
2011 modern 5,287 #1,296
2012 modern 5,128 #1,310
2013 modern 5,283 #1,295
2014 modern 5,290 #1,300
2015 modern 5,211 #1,302
2016 modern 5,162 #1,310

Geography

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Where Edmunds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Mynyddyslwyn, London parishes and Merthyr Tydfil. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly and Hastings. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Mynyddyslwyn Monmouthshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
2 Caerphilly 011 Caerphilly
3 Caerphilly 010 Caerphilly
4 Hastings 007 Hastings
5 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Edmunds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Edmunds

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Edmunds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Edmunds 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Edmunds is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Edmunds is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Edmunds falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Edmunds

The surname Edmunds is of English origin and derived from the personal name Edmund, which comes from the Old English words "ead" meaning prosperity or wealth, and "mund" meaning protection. It was a popular name among the Anglo-Saxons and Normans.

The name first appeared in its modern spelling in the 13th century, but earlier variations such as Edmond, Edmunde, and Edmonde were common. It is believed that the name was initially a nickname or a descriptive term for someone who was prosperous or wealthy and under protection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Edmunds can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a person named Walter Edmunds is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls were a census conducted in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the surname Edmunds appeared in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a person named John Edmunds is listed as a taxpayer. The Subsidy Rolls were a taxation record used to collect revenues for the Crown.

The Edmunds surname is also linked to various place names in England, such as Edmundthorpe in Leicestershire and Edmundbyers in County Durham. These place names likely derived from people with the surname Edmunds who lived or owned land in those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Edmunds throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Edmunds (1563-1639), an English diplomat and politician who served as the Treasurer of the Household to King James I. 2. Sir Walter Edmunds (1637-1718), an English banker and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the City of London. 3. Thomas Edmunds (1803-1886), a Welsh Baptist minister and author who wrote several religious works. 4. John Maxwell Edmunds (1909-1992), an American philosopher and author known for his work on the philosophy of science. 5. Sir Clement Edmunds (1850-1935), a British civil servant and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Newbury.

The surname Edmunds has a rich history and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, diplomats, religious figures, authors, and philosophers. Its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon and Norman periods, reflecting the cultural and linguistic influences that shaped the English language and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Edmunds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Edmunds 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. Glamorgan leads with 679 Edmunds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.24x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 679 10.24x
Monmouthshire 535 19.43x
Middlesex 391 1.03x
Hampshire 261 3.34x
Lancashire 152 0.34x
Warwickshire 139 1.45x
Gloucestershire 113 1.51x
Surrey 112 0.60x
Dorset 110 4.40x
Carmarthenshire 104 6.48x
Staffordshire 83 0.65x
Northamptonshire 80 2.23x
Buckinghamshire 65 2.82x
Worcestershire 63 1.27x
Merionethshire 62 8.90x
Caernarfonshire 61 3.96x
Sussex 60 0.93x
Devon 54 0.68x
Wiltshire 51 1.51x
Shropshire 48 1.46x
Montgomeryshire 46 5.27x
Suffolk 45 0.97x
Cheshire 44 0.52x
Oxfordshire 42 1.79x
Yorkshire 42 0.11x
Essex 41 0.55x
Somerset 40 0.65x
Kent 38 0.29x
Norfolk 36 0.61x
Bedfordshire 34 1.72x
Brecknockshire 30 3.94x
Herefordshire 30 1.92x
Nottinghamshire 24 0.47x
Wigtownshire 20 3.96x
Derbyshire 18 0.30x
Hertfordshire 18 0.69x
Anglesey 16 2.37x
Berkshire 15 0.52x
Cardiganshire 13 1.40x
Durham 13 0.11x
Midlothian 13 0.25x
Northumberland 12 0.21x
Cornwall 9 0.21x
Lincolnshire 9 0.15x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.25x
Flintshire 6 0.59x
Denbighshire 3 0.21x
Lanarkshire 3 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.25x
Royal Navy 3 0.66x
Channel Islands 2 0.18x
Cumberland 2 0.06x
Ayrshire 1 0.04x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.12x
Inverness-shire 1 0.09x
Morayshire 1 0.17x
Radnorshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdare in Glamorgan leads with 71 Edmunds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.60x.

Place Total Index
Aberdare 71 15.60x
Aberystruth 67 27.61x
Ystradyfodwg 67 11.52x
Merthyr Tydfil 62 9.73x
Aston 53 2.00x
Llantrisant 52 31.11x
Llanelly 49 13.55x
Bedwellty 44 9.05x
Pembrey 41 55.55x
Llanwonno 39 16.37x
Islington London 37 1.00x
St Woollos 34 11.07x
Birmingham 33 1.03x
Trevethin 32 12.31x
Fareham 31 33.05x
St Pancras London 31 1.01x
Llanover 30 31.90x
Eglwysilan 29 25.20x
Paddington London 29 2.07x
Portsea 29 1.90x
Roath 29 9.63x
Llanhilleth 28 154.78x
St Marylebone London 28 1.38x
Gelligaer 27 17.83x
Kensington London 27 1.28x
Upper Machen 27 143.01x
Swansea Town 26 4.78x
Chorlton On Medlock 25 3.48x
Camberwell 24 0.99x
Cardiff St John 24 11.08x
Cardiff St Mary 24 6.57x
Graig 24 194.17x
West Dean 23 18.96x
Chelsea London 22 1.92x
Shoreditch London 21 1.27x
Stoke Goldington 21 199.43x
Clerkenwell London 20 2.22x
Llandaff 20 9.07x
Plymouth St Andrew 20 3.28x
Bedwas 19 95.19x
Llanfabon 19 54.79x
Bangor 18 12.12x
West Bromwich 18 2.45x
Benhall 17 209.36x
Boscombe 17 1089.74x
Dudley 17 2.81x
Hackney London 17 0.80x
Llandyfodwg 17 45.21x
Sherborne 17 23.09x
Abergavenny 16 15.52x
Christchurch 16 18.79x
Holdenhurst 16 7.81x
Llangeinor 16 40.98x
Llanidloes 16 24.74x
Llanrhidian Higher 16 37.99x
Lower Llanvrechva 16 59.22x
Mynyddyslwyn 16 14.73x
Oswestry Town 16 15.19x
Panteg 16 36.90x
Battersea 15 1.07x
Hillingdon 15 12.35x
Llangynwyd Higher 15 47.10x
Newark Upon Trent 15 8.13x
Newtown 15 26.88x
Llanelly 14 15.36x
Llanfihangel Y Traethau 14 35.34x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 14 26.67x
Droxford 13 43.64x
Brading 12 11.57x
Carisbrooke 12 11.07x
Coyty Lower 12 27.88x
Edinburgh St Marys 12 12.10x
Holt 12 59.97x
Inch 12 24.34x
Mile End Old Town London 12 1.48x
Newington 12 0.85x
Penarth 12 18.52x
Tipton 12 3.05x
Upper Heyford 12 239.52x
Willenhall 12 4.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 270
Elizabeth 179
Sarah 143
Jane 84
Ann 81
Margaret 65
Eliza 60
Annie 58
Ellen 47
Emma 47
Catherine 42
Emily 41
Alice 40
Martha 35
Edith 31
Hannah 31
Harriet 30
Louisa 28
Florence 27
Charlotte 25
Maria 20
Anne 19
Kate 19
Clara 16
Rachel 16
Fanny 15
Elizth. 14
Caroline 12
Esther 12
Eleanor 11
Harriett 11
Laura 11
Lucy 11
Amy 10
Gertrude 10
Matilda 10
Rose 10
Susan 10
Ada 9
Amelia 8
Rebecca 8
Anna 7
Gwenllian 7
Lizzie 7
Minnie 7
Rosina 7
Ruth 7
Agnes 6
Frances 6
Julia 6

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 249
John 231
Thomas 162
George 103
James 89
David 82
Henry 79
Charles 69
Edward 59
Joseph 48
Alfred 35
Edmund 35
Richard 35
Edwin 32
Robert 29
Frederick 27
Arthur 26
Samuel 21
Walter 21
Daniel 20
Albert 17
Harry 15
Isaac 15
Lewis 14
Benjamin 12
Evan 12
Frank 11
Wm. 10
Francis 9
Thos. 9
Chas. 6
Edgar 6
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Morgan 6
Fredk. 5
Ivor 5
Christopher 4
Edwd. 4
Eli 4
Ephraim 4
Nehemiah 4
Sidney 4
Ebenezer 3
Gomer 3
Hugh 3
Noah 3
Percy 3
Rees 3
Rowland 3

FAQ

Edmunds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Edmunds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,918 people were recorded with the Edmunds surname. That placed it at #1,162 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Edmunds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,162 in 2016. That gives Edmunds a modern rank of #1,310.

What does the Edmunds surname mean?

Derived from the Old English personal name Ēadmund, meaning "rich or blessed protection."

What does the Edmunds map show?

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