UK surname
A surname meaning "industrious" or "eager" derived from the Old Norse word "ogr".
In the 1881 census there were 74 people recorded with the Egar surname, ranking it #23,062 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #23,062 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Egar is 143 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 5.4%.
1881 census count
74
Ranked #23,062
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1891
143 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Egar surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Egar surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 87 | #18,695 |
| 1861 | historical | 83 | #23,189 |
| 1881 | historical | 74 | #23,062 |
| 1891 | historical | 143 | #18,920 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 88 | #28,611 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 91 | #28,937 |
| 2000 | modern | 79 | #30,249 |
| 2001 | modern | 68 | #31,195 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 73 | #31,403 |
| 2005 | modern | 72 | #31,730 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 66 | #32,948 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 67 | #33,939 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Eccles, Manchester, St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Egar surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Egar, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Egar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Egar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Egar is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Egar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Egar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname EGAR is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from the Old English word "egar," which means "dweller by the inlet of water" or "one who lives near a stream or sea inlet."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname EGAR can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273 mentions a John Egar, while the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301 list a Robert Egar.
The name EGAR was particularly prevalent in the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, where many families bearing this surname resided in coastal areas or near inlets and estuaries. Some variations of the spelling included Eger, Egger, and Egare, reflecting the regional dialects and scribal tendencies of the time.
One notable historical figure with the surname EGAR was Sir William Egar, a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century. Born around 1520, he served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1572 and played a significant role in the city's governance and trade affairs.
Another individual of note was John Egar, a renowned English theologian and scholar who lived in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He studied at the University of Oxford and later became the Rector of St. Peter's Church in Wigan, Lancashire, where he made significant contributions to religious and intellectual discourse.
In the realm of literature, the name EGAR is associated with Edith Egar, an English novelist and poet who lived from 1859 to 1935. Her works, including the novels "The Heir of Egar" and "The Egar Chronicles," explored themes of family, inheritance, and the English countryside.
The surname EGAR also has connections to the United States, as evidenced by individuals such as Samuel Egar, a prominent businessman and philanthropist in New York City during the late 19th century. Born in 1835, he made his fortune in the textile industry and was known for his charitable contributions to various educational and cultural institutions.
It is worth noting that the surname EGAR, while not among the most common in English-speaking regions, has maintained a presence throughout history, with families bearing this name contributing to various aspects of society, from commerce and politics to literature and academia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Egar surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cambridgeshire leads with 16 Egars recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire | 16 | 35.01x |
| Lancashire | 13 | 1.52x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 1.25x |
| Sussex | 8 | 6.58x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 5.20x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.33x |
| Staffordshire | 5 | 2.05x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.62x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.56x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.68x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 1.03x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.60x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Thorney in Cambridgeshire leads with 9 Egars recorded in 1881 and an index of 1764.71x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Thorney | 9 | 1764.71x |
| Preston | 7 | 330.19x |
| Willesden | 7 | 102.94x |
| Newbottle | 5 | 427.35x |
| Wolverhampton | 5 | 26.70x |
| Holbeach | 4 | 312.50x |
| Toxteth Park | 4 | 13.80x |
| Burnley | 3 | 41.61x |
| Colne | 3 | 117.65x |
| Dartford | 3 | 119.05x |
| Sheffield | 3 | 13.18x |
| Wisbech St Mary | 3 | 576.92x |
| Grantchester | 2 | 714.29x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 3.85x |
| Whittlesey St Mary St | 2 | 125.00x |
| Brighton | 1 | 4.08x |
| Chorley | 1 | 20.83x |
| Croydon | 1 | 5.12x |
| Deeping St James | 1 | 243.90x |
| Deptford St Nicholas | 1 | 51.28x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 1 | 2.57x |
| Fleet | 1 | 303.03x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 2.49x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 12.63x |
| Lymington | 1 | 91.74x |
| Shrewsbury St Mary | 1 | 40.65x |
| Wetwang | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Egar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Egar surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Egar households.
FAQ
In 1881, 74 people were recorded with the Egar surname. That placed it at #23,062 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Egar a modern rank of #33,700.
A surname meaning "industrious" or "eager" derived from the Old Norse word "ogr".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Egar bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.