NameCensus.

UK surname

Eldred

Old English surname derived from a personal name meaning "old and wise counsel" or "sage counsel."

In the 1881 census there were 881 people recorded with the Eldred surname, ranking it #4,306 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,106, ranked #5,314, down from #4,306 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Pebmarsh and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Daventry, Uttlesford and South Kesteven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eldred is 1,217 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.5%.

1881 census count

881

Ranked #4,306

Modern count

1,106

2016, ranked #5,314

Peak year

1911

1,217 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eldred had 881 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,306 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016, ranked #5,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,217 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eldred surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eldred surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eldred 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 532 #4,724
1861 historical 483 #5,407
1881 historical 881 #4,306
1891 historical 953 #4,346
1901 historical 1,151 #4,229
1911 historical 1,217 #3,882
1997 modern 1,095 #5,092
1998 modern 1,149 #5,062
1999 modern 1,159 #5,072
2000 modern 1,134 #5,142
2001 modern 1,115 #5,107
2002 modern 1,128 #5,177
2003 modern 1,108 #5,151
2004 modern 1,113 #5,135
2005 modern 1,086 #5,177
2006 modern 1,090 #5,178
2007 modern 1,089 #5,230
2008 modern 1,095 #5,239
2009 modern 1,125 #5,218
2010 modern 1,162 #5,187
2011 modern 1,157 #5,159
2012 modern 1,111 #5,255
2013 modern 1,130 #5,258
2014 modern 1,138 #5,252
2015 modern 1,115 #5,297
2016 modern 1,106 #5,314

Geography

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Where Eldreds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Pebmarsh, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Daventry, Uttlesford, South Kesteven and Huntingdonshire. 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 Pebmarsh Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Daventry 002 Daventry
2 Uttlesford 002 Uttlesford
3 South Kesteven 006 South Kesteven
4 Daventry 005 Daventry
5 Huntingdonshire 001 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eldred

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eldred

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Eldred 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

Eldred 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

Eldred falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Eldred

The surname Eldred is of Anglo-Saxon origin, believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English personal name Ealdred, which is composed of the elements "eal" meaning "old" and "ræd" meaning "counsel" or "advice". This name was particularly popular among the Anglo-Saxons and was often bestowed upon individuals who were respected for their wisdom and experience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eldred can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Eldred" and "Eldrede" in various counties, suggesting its widespread use during the Norman period.

The Eldred surname has a strong association with the county of Norfolk, where it is believed to have originated. Several place names in Norfolk, such as Eldred's Weald and Eldred's Lane, bear the name, indicating the presence of influential Eldred families in the area during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals with the surname Eldred include John Eldred (c. 1552-1632), an English explorer and merchant who undertook voyages to the East Indies and wrote accounts of his travels. Another prominent figure was Sir John Eldred (1591-1654), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eldred dates back to the 17th century. Samuel Eldred (1629-1689) was a prominent Quaker leader and early settler in New Jersey, who played a significant role in the establishment of the colony.

Other notable individuals with the surname Eldred include John Eldred (1836-1909), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, and Eben Eldred (1852-1925), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the American Bank Note Company and made significant contributions to educational institutions in his home state of New York.

Throughout its history, the surname Eldred has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, from exploration and colonization to politics, law, and business. Despite its Anglo-Saxon origins, the name has been widely dispersed across different regions and countries, reflecting the migrations and cultural exchanges that have shaped human societies over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eldred families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eldred 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. Essex leads with 188 Eldreds recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.04x.

County Total Index
Essex 188 11.04x
Middlesex 183 2.12x
Surrey 68 1.62x
Lincolnshire 65 4.71x
Northamptonshire 56 6.90x
Hertfordshire 49 8.24x
Kent 47 1.60x
Norfolk 38 2.87x
Suffolk 36 3.43x
Leicestershire 33 3.45x
Yorkshire 19 0.22x
Warwickshire 17 0.78x
Lancashire 11 0.11x
Hampshire 9 0.51x
Somerset 9 0.65x
Derbyshire 7 0.52x
Rutland 6 9.48x
Brecknockshire 5 2.90x
Gloucestershire 5 0.30x
Shropshire 5 0.67x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.77x
Sussex 4 0.28x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.75x
Royal Navy 3 2.92x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.37x
Devon 2 0.11x
Durham 2 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.17x
Bedfordshire 1 0.22x
Berkshire 1 0.15x
Herefordshire 1 0.28x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x
Renfrewshire 1 0.15x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Hallingbury in Essex leads with 41 Eldreds recorded in 1881 and an index of 2216.22x.

Place Total Index
Great Hallingbury 41 2216.22x
Lambeth 37 4.92x
St Pancras London 36 5.19x
Pebmarsh 30 1960.78x
Hilborough 24 2400.00x
Islington London 24 2.87x
Greenwich 21 15.30x
Leicester St Margaret 21 9.01x
Little Hallingbury 18 1046.51x
Poplar London 17 10.45x
Spittlegate 16 83.90x
Codicote 15 422.54x
Peterborough 15 25.55x
Saffron Walden 12 66.70x
Upminster 12 338.98x
Hackney London 11 2.28x
Bourn 10 89.77x
Camberwell 10 1.82x
Kings Walden 10 297.62x
Occold 10 645.16x
Birmingham 9 1.24x
Bury 9 7.70x
Finchley 9 27.22x
Shoreditch London 9 2.41x
Thurlby Obthorpe 9 486.49x
Walsoken 9 112.92x
West Ham 9 2.39x
Aston 8 1.34x
Great Dunmow 8 90.19x
Hornsey 8 7.34x
Portsea 8 2.31x
Stoke By Clare 8 615.38x
Wothorpe 8 2500.00x
Birchanger 7 496.45x
Croydon 7 3.00x
Limehouse London 7 7.39x
Paddington London 7 2.21x
St Paul Walden 7 232.56x
Weedon Beck 7 120.48x
Barking 6 12.05x
Dallinghoo 6 674.16x
Dalton In Huddersfield 6 31.35x
Friern Barnet 6 31.60x
Moulton 6 90.36x
Stoke Newington London 6 8.93x
Brecknock St John 5 34.39x
Hampstead London 5 3.72x
Hemel Hempstead 5 18.67x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 14.03x
Leicester All Sts 5 26.62x
Litchborough 5 485.44x
Little Clacton 5 276.24x
Mile End Old Town London 5 2.72x
Newington 5 1.57x
Quadring 5 187.97x
Ryhall 5 238.10x
Shrewsbury St Chad 5 19.12x
Stamford St George 5 80.65x
Taunton St James 5 24.70x
Twywell 5 337.84x
Welwyn 5 97.09x
Wigston Magna 5 39.43x
Alphamstone 4 547.95x
Brentwood 4 38.54x
Brixworth 4 115.27x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 4 12.92x
Great Henny 4 449.44x
Hardingstone 4 51.68x
Lewisham 4 2.55x
Old Cleeve 4 80.65x
Plumstead 4 4.08x
St Andrew Holborn London 4 10.72x
St Marylebone London 4 0.87x
Stamford Baron St Martin 4 91.95x
Tonbridge 4 3.77x
Aylesbury 3 12.99x
Dartford 3 9.97x
Deeping St James 3 61.60x
Roos 3 189.87x
Sheffield 3 1.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 59
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 28
Eliza 21
Alice 20
Emma 17
Ellen 16
Annie 13
Emily 11
Ann 10
Jane 10
Ada 9
Caroline 9
Fanny 9
Florence 9
Edith 8
Louisa 8
Maria 7
Martha 7
Hannah 6
Kate 6
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Jessie 5
Margaret 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Anne 4
Beatrice 4
Charlotte 4
Ethel 4
Frances 4
Allice 3
Amelia 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Agatha 2
Betsy 2
Laura 2
Lilian 2
Lizzie 2
Mabel 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Rachel 2
Rosina 2
Sophia 2
Uretta 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
George 36
John 34
Charles 25
James 25
Joseph 19
Henry 18
Arthur 15
Thomas 15
Edward 12
Harry 12
Albert 10
Alfred 10
Robert 10
Walter 10
Ernest 8
Frederick 7
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Herbert 5
Samuel 5
Daniel 4
Fredrick 3
Jas. 3
Archibald 2
Earnest 2
Ezekiel 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Wm. 2
Ben 1
Charlotte 1
Cornelius 1
Cyril 1
Cyrus 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Ellerton 1
Emanuel 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Heather 1
Henery 1
Jabes 1
Jack 1
Jesse 1
Jno 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1

FAQ

Eldred surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eldred surname in 1881?

In 1881, 881 people were recorded with the Eldred surname. That placed it at #4,306 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eldred surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,106 in 2016. That gives Eldred a modern rank of #5,314.

What does the Eldred surname mean?

Old English surname derived from a personal name meaning "old and wise counsel" or "sage counsel."

What does the Eldred map show?

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