NameCensus.

UK surname

Eldridge

Derived from a place name meaning "old ridge" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near a ridge.

In the 1881 census there were 3,271 people recorded with the Eldridge surname, ranking it #1,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,032, ranked #1,685, down from #1,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and Newchurch. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wycombe, Rother and Stroud.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eldridge is 4,548 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.3%.

1881 census count

3,271

Ranked #1,380

Modern count

4,032

2016, ranked #1,685

Peak year

1999

4,548 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eldridge had 3,271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,032 in 2016, ranked #1,685.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,502 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eldridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eldridge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eldridge 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 1,991 #1,454
1861 historical 2,027 #1,433
1881 historical 3,271 #1,380
1891 historical 3,463 #1,376
1901 historical 4,093 #1,376
1911 historical 4,502 #1,143
1997 modern 4,369 #1,497
1998 modern 4,518 #1,495
1999 modern 4,548 #1,502
2000 modern 4,525 #1,504
2001 modern 4,447 #1,496
2002 modern 4,484 #1,510
2003 modern 4,344 #1,520
2004 modern 4,289 #1,543
2005 modern 4,161 #1,566
2006 modern 4,142 #1,578
2007 modern 4,153 #1,586
2008 modern 4,149 #1,598
2009 modern 4,217 #1,606
2010 modern 4,308 #1,612
2011 modern 4,220 #1,618
2012 modern 4,086 #1,643
2013 modern 4,135 #1,654
2014 modern 4,146 #1,660
2015 modern 4,103 #1,663
2016 modern 4,032 #1,685

Geography

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Where Eldridges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes, Newchurch and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wycombe, Rother, Stroud, Ceredigion and Milton Keynes. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Newchurch Hampshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wycombe 017 Wycombe
2 Rother 007 Rother
3 Stroud 015 Stroud
4 Ceredigion 003 Ceredigion
5 Milton Keynes 012 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eldridge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eldridge

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

Eldridge 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

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

Meaning and origin of Eldridge

The surname Eldridge is of English origin and dates back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words 'ald', meaning old, and 'ric', meaning stream or ruler, referring to someone who lived near an old stream or watercourse.

The earliest known recorded spelling of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Aldrich'. This entry refers to a landowner in Somerset, England. Other early variations of the name include Aldric, Aldridge, and Eldrich.

During the 12th and 13th centuries, the name was particularly prominent in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, where several places were named after the Eldridge family, such as Eldridge Green in Staffordshire and Eldridge Hills in Warwickshire.

One of the earliest notable bearers of the name was Sir William Eldridge (c. 1260-1325), a prominent landowner and knight from Worcestershire. He served as a member of parliament and was involved in the conflicts between King Edward II and the barons.

In the 15th century, John Eldridge (c. 1420-1490) was a renowned scholar and theologian who served as the Dean of Lichfield Cathedral. He is remembered for his contributions to the study of canon law and his writings on ecclesiastical matters.

During the Tudor period, Thomas Eldridge (c. 1510-1572) was a prominent merchant and alderman in the City of London. He was known for his successful trade ventures and philanthropic activities, including funding the construction of a grammar school in his hometown.

In the 17th century, Edward Eldridge (1627-1693) was a notable Puritan minister and author who emigrated from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He served as the pastor of the church in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and wrote several influential works on religious topics.

Another prominent bearer of the name was Sir Samuel Eldridge (1680-1745), a British naval officer who served during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Quadruple Alliance. He was renowned for his bravery and strategic skills in several naval battles against the French and Spanish fleets.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eldridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eldridge 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 665 Eldridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.08x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 665 2.08x
Sussex 594 11.02x
Kent 495 4.54x
Surrey 382 2.45x
Hampshire 313 4.78x
Buckinghamshire 126 6.52x
Gloucestershire 94 1.50x
Oxfordshire 67 3.40x
Wiltshire 66 2.34x
Berkshire 65 2.71x
Hertfordshire 44 2.00x
Lincolnshire 39 0.76x
Essex 38 0.60x
Warwickshire 33 0.41x
Yorkshire 32 0.10x
Devon 28 0.42x
Lancashire 24 0.06x
Norfolk 21 0.43x
Bedfordshire 18 1.09x
Northamptonshire 16 0.53x
Somerset 16 0.31x
Glamorgan 15 0.27x
Cornwall 11 0.30x
Dorset 11 0.52x
Leicestershire 10 0.28x
Wigtownshire 10 2.36x
Lanarkshire 6 0.06x
Cheshire 5 0.07x
Royal Navy 5 1.31x
Herefordshire 4 0.31x
Midlothian 4 0.09x
Staffordshire 4 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.07x
Shropshire 3 0.11x
Suffolk 2 0.05x
Worcestershire 2 0.05x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Channel Islands 1 0.11x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Roxburghshire 1 0.17x
Rutland 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 94 Eldridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 94 3.03x
Camberwell 83 4.07x
Battle 77 211.77x
St Pancras London 68 2.64x
Hastings St Mary 67 49.97x
Lambeth 53 1.90x
Bethnal Green London 48 3.46x
Hastings St Leonards 47 59.34x
Brighton 43 3.96x
Hackney London 39 2.18x
Hollington 39 203.34x
Battersea 35 2.98x
Ryde 34 24.16x
Newington 33 2.80x
Eling 30 45.21x
Tonbridge 29 7.37x
Bermondsey 28 2.94x
Kensington London 28 1.58x
Harmondsworth 26 131.05x
Sedlescombe 26 366.71x
Greenwich 25 4.91x
Orpington 25 74.87x
Chatham 23 7.67x
Great Missenden 22 92.44x
St Marylebone London 22 1.29x
Ventnor 22 35.31x
Aylesbury 21 24.53x
Birmingham 21 0.78x
Deptford St Paul 19 2.26x
Icklesham 19 200.42x
Mayfield 19 59.62x
Ore 19 47.38x
St Luke London 19 3.71x
Woolwich 19 4.72x
Downton 18 48.68x
Edmonton 18 6.99x
Fulham London 18 3.88x
Harlington 18 106.82x
Shoreditch London 18 1.30x
Somerby In Grantham 18 138.36x
Charing 16 108.40x
Cirencester 16 18.86x
Eastbourne 16 6.45x
Ellesborough 16 240.24x
Faversham 16 15.39x
Kingston On Thames 16 4.28x
Monks Risborough 16 172.60x
Twickenham 16 11.68x
Highworth 15 41.52x
Hornsey 15 3.71x
Guestling 14 159.82x
Hammersmith London 14 1.78x
Hastings St Mary In The 14 12.18x
Lewisham 14 2.41x
South Stoneham 14 9.85x
Southampton All Sts 14 12.46x
St Albans St Peter 14 18.84x
Teddington London 14 19.33x
Weston Turville 14 155.38x
Weybridge 14 41.90x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.72x
Freshwater 13 43.43x
Millbrook 13 7.88x
Minster In Sheppey 13 7.20x
Wendover 13 62.41x
Westfield 13 112.95x
Bicester Market End 12 33.11x
Bisley 12 21.13x
Clapham 12 3.00x
Dunkirk 12 147.78x
Hastings Holy Trinity 12 30.22x
Maidstone 12 3.69x
Portsea 12 0.93x
Rotherhithe 12 3.04x
South Molton 12 32.83x
Whitwell 12 155.04x
Falmouth 11 8.59x
Reading St Giles 11 4.67x
Sevenoaks 11 12.44x
Wycombe 11 7.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 189
Sarah 107
Elizabeth 104
Emma 67
Eliza 65
Ellen 63
Alice 58
Jane 56
Emily 54
Ann 51
Louisa 48
Charlotte 42
Annie 40
Fanny 35
Caroline 33
Florence 29
Harriett 22
Hannah 21
Harriet 21
Edith 20
Clara 19
Frances 17
Maria 17
Catherine 16
Esther 16
Kate 16
Martha 16
Lucy 15
Margaret 14
Susan 14
Ada 12
Amy 11
Minnie 11
Rose 11
Matilda 10
Sophia 10
Anne 9
Rosa 9
Amelia 8
Jessie 8
Julia 8
Rebecca 7
Adelaide 6
Agnes 6
Eleanor 6
Jemima 6
Louise 6
Maud 6
Rosina 6
Ruth 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 214
John 152
George 143
Thomas 123
Charles 103
James 94
Henry 66
Alfred 51
Joseph 47
Albert 36
Arthur 36
Edward 34
Richard 33
Frederick 27
Walter 23
Harry 22
Robert 20
Frank 18
Ernest 17
Edwin 16
Samuel 16
Stephen 16
Herbert 15
Jesse 13
David 10
Edmund 7
Francis 7
Edgar 5
Elias 5
Fred 5
Mark 5
Thos. 5
Willm. 5
Benjamin 4
Fredrick 4
Chas. 3
Eli 3
Fredk. 3
Hy. 3
Jacob 3
Percy 3
Philip 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Caleb 2
Jonathan 2
Joshua 2
Leonard 2
Levi 2
Moses 2

FAQ

Eldridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eldridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,271 people were recorded with the Eldridge surname. That placed it at #1,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eldridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,032 in 2016. That gives Eldridge a modern rank of #1,685.

What does the Eldridge surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "old ridge" in Old English, referring to someone who lived near a ridge.

What does the Eldridge map show?

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