UK surname
An Old English locational surname referring to a ridge by a spring or stream.
In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Eldrige surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #26,281 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Ellesborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eldrige is 146 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.5%.
1881 census count
52
Ranked #26,281
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
146 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Eldrige surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Eldrige 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 | 111 | #16,006 |
| 1861 | historical | 144 | #15,817 |
| 1881 | historical | 52 | #26,281 |
| 1891 | historical | 146 | #18,664 |
| 1901 | historical | 41 | #29,602 |
| 1911 | historical | 108 | #21,736 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 26 | #35,254 |
| 1999 | modern | 18 | #36,151 |
| 2000 | modern | 17 | #36,207 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 15 | #36,381 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 4 | #38,169 |
| 2008 | modern | 5 | #38,027 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 7 | #37,854 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Ellesborough, Winchelsea, Icklesham and St John Hackney. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | Ellesborough | Buckinghamshire |
| 4 | Winchelsea, Icklesham | Sussex |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Eldrige 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 Eldrige, 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 Eldrige surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Eldrige 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, Eldrige 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 Eldrige is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Eldrige, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname ELDRIGE has its origins in England, with evidence of its use dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ald" meaning old and "ric" meaning rich or powerful, suggesting it may have been a descriptive name given to someone of advanced age and wealth.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Eldrich". This spelling variation indicates the name's evolution over time, with later forms such as "Eldridge" and "Eldrige" becoming more common.
The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, where several villages and hamlets carried variations of the name, such as Eldridge Hill and Eldridge Green. These place names likely contributed to the surname's widespread adoption in those areas.
In the 14th century, the Eldrige surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a John Eldrich is listed as a taxpayer. This record provides evidence of the name's broader geographical distribution during this period.
Notable individuals bearing the Eldrige surname include:
1. Sir Walter Eldrige (c. 1360 - 1428), a prominent landowner and knight from Oxfordshire. 2. Richard Eldrige (1567 - 1642), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Sedgefield. 3. Samuel Eldrige (1629 - 1693), a renowned English portrait painter and etcher during the 17th century. 4. Thomas Eldrige (1737 - 1809), a British naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. 5. Sarah Eldrige (1783 - 1856), a prominent Quaker and philanthropist from Bristol, known for her advocacy of women's rights and education.
While the Eldrige surname may not be as widely recognized as some others, its rich history and geographical ties to various regions of England provide insight into the cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped its evolution over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eldrige 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. Middlesex leads with 12 Eldriges recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.37x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 12 | 2.37x |
| Kent | 11 | 6.36x |
| Berkshire | 6 | 15.76x |
| Buckinghamshire | 6 | 19.57x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 2.68x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 3.02x |
| Nottinghamshire | 3 | 4.39x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.60x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.17x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.22x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.40x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ellesborough in Buckinghamshire leads with 6 Eldriges recorded in 1881 and an index of 5454.55x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ellesborough | 6 | 5454.55x |
| Hatford | 6 | 30000.00x |
| Hornsey | 6 | 93.60x |
| Bridge | 3 | 2000.00x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 10.64x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 3 | 16.97x |
| Eastleach Turville | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Milton In Gravesend | 2 | 77.22x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 4.90x |
| Tranmere | 2 | 48.66x |
| Wyke In Bradford | 2 | 222.22x |
| Beckenham | 1 | 44.25x |
| Brighton | 1 | 5.80x |
| Cambusnethan | 1 | 27.47x |
| Challock | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Charing | 1 | 434.78x |
| Deptford St Paul | 1 | 7.49x |
| Epsom | 1 | 83.33x |
| Liscard | 1 | 49.51x |
| Little Heaton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 19.42x |
| Miserdine | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Southcoates | 1 | 35.84x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.69x |
| Walcot | 1 | 22.99x |
| Whitstable | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Eldrige 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 Eldrige 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 Eldrige households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 2 |
| Farm Labourer | 2 |
| Solicitors Son | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Apprentice Seaman | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Clerk Tar Works | 1 |
| Confectioner (Apprentice) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Engineers Apprentice | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Wife | 1 |
| Farm Servt Indoors | 1 |
| Genl Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Hase Chandler | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Keepers Boy (Dom) | 1 |
| Labourer In Iron Works | 1 |
| Mariner | 1 |
| Stoker | 1 |
| Stone Mason | 1 |
| Straw Plaiter | 1 |
| Warehouse Man | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Eldrige surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Eldrige a modern rank of #38,110.
An Old English locational surname referring to a ridge by a spring or stream.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Eldrige 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.