NameCensus.

UK surname

Elgar

A surname derived from the Old English elhor, meaning "elder tree."

In the 1881 census there were 604 people recorded with the Elgar surname, ranking it #5,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 630, ranked #8,380, down from #5,801 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ash-near-Sandwich, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Dover and Canterbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elgar is 688 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.3%.

1881 census count

604

Ranked #5,801

Modern count

630

2016, ranked #8,380

Peak year

1901

688 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elgar had 604 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,801 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016, ranked #8,380.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 688 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elgar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elgar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elgar 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 468 #5,304
1861 historical 425 #6,043
1881 historical 604 #5,801
1891 historical 607 #6,324
1901 historical 688 #6,370
1911 historical 669 #6,294
1997 modern 668 #7,513
1998 modern 685 #7,604
1999 modern 665 #7,807
2000 modern 671 #7,742
2001 modern 640 #7,883
2002 modern 651 #7,933
2003 modern 622 #8,099
2004 modern 616 #8,192
2005 modern 583 #8,442
2006 modern 578 #8,521
2007 modern 561 #8,766
2008 modern 577 #8,660
2009 modern 575 #8,866
2010 modern 605 #8,738
2011 modern 629 #8,370
2012 modern 616 #8,423
2013 modern 632 #8,391
2014 modern 627 #8,500
2015 modern 625 #8,449
2016 modern 630 #8,380

Geography

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Where Elgars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ash-near-Sandwich, London parishes, St Pancras and Ashford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Dover, Canterbury, West Berkshire and Welwyn Hatfield. 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 Ash-near-Sandwich Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Ashford Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 002 Stroud
2 Dover 008 Dover
3 Canterbury 018 Canterbury
4 West Berkshire 018 West Berkshire
5 Welwyn Hatfield 014 Welwyn Hatfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elgar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elgar

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elgar is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elgar is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elgar 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 Elgar is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Elgar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Elgar

The surname Elgar is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from the Old English personal name "Elfgar," which was composed of the elements "elf" meaning "elf" or "supernatural being" and "gar" meaning "spear."

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, with references found in various historical documents such as the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire and the Curia Regis Rolls. One notable early bearer of the name was William Elgar, who was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for Staffordshire in 1227.

The name Elgar has also been associated with certain place names in England, particularly in the counties of Worcestershire and Staffordshire. For instance, the village of Elgar in Worcestershire is believed to have derived its name from the surname itself.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the Elgar surname. One of the most famous is Sir Edward Elgar (1857-1934), the renowned English composer known for works such as the Enigma Variations and the Pomp and Circumstance Marches. Other notable Elgars include Thomas Elgar (1543-1614), an English clergyman and academic who served as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University, and John Elgar (1753-1809), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in the West Midlands region.

The Elgar surname has also been carried by historical figures like William Elgar (1593-1659), an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament, and Richard Elgar (1679-1741), an English merchant and philanthropist who was a prominent figure in the city of Bristol.

While the name Elgar has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the medieval English tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elgar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elgar 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. Kent leads with 230 Elgars recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.63x.

County Total Index
Kent 230 11.63x
Middlesex 119 2.05x
Hampshire 50 4.21x
Surrey 44 1.56x
Norfolk 35 3.93x
Devon 16 1.33x
Cornwall 13 1.98x
Worcestershire 13 1.72x
Yorkshire 10 0.17x
Sussex 9 0.92x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.63x
Oxfordshire 6 1.68x
Staffordshire 6 0.31x
Bedfordshire 4 1.33x
Gloucestershire 4 0.35x
Leicestershire 4 0.62x
Durham 3 0.17x
Essex 3 0.26x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.57x
Glamorgan 2 0.20x
Hertfordshire 2 0.50x
Lincolnshire 2 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 2 1.09x
Royal Navy 2 2.90x
Warwickshire 2 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.26x
Lancashire 1 0.01x
Northamptonshire 1 0.18x
Somerset 1 0.11x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 37 Elgars recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.93x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 37 7.93x
Ash Next Sandwich 30 686.50x
Ashford 27 140.26x
Hythe St Leonard 19 271.82x
Folkestone 16 41.72x
Portsea 16 6.87x
Wingham 15 655.02x
Christchurch 14 54.37x
Lymington 14 160.37x
Ramsgate 14 43.38x
Camberwell 13 3.51x
Faversham 10 53.05x
Lewisham 10 9.49x
Newington 10 4.67x
St Anthony In Roseland 10 4166.67x
Staple 9 873.79x
Barney 8 1290.32x
Bromley London 8 6.28x
Gunthorpe 8 1818.18x
Hackney London 8 2.46x
Hastings St Andrew 8 228.57x
Hunstanton 8 265.78x
Canterbury St Mary 6 45.21x
Isleworth 6 23.29x
Milton In Gravesend 6 20.24x
Oxford St Thomas 6 35.93x
St Andrewthe Less 6 14.31x
St George In East London 6 11.01x
Stoke 6 122.95x
Wolverhampton 6 3.99x
Canterbury St Paul 5 140.85x
Charlton 5 38.08x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 24.25x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 26.14x
Fulham London 5 5.95x
Kensington London 5 1.55x
Northwold 5 209.21x
Pershore St Andrew 5 119.62x
Rochester St Margaret 5 23.98x
Shoreditch London 5 1.99x
St Lawrence 5 36.79x
Stoke Damerel 5 5.92x
Worcester St Helen 5 206.61x
Ealing 4 7.73x
Eastry 4 145.99x
Islington London 4 0.71x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.55x
Mile End Old Town London 4 3.24x
St George Hanover Square 4 3.92x
Twickenham 4 16.10x
Wotton St Mary 4 67.91x
Bethersden 3 149.25x
Canterbury Holy Cross 3 157.07x
Cheriton 3 37.22x
Clapham 3 4.14x
Deal 3 17.79x
Falmouth 3 12.92x
Lambeth 3 0.59x
Minster In Sheppey 3 9.16x
Northbourne 3 159.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 3.23x
Richmond 3 7.58x
Sandwich St Clement 3 179.64x
Scarborough 3 5.75x
Westoe 3 3.07x
Bedford St Mary 2 25.87x
Berkhampstead 2 22.27x
Chelsea London 2 1.15x
Drypool 2 22.75x
Limehouse London 2 3.14x
Margate St John Baptist 2 5.52x
Pembroke St Mary 2 8.44x
Portsmouth 2 7.31x
Royal Navy 2 3.39x
Southwark St Saviour 2 6.72x
Spitalfields London 2 4.59x
St Martin In Fields 2 5.77x
Thanington Wilton In 2 215.05x
Tottenham 2 2.17x
Wiggenhall St Mary Virgin 2 317.46x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 28
Henry 23
George 16
Thomas 16
James 15
Edward 12
Robert 11
Alfred 8
Charles 8
Samuel 7
Frederick 6
Richard 6
Stephen 6
Benjamin 5
Harry 5
Edwin 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Stanton 3
Andrew 2
Finnis 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Auther 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Geo.H. 1
Hanton 1
Henden 1
Hendon 1
Laurence 1
Lawrence 1
Leonard 1
Magness 1
Martin 1
Osmond 1
Rd.R.J. 1
Richd. 1
Saml. 1
Sampson 1

FAQ

Elgar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elgar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 604 people were recorded with the Elgar surname. That placed it at #5,801 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elgar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 630 in 2016. That gives Elgar a modern rank of #8,380.

What does the Elgar surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English elhor, meaning "elder tree."

What does the Elgar map show?

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