NameCensus.

UK surname

Elgie

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name Ailge, meaning "handsome youth" or "greening power".

In the 1881 census there were 204 people recorded with the Elgie surname, ranking it #12,682 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 440, ranked #10,992, up from #12,682 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, London parishes and Auckland St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gateshead, North Tyneside and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elgie is 472 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 115.7%.

1881 census count

204

Ranked #12,682

Modern count

440

2016, ranked #10,992

Peak year

1999

472 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elgie had 204 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,682 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016, ranked #10,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 367 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elgie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elgie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elgie 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 141 #16,072
1881 historical 204 #12,682
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 339 #10,682
1911 historical 367 #9,914
1997 modern 448 #10,113
1998 modern 467 #10,120
1999 modern 472 #10,083
2000 modern 451 #10,412
2001 modern 441 #10,412
2002 modern 428 #10,880
2003 modern 428 #10,709
2004 modern 422 #10,838
2005 modern 411 #10,956
2006 modern 429 #10,645
2007 modern 433 #10,662
2008 modern 438 #10,668
2009 modern 435 #10,991
2010 modern 446 #10,988
2011 modern 437 #11,036
2012 modern 439 #10,873
2013 modern 446 #10,911
2014 modern 445 #11,002
2015 modern 447 #10,873
2016 modern 440 #10,992

Geography

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Where Elgies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, St Dunstan Stepney and Bedale. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gateshead, North Tyneside, County Durham, Waveney and Darlington. 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 Darlington Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Auckland St Andrew Durham
4 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
5 Bedale Yorkshire, North Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gateshead 025 Gateshead
2 North Tyneside 023 North Tyneside
3 County Durham 051 County Durham
4 Waveney 010 Waveney
5 Darlington 012 Darlington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elgie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elgie

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

Elgie 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

Elgie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elgie

The surname Elgie originates from Scotland and dates back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Gaelic name Ailghi, meaning "from the green field". The name was prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the counties of Argyll and Inverness.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elgie can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from the year 1264, where a landowner named Gillebertus Elgie is mentioned. This suggests that the family had established roots in Scotland by the 13th century.

In the 15th century, the name appeared in various land and property records in the region of Argyll. A notable figure was John Elgie, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the town of Inveraray in the late 1400s.

During the 16th century, the Elgie family gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region. Sir Walter Elgie (1520-1589) was a respected military commander who served under Mary, Queen of Scots, and was knighted for his bravery in battle.

In the 17th century, the Elgies played a role in the religious conflicts that plagued Scotland. Reverend Robert Elgie (1612-1679) was a Presbyterian minister who was imprisoned for his opposition to the established Church of Scotland.

The 18th century saw the Elgie name spread beyond Scotland, with some members of the family migrating to England and Ireland. One notable figure was James Elgie (1731-1807), a Scottish-born merchant who settled in London and became a prominent figure in the city's trade and commerce.

In the 19th century, the Elgie family continued to thrive in various parts of Scotland. Notable individuals included Sir Alexander Elgie (1823-1897), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate, and Margaret Elgie (1845-1921), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights.

Throughout history, the Elgie surname has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, merchants, military leaders, clergymen, lawyers, and educators. While not a widespread name, it has left its mark on Scottish history and culture over the course of several centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elgie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elgie 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. Durham leads with 78 Elgies recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.24x.

County Total Index
Durham 78 13.24x
Yorkshire 59 3.01x
Middlesex 29 1.46x
Essex 11 2.81x
Hampshire 6 1.48x
Surrey 6 0.62x
Northumberland 5 1.70x
Devon 3 0.73x
Buckinghamshire 2 1.67x
Cumberland 2 1.17x
Lancashire 2 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Darlington in Durham leads with 25 Elgies recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.94x.

Place Total Index
Darlington 25 109.94x
Stockton On Tees 17 59.86x
Bishopwearmouth 9 17.80x
Mile End Old Town London 9 21.36x
Brompton In 8 909.09x
Coundon 7 292.89x
Burrill Cum Cowling 6 8571.43x
Great Smeaton 6 4615.38x
Wickford 6 2142.86x
Ealing 5 28.25x
Fishburn 5 2272.73x
Otterbourne 5 862.07x
Thimbleby 5 7142.86x
Broomfield 4 655.74x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 31.67x
Little Langton 4 5714.29x
Newall Cum Clifton 4 1666.67x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 44.71x
Escomb 3 110.70x
Exeter St Leonard 3 265.49x
Islington London 3 1.56x
Newton Upon Ouse 3 750.00x
St Marylebone London 3 2.84x
St Pancras London 3 1.88x
Tynemouth 3 19.01x
Whitby 3 45.39x
Arlecdon 2 44.15x
Battersea 2 2.75x
Camberwell 2 1.58x
Chelsea London 2 3.35x
Cornforth 2 115.61x
Fulham London 2 6.96x
Great Marlow 2 61.92x
Hartlepool 2 23.89x
Ingleton 2 1176.47x
Kirkleavington 2 1428.57x
Monkwearmouth Shore 2 17.39x
Bentworth 1 263.16x
Bishop Auckland 1 12.66x
Castle Bolton 1 909.09x
Conside Knitsley 1 21.83x
Danby Wiske 1 526.32x
Evenwood Barony 1 50.00x
Gorton 1 4.53x
Handsworth 1 19.27x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.92x
Heeley 1 16.78x
Hornby In Northallerton 1 588.24x
Ingatestone 1 158.73x
Lofthouse 1 34.13x
Manchester 1 0.95x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 312.50x
Newcastle On Tyne St 1 6.55x
Northallerton 1 40.00x
Ockley 1 232.56x
Osmotherley Foxton 1 5000.00x
Otley 1 21.01x
Paddington London 1 1.37x
Penge 1 7.91x
Settrington 1 263.16x
St Bartholomew Great 1 55.56x
Thornton Le Moor 1 434.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Sarah 10
Hannah 7
Jane 7
Elizabeth 6
Ann 4
Margaret 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Emma 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Dorothy 2
Eleanor 2
Sophia 2
Ada 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Cicely 1
Cisley 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
E. 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Ethelinda 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jemima 1
Jennie 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Leevinna 1
Leonora 1
Louisa 1
Margart 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Onima 1
Rachel 1
Susanne 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 15
William 13
Charles 8
Robert 7
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Simon 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Matthew 2
Samuel 2
Tom 2
Chapman 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
James 1
Sydney 1
Vivessimass 1
Willm. 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Elgie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elgie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 204 people were recorded with the Elgie surname. That placed it at #12,682 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elgie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016. That gives Elgie a modern rank of #10,992.

What does the Elgie surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic personal name Ailge, meaning "handsome youth" or "greening power".

What does the Elgie map show?

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