NameCensus.

UK surname

Elie

A French surname derived from the Old French word "eslit," meaning "chosen" or "selected."

In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Elie surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 149, ranked #23,844, up from #31,761 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Bradford and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elie is 149 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1046.2%.

1881 census count

13

Ranked #31,761

Modern count

149

2016, ranked #23,844

Peak year

2016

149 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elie had 13 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,761 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016, ranked #23,844.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 22 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Elie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elie surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elie 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 13 #31,761
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 22 #31,562
1911 historical 19 #31,416
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 111 #26,111
2001 modern 107 #26,328
2002 modern 113 #26,024
2003 modern 112 #25,948
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 127 #24,178
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 124 #25,086
2008 modern 125 #25,249
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 139 #24,688
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 149 #23,844

Geography

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Where Elies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Bradford, Milton Keynes, Basingstoke and Deane and Denbighshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 010 Camden
2 Bradford 048 Bradford
3 Milton Keynes 032 Milton Keynes
4 Basingstoke and Deane 019 Basingstoke and Deane
5 Denbighshire 006 Denbighshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elie

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Elie, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Elie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Elie 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Elie is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elie 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

Elie falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elie is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Elie

The surname Elie originated in France, specifically in the northern regions of Normandy and Brittany, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French personal name "Elye," which itself is a variant of the Biblical name "Elijah." The name Elijah has Hebrew origins and means "my God is Yahweh."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Elie can be found in the Doomsday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Elie" in various entries, suggesting that individuals bearing this surname were present in England shortly after the Norman Conquest.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Elie was particularly prevalent in the regions of Normandy and Brittany, where it was often associated with noble families and landowners. One notable individual was Raoul Elie, a Norman knight who participated in the First Crusade (1096-1099) and was among the first to scale the walls of Jerusalem during its capture in 1099.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Elie family established itself in Scotland, where the name was anglicized to "Ely." Sir William Ely (c. 1260-1325) was a prominent Scottish nobleman and military leader who served under King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Another notable figure was Jean Elie (1493-1546), a French Protestant theologian and scholar who played a significant role in the Reformation. He was among the first to translate the Bible into French and was later exiled for his religious beliefs.

During the Renaissance period, the Elie surname was associated with several influential artists and intellectuals. One such individual was Claude Elie (1558-1637), a French architect and engineer who designed numerous notable buildings in Paris, including parts of the Louvre Palace.

In the 18th century, Louis Elie de Beaumont (1728-1786) was a renowned French geologist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the understanding of Earth's geological history and the classification of minerals.

Throughout history, the surname Elie has been spelled in various ways, including Ely, Elyee, and Elye, reflecting regional variations and linguistic influences. While the name has roots in France, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elie 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. Channel Islands leads with 6 Elies recorded in 1881 and an index of 109.29x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 6 109.29x
Essex 5 13.68x
Middlesex 4 2.16x
Hertfordshire 3 23.49x
Surrey 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Helier in Channel Islands leads with 6 Elies recorded in 1881 and an index of 335.20x.

Place Total Index
St Helier 6 335.20x
South Ockendon 5 6250.00x
Whitechapel London 4 218.58x
Thundridge 3 10000.00x
Lambeth 1 6.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Catherine 2
Amelia 1
Berthe 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Marie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 2
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Edward 1
Edweard 1
Emmanuel 1
Gustave 1
Henry 1
Horace 1

Top occupations

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 Elie households.

FAQ

Elie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Elie surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 149 in 2016. That gives Elie a modern rank of #23,844.

What does the Elie surname mean?

A French surname derived from the Old French word "eslit," meaning "chosen" or "selected."

What does the Elie map show?

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