UK surname
A variant spelling of the British surname Ellison, derived from a nickname for someone with an olive-complexion.
In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Elison surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #22,745 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Fewston, Halifax and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elison is 140 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.4%.
1881 census count
76
Ranked #22,745
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1861
140 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Elison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Elison surname density by area, 1861 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 76 | #22,745 |
| 1891 | historical | 72 | #27,804 |
| 1901 | historical | 31 | #30,616 |
| 1911 | historical | 34 | #29,600 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 9 | #37,217 |
| 2000 | modern | 8 | #37,264 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 11 | #36,780 |
| 2003 | modern | 12 | #36,715 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 12 | #36,936 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 11 | #37,217 |
| 2008 | modern | 14 | #36,950 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 24 | #36,341 |
| 2011 | modern | 20 | #36,587 |
| 2012 | modern | 18 | #36,723 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Fewston, Halifax, Ryton, Wigan and Brotton. 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 | Fewston | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Ryton | Durham |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Brotton | Yorkshire, North Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Elison 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 Elison, 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 Elison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Elison 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, Elison 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 Elison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Elison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Elison is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "ela" (meaning "eel") and "tun" (meaning "enclosure" or "town"), suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a town or settlement near an eel pond or eel-fishing area.
One of the earliest known records of the name Elison can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named William Elison. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls and the Subsidy Rolls, albeit with different spellings like Ellyson, Elyson, and Elyssen.
In the 14th century, the surname Elison was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Wiltshire, where it is believed to have originated. The earliest known bearer of the name was John Elison, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1327.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Elison began to spread to other parts of England, with notable bearers including William Elison (c. 1530-1598), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Northamptonshire, and Sir Thomas Elison (1585-1652), a member of the English Parliament and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.
In the 18th century, the Elison family continued to be well-established in various parts of England, with several notable individuals bearing the name. These include John Elison (1718-1795), a renowned mathematician and astronomer who served as the Savilian Professor of Geometry at the University of Oxford, and William Elison (1743-1819), a successful merchant and philanthropist from Yorkshire.
The 19th century saw the Elison surname spread further across the British Isles and beyond, with individuals such as Sir Charles Elison (1822-1897), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Natal in South Africa, and James Elison (1855-1924), a Scottish journalist and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of the Scottish Highlands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elison 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Elisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.96x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 26 | 2.96x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.77x |
| Leicestershire | 7 | 8.52x |
| Northumberland | 6 | 5.44x |
| Nottinghamshire | 6 | 6.01x |
| Durham | 5 | 2.27x |
| Warwickshire | 4 | 2.14x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.27x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.55x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 3.57x |
| Fife | 1 | 2.28x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.96x |
| Ross-shire | 1 | 4.91x |
| Shropshire | 1 | 1.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brotton in Yorkshire leads with 9 Elisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 937.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brotton | 9 | 937.50x |
| Broughton In Salford | 8 | 99.50x |
| Billesdon | 7 | 3333.33x |
| Oldham | 7 | 24.66x |
| West Bridgford | 6 | 6000.00x |
| Liverpool | 5 | 9.36x |
| Washington | 5 | 543.48x |
| Edgbaston | 3 | 51.72x |
| Benwell | 2 | 165.29x |
| Elswick | 2 | 22.73x |
| Haughton | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.78x |
| Preston | 2 | 8.50x |
| Sutton | 2 | 238.10x |
| West Derby | 2 | 7.77x |
| Wilsden | 2 | 266.67x |
| Burnley | 1 | 13.50x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 2.11x |
| Drayton In Hales | 1 | 75.76x |
| Gairloch | 1 | 85.47x |
| Hemel Hempstead | 1 | 43.48x |
| Leamington Priors | 1 | 21.74x |
| Markinch | 1 | 67.11x |
| Putney | 1 | 29.59x |
| Standish With Langtree | 1 | 92.59x |
| Stansty | 1 | 322.58x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Elison 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 Elison 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 Elison households.
FAQ
In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Elison surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Elison a modern rank of #36,596.
A variant spelling of the British surname Ellison, derived from a nickname for someone with an olive-complexion.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Elison 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.