NameCensus.

UK surname

Elizabeth

From the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "God is my oath".

In the 1881 census there were 39 people recorded with the Elizabeth surname, ranking it #28,137 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 328, ranked #13,831, up from #28,137 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lewisham and Islington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elizabeth is 703 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 741.0%.

1881 census count

39

Ranked #28,137

Modern count

328

2016, ranked #13,831

Peak year

1861

703 bearers

Map years

5

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elizabeth had 39 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,137 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016, ranked #13,831.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 703 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Elizabeth surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elizabeth surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elizabeth 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 479 #5,198
1861 historical 703 #3,854
1881 historical 39 #28,137
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 89 #24,154
1911 historical 543 #7,365
1997 modern 47 #32,975
1998 modern 43 #33,557
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 29 #34,976
2001 modern 29 #34,839
2002 modern 42 #33,951
2003 modern 59 #32,530
2004 modern 57 #32,968
2005 modern 65 #32,387
2006 modern 74 #31,850
2007 modern 76 #31,966
2008 modern 87 #30,999
2009 modern 90 #31,094
2010 modern 94 #31,111
2011 modern 103 #29,589
2012 modern 165 #21,782
2013 modern 189 #20,273
2014 modern 232 #17,761
2015 modern 250 #16,803
2016 modern 328 #13,831

Geography

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Where Elizabeths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Leonard Shoreditch, Manchester 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 Lewisham and Islington. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lewisham 019 Lewisham
2 Islington 005 Islington
3 Islington 013 Islington
4 Lewisham 014 Lewisham
5 Lewisham 005 Lewisham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elizabeth

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elizabeth

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Elizabeth 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

Elizabeth 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

Elizabeth falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Elizabeth 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Elizabeth

The surname "Elizabeth" is derived from the ancient Hebrew name "Elisheba" or "Elisheva", which means "God is my oath" or "God is my abundance". It originated as a personal name among the Israelites and later spread to various parts of Europe during the Middle Ages.

The name "Elizabeth" first appeared in England around the 12th century, brought by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It was initially spelled as "Elisabet" or "Elizabet" and was a popular name among the English nobility. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname was in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was listed as "Elizabeta".

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name "Elizabeth" became increasingly common in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Gloucestershire. It was often associated with place names such as Elizabeth's Town or Elizabeth's Field, which later evolved into surnames.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname "Elizabeth" was Sir John Elizabeth, a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 14th century. Other prominent figures included Sir Thomas Elizabeth, a prominent soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487), and Elizabeth Woodville (1437-1492), the Queen consort of England as the wife of King Edward IV.

In the 16th century, the surname "Elizabeth" gained further prominence with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603), who ruled England from 1558 to 1603. During this period, the name became closely associated with the English monarchy and was widely adopted by families across the country.

Another notable individual with the surname "Elizabeth" was Sir Walter Elizabeth (1552-1618), an English explorer and navigator who played a significant role in the early colonization of North America. He was knighted by King James I in 1603 for his services to the crown.

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the surname "Elizabeth" continued to be well-represented in various parts of England, particularly among the gentry and landed families. Prominent individuals included Sir Edward Elizabeth (1645-1721), a prominent lawyer and Member of Parliament, and Sir John Elizabeth (1677-1744), a distinguished naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the War of the Spanish Succession.

As the British Empire expanded during the 19th and early 20th centuries, the surname "Elizabeth" spread to various parts of the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and North America. Individuals with this surname contributed to various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elizabeth families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elizabeth 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. Lancashire leads with 8 Elizabeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.77x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 8 1.77x
Yorkshire 7 1.86x
Kent 4 3.08x
Middlesex 4 1.05x
Cheshire 2 2.38x
Norfolk 2 3.42x
Nottinghamshire 2 3.90x
Surrey 2 1.08x
Aberdeenshire 1 2.84x
Angus 1 2.84x
Durham 1 0.88x
Hampshire 1 1.28x
Northumberland 1 1.77x
Shropshire 1 3.04x
Staffordshire 1 0.78x
Worcestershire 1 2.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 5 Elizabeths recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.24x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 5 18.24x
Holy Trinity 3 33.08x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 13.61x
Birkenhead 1 14.95x
Bishopwearmouth 1 10.30x
Bradford 1 10.96x
Dover St Mary Virgin 1 79.37x
Dundee 1 7.60x
Dymchurch 1 1428.57x
Farndale East Side 1 2000.00x
Fledborough 1 10000.00x
Folkestone 1 39.68x
Hackney London 1 4.69x
Harborne 1 24.33x
Hipperholme Cum 1 60.24x
Kensington London 1 4.73x
Larling 1 5000.00x
Longbenton 1 41.67x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 153.85x
Macclesfield 1 26.81x
Newington 1 7.12x
North Baddesley 1 2000.00x
North Newbald 1 1250.00x
Scottow 1 1666.67x
St Anne Soho London 1 46.08x
St George Hanover Square 1 14.93x
Sutton 1 66.23x
Tredington 1 714.29x
West Derby 1 7.58x
Westerham 1 333.33x
Withington 1 68.97x
Woking 1 89.29x
Worksop 1 65.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ann 3
Annie 2
Fanny 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Allan 1
Bibby 1
Charlette 1
Clara 1
Dau 1
Daur 1
Driver 1
Eleanor 1
Elivan 1
Eliz 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Ellis 1
Harriet 1
Hetty 1
Jane 1
Jesse 1
M.A. 1
Margaret 1
Marianne 1
Martha 1
Martin 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Williams 1
Willis 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
Alexander 1
John 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 Elizabeth households.

FAQ

Elizabeth surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elizabeth surname in 1881?

In 1881, 39 people were recorded with the Elizabeth surname. That placed it at #28,137 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elizabeth surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 328 in 2016. That gives Elizabeth a modern rank of #13,831.

What does the Elizabeth surname mean?

From the Hebrew name Elisheva meaning "God is my oath".

What does the Elizabeth map show?

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