NameCensus.

UK surname

Ella

A given name of English origin meaning "all" or "completely".

In the 1881 census there were 123 people recorded with the Ella surname, ranking it #17,506 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 315, ranked #14,258, up from #17,506 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Luddington, Welton and Gainsborough, Paddocks. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Brentwood.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ella is 315 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 156.1%.

1881 census count

123

Ranked #17,506

Modern count

315

2016, ranked #14,258

Peak year

2016

315 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ella had 123 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,506 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016, ranked #14,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 222 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ella surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ella surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ella 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 130 #17,164
1881 historical 123 #17,506
1891 historical 140 #19,193
1901 historical 148 #18,212
1911 historical 222 #13,992
1997 modern 270 #14,515
1998 modern 264 #15,119
1999 modern 262 #15,308
2000 modern 258 #15,427
2001 modern 244 #15,753
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 237 #16,244
2006 modern 239 #16,224
2007 modern 258 #15,554
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 265 #15,756
2010 modern 271 #15,856
2011 modern 268 #15,843
2012 modern 282 #15,158
2013 modern 286 #15,259
2014 modern 296 #14,982
2015 modern 305 #14,579
2016 modern 315 #14,258

Geography

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Where Ellas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Luddington, Welton, Gainsborough, Paddocks, Nottingham St Mary and St Giles Camberwell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, East Riding of Yorkshire and Brentwood. 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 Luddington Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Welton Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Gainsborough, Paddocks Lincolnshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 St Giles Camberwell London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 018 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 East Riding of Yorkshire 038 East Riding of Yorkshire
4 Brentwood 001 Brentwood
5 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ella

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ella

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ella is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Ella 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

Ella falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ella is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ella

The surname Ella has its origins in medieval England, with records indicating its use as early as the 12th century. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "el," which means "another" or "other." This suggests that the name may have been initially used to distinguish between individuals with the same given name, possibly referring to an "other" or "second" person with that name.

One of the earliest documented instances of the surname Ella is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1195, where it is recorded as "Ela." This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time, with the double "l" becoming more common in later centuries.

In the 13th century, the surname Ella can be traced to various regions across England, including Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, and Northamptonshire. During this period, place names often influenced surnames, and it is possible that the name Ella may have derived from locations such as Ella in Yorkshire or Elland in West Yorkshire, though direct connections are yet to be established.

Notable individuals bearing the surname Ella include Sir John Ella (1583-1668), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Wigan during the reign of Charles I. Another notable figure was Richard Ella (1740-1811), a renowned English engraver and cartographer known for his intricate maps and illustrations.

In the 18th century, the surname Ella gained prominence with the birth of John Ella (1802-1888), a renowned English musician, conductor, and promoter of classical music. He co-founded the Musical Union, an influential organization dedicated to promoting and performing orchestral works.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Sir John Ella (1841-1922), a British politician and industrialist who served as a Member of Parliament for South Worcestershire and was instrumental in the development of the steel industry in the Midlands region.

Throughout its history, the surname Ella has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name. While its origins may be rooted in medieval England, the surname Ella has undoubtedly left an indelible mark across different spheres, from politics and industry to the arts and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ella families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ella 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. Yorkshire leads with 77 Ellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.53x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 77 6.53x
Lincolnshire 15 7.88x
Nottinghamshire 12 7.48x
Surrey 9 1.55x
Kent 2 0.49x
Lancashire 2 0.14x
Derbyshire 1 0.54x
Durham 1 0.28x
Leicestershire 1 0.76x
Middlesex 1 0.08x
Northumberland 1 0.56x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitgift in Yorkshire leads with 24 Ellas recorded in 1881 and an index of 16000.00x.

Place Total Index
Whitgift 24 16000.00x
Nottingham St Mary 11 26.52x
Southcoates 10 152.67x
East Ferry 9 15000.00x
Whitwood 9 538.92x
Lambeth 7 6.75x
North Newbald 7 2592.59x
Eastoft 5 2000.00x
Castleford 4 93.24x
Welton Melton 4 1176.47x
Rothwell 3 126.05x
Ardwick 2 15.70x
Bishopton 2 5000.00x
Camberwell 2 2.63x
Norton In Malton 2 139.86x
Sancton Houghton 2 1333.33x
Swinefleet 2 392.16x
Thirsk 2 147.06x
Allerton Bywater 1 156.25x
Batley 1 8.92x
Burringham 1 454.55x
Escrick 1 416.67x
Gateshead 1 3.77x
Londesborough Cum 1 666.67x
Milton In Gravesend 1 16.42x
Newcastle On Tyne 1 526.32x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 45.87x
Ousefleet 1 1111.11x
Sawley 1 178.57x
St George Hanover Square 1 4.77x
St Lawrence 1 35.84x
Wymeswold 1 263.16x
York St Margaret 1 136.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Annie 5
Elizabeth 4
Emma 4
Jane 4
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Emily 2
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Dorothy 1
Eliza 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Henrieta 1
Lavinia 1
Leonora 1
Louiza 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Millicent 1
Nelly 1
Nora 1
Norah 1
Priscilla 1
Sophia 1
Susanna 1
Ursula 1
Zelia 1
Zilliah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Thomas 8
George 7
William 6
Arthur 4
Charles 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Frederick 2
James 2
Jonathan 2
Marcus 2
Chas.D. 1
Cornelius 1
Elizabeth 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Jno.W. 1
Nicholas 1

FAQ

Ella surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ella surname in 1881?

In 1881, 123 people were recorded with the Ella surname. That placed it at #17,506 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ella surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 315 in 2016. That gives Ella a modern rank of #14,258.

What does the Ella surname mean?

A given name of English origin meaning "all" or "completely".

What does the Ella map show?

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