NameCensus.

UK surname

Ellard

A variation of the medieval English surname Hailliard, derived from the Germanic personal name Hildiard.

In the 1881 census there were 516 people recorded with the Ellard surname, ranking it #6,607 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 723, ranked #7,514, down from #6,607 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Erith, London parishes and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Birmingham, Wirral and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ellard is 810 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.1%.

1881 census count

516

Ranked #6,607

Modern count

723

2016, ranked #7,514

Peak year

1998

810 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ellard had 516 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,607 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016, ranked #7,514.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 694 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Ellard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ellard surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ellard 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 334 #7,001
1861 historical 351 #7,278
1881 historical 516 #6,607
1891 historical 626 #6,177
1901 historical 694 #6,336
1911 historical 694 #6,121
1997 modern 777 #6,691
1998 modern 810 #6,689
1999 modern 785 #6,907
2000 modern 792 #6,831
2001 modern 770 #6,842
2002 modern 769 #6,986
2003 modern 782 #6,779
2004 modern 767 #6,908
2005 modern 747 #6,986
2006 modern 743 #7,038
2007 modern 758 #6,993
2008 modern 755 #7,072
2009 modern 761 #7,169
2010 modern 777 #7,183
2011 modern 776 #7,117
2012 modern 748 #7,246
2013 modern 736 #7,451
2014 modern 744 #7,432
2015 modern 730 #7,482
2016 modern 723 #7,514

Geography

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Where Ellards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Erith, London parishes, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Norton and Willoughby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Birmingham, Wirral, Warwick and Rugby. 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 Erith Kent
2 London parishes London 3
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Norton Northamptonshire
5 Willoughby Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Birmingham 125 Birmingham
2 Wirral 025 Wirral
3 Warwick 010 Warwick
4 Warwick 015 Warwick
5 Rugby 011 Rugby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ellard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ellard

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Ellard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Ellard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Ellard 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

Ellard is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ellard falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ellard

The surname Ellard is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Dorset in the southwest of England. The name is derived from the Old English words "alor" or "aler", meaning "alder tree", suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name lived near an alder grove or were associated with the cultivation or trade of alder wood.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ellard can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Aluardus" and "Aluuardus". These entries refer to individuals residing in Dorset at the time of the Norman Conquest. The name also appears in various other medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Dorset from 1195, where it is spelled as "Alard".

In the 13th century, the name took on the spelling "Elard" and "Ellard", which became the more common form. During this period, the name was also found in other parts of England, including Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, suggesting the migration of families bearing this surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Ellard throughout history include:

1. Sir John Ellard (c. 1490-1555), an English politician who served as Sheriff of Dorset and Somerset during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Robert Ellard (1575-1640), an English clergyman and theologian who served as the Archdeacon of Barnstaple in Devon.

3. Thomas Ellard (1638-1714), an English author and poet who wrote several works on religion and philosophy.

4. William Ellard (1781-1859), an English businessman and philanthropist who founded the Ellard Charity in Dorset, which provided education and support for the poor.

5. Henry Ellard (1826-1899), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Crimean War and later became an author, writing books on maritime history.

The surname Ellard has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Ellard's Green in Somerset and Ellard's Farm in Dorset, further reinforcing its historical ties to the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ellard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ellard 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. Middlesex leads with 95 Ellards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.88x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 95 1.88x
Northamptonshire 86 18.10x
Kent 78 4.52x
Warwickshire 66 5.18x
Lancashire 29 0.48x
Somerset 27 3.32x
Staffordshire 19 1.11x
Surrey 19 0.77x
Gloucestershire 17 1.72x
Oxfordshire 15 4.81x
Hampshire 14 1.35x
Bedfordshire 8 3.06x
Argyllshire 6 4.27x
Derbyshire 5 0.63x
Devon 5 0.48x
Essex 5 0.50x
Hertfordshire 5 1.44x
Cambridgeshire 4 1.25x
Perthshire 4 1.76x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.98x
Glamorgan 3 0.34x
Leicestershire 2 0.36x
Royal Navy 2 3.32x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 23 Ellards recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.42x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 23 5.42x
Erith 20 117.79x
Willenhall 18 56.34x
St Pancras London 16 3.93x
Willoughby 16 3018.87x
St Luke London 15 18.51x
Minehead 14 456.03x
Norton 14 2000.00x
Leamington Priors 12 38.28x
St Marylebone London 12 4.45x
Lambeth 11 2.50x
Northampton All Sts 11 68.20x
Long Buckby 10 227.79x
Chatham 9 18.98x
Crayford 9 119.52x
Eccleston In Prescot 9 29.90x
Hackney London 9 3.18x
Rochester St Margaret 9 49.51x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 17.72x
Brackley St Peter 8 245.40x
Daventry 8 119.05x
Liverpool 8 2.20x
Nuneaton 8 54.20x
Plumstead 8 13.92x
Staverton 8 1904.76x
Kilsby 7 673.08x
Neithrop 7 66.73x
Portsea 7 3.45x
Shoreditch London 7 3.20x
Kilmore Kilbride 6 67.19x
Northampton Priory St 6 21.04x
Weston Super Mare 6 29.21x
Bexley 5 32.81x
Chislehurst 5 54.11x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.19x
Gillingham 5 14.07x
Hitchin 5 31.81x
Northampton St Giles 5 27.62x
Northampton St Peter 5 173.01x
Northampton St Sepulchre 5 20.68x
St Maurice Winchester 5 116.28x
Wilne 5 276.24x
Bromley 4 15.22x
Eaton Socon 4 97.32x
Hammersmith London 4 3.21x
Islington London 4 0.82x
Perth East Church 4 18.71x
St George Martyr London 4 39.10x
West Ham 4 1.82x
Bishops Lydeard 3 144.23x
Bow London 3 4.66x
Bristol St James In 3 20.59x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 3 16.55x
Holywell 3 205.48x
Kirkdale 3 2.97x
Luton 3 6.62x
Paddington London 3 1.61x
Southwark St Olave 3 77.72x
Amersham 2 46.19x
Aston 2 0.57x
Bleadon 2 186.92x
Braunston 2 108.11x
Cardiff St John 2 6.96x
Chatteris 2 24.48x
Crick 2 124.22x
Grandborough 2 270.27x
Hampton Poyle 2 909.09x
Kensington London 2 0.71x
Kidlington 2 82.99x
Limehouse London 2 3.61x
Little Shelford 2 224.72x
Loughborough 2 7.87x
Ramsgate 2 7.11x
Richmond 2 5.80x
Royal Navy 2 3.89x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.25x
Stoke Damerel 2 2.72x
Woolwich 2 3.14x
Kenton 1 30.12x
Twickenham 1 4.62x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 44
John 32
James 29
George 22
Thomas 16
Edward 11
Henry 9
Charles 8
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Frederick 4
Frank 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Micheal 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Anthony 1
Archiebald 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edmund 1
Edwd.Jas. 1
Edwin 1
Enos 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Geo 1
Hambling 1
Hary 1
Head 1
Herbert 1
Jeremiah 1
Jno. 1
Jno.Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Michaael 1
Michael 1
Nathan 1
Simon 1
Tom 1
Will. 1
Willm. 1
Zachs 1

FAQ

Ellard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ellard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 516 people were recorded with the Ellard surname. That placed it at #6,607 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ellard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 723 in 2016. That gives Ellard a modern rank of #7,514.

What does the Ellard surname mean?

A variation of the medieval English surname Hailliard, derived from the Germanic personal name Hildiard.

What does the Ellard map show?

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