NameCensus.

UK surname

Ellett

Derived from a place name meaning "Ella's gate," likely referring to a gate or entrance to an estate.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Ellett surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 384, ranked #12,251, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Oldswinford and St Matthew Bethnal Green. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Lichfield, Wakefield and Hartlepool.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ellett is 475 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.7%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

384

2016, ranked #12,251

Peak year

1911

475 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ellett had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016, ranked #12,251.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 475 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ellett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ellett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ellett 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 229 #9,390
1861 historical 252 #9,804
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 344 #9,969
1901 historical 382 #9,775
1911 historical 475 #8,144
1997 modern 458 #9,939
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 463 #10,230
2000 modern 447 #10,497
2001 modern 437 #10,482
2002 modern 433 #10,780
2003 modern 423 #10,805
2004 modern 418 #10,923
2005 modern 403 #11,120
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 412 #11,210
2009 modern 418 #11,309
2010 modern 426 #11,396
2011 modern 411 #11,617
2012 modern 371 #12,396
2013 modern 397 #11,988
2014 modern 408 #11,830
2015 modern 405 #11,800
2016 modern 384 #12,251

Geography

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Where Elletts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Oldswinford, St Matthew Bethnal Green and Great Yarmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Lichfield, Wakefield, Hartlepool and Mid Sussex. 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 3
2 Oldswinford Worcestershire
3 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 2
5 Great Yarmouth Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Lichfield 011 Lichfield
2 Wakefield 035 Wakefield
3 Hartlepool 001 Hartlepool
4 Mid Sussex 011 Mid Sussex
5 Hartlepool 002 Hartlepool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ellett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ellett

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

London Fringe

Within London, Ellett 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

Ellett 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

Ellett falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ellett

The surname Ellett is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name Ælflæd, which means "elf" and "beauty." It is thought to have first emerged in the counties of Kent and Surrey in the southeast of England during the Anglo-Saxon period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where an individual named Aelfled is listed as a landowner in the county of Kent. The name appeared in various spellings in medieval records, such as Aelfled, Elfleda, and Elflet, before eventually evolving into the modern form of Ellett.

In the 13th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir John Ellet, a knight who served under King Edward I during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He played a role in the siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300 and was mentioned in contemporary chronicles.

During the 16th century, the Ellett family established themselves in the county of Wiltshire, where they held land and property. A prominent member of the family was Sir Thomas Ellett (1505-1580), who served as Sheriff of Wiltshire and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I in 1573.

Another notable figure was William Ellett (1609-1678), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets and planetary motion. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1663.

In the 18th century, the Ellett family had a strong presence in the county of Gloucestershire. One member, Reverend Charles Ellett (1718-1795), was a respected clergyman and served as the vicar of Painswick for over 40 years.

During the 19th century, the name spread across various parts of England, with notable individuals including Henry Ellett (1823-1896), a successful industrialist and founder of the Ellett & Caldecott manufacturing company in Birmingham.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ellett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ellett 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 65 Elletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 65 2.24x
Somerset 36 7.69x
Norfolk 27 6.04x
Surrey 25 1.77x
Lincolnshire 20 4.30x
Devon 16 2.64x
Sussex 16 3.26x
Channel Islands 13 15.09x
Suffolk 13 3.67x
Kent 11 1.11x
Yorkshire 10 0.35x
Staffordshire 8 0.82x
Hampshire 7 1.17x
Wiltshire 7 2.72x
Worcestershire 7 1.84x
Berkshire 4 1.83x
Warwickshire 4 0.55x
Lancashire 3 0.09x
Durham 2 0.23x
Gloucestershire 2 0.35x
Essex 1 0.17x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 23 Elletts recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.21x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 23 18.21x
Great Yarmouth 21 56.73x
Louth 20 187.79x
Shoreditch London 18 14.28x
Gorleston 12 133.48x
Littleham 12 271.49x
St Helier 12 42.80x
Streatham 11 51.00x
West Hoathly 11 714.29x
Mirfield 8 50.60x
Walcot 8 32.10x
Milverton 7 404.62x
St George In East London 7 25.60x
Stourbridge 7 71.65x
Swindon 7 35.11x
Clapham 6 16.51x
Lichfield St Chad 6 271.49x
Mile End Old Town London 6 9.70x
Bermondsey 5 5.78x
Brighton 5 5.06x
Erith 5 51.18x
Deptford St Paul 4 5.23x
Meon Stoke 4 851.06x
North Petherton 4 106.10x
Aston 3 1.49x
Binfield 3 179.64x
Bishops Lydeard 3 252.10x
Kingston 3 319.15x
Lambeth 3 1.18x
Northwold 3 250.00x
Padiham 3 36.01x
Plymouth Charles The 3 11.25x
Bath St James 2 40.98x
Bridgewater 2 15.75x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 38.54x
Bromley London 2 3.13x
Chilton Trinity 2 1176.47x
Leeds 2 1.23x
Limehouse London 2 6.27x
Maidstone 2 6.77x
Martock 2 65.79x
Saham Toney 2 165.29x
Westoe 2 4.08x
Wolstanton 2 6.71x
Bathwick 1 19.31x
Birmingham 1 0.41x
Cavendish 1 87.72x
Corhampton 1 500.00x
Droxford 1 44.05x
Exeter St Leonard 1 60.24x
Hackney London 1 0.61x
Hardingham 1 192.31x
Hertford St John 1 33.44x
Poplar London 1 1.82x
Portsea 1 0.86x
Reading St Giles 1 4.67x
Spaxton 1 109.89x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.95x
St Marylebone London 1 0.64x
St Saviour 1 21.01x
West Ham 1 0.79x
Westminster St James 1 3.35x
Westminster St Margaret 1 7.13x
Whitechapel London 1 3.49x
Wilton 1 81.97x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Emma 12
Elizabeth 11
Sarah 10
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Ellen 5
Louisa 5
Harriet 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Catherine 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Maria 2
Priscilla 2
Rosina 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Charlotte 1
Christalena 1
Clara 1
E.A. 1
E.J. 1
Edith 1
Ellenor 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
F.H. 1
Fanny 1
Feeby 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hannah 1
Jemima 1
Jessie 1
Juli 1
Julia 1
L.A. 1
Laura 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Marget 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 14
Charles 12
James 11
Thomas 9
George 8
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Henry 4
Arthur 3
Edwin 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Alfd. 2
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Robt. 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Willm. 2
Abraham 1
Arold 1
Azariah 1
Barnett 1
Bartholomew 1
Batholomew 1
Chas. 1
Chs.Ths. 1
Clark 1
Ellen 1
Emanuel 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Jessie 1
Job 1
Josh. 1
Mark 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Sydney 1
Thos.J. 1
Timothy 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Ellett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ellett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Ellett surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ellett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 384 in 2016. That gives Ellett a modern rank of #12,251.

What does the Ellett surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Ella's gate," likely referring to a gate or entrance to an estate.

What does the Ellett map show?

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