NameCensus.

UK surname

Elliston

An English locational surname derived from the place name Elliston.

In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Elliston surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 692, ranked #7,773, down from #6,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lavenham and Ipswich St Peter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Lancaster and Harrogate.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elliston is 857 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.3%.

1881 census count

575

Ranked #6,056

Modern count

692

2016, ranked #7,773

Peak year

1911

857 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elliston had 575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016, ranked #7,773.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 857 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elliston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elliston surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elliston 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 371 #6,410
1861 historical 322 #7,911
1881 historical 575 #6,056
1891 historical 653 #5,944
1901 historical 757 #5,897
1911 historical 857 #5,179
1997 modern 699 #7,254
1998 modern 707 #7,418
1999 modern 714 #7,408
2000 modern 708 #7,428
2001 modern 695 #7,414
2002 modern 695 #7,556
2003 modern 697 #7,403
2004 modern 700 #7,400
2005 modern 680 #7,516
2006 modern 684 #7,510
2007 modern 678 #7,633
2008 modern 695 #7,529
2009 modern 724 #7,434
2010 modern 729 #7,541
2011 modern 704 #7,667
2012 modern 702 #7,589
2013 modern 724 #7,542
2014 modern 720 #7,612
2015 modern 712 #7,623
2016 modern 692 #7,773

Geography

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Where Ellistons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lavenham, Ipswich St Peter and Elmswell. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Lancaster and Harrogate. 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 Lavenham Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ipswich St Peter Suffolk
5 Elmswell Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 012 Ipswich
2 Lancaster 020 Lancaster
3 Ipswich 014 Ipswich
4 Ipswich 013 Ipswich
5 Harrogate 004 Harrogate

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elliston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elliston

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Elliston is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elliston 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

Elliston falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elliston

The surname Elliston has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval era. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ealr" meaning "elder tree" and "tun" meaning "town" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have originated from a place where elder trees grew abundantly or a settlement near an area with elder trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable entry is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name appears as "de Alrestun." This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to places with similar names, such as "Alreston" in Staffordshire and "Alreston" in Derbyshire. These place names may have influenced the development of the surname Elliston.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Elliston was Sir William Elliston, who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of parliament for the county of Lincolnshire.

Another notable figure was John Elliston, born in 1576, who was a renowned playwright and actor during the Elizabethan era. He was particularly known for his roles in the works of William Shakespeare and is mentioned in the records of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, a prominent theatrical company of the time.

In the 17th century, a prominent Elliston was Robert Elliston, born in 1646. He was a successful merchant and served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1705. His legacy includes the establishment of several charitable foundations that supported education and poverty relief.

Moving into the 18th century, we find William Elliston, born in 1732, who was a celebrated actor and theatre manager. He was particularly renowned for his performances at the Drury Lane Theatre in London and is credited with introducing several innovations in stage lighting and set design.

In the 19th century, one of the most notable figures was Robert William Elliston, born in 1774. He was a highly acclaimed actor and theatre manager, following in the footsteps of his father, William Elliston. He managed several prominent theatres, including the Theatre Royal in Birmingham and the Olympic Theatre in London.

These examples illustrate the long and rich history of the surname Elliston, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including landowners, artists, merchants, and civic leaders, across different periods in English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elliston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elliston 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. Suffolk leads with 244 Ellistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.47x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 244 35.47x
Middlesex 113 2.00x
Essex 78 7.00x
Surrey 36 1.31x
Kent 28 1.45x
Cambridgeshire 10 2.80x
Hampshire 10 0.86x
Norfolk 9 1.04x
Lancashire 8 0.12x
Sussex 8 0.84x
Yorkshire 7 0.13x
Hertfordshire 6 1.54x
Huntingdonshire 5 4.46x
Bedfordshire 2 0.68x
Channel Islands 2 1.20x
Cheshire 2 0.16x
Durham 2 0.12x
Glamorgan 2 0.20x
Berkshire 1 0.24x
Derbyshire 1 0.11x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ipswich St Peter in Suffolk leads with 28 Ellistons recorded in 1881 and an index of 302.38x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Peter 28 302.38x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 22 344.83x
Bethnal Green London 21 8.56x
West Ham 21 8.53x
Bury St Edmunds St James 20 108.87x
Elmswell 17 1156.46x
Ipswich St Clement 16 91.48x
Rotherhithe 16 22.93x
St Marylebone London 16 5.31x
Ipswich St Margaret 14 59.98x
Lavenham 13 361.11x
Holbrook 11 728.48x
Hornsey 11 15.40x
Islington London 11 2.01x
Great Waldingfield 10 884.96x
Lowestoft 10 30.77x
Washbrook 10 1492.54x
Diss 9 120.97x
Great Clacton 9 236.84x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 8 61.97x
Colchester St Leonard 8 222.84x
Fornham St Martin 8 1333.33x
Greenwich 8 8.90x
Margaretting 8 784.31x
Sawston 8 231.88x
Southampton All Sts 8 40.28x
Bildeston 7 463.58x
Clapham 7 9.91x
Great Cornard 7 448.72x
Hackney London 7 2.21x
Chilton 6 1090.91x
Hornchurch 6 109.69x
Sudbury St Peter 6 159.15x
Wormley 6 422.54x
Bocking 5 74.63x
Braintree 5 49.95x
Bulmer 5 370.37x
Kensington London 5 1.59x
Liverpool 5 1.23x
Nether Hallam 5 6.60x
Poplar London 5 4.69x
Ratcliffe London 5 16.03x
Brighton 4 2.08x
Deptford St Paul 4 2.69x
Lawshall 4 259.74x
Woolwich 4 5.62x
Canterbury St Gregory 3 118.11x
Chatham 3 5.66x
Chiswick 3 9.72x
Clerkenwell London 3 2.25x
Great Stukeley 3 370.37x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 14.76x
Mile End 3 147.06x
Mountnessing 3 177.51x
Paddington London 3 1.44x
St George Hanover Square 3 3.01x
St Magnus Martyr London 3 1666.67x
St Pancras London 3 0.66x
Walton On Thames 3 23.73x
Willesden 3 5.63x
Wrentham 3 157.07x
Bermondsey 2 1.19x
Bishop Auckland 2 8.87x
Cavendish 2 90.09x
Copdock 2 322.58x
Cowbridge 2 84.39x
Glemsford 2 41.41x
Hulme 2 1.43x
Huntingdon St John 2 61.54x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 2 130.72x
Leighton Buzzard 2 15.90x
Long Melford 2 31.30x
Newington 2 0.96x
Shire Hall Yard 2 338.98x
Shoreditch London 2 0.82x
St George Martyr London 2 17.48x
St Helier 2 3.67x
St Margarets At Cliffe 2 173.91x
Thorpe Morieux 2 250.00x
Tottenham 2 2.22x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 22
Emma 17
Eliza 16
Alice 12
Ellen 11
Emily 11
Martha 9
Jane 8
Ada 7
Annie 7
Caroline 7
Hannah 7
Susan 7
Edith 6
Susannah 6
Fanny 5
Harriet 5
Kate 5
Laura 4
Adelaide 3
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Ethel 3
Harriett 3
C. 2
Catherine 2
Eunice 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Janet 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
May 2
Rebecca 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Amelia 1
Avice 1
Bessie 1
Eliz. 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Elvena 1
Isabella 1
Thursa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
George 23
Edward 15
Thomas 15
James 14
John 14
Robert 13
Charles 12
Henry 12
Arthur 10
Frederick 8
Joseph 7
Harry 6
Herbert 5
Alfred 4
Fredk. 4
Samuel 4
Sidney 4
Edgar 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Augustus 2
Frank 2
Jessie 2
Peter 2
Richard 2
Bowers 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Emmanuel 1
Ernest 1
Eward 1
Firando 1
Franklin 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Guy 1
Herman 1
Jno.Jas. 1
Julian 1
Levi 1
Paul 1
Percy 1
Philip 1
Randle 1
Robt. 1
W. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Elliston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elliston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Elliston surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elliston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 692 in 2016. That gives Elliston a modern rank of #7,773.

What does the Elliston surname mean?

An English locational surname derived from the place name Elliston.

What does the Elliston map show?

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