NameCensus.

UK surname

Ellsmore

An English surname derived from a location, possibly referring to someone from Elmsmore or Ellesmere.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Ellsmore surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, down from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes and Wednesbury. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Stroud and Dudley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ellsmore is 221 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.4%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

1999

221 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ellsmore had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 198 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ellsmore surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ellsmore surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ellsmore 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 40 #26,118
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 115 #21,878
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 198 #15,058
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 218 #17,159
1999 modern 221 #17,126
2000 modern 220 #17,138
2001 modern 208 #17,513
2002 modern 217 #17,388
2003 modern 210 #17,559
2004 modern 211 #17,590
2005 modern 207 #17,731
2006 modern 198 #18,425
2007 modern 207 #18,080
2008 modern 205 #18,359
2009 modern 198 #19,145
2010 modern 210 #18,836
2011 modern 206 #18,907
2012 modern 221 #17,979
2013 modern 212 #18,820
2014 modern 214 #18,825
2015 modern 214 #18,712
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Ellsmores are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Carlisle St Cuthbert, London parishes, Wednesbury, Ledbury (except for Parkhold), Donnington and Handsworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Stroud, Dudley, Sandwell and Carmarthenshire. 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 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Wednesbury Staffordshire
4 Ledbury (except for Parkhold), Donnington Herefordshire
5 Handsworth Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
2 Stroud 004 Stroud
3 Dudley 026 Dudley
4 Sandwell 037 Sandwell
5 Carmarthenshire 011 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ellsmore

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ellsmore

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

Ellsmore is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ellsmore falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ellsmore 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ellsmore

The surname Ellsmore has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that referred to an area of elm trees or elm groves. The prefix "Ells" is likely derived from the Old English word "ellern," meaning elm.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Elmere." This entry suggests that the name originally referred to a place in or near an elm grove or wooded area.

In the 13th century, the name evolved into various spellings, such as "Ellesmere," "Ellesmore," and "Ellsmore." These variations likely stemmed from regional dialects and the evolving nature of the English language during that time.

Notable historical figures with the surname Ellsmore include Sir John Ellsmore (1570-1638), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. Another prominent individual was Thomas Ellsmore (1620-1692), a Puritan minister and author who was known for his published sermons and theological writings.

In the 17th century, the name appears in several parish records, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, indicating that families bearing the Ellsmore surname were well-established in these regions.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the name continued to appear in various records, including those of the Church of England and civil registrations. One notable figure from this period was William Ellsmore (1784-1867), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on religious topics.

Another individual of note was Edward Ellsmore (1825-1901), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including churches and public structures, in the Victorian era.

Throughout its history, the surname Ellsmore has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many of its bearers tracing their ancestry back to the medieval period and the original regions where the name first emerged.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ellsmore families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ellsmore 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. Staffordshire leads with 62 Ellsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.05x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 62 14.05x
Middlesex 21 1.61x
Herefordshire 12 22.39x
Cumberland 6 5.33x
Essex 6 2.33x
Warwickshire 6 1.82x
Leicestershire 4 2.76x
Yorkshire 4 0.31x
Cheshire 3 1.04x
Derbyshire 3 1.47x
Somerset 2 0.95x
Carmarthenshire 1 1.82x
Gloucestershire 1 0.39x
Hampshire 1 0.37x
Lancashire 1 0.06x
Monmouthshire 1 1.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wednesbury in Staffordshire leads with 16 Ellsmores recorded in 1881 and an index of 145.06x.

Place Total Index
Wednesbury 16 145.06x
Great Barr 9 1800.00x
Edmonton 8 75.97x
Fradswell 8 8888.89x
Kingston 7 5384.62x
Walsall Foreign 7 30.72x
St Cuthbert W O 6 109.29x
West Ham 6 10.53x
Birmingham 5 4.55x
Ledbury 5 271.74x
Ross 5 234.74x
Leicester St Mary 4 34.16x
Mile End Old Town London 4 14.38x
Rugeley 4 126.18x
Shoreditch London 4 7.06x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 114.29x
Walsall Borough 4 116.96x
West Bromwich 4 15.84x
Belper 3 75.57x
Keynsham 2 132.45x
Marple 2 101.01x
Marston 2 666.67x
Sellack 2 1333.33x
St Marylebone London 2 2.87x
St Pancras London 2 1.90x
Aston 1 1.10x
Brookthorpe 1 1428.57x
Carmarthen St Peter 1 21.23x
Islington London 1 0.79x
Leigh Field 1 769.23x
Monmouth 1 39.84x
Salford 1 2.19x
Southampton 1 476.19x
Willaston In Nantwich 1 112.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Ann 4
Emma 4
Annie 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Kate 2
Leah 2
Abice 1
Agnes 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Betty 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Ether 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Lisia 1
Lydia 1
M.S.M.E. 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Nelly 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
James 7
William 7
George 6
Thomas 6
Henry 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Arthur 3
Ernest 3
Edward 2
Charles 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbet 1
Humphrey 1
Matthew 1
Mildron 1
Reginal 1
Sydney 1

FAQ

Ellsmore surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ellsmore surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Ellsmore surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ellsmore surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Ellsmore a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Ellsmore surname mean?

An English surname derived from a location, possibly referring to someone from Elmsmore or Ellesmere.

What does the Ellsmore map show?

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