NameCensus.

UK surname

Ellwood

From the Old English elements "el" meaning "elf" and "wudu" meaning "wood"; a surname referring to someone from a wood associated with elves.

In the 1881 census there were 1,666 people recorded with the Ellwood surname, ranking it #2,583 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,451, ranked #2,688, down from #2,583 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees and Bongate or Appleby St Michael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Lakeland, County Durham and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ellwood is 2,513 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.1%.

1881 census count

1,666

Ranked #2,583

Modern count

2,451

2016, ranked #2,688

Peak year

1911

2,513 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ellwood had 1,666 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,583 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,451 in 2016, ranked #2,688.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,513 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ellwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ellwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ellwood 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 960 #2,893
1861 historical 971 #2,866
1881 historical 1,666 #2,583
1891 historical 1,947 #2,365
1901 historical 2,224 #2,430
1911 historical 2,513 #2,042
1997 modern 2,427 #2,595
1998 modern 2,481 #2,632
1999 modern 2,505 #2,632
2000 modern 2,486 #2,630
2001 modern 2,431 #2,621
2002 modern 2,452 #2,672
2003 modern 2,396 #2,668
2004 modern 2,410 #2,646
2005 modern 2,356 #2,666
2006 modern 2,357 #2,673
2007 modern 2,405 #2,653
2008 modern 2,371 #2,698
2009 modern 2,445 #2,692
2010 modern 2,460 #2,730
2011 modern 2,423 #2,741
2012 modern 2,421 #2,689
2013 modern 2,452 #2,711
2014 modern 2,470 #2,713
2015 modern 2,473 #2,681
2016 modern 2,451 #2,688

Geography

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Where Ellwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, St Bees, Bongate or Appleby St Michael and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Lakeland, County Durham, Copeland and Allerdale. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Bongate or Appleby St Michael Westmorland
4 London parishes London 1
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Lakeland 003 South Lakeland
2 County Durham 042 County Durham
3 Copeland 008 Copeland
4 South Lakeland 005 South Lakeland
5 Allerdale 009 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ellwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ellwood

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Ellwood is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ellwood is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ellwood falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ellwood

The surname Ellwood is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "el" meaning "eel" and "wudu" meaning "wood". It likely originated as a place name referring to a wooded area near a stream or river where eels were found.

Ellwood is an ancient name that can be traced back to the 11th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Eluuode" and "Eluuode", referring to places in Shropshire and Yorkshire.

The name Ellwood has been associated with various locations in England, such as Ellwood in Gloucestershire, Ellwood in Worcestershire, and Ellwood in Staffordshire. These place names likely contributed to the widespread adoption of the surname Ellwood.

Notable individuals with the surname Ellwood include Thomas Ellwood (1639-1713), a Quaker writer and friend of John Milton. Another figure is John Ellwood (1701-1763), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in Bath.

In the 19th century, John Ellwood (1805-1861) was a renowned British engraver, known for his intricate engravings of architectural subjects. His son, Thomas Ellwood (1830-1886), followed in his footsteps as an engraver and painter.

Moving forward, Sir Thomas Frederick Ellwood (1833-1904) was a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (now Singapore and Malaysia) from 1888 to 1897.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the surname Ellwood, reflecting its long-standing presence in England and its contributions to various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ellwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ellwood 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. Lancashire leads with 257 Ellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.34x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 257 1.34x
Cumberland 252 18.10x
Westmorland 196 55.14x
Middlesex 170 1.05x
Cambridgeshire 142 13.86x
Yorkshire 142 0.89x
Durham 120 2.49x
Hertfordshire 47 4.22x
Norfolk 43 1.73x
Surrey 38 0.48x
Cheshire 35 0.98x
Huntingdonshire 31 9.65x
Lincolnshire 23 0.89x
Northumberland 20 0.83x
Suffolk 18 0.91x
Leicestershire 13 0.72x
Devon 12 0.36x
Essex 11 0.34x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.50x
Flintshire 10 2.30x
Buckinghamshire 9 0.92x
Bedfordshire 7 0.84x
Derbyshire 7 0.28x
Gloucestershire 7 0.22x
Lanarkshire 7 0.13x
Dumfriesshire 6 1.68x
Herefordshire 4 0.60x
Sussex 4 0.15x
Somerset 3 0.12x
Staffordshire 3 0.05x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Kent 2 0.04x
Northamptonshire 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.08x
Buteshire 1 1.02x
Perthshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Willingham in Cambridgeshire leads with 30 Ellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 342.86x.

Place Total Index
Willingham 30 342.86x
Appleby St Michael 27 337.92x
Islington London 27 1.72x
Batley 26 17.07x
Barton 25 1396.65x
St Pancras London 25 1.92x
Crosscanonby 21 45.60x
Blackburn 20 3.92x
Lancaster 20 17.51x
Workington 18 22.58x
Bethnal Green London 17 2.42x
Kirkby Thore 17 592.33x
Leeds 17 1.88x
Shoreditch London 17 2.42x
Camberwell 16 1.55x
Comberton 16 501.57x
Kendal 16 24.59x
Kirkby Stephen 16 173.54x
Melmerby 16 1012.66x
Pendleton In Salford 16 7.00x
Crook Billy Row 15 24.34x
Preston Quarter 15 38.44x
Barton Upon Irwell 14 9.69x
Hackney London 14 1.54x
Caldewgate 13 17.04x
Lambeth 13 0.92x
Shildon 13 33.62x
St Albans St Peter 13 34.57x
Staffield 13 948.91x
Bradford 12 3.09x
Bridekirk 12 107.91x
Croglin 12 863.31x
Dalston Buckabank 12 425.53x
Dalton In Furness 12 16.20x
Staveley 12 533.33x
Whitehaven 12 16.17x
Lynesack Softley 11 84.62x
Monk Hesleden 11 82.03x
Satterthwaite 11 438.25x
Sutton 11 129.56x
Cockermouth 10 34.12x
East Barnet 10 45.23x
Everton 10 1.63x
Fulham London 10 4.26x
Great Harwood 10 28.83x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 10 149.48x
Leicester St Mary 10 6.90x
Northop Golftyn 10 196.08x
Norwich St Julian 10 95.51x
St Mary Within 10 57.47x
Barrow 9 178.57x
Horton Cum Peel 9 4090.91x
Newark Upon Trent 9 11.49x
Over Staveley 9 222.77x
Sedburgh 9 134.73x
Strickland Kettle 9 265.49x
Thornley 9 51.69x
Troutbeck 9 364.37x
Tynemouth 9 6.98x
Usworth 9 35.23x
Bromley London 8 2.25x
Colton 8 80.00x
Crosby Ravensworth 8 184.33x
Cumwhitton 8 287.77x
Eton 8 36.08x
Helsington 8 414.51x
Hensingham 8 70.30x
Horningsea 8 350.88x
Kingsbridge 8 94.45x
Lakenham 8 22.64x
Penrith 8 15.55x
Prudhoe Castle 8 170.94x
Radcliffe 8 8.65x
St Andrewthe Less 8 6.84x
Tarvin 8 344.83x
Torver 8 714.29x
Tottenham 8 3.11x
Toxteth Park 8 1.23x
Walthamstow 8 6.96x
West Derby 8 1.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 135
William 114
Thomas 73
James 45
Robert 42
Joseph 37
George 31
Charles 21
Henry 19
Richard 15
Edward 14
Arthur 11
Isaac 11
Daniel 10
Francis 8
Frederick 8
Herbert 8
Samuel 8
Walter 8
Frank 7
Mark 7
Edmund 6
Ernest 6
Michael 6
Alfred 5
Fred 5
Percy 5
Peter 5
Harry 4
Timothy 4
Christopher 3
Edwin 3
Jonathan 3
Thos. 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Anthony 2
David 2
Elijah 2
Gilbert 2
Harrison 2
Hodgson 2
Horatio 2
Oliver 2
Pearman 2
Wilfred 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Bill 1
Ebenezer 1

FAQ

Ellwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ellwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,666 people were recorded with the Ellwood surname. That placed it at #2,583 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ellwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,451 in 2016. That gives Ellwood a modern rank of #2,688.

What does the Ellwood surname mean?

From the Old English elements "el" meaning "elf" and "wudu" meaning "wood"; a surname referring to someone from a wood associated with elves.

What does the Ellwood map show?

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