NameCensus.

UK surname

Elrick

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "ridge by the swan lake".

In the 1881 census there were 444 people recorded with the Elrick surname, ranking it #7,385 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,010, ranked #5,761, up from #7,385 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Old Deer and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mintlaw, Deer and Mormond and Auchnagatt.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elrick is 1,010 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 127.5%.

1881 census count

444

Ranked #7,385

Modern count

1,010

2016, ranked #5,761

Peak year

2016

1,010 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elrick had 444 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,385 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,010 in 2016, ranked #5,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 610 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Elrick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elrick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elrick 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 223 #9,562
1861 historical 289 #8,711
1881 historical 444 #7,385
1891 historical 519 #7,208
1901 historical 610 #6,981
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 946 #5,739
1998 modern 992 #5,709
1999 modern 994 #5,738
2000 modern 1,001 #5,682
2001 modern 956 #5,791
2002 modern 964 #5,846
2003 modern 923 #5,961
2004 modern 915 #6,006
2005 modern 935 #5,857
2006 modern 927 #5,900
2007 modern 938 #5,905
2008 modern 957 #5,847
2009 modern 968 #5,914
2010 modern 986 #5,941
2011 modern 971 #5,953
2012 modern 963 #5,914
2013 modern 992 #5,867
2014 modern 1,001 #5,853
2015 modern 997 #5,818
2016 modern 1,010 #5,761

Geography

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Where Elricks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Old Deer, Gateshead, New Machar and Ellon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mintlaw, Deer and Mormond, Auchnagatt, Kemnay and Ellon West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Gateshead Durham
4 New Machar Aberdeen
5 Ellon Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mintlaw Aberdeenshire
2 Deer and Mormond Aberdeenshire
3 Auchnagatt Aberdeenshire
4 Kemnay Aberdeenshire
5 Ellon West Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elrick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elrick

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Elrick surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Elrick household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Elrick 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

Elrick is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elrick 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 Elrick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Elrick

The surname ELRICK has its origins in the northern English county of Yorkshire. It dates back to the 13th century and is derived from the Old English words "el" meaning elf and "ric" meaning kingdom or realm, suggesting an association with the lands or territories of mythical elf beings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax returns of 1379, which lists a Thomas Elryk residing in the village of Rippon. The nearby village of Elrick, located near the River Wharfe, likely contributed to the name's formation and early spellings.

In the 15th century, records show an Elryk family residing in the village of Pateley Bridge, with John Elrick serving as the village's constable in 1467. The name appeared in various spellings such as Elryke, Elryck, and Elricke during this period.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname ELRICK. However, it does mention the presence of several individuals with the given name Aelfric, which shares a similar etymological root.

Notable individuals bearing the ELRICK surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Elrick (1542-1614), a prominent merchant and landowner in Yorkshire, who served as the Mayor of York in 1592.

2. Elizabeth Elrick (1679-1745), a renowned herbalist and midwife from the village of Burnsall, whose expertise in herbal remedies was widely sought after in the region.

3. William Elrick (1778-1854), a skilled stonemason who worked on the construction of several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the York Minster and Ripon Cathedral.

4. Reverend John Elrick (1820-1892), an influential clergyman and author who served as the vicar of St. Mary's Church in Pateley Bridge and wrote extensively on the history and traditions of the Yorkshire Dales.

5. Alice Elrick (1875-1962), a pioneering educator who founded one of the first schools for girls in the city of Leeds, advocating for equal educational opportunities for women during a time when such efforts were rare.

While the surname ELRICK is relatively uncommon outside of Yorkshire, its rich history and connections to the region's folklore, villages, and notable individuals have left an indelible mark on the cultural heritage of northern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elrick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elrick 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 313 Elricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.74x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 313 78.74x
Banffshire 26 29.20x
Angus 17 4.28x
Middlesex 14 0.33x
Durham 12 0.94x
Lanarkshire 12 0.86x
Midlothian 12 2.09x
Surrey 11 0.53x
Renfrewshire 8 2.41x
Kincardineshire 6 11.48x
Northumberland 4 0.63x
Fife 1 0.39x
Inverness-shire 1 0.78x
Perthshire 1 0.52x
Royal Navy 1 1.96x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen St Nicholas in Aberdeenshire leads with 58 Elricks recorded in 1881 and an index of 77.99x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen St Nicholas 58 77.99x
Aberdeen Old Machar 45 54.22x
Peterhead 22 104.66x
New Deer 21 291.67x
Newhills 20 245.70x
Fraserburgh 19 169.79x
St Fergus 15 666.67x
Fyvie 13 200.31x
New Machar 13 582.96x
Ellon 10 182.82x
Monquhitter 10 242.72x
Abbey 8 15.76x
Foveran 8 265.78x
Pitsligo 8 210.53x
Gateshead 7 7.32x
Barony 6 1.71x
Dun 6 759.49x
Edinburgh Canongate 6 41.01x
King Edward 6 131.00x
Longside 6 126.32x
Lonmay 6 166.21x
Old Deer 6 79.68x
Rathven 6 35.89x
Dundee 5 3.37x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 65.79x
Meldrum 5 149.25x
Ratcliffe London 5 21.10x
Aberdour 4 127.80x
Cadder 4 39.02x
Keith 4 42.15x
Newington 4 2.52x
St Marylebone London 4 1.75x
St Vigeans 4 18.64x
Chapel Of Garioch 3 106.01x
Cruden 3 58.59x
Elswick 3 5.89x
Midmar 3 196.08x
Monkwearmouth 3 24.55x
Wandsworth 3 7.26x
Belhelvie 2 73.53x
Crimond 2 163.93x
Echt 2 104.71x
Fetteresso 2 24.42x
Glenbucket 2 270.27x
Govan 2 0.58x
Monifieth 2 14.23x
South Shields 2 17.59x
Strichen 2 57.97x
Turriff 2 31.15x
Tyrie 2 40.08x
All Hallows Barking 1 93.46x
Amble 1 34.36x
Aston 1 0.34x
Banchory Devenick 1 20.49x
Cairney 1 43.10x
Camberwell 1 0.36x
Coull 1 85.47x
Croydon 1 0.86x
Daviot 1 131.58x
Drumblade 1 70.92x
Durris 1 66.67x
Gamrie 1 10.06x
Glenbervie 1 69.93x
Hampstead London 1 1.50x
Heston 1 7.02x
Kensington London 1 0.42x
Kilspindie 1 98.04x
Kirkhill 1 45.87x
Liberton 1 11.26x
Logie Buchan 1 87.72x
Nigg 1 23.15x
Oyne 1 70.92x
Peterculter 1 35.71x
Putney 1 5.11x
Rayne 1 52.91x
Tarves 1 26.60x
Udny 1 41.49x
Walton On Thames 1 10.42x
Willesden 1 2.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Wilemina 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Angnes 1
Anne 1
Arminal 1
Eliza 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Margaret 1
Margt.B. 1
Phoebe 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
William 4
George 3
Robert 2
David 1
Frank 1
James 1
Jno. 1
Martin 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Elrick households.

FAQ

Elrick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elrick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 444 people were recorded with the Elrick surname. That placed it at #7,385 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elrick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,010 in 2016. That gives Elrick a modern rank of #5,761.

What does the Elrick surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from a place name meaning "ridge by the swan lake".

What does the Elrick map show?

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