NameCensus.

UK surname

Elsbury

A locational surname derived from places called "Elbsbury" in England.

In the 1881 census there were 114 people recorded with the Elsbury surname, ranking it #18,324 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, up from #18,324 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Gloucestershire, Caerphilly and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elsbury is 273 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.3%.

1881 census count

114

Ranked #18,324

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

1998

273 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elsbury had 114 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,324 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 253 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elsbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elsbury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elsbury 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 56 #23,235
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 114 #18,324
1891 historical 180 #16,143
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 253 #12,776
1997 modern 272 #14,451
1998 modern 273 #14,803
1999 modern 269 #15,040
2000 modern 264 #15,191
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 256 #15,565
2003 modern 246 #15,769
2004 modern 246 #15,854
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 243 #16,052
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 252 #15,984
2009 modern 262 #15,888
2010 modern 254 #16,604
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 263 #15,954
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 271 #15,986
2015 modern 258 #16,443
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Elsburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Battersea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Gloucestershire, Caerphilly, County Durham, Bridgend and Wakefield. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Gloucestershire 011 South Gloucestershire
2 Caerphilly 020 Caerphilly
3 County Durham 013 County Durham
4 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
5 Wakefield 022 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elsbury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elsbury

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

Elsbury is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elsbury falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elsbury

The surname Elsbury originates from England and is believed to have its roots in the late 12th century. The name is derived from a combination of the Old English words "ald" meaning old and "burgh" meaning a fortified town or settlement. It is likely that the name originated as a locational surname, referring to someone who came from an older, well-established town or borough.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Elsbury can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1205, where it appears as "Aldeburgh". These historical records were financial records maintained by the English government, indicating that individuals with variations of this surname were present in the region during that time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Aldebur" and "Aldebiry" in the Feet of Fines records, which were documents related to land transactions. This suggests that the Elsbury family may have held land or property during this period.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the surname Elsbury. However, it does mention several places with similar names, such as Aldborough in Norfolk and Aldbury in Hertfordshire, which could have been the original places of origin for individuals who later adopted the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Elsbury throughout history include:

1. Sir John Elsbury (1564-1636), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Ludlow in the early 17th century.

2. William Elsbury (1709-1789), a renowned clockmaker from London who was known for his intricate and highly accurate timepieces.

3. Elizabeth Elsbury (1787-1862), an English author and poet who published several works, including "The Village Maid" and "Poems on Various Subjects".

4. Thomas Elsbury (1820-1896), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

5. Margaret Elsbury (1876-1958), an English suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's right to vote and worked alongside Emmeline Pankhurst.

While the surname Elsbury is not among the most common surnames today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the medieval period in England. The name's evolution and variations over the centuries reflect the changing linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elsbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elsbury 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 26 Elsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 26 2.03x
Durham 19 5.00x
Channel Islands 17 44.90x
Surrey 15 2.41x
Berkshire 14 14.60x
Gloucestershire 12 4.79x
Somerset 11 5.35x
Hampshire 10 3.82x
Northumberland 3 1.58x
Cambridgeshire 1 1.24x
Devon 1 0.38x
Essex 1 0.40x
Midlothian 1 0.58x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Peter Port in Channel Islands leads with 17 Elsburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 242.86x.

Place Total Index
St Peter Port 17 242.86x
Bristol St George 10 86.28x
Lambeth 9 8.08x
Bethnal Green London 7 12.61x
Farnborough 7 254.55x
Elvet 6 218.98x
Stoke St Gregory 6 967.74x
Chelsea London 5 12.98x
Clewer 4 101.78x
Newington 4 8.47x
Plawsworth 4 975.61x
Reading St Giles 4 42.51x
Reading St Mary 4 52.08x
Shoreditch London 4 7.22x
Bishop Auckland 3 58.82x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 3 120.00x
Battersea 2 4.25x
Curry Rivell 2 289.86x
Hackney London 2 2.79x
Iveston 2 114.29x
Reading St Lawrence 2 97.56x
Sedgefield 2 147.06x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 36.17x
Bath St James 1 46.51x
Bathwick 1 43.86x
Bristol St Augustine 1 24.75x
Christchurch 1 17.61x
Clerkenwell London 1 3.32x
Clifton 1 7.89x
Cornsay 1 98.04x
East Ham 1 21.37x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 1.45x
Hamble Le Rice 1 555.56x
Hampstead London 1 5.03x
Itchingswell 1 500.00x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 4.88x
St Andrewthe Less 1 10.81x
St Giles 1 42.19x
St Pancras London 1 0.97x
St Paul Covent Garden 1 78.13x
Twickenham 1 18.25x
Walcot 1 9.13x
Whitechapel London 1 7.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Ellen 3
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Frances 2
Adelaid 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Carroline 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Euretta 1
Florence 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Love 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Minnie 1
Priscilla 1
Rosina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
Charles 9
John 9
James 6
Thomas 5
William 5
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Edwd. 1
Eleanor 1
F.J. 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Gabriel 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Mathew 1
Michael 1
Richard 1

FAQ

Elsbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elsbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 114 people were recorded with the Elsbury surname. That placed it at #18,324 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elsbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Elsbury a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Elsbury surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places called "Elbsbury" in England.

What does the Elsbury map show?

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