NameCensus.

UK surname

Else

A German surname meaning "other" or "someone else."

In the 1881 census there were 992 people recorded with the Else surname, ranking it #3,932 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,345, ranked #4,479, down from #3,932 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Matlock, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley and Wigan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Else is 1,498 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.6%.

1881 census count

992

Ranked #3,932

Modern count

1,345

2016, ranked #4,479

Peak year

1999

1,498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Else had 992 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,932 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016, ranked #4,479.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,454 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Else surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Else surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Else 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 617 #4,187
1861 historical 541 #4,857
1881 historical 992 #3,932
1891 historical 1,147 #3,716
1901 historical 1,331 #3,764
1911 historical 1,454 #3,318
1997 modern 1,447 #4,032
1998 modern 1,477 #4,110
1999 modern 1,498 #4,094
2000 modern 1,477 #4,113
2001 modern 1,414 #4,185
2002 modern 1,457 #4,164
2003 modern 1,416 #4,180
2004 modern 1,397 #4,233
2005 modern 1,384 #4,223
2006 modern 1,371 #4,268
2007 modern 1,362 #4,329
2008 modern 1,360 #4,348
2009 modern 1,397 #4,338
2010 modern 1,456 #4,282
2011 modern 1,394 #4,374
2012 modern 1,341 #4,450
2013 modern 1,362 #4,468
2014 modern 1,381 #4,439
2015 modern 1,348 #4,491
2016 modern 1,345 #4,479

Geography

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Where Elses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Matlock, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Nottingham St Mary and Wirksworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Amber Valley, Wigan and Ashfield. 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 Matlock Derbyshire
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Wirksworth Derbyshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales
2 Amber Valley 002 Amber Valley
3 Derbyshire Dales 007 Derbyshire Dales
4 Wigan 038 Wigan
5 Ashfield 006 Ashfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Else

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Else

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

Else is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Else 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 Else 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 Else, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Else

The surname "ELSE" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "ælf," meaning "elf" or "supernatural being." It likely originated in the early medieval period, with some of the earliest recorded instances appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners in England after the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was William Else, who lived in Yorkshire, England, in the 13th century. The surname was also found in various forms, such as "Ealse," "Elce," and "Elles," reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling.

In the 14th century, the name "ELSE" appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which were administrative records of the time. This suggests that the name was well-established in parts of eastern England during this period.

The surname "ELSE" is also associated with various place names in England, such as Elsecar in South Yorkshire and Elsenham in Essex. These place names may have influenced the development and spread of the surname in those regions.

Notable individuals with the surname "ELSE" include:

1. John Else (c. 1644-1721), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, D.D., Lord Archbishop of Armagh." 2. Thomas Else (1786-1870), an English Baptist minister and author, who served as the pastor of the Baptist chapel in Woolwich, London. 3. Walter Else (1867-1945), an English artist and illustrator known for his landscape paintings and illustrations for books and magazines. 4. Gertrude Else (1874-1954), an American classical scholar and professor at Stanford University, who made significant contributions to the study of ancient Greek literature and philosophy. 5. Sir Samuel Else (1839-1919), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Southampton from 1900 to 1906.

The surname "ELSE" has a rich history rooted in the early medieval period of England, with connections to various regions, place names, and notable individuals over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Else families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Else 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. Derbyshire leads with 291 Elses recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.23x.

County Total Index
Derbyshire 291 19.23x
Nottinghamshire 156 11.97x
Kent 122 3.70x
Yorkshire 86 0.90x
Middlesex 52 0.54x
Lancashire 48 0.42x
Cambridgeshire 39 6.37x
Leicestershire 35 3.27x
Lincolnshire 28 1.81x
Surrey 22 0.47x
Bedfordshire 19 3.80x
Sussex 18 1.10x
Essex 12 0.63x
Warwickshire 11 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 8 1.37x
Hertfordshire 8 1.20x
Staffordshire 6 0.18x
Cheshire 5 0.23x
Durham 5 0.17x
Hampshire 5 0.25x
Devon 4 0.20x
Northamptonshire 3 0.33x
Gloucestershire 2 0.11x
Berkshire 1 0.14x
Dorset 1 0.16x
Midlothian 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.17x
Shropshire 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wirksworth in Derbyshire leads with 80 Elses recorded in 1881 and an index of 581.40x.

Place Total Index
Wirksworth 80 581.40x
Sheffield 31 10.16x
Crich 29 293.52x
Mansfield 27 59.88x
Nottingham St Mary 27 8.01x
Sutton In Ashfield 27 95.47x
Matlock 25 123.03x
Luton 19 21.93x
Newark Upon Trent 19 40.57x
Newbold Dunston 16 111.27x
Chesterfield 15 26.44x
Ecclesall Bierlow 15 7.70x
Whittington 15 71.63x
Parson Drove 12 489.80x
Hucknall Torkard 11 33.29x
Kensington London 11 2.05x
Tottenham 11 7.14x
Castleton 10 8.73x
Derby St Werburgh 10 11.44x
Heanor 10 44.19x
Idle 10 22.51x
Windlesham 10 112.87x
Darlton 9 1800.00x
Litchurch 9 14.78x
Salford 9 2.67x
St Pancras London 9 1.16x
Warehorne 9 511.36x
Battersea 8 2.25x
Finchley 8 21.59x
Leicester St Margaret 8 3.06x
Maidstone 8 8.14x
Sandwich St Peter 8 230.55x
Stretford 8 12.68x
Wimblington 8 221.61x
Aston 7 1.04x
Beckingham 7 614.04x
Folkestone 7 10.94x
Holbeck 7 11.03x
Marston Upon Dove 7 144.03x
St Albans St Peter 7 31.14x
St Lawrence 7 30.86x
Willesborough 7 78.92x
Alfreton 6 13.05x
Askham 6 833.33x
Aspull 6 22.24x
Blackwell 6 80.65x
Faversham 6 19.08x
Hailsham 6 60.85x
Halstead 6 26.95x
Horsley 6 65.86x
Lenham 6 91.19x
Middletonby Wirksworth 6 402.68x
Nether Hallam 6 4.63x
Packington 6 157.07x
Smalley 6 222.22x
Swannington 6 151.52x
Thringstone 6 146.34x
West Ham 6 1.42x
Alton 5 33.49x
Ashover 5 66.40x
Chatham 5 5.51x
Donington On Bain 5 318.47x
Dover St Mary Virgin 5 15.66x
Eastry 5 109.41x
Fulbeck 5 234.74x
Gorton 5 4.64x
Great Missenden 5 69.44x
Hoo St Mary 5 495.05x
St Edward Cambridge 5 256.41x
West Firle 5 263.16x
Brenchley 4 33.90x
Featherstone 4 37.17x
March 4 19.51x
North Wingfield 4 59.17x
Nottingham St Peter 4 27.53x
Paddington London 4 1.13x
St Mary Virgin In Marsh 4 625.00x
St Peter Cambridge 4 194.17x
Tibshelf 4 53.84x
Tormoham 4 4.70x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 82
Elizabeth 44
Sarah 43
Ann 21
Eliza 21
Annie 18
Emma 18
Martha 16
Florence 12
Hannah 12
Ellen 11
Emily 11
Fanny 11
Jane 11
Margaret 10
Alice 9
Catherine 9
Ada 8
Charlotte 7
Harriett 7
Lucy 7
Agnes 6
Kate 5
Louisa 5
Maria 5
Frances 4
Grace 4
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Gertrude 3
Isabella 3
Lizzie 3
Anne 2
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Clara 2
Harriet 2
Helen 2
Henrietta 2
Lily 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Susan 2
Bessie 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth. 1
Susie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 71
John 63
George 45
Thomas 34
Joseph 32
James 25
Henry 20
Charles 19
Samuel 18
Arthur 12
Robert 11
Albert 9
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Walter 8
Frederick 7
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Edwin 4
Ernest 3
Isaac 3
Job 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Elias 2
Fred 2
Aquila 1
Bernard 1
Chares 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Edwd.Jas. 1
Elijah 1
Everett 1
Ewd. 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Isral 1
Jane 1
Jas.E. 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jessie 1
Josh. 1
Josiah 1
Lewis 1

FAQ

Else surname: questions and answers

How common was the Else surname in 1881?

In 1881, 992 people were recorded with the Else surname. That placed it at #3,932 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Else surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,345 in 2016. That gives Else a modern rank of #4,479.

What does the Else surname mean?

A German surname meaning "other" or "someone else."

What does the Else map show?

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