NameCensus.

UK surname

Elsey

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the pool or pond".

In the 1881 census there were 920 people recorded with the Elsey surname, ranking it #4,168 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,558, ranked #3,975, up from #4,168 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Winfarthing and Ifield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and South Holland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elsey is 1,668 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 69.3%.

1881 census count

920

Ranked #4,168

Modern count

1,558

2016, ranked #3,975

Peak year

2000

1,668 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elsey had 920 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,168 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016, ranked #3,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,537 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elsey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elsey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elsey 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 626 #4,140
1861 historical 582 #4,530
1881 historical 920 #4,168
1891 historical 1,116 #3,805
1901 historical 1,326 #3,777
1911 historical 1,537 #3,157
1997 modern 1,606 #3,690
1998 modern 1,644 #3,742
1999 modern 1,645 #3,774
2000 modern 1,668 #3,697
2001 modern 1,623 #3,727
2002 modern 1,665 #3,704
2003 modern 1,604 #3,756
2004 modern 1,603 #3,777
2005 modern 1,576 #3,781
2006 modern 1,577 #3,776
2007 modern 1,556 #3,851
2008 modern 1,558 #3,886
2009 modern 1,589 #3,906
2010 modern 1,595 #3,961
2011 modern 1,588 #3,934
2012 modern 1,548 #3,967
2013 modern 1,575 #3,971
2014 modern 1,586 #3,970
2015 modern 1,558 #3,992
2016 modern 1,558 #3,975

Geography

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Where Elseys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Winfarthing, Ifield and Horley, Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, South Holland and Fenland. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Winfarthing Norfolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Ifield Sussex
5 Horley, Leigh Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 014 Swansea
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 013 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 South Holland 004 South Holland
4 Fenland 002 Fenland
5 Fenland 003 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elsey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elsey

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Elsey is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elsey 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

Elsey falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Elsey

The surname ELSEY originated in England, with the earliest known recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "else," meaning "an eel," potentially indicating a place where eels were caught or sold. The name may also be linked to the village of Elsie in Shropshire, which was recorded as "Elsefeld" in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting a connection to someone hailing from that location.

One of the earliest documented examples of the ELSEY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Radulfus Elsei is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. In the 13th century, the ELSEY name appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which listed a Robert de Elseye.

During the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with notable individuals bearing the name. One example is John Elsey, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, who served as the Mayor of London in 1349. Another historical figure was Thomas Elsey, a renowned scholar and professor of theology at the University of Oxford, who lived between 1390 and 1457.

As the centuries progressed, the ELSEY surname continued to be documented in various records and manuscripts. In the 16th century, a notable figure was Sir John Elsey, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Lincolnshire, who lived from 1510 to 1572. During the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, where a William Elsey was baptized in 1632.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent ELSEY, Sir Isaac Elsey, a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who lived from 1720 to 1798. He made significant contributions to the city's development and was known for his charitable works. In the 19th century, Edward Elsey, born in 1823, was a renowned explorer and naturalist who accompanied several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing valuable scientific observations.

Throughout its history, the ELSEY surname has been associated with various locations, including Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, and Bristol, reflecting the name's widespread presence across different regions of England. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including merchants, scholars, explorers, and philanthropists, leaving an indelible mark on English history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elsey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elsey 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. Surrey leads with 242 Elseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.53x.

County Total Index
Surrey 242 5.53x
Suffolk 91 8.32x
Lincolnshire 89 6.20x
Norfolk 85 6.15x
Middlesex 77 0.86x
Yorkshire 59 0.66x
Sussex 51 3.37x
Hampshire 50 2.72x
Nottinghamshire 31 2.56x
Essex 28 1.58x
Kent 28 0.91x
Durham 20 0.75x
Derbyshire 17 1.21x
Lancashire 13 0.12x
Northamptonshire 10 1.18x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.05x
Lanarkshire 5 0.17x
Dorset 3 0.51x
Glamorgan 3 0.19x
Midlothian 3 0.25x
Warwickshire 3 0.13x
Oxfordshire 2 0.36x
Channel Islands 1 0.38x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Denbighshire 1 0.29x
Devon 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Reigate Foreign in Surrey leads with 37 Elseys recorded in 1881 and an index of 78.06x.

Place Total Index
Reigate Foreign 37 78.06x
Camberwell 34 5.92x
Croydon 22 9.05x
Southwark St George Martyr 21 11.62x
Stuston 17 2931.03x
Ockbrook 16 268.01x
Horley 15 204.36x
Winfarthing 15 806.45x
Basford 14 25.09x
Kensington London 14 2.80x
Bury St Edmunds St James 13 44.47x
Diss 12 101.35x
Hackney London 12 2.38x
Islington London 12 1.38x
Reigate Borough 12 118.81x
Clapham 11 9.79x
Donington 11 213.18x
Gosberton 11 172.41x
Great Yarmouth 11 9.61x
Romsey Infra 11 176.28x
Woodford 11 54.78x
Ardingly 10 207.47x
Byers Green 10 132.63x
Portsea 10 2.77x
Tetford 10 549.45x
Thornaby 10 30.06x
Epsom 9 42.19x
Nottingham St Mary 9 2.87x
Worth 9 81.82x
Wotton 9 422.54x
Bunwell 8 301.89x
Greenwich 8 5.59x
Leigh 8 496.89x
Manthorpe Cum Little 8 72.86x
Peterborough 8 13.08x
South Stoneham 8 20.03x
West Ham 8 2.04x
Cranleigh 7 109.20x
Cringleford 7 1014.49x
Dorking 7 23.82x
Leatherhead 7 63.87x
Mavis Enderby 7 1627.91x
Romsey Extra 7 63.93x
Westoe 7 4.62x
Bowling 6 6.80x
Cavendish 6 169.97x
Chelsea London 6 2.22x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.54x
Doncaster 6 9.23x
Hemingby 6 483.87x
Hinderclay 6 638.30x
Ifield 6 94.94x
Millbrook 6 12.94x
Occold 6 372.67x
Wisbech St Peter 6 21.02x
Acton 5 9.49x
Allerton Bywater 5 103.73x
Banstead 5 42.16x
Bermondsey 5 1.87x
Brightside Bierlow 5 2.86x
East Grinstead 5 23.32x
Finningham 5 387.60x
Glasgow 5 0.97x
Great Grimsby 5 5.48x
Horncastle 5 33.72x
Horsell 5 181.16x
Lambeth 5 0.64x
Leeds 5 0.99x
Lenton 5 17.53x
Mendham 5 215.52x
Rudgwick 5 144.51x
St Pancras London 5 0.69x
St Swithin Lincoln 5 22.13x
Tydd St Mary 5 174.83x
Wymering 5 165.02x
Wymondham 5 35.41x
Bocking 4 37.49x
Bungay St Mary 4 73.80x
Illington 4 1538.46x
Sutton At Hone 4 62.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 60
Elizabeth 36
Ellen 25
Sarah 24
Alice 23
Emma 23
Eliza 18
Annie 17
Jane 17
Ann 15
Louisa 13
Emily 10
Hannah 9
Caroline 7
Kate 7
Martha 7
Ada 6
Edith 6
Florence 6
Charlotte 5
Clara 5
Harriett 5
Susan 5
Betsy 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Rose 4
Sophia 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Anne 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Esther 3
Eva 3
Fanny 3
Jessie 3
Margaret 3
Rosa 3
Betsey 2
Catherine 2
Ethel 2
Grace 2
Laura 2
Lizzie 2
Maria 2
May 2
Violetta 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 50
George 44
John 38
James 30
Henry 25
Thomas 22
Charles 21
Arthur 15
Robert 12
Edward 11
Joseph 11
Benjamin 10
Frederick 8
Albert 7
Alfred 7
David 7
Edwin 7
Richard 6
Philip 5
Wm. 5
Abraham 4
Frank 4
Herbert 4
Samuel 4
Stephen 4
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Sidney 3
Thos. 3
Chas. 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Jno. 2
Martin 2
Peter 2
Reginald 2
W.E. 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Ambrose 1
Amos 1
Cain 1
Francis 1
Fredc. 1
Fredk. 1
Leonard 1
Mark 1

FAQ

Elsey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elsey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 920 people were recorded with the Elsey surname. That placed it at #4,168 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elsey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,558 in 2016. That gives Elsey a modern rank of #3,975.

What does the Elsey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "dweller by the pool or pond".

What does the Elsey map show?

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