NameCensus.

UK surname

Elswood

In the 1881 census there were 77 people recorded with the Elswood surname, ranking it #22,617 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 176, ranked #21,298, up from #22,617 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Chard and Crewkerne, Wayford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Warwick and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elswood is 194 in 1997. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.6%.

1881 census count

77

Ranked #22,617

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

1997

194 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elswood had 77 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,617 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elswood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elswood surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elswood 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 29 #28,082
1861 historical 60 #26,313
1881 historical 77 #22,617
1891 historical 94 #24,820
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 116 #20,850
1997 modern 194 #17,978
1998 modern 193 #18,511
1999 modern 189 #18,862
2000 modern 182 #19,300
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 189 #18,950
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 182 #19,306
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 166 #20,534
2007 modern 155 #21,726
2008 modern 162 #21,350
2009 modern 163 #21,715
2010 modern 172 #21,404
2011 modern 176 #20,957
2012 modern 167 #21,598
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 180 #21,115
2015 modern 177 #21,220
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Elswoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Chard, Crewkerne, Wayford, Netherbury and Ilminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Warwick and North Somerset. 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 Chard Somerset
3 Crewkerne, Wayford Somerset
4 Netherbury Dorset
5 Ilminster Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
2 South Somerset 019 South Somerset
3 South Somerset 010 South Somerset
4 Warwick 011 Warwick
5 North Somerset 026 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elswood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elswood

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Elswood is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Elswood is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Elswood falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

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Elswood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elswood 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. Somerset leads with 50 Elswoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.36x.

County Total Index
Somerset 50 41.36x
Dorset 14 28.40x
Hampshire 4 2.60x
Wiltshire 4 6.02x
Devon 2 1.28x
Middlesex 2 0.27x
Sussex 1 0.79x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chard in Somerset leads with 20 Elswoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 1369.86x.

Place Total Index
Chard 20 1369.86x
Merriott 20 5714.29x
Ilminster 6 714.29x
Shapwick 5 4545.45x
Fordington 4 377.36x
Somerton 4 816.33x
Symondsbury 4 1290.32x
Wardour 4 2105.26x
Holdenhurst 3 74.26x
Holy Trinity 2 606.06x
Ealing 1 14.90x
Hove 1 17.99x
Kensington London 1 2.39x
South Stoneham 1 29.94x
Wareham St Martin 1 526.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ellen 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Louisa 2
Sarah 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriett 1
Harriettesy 1
Honnor 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Maud 1
Rosana 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
Clement 3
George 3
Thomas 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
James 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Azariah 1
David 1
Eriecket 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 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 Elswood households.

FAQ

Elswood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elswood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 77 people were recorded with the Elswood surname. That placed it at #22,617 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elswood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Elswood a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Elswood map show?

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