NameCensus.

UK surname

Elworthy

A surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosure by the muddy place".

In the 1881 census there were 465 people recorded with the Elworthy surname, ranking it #7,144 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 399, ranked #11,902, down from #7,144 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, North Devon and Teignbridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Elworthy is 629 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.2%.

1881 census count

465

Ranked #7,144

Modern count

399

2016, ranked #11,902

Peak year

1911

629 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Elworthy had 465 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,144 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 399 in 2016, ranked #11,902.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 629 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Elworthy surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Elworthy surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Elworthy 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 464 #5,343
1861 historical 391 #6,549
1881 historical 465 #7,144
1891 historical 469 #7,813
1901 historical 570 #7,353
1911 historical 629 #6,594
1997 modern 395 #11,106
1998 modern 434 #10,694
1999 modern 452 #10,422
2000 modern 452 #10,394
2001 modern 436 #10,500
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 424 #10,789
2004 modern 425 #10,779
2005 modern 407 #11,041
2006 modern 393 #11,398
2007 modern 398 #11,411
2008 modern 400 #11,468
2009 modern 400 #11,729
2010 modern 403 #11,925
2011 modern 401 #11,843
2012 modern 390 #11,946
2013 modern 399 #11,944
2014 modern 403 #11,932
2015 modern 398 #11,949
2016 modern 399 #11,902

Geography

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Where Elworthys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Cardiff St John and St Mary, Molton, South and Molland. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, North Devon and Teignbridge. 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 London parishes London 3
3 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
4 Molton, South Devon
5 Molland Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 034 Cornwall
2 North Devon 013 North Devon
3 Teignbridge 001 Teignbridge
4 North Devon 012 North Devon
5 North Devon 014 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Elworthy

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Elworthy

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

Elworthy 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

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

Meaning and origin of Elworthy

The surname Elworthy has its origins in the county of Somerset, England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "ælf" meaning "elf" and "worþig" meaning "worthy" or "enclosure." This suggests that the name might have been initially given to someone who lived near an area associated with elves or fairies.

One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1199, where it appears as "Ailwordhi." The Pipe Rolls were financial records kept by the English Exchequer, indicating that the Elworthy family had established themselves in Somerset by this time.

In the 13th century, the name is recorded in various spellings such as "Aylewurthy" and "Ailworthy" in the Assize Rolls of Somerset. These were legal records that documented court proceedings, suggesting that members of the Elworthy family were involved in legal matters during this period.

The Elworthy name is also found in the Somerset Feet of Fines from 1346, a collection of legal agreements related to land transactions. This indicates that the family had acquired property and held a certain social standing in the region.

One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was William Elworthy, who was born in Chard, Somerset, in 1535. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden at the parish church.

Another notable individual was John Elworthy (1626-1692), a wealthy landowner and member of the Somerset gentry. He was known for his involvement in local politics and served as a Justice of the Peace.

In the 18th century, Thomas Elworthy (1713-1781) gained recognition as a successful merchant and shipowner based in Bridgwater, Somerset. His business activities contributed to the growth of the town's economy.

The Elworthy family also produced several clergymen over the centuries, including Reverend Francis Elworthy (1767-1846), who served as the Vicar of Weston-super-Mare, and Reverend Frederick Thomas Elworthy (1830-1907), an antiquarian and author who studied the folklore and dialect of the West Country region.

One of the most famous individuals with this surname was Frederick Albert Elworthy (1825-1904), a British army officer and explorer. He is best known for his travels in the Middle East and his contributions to the study of Arabic language and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Elworthy families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Elworthy 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. Devon leads with 179 Elworthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.88x.

County Total Index
Devon 179 18.88x
Somerset 84 11.46x
Middlesex 62 1.36x
Surrey 29 1.31x
Gloucestershire 22 2.46x
Norfolk 15 2.14x
Suffolk 13 2.34x
Sussex 12 1.56x
Kent 11 0.71x
Dorset 7 2.34x
Lancashire 7 0.13x
Warwickshire 6 0.52x
Midlothian 5 0.82x
Northamptonshire 5 1.17x
Glamorgan 4 0.50x
Hampshire 2 0.21x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.35x
Royal Navy 1 1.84x
Wiltshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tiverton in Devon leads with 26 Elworthys recorded in 1881 and an index of 159.22x.

Place Total Index
Tiverton 26 159.22x
Molland 19 2435.90x
South Molton 19 364.68x
Exmoor 18 3673.47x
Wellington 15 150.91x
Thames Ditton 13 282.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 14.27x
Hastings St Mary 12 62.79x
Plymouth Charles The 12 28.73x
Witheridge 12 750.00x
Taunton St Mary 10 74.29x
Plymouth St Andrew 9 12.32x
St Pancras London 9 2.45x
Upwell 9 276.07x
Chawleigh 8 761.90x
Hampstead London 8 11.28x
St Martin In Fields 8 29.34x
Bishops Nympton 7 386.74x
Ipswich St Peter 7 93.71x
Silverton 7 355.33x
Weston Zoyland 7 673.08x
Chulmleigh 6 277.78x
Coventry St Michael 6 16.26x
Dover St Mary Virgin 6 39.89x
Huish Champflower 6 1052.63x
Islington London 6 1.36x
Tottenham 6 8.27x
Uplowman 6 967.74x
Brushford 5 980.39x
Clifton 5 11.07x
Denver 5 381.68x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 5 34.63x
Leiston 5 131.23x
Oakford 5 649.35x
St Anne Soho London 5 19.22x
All Hallows Barking 4 350.88x
Corfe Castle 4 144.40x
Croydon 4 3.25x
Lewisham 4 4.83x
North Molton 4 216.22x
Washfield 4 645.16x
Alton Pancras 3 750.00x
Berrow 3 434.78x
Bristol St James St Paul 3 10.07x
Brixworth 3 163.93x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.49x
Halberton 3 135.75x
Holy Trinity Less London 3 260.87x
Kensington London 3 1.18x
Nettlecombe 3 652.17x
Pinhoe 3 352.94x
Roath 3 8.33x
Willand 3 566.04x
Winford 3 202.70x
Bristol St Paul In 2 8.40x
Exeter St David 2 24.69x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 9.21x
Holcombe Rogus 2 175.44x
Kettering 2 11.54x
Marystow 2 327.87x
Newington 2 1.19x
Newton St Cyres 2 150.38x
Othery 2 222.22x
Portishead 2 36.70x
Richmond 2 6.43x
Rose Ash 2 253.16x
Rotherhithe 2 3.55x
Sampford Peverell 2 198.02x
St George Bloomsbury 2 7.65x
Swimbridge 2 104.17x
Taunton St James 2 18.71x
Wandsworth 2 4.56x
Westminster St James 2 4.27x
Barnstaple 1 6.72x
Devonport 1 9.17x
Exminster 1 29.33x
Kingston On Thames 1 1.88x
Norton Fitzwarren 1 97.09x
Streatham 1 2.96x
Westminster St John 1 1.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 13
Ellen 11
Jane 8
Ann 7
Annie 6
Grace 6
Harriet 5
Maria 5
Susan 5
Edith 4
Eliza 4
Emily 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Louisa 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Florence 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Matilda 3
Alice 2
Emma 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Margaret 2
Rhoda 2
Rosa 2
Adeline 1
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Elizab. 1
Elizth. 1
Eva 1
Infant 1
Julia 1
Katherine 1
Kathleen 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Mabel 1
Marsha 1
Martha 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 33
Thomas 19
James 16
Henry 13
George 12
Charles 11
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Alfred 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Richard 4
Sidney 4
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Fredk. 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Daniel 2
Earnest 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Hubert 2
Saml. 2
Walter 2
Cannon 1
Charley 1
Danl. 1
Edgar 1
Effie 1
Ephraim 1
Farrant 1
Henery 1
Henri 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Josiah 1
Louis 1
Reginald 1
Richd. 1
Riviere 1
Thos 1
Thos. 1
Thos.M. 1

FAQ

Elworthy surname: questions and answers

How common was the Elworthy surname in 1881?

In 1881, 465 people were recorded with the Elworthy surname. That placed it at #7,144 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Elworthy surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 399 in 2016. That gives Elworthy a modern rank of #11,902.

What does the Elworthy surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name meaning "enclosure by the muddy place".

What does the Elworthy map show?

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