UK surname
A variation of the surname "Emery" of English origin, linked to an occupation involving gems or polished materials.
In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Emary surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #24,256 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Lewisham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emary is 181 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 43.9%.
1881 census count
66
Ranked #24,256
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
181 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Emary surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Emary surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 19 | #29,904 |
| 1861 | historical | 181 | #12,997 |
| 1881 | historical | 66 | #24,256 |
| 1891 | historical | 150 | #18,328 |
| 1901 | historical | 85 | #24,636 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 48 | #32,878 |
| 1998 | modern | 49 | #33,000 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 51 | #32,999 |
| 2001 | modern | 45 | #33,401 |
| 2002 | modern | 51 | #33,193 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 38 | #34,555 |
| 2005 | modern | 37 | #34,815 |
| 2006 | modern | 36 | #35,131 |
| 2007 | modern | 35 | #35,347 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 37 | #35,531 |
| 2013 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 36 | #35,654 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Lewisham, London parishes and Cheam. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew | Sussex |
| 3 | Lewisham | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Cheam | Surrey |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Emary surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Emary, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Emary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Emary household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Emary is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Emary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Emary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Emary originated in England and has its roots traced back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "amar," which means "a pitcher or vessel used for carrying water." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname given to someone who worked as a water carrier or someone associated with the trade of pottery or ceramics.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Emary can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable example is the mention of a John Emary in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1294. Additionally, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Thomas Emary is listed.
The Emary surname has also been found in various place names throughout England. For instance, the village of Emary Green in Wiltshire is believed to have derived its name from the Emary family who resided in the area during the Middle Ages.
Several individuals with the surname Emary have made significant contributions throughout history. One notable figure was Sir William Emary (1501-1575), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent Emary was John Emary (1677-1744), a noted English botanist and horticulturist who authored several works on plant cultivation.
In the literary world, the name Emary is associated with the English writer and poet, Mary Emary (1830-1904), who published several collections of poems and essays during the Victorian era.
Other notable individuals with the surname Emary include Robert Emary (1778-1842), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and Elizabeth Emary (1865-1936), a pioneering English educator and advocate for women's rights.
While the surname Emary is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history and has been carried by individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emary surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 23 Emarys recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 23 | 10.47x |
| Sussex | 20 | 18.43x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 1.55x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.55x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 2.55x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 1.80x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.79x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.76x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hastings St Mary In The in Sussex leads with 14 Emarys recorded in 1881 and an index of 606.06x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hastings St Mary In The | 14 | 606.06x |
| Carshalton | 8 | 666.67x |
| Folkestone | 8 | 187.79x |
| Lewisham | 7 | 59.78x |
| Eastbourne | 6 | 120.24x |
| Islington London | 5 | 8.02x |
| Chelsfield | 4 | 1904.76x |
| Hornsey | 2 | 24.57x |
| Ipswich St Helen | 2 | 215.05x |
| Tottenham | 2 | 19.51x |
| Alkham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 1 | 8.42x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 84.75x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 15.29x |
| Pluckley | 1 | 500.00x |
| South Stoneham | 1 | 34.97x |
| St George Hanover Square | 1 | 8.82x |
| Workington | 1 | 31.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Emary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Emary surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Emary households.
FAQ
In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Emary surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Emary a modern rank of #35,582.
A variation of the surname "Emery" of English origin, linked to an occupation involving gems or polished materials.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Emary bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.