NameCensus.

UK surname

Emberson

An English surname derived from the Old English "Embrihtsunur" meaning "son of Embreht."

In the 1881 census there were 418 people recorded with the Emberson surname, ranking it #7,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 637, ranked #8,304, down from #7,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Waltham, Great and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, County Durham and Castle Point.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emberson is 669 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.4%.

1881 census count

418

Ranked #7,718

Modern count

637

2016, ranked #8,304

Peak year

1999

669 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Emberson had 418 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 637 in 2016, ranked #8,304.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 652 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Emberson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emberson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Emberson 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 256 #8,629
1861 historical 308 #8,233
1881 historical 418 #7,718
1891 historical 531 #7,061
1901 historical 563 #7,409
1911 historical 652 #6,430
1997 modern 621 #7,952
1998 modern 653 #7,879
1999 modern 669 #7,773
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 649 #7,803
2002 modern 663 #7,826
2003 modern 627 #8,040
2004 modern 634 #7,986
2005 modern 616 #8,102
2006 modern 610 #8,182
2007 modern 613 #8,224
2008 modern 612 #8,279
2009 modern 621 #8,376
2010 modern 626 #8,507
2011 modern 634 #8,320
2012 modern 619 #8,387
2013 modern 639 #8,319
2014 modern 640 #8,366
2015 modern 648 #8,217
2016 modern 637 #8,304

Geography

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Where Embersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Waltham, Great, St Pancras and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, County Durham, Castle Point and Stoke-on-Trent. 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 Waltham, Great Essex
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
2 County Durham 010 County Durham
3 Castle Point 010 Castle Point
4 Stoke-on-Trent 022 Stoke-on-Trent
5 County Durham 012 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Emberson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Emberson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Emberson, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Emberson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Emberson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Emberson is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Emberson is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Emberson

The surname Emberson has its origins in England, dating back to the late medieval period. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "emmer" or "ember," which referred to a flat, low-lying meadow or pasture land. The name likely originated as a locational surname, indicating that the original bearer lived near or on such a meadow.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emberson can be found in the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1301, which mentions a Robert de Emmeresfeld. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled as "Emmerson" or variations thereof, before evolving into its current form.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Emberson appeared in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Yorkshire. Notable individuals bearing this surname include John Emberson (c. 1560-1635), a renowned English cartographer and surveyor who produced maps of several counties in the early 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Emberson was found in the parish records of Lincolnshire, where a Thomas Emberson (1703-1775) served as a prominent landowner and magistrate. Another notable figure was William Emberson (1722-1798), a respected clergyman and author of several religious texts.

As the British Empire expanded, the name Emberson also spread to different parts of the world. One notable bearer was Sir James Emberson (1832-1901), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Malta from 1890 to 1893.

In the United States, the name Emberson can be traced back to the late 18th century, with some of the earliest recorded instances found in the state of Virginia. One prominent American with this surname was Ezra Emberson (1801-1863), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania.

Throughout its history, the surname Emberson has been associated with various occupations and professions, from landed gentry and clergy to artists, writers, and military personnel. While not among the most common surnames, it has left a notable mark across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Emberson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emberson 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. Essex leads with 193 Embersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.98x.

County Total Index
Essex 193 23.98x
Middlesex 135 3.31x
Surrey 59 2.97x
Kent 9 0.65x
Lincolnshire 7 1.07x
Denbighshire 2 1.30x
Lanarkshire 2 0.15x
Norfolk 2 0.32x
Yorkshire 2 0.05x
Ayrshire 1 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.39x
Cheshire 1 0.11x
Devon 1 0.12x
Durham 1 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Waltham in Essex leads with 25 Embersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 762.20x.

Place Total Index
Great Waltham 25 762.20x
Hackney London 20 8.75x
Chelmsford 16 115.86x
Paddington London 16 10.67x
St Pancras London 16 4.88x
Halstead 14 149.09x
Camberwell 13 4.99x
Islington London 13 3.29x
St Marylebone London 13 5.97x
Woodham Ferris 12 1276.60x
Woodham Mortimer 12 2553.19x
Bethnal Green London 10 5.65x
Chertsey 10 77.88x
Buttsbury 9 1428.57x
Kensington London 9 3.97x
Stock 9 1046.51x
Hornsey 8 15.52x
Newington 8 5.31x
Southwark Christchurch 8 41.86x
Kingston On Thames 7 14.67x
Little Waltham 7 864.20x
Fryerning 6 612.24x
Stoke Newington London 6 18.89x
Bermondsey 5 4.12x
Broomfield 5 396.83x
Chiswick 5 22.44x
Danbury 5 367.65x
Great Grimsby 5 12.08x
Tolleshunt Major 5 877.19x
Upminster 5 299.40x
Wennington 5 1851.85x
Aythorpe Roothing 4 1212.12x
Braintree 4 55.33x
Chatham 4 10.45x
Feering 4 377.36x
Great Baddow 4 139.86x
Heybridge 4 170.94x
Mountnessing 4 327.87x
Wandsworth 4 10.19x
Little Thurrock 3 468.75x
Romford 3 23.58x
West Ham 3 1.69x
West Hanningfield 3 500.00x
Barking 2 8.49x
Bocking 2 41.32x
Bow London 2 3.85x
Chelsea London 2 1.63x
Glasgow 2 0.85x
Great Burstead 2 68.26x
Hockley 2 229.89x
Llangollen Trevor 2 206.19x
Mile End New Town London 2 24.81x
Mile End Old Town London 2 2.30x
Shoreditch London 2 1.13x
Spitalfields London 2 6.52x
St George Hanover Square 2 2.78x
Stanford Le Hope 2 173.91x
Streatham 2 6.61x
Walsoken 2 53.05x
West Tilbury 2 408.16x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.93x
Farnborough 1 11.39x
Frodsham 1 28.65x
Gisburn 1 135.14x
Gravesend 1 8.49x
Great Tey 1 103.09x
Greenwich 1 1.54x
Kilwinning 1 10.15x
Langford 1 312.50x
Leeds 1 0.44x
Leigh 1 54.95x
Lewisham 1 1.35x
Lexden 1 30.96x
Maldon All Sts 1 62.50x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 8.09x
St Peterin Eastgate 1 49.51x
Sutton St Mary 1 16.23x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 1 86.96x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.08x
Woodford 1 10.98x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 12
Emma 11
Alice 9
Ann 9
Eliza 9
Emily 8
Louisa 8
Ellen 7
Ada 6
Annie 6
Harriett 6
Maria 6
Martha 5
Matilda 5
Harriet 4
Anne 3
Jane 3
Kate 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Maud 2
Susan 2
Agatha 1
Ammie 1
Bella 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Cecilia 1
Ellinor 1
Emmily 1
Evelyn 1
Flina 1
Grace 1
Hester 1
Honner 1
Honor 1
J. 1
Jesse 1
Kezia 1
Lillian 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 23
William 22
John 16
Thomas 14
James 12
Charles 9
Frederick 8
Walter 8
Alfred 7
Harry 7
Arthur 6
Henry 5
Mark 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Fredk. 4
Josiah 4
Joseph 3
Robert 3
Samuel 3
Benjamin 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ephraim 2
Willm. 2
Abraham 1
Alf. 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Ebenezor 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Ezra 1
Frank 1
Fredk.Herbert 1
Geo. 1
Harvey 1
Herbert 1
Jim 1
Joshua 1
Leonard 1
Nehemiah 1
Robt. 1
Stanley 1
Thos. 1
Wilm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Emberson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emberson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 418 people were recorded with the Emberson surname. That placed it at #7,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emberson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 637 in 2016. That gives Emberson a modern rank of #8,304.

What does the Emberson surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English "Embrihtsunur" meaning "son of Embreht."

What does the Emberson map show?

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