NameCensus.

UK surname

Embrey

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Emm's stronghold" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Embrey surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 282, ranked #15,406, down from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Astley Abbots, Chirbury and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Shropshire and Newport.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Embrey is 320 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.6%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

282

2016, ranked #15,406

Peak year

2002

320 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Embrey had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016, ranked #15,406.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 306 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Embrey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Embrey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Embrey 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 88 #18,569
1861 historical 119 #18,393
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 202 #14,808
1901 historical 231 #13,805
1911 historical 306 #11,281
1997 modern 300 #13,530
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 306 #13,565
2002 modern 320 #13,414
2003 modern 312 #13,467
2004 modern 309 #13,618
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 295 #14,053
2007 modern 301 #14,022
2008 modern 295 #14,303
2009 modern 297 #14,519
2010 modern 303 #14,626
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 290 #14,838
2013 modern 292 #15,027
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 284 #15,344
2016 modern 282 #15,406

Geography

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Where Embreys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Astley Abbots, Chirbury, Manchester, Bedwelty and Berriew, Tregynon. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Shropshire and Newport. 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 Astley Abbots Shropshire
2 Chirbury Montgomeryshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Berriew, Tregynon Montgomeryshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 018 Herefordshire, County of
2 Shropshire 018 Shropshire
3 Newport 003 Newport
4 Shropshire 014 Shropshire
5 Shropshire 030 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Embrey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Embrey

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

Embrey is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Embrey falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Embrey

The surname Embrey has its origins in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the village of Embrough, located in the county of Somerset. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "emme" meaning "ant" and "burgh" meaning "fortified place," suggesting a connection to an ant-hill or an ant-infested location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled as "Emmeburgh." This historical document, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, was a survey of landholdings conducted during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in the records of the Subsidy Rolls for the county of Somerset, where it was listed as "de Emmeburgh." This variation of the name indicates that it was originally a place name, with the prefix "de" meaning "of" or "from."

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the name Embrey. However, it does mention the village of Embrough, which was likely the origin of the surname.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Embrey was John Embrey, who was born in Gloucester, England, around 1520. He was a prominent merchant and landowner during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was Sir William Embrey (1583-1652), a member of the English gentry and a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He was known for his involvement in the defense of the city of Gloucester against the Royalist forces.

In the 18th century, the name Embrey was associated with the village of Amberley, located in the county of Gloucestershire. This may have influenced the spelling variation "Amberley" or "Amberley-Embrey," which was used by some families.

During the 19th century, James Embrey (1821-1892), a British engineer and inventor, gained recognition for his contributions to the development of early steam engines and locomotives.

Another notable individual was Elizabeth Embrey (1861-1934), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement in the United Kingdom.

Throughout its history, the surname Embrey has maintained a strong presence in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, where it is believed to have originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Embrey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Embrey 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. Shropshire leads with 71 Embreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 41.30x.

County Total Index
Shropshire 71 41.30x
Warwickshire 39 7.77x
Monmouthshire 21 14.60x
Staffordshire 17 2.53x
Herefordshire 12 14.71x
Montgomeryshire 10 21.93x
Northamptonshire 10 5.34x
Middlesex 6 0.30x
Cheshire 4 0.91x
Devon 4 0.97x
Surrey 4 0.41x
Gloucestershire 3 0.77x
Brecknockshire 1 2.51x
Wiltshire 1 0.57x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chirbury in Shropshire leads with 21 Embreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2079.21x.

Place Total Index
Chirbury 21 2079.21x
Birmingham 17 10.17x
Aston 14 10.13x
Astley Abbotts 10 2380.95x
Kingsthorpe 10 480.77x
Barford 8 1632.65x
Aberystruth 7 55.21x
Acton Round 7 5384.62x
Llantillio Pertholey 7 833.33x
Brompton Rhiston 6 5454.55x
Shrewsbury Holy Cross 6 315.79x
Woolhope 6 1176.47x
Biddulph 5 131.93x
Fulham London 5 17.33x
Harborne 5 23.22x
Montgomery 5 617.28x
Shrewsbury St Mary 5 73.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 5 7.02x
Grinshill 4 1739.13x
Llanmerewig 4 1818.18x
Moulton 4 1000.00x
Shobrooke 4 909.09x
Gloucester St Mary Lode 3 329.67x
Hereford St Peter 3 137.61x
Shrewsbury St Chad 3 49.75x
Upton Cressett 3 1428.57x
Abergavenny 2 37.11x
Drayton In Hales 2 56.50x
Monmouth 2 52.49x
Penalt 2 625.00x
Southwark St Saviour 2 19.55x
Sutton 2 28.53x
Worfield 2 168.07x
Alberbury Bauseley 1 434.78x
Brecknock St John 1 29.76x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 59.52x
Calne 1 27.62x
Hereford All Sts 1 26.74x
Longtown 1 200.00x
Mitchel Troy 1 434.78x
Monkhopton 1 833.33x
Scarborough 1 5.58x
St George In East London 1 5.34x
Stafford St Mary 1 10.52x
West Bromwich 1 2.60x
Whitchurch 1 200.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Elizabeth 6
Ellen 6
Jane 6
Alice 5
Hannah 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Emma 3
Fanny 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Bertha 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Eda 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jessy 1
Katherine 1
M. 1
Minnie 1
Nelley 1
Petronel 1
Rachel 1
S.E. 1
Salley 1
Serahan 1
Susannah 1
Tryphoenia 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Embrey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Embrey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Embrey surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Embrey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 282 in 2016. That gives Embrey a modern rank of #15,406.

What does the Embrey surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "Emm's stronghold" in Old English.

What does the Embrey map show?

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