NameCensus.

UK surname

Embury

A locational surname derived from a place called Embury in Somerset, England.

In the 1881 census there were 154 people recorded with the Embury surname, ranking it #15,259 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, down from #15,259 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, London parishes and Burslem. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gwynedd, Tameside and Brighton and Hove.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Embury is 276 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.6%.

1881 census count

154

Ranked #15,259

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

1999

276 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Embury had 154 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,259 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Embury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Embury surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Embury 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 92 #18,050
1861 historical 85 #22,922
1881 historical 154 #15,259
1891 historical 163 #17,300
1901 historical 192 #15,518
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 261 #15,241
1999 modern 276 #14,762
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 252 #15,452
2002 modern 257 #15,523
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 225 #17,282
2009 modern 230 #17,382
2010 modern 241 #17,186
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 226 #17,679
2013 modern 224 #18,080
2014 modern 219 #18,523
2015 modern 215 #18,659
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Emburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, London parishes, Burslem, Manchester and Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early),. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gwynedd, Tameside, Brighton and Hove, Teignbridge 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 London parishes London 3
3 Burslem Staffordshire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gwynedd 014 Gwynedd
2 Tameside 008 Tameside
3 Brighton and Hove 015 Brighton and Hove
4 Teignbridge 019 Teignbridge
5 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Embury

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Embury

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

Embury is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Embury falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Embury

The surname EMBURY is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "embra" and "byri," which together mean "single-family homestead." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in an isolated or solitary dwelling.

The earliest recorded instances of the name are found in various medieval documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire and the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, both of which date back to the 13th century. These records indicate that the name was primarily concentrated in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Worcestershire, and surrounding areas.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name EMBURY was John Embury, a Methodist minister who played a significant role in the establishment of Methodism in North America. Born in Ballygaran, County Armagh, Ireland, in 1760, Embury emigrated to New York in 1760 and is credited with founding the first Methodist congregation in the city in 1766.

Another notable figure with the surname EMBURY was Philip Embury, a British Army officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1729 in Cambridgeshire, England, Embury fought for the British forces and was captured at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. He later settled in Canada after the war.

In the 19th century, George Embury, a British architect, left his mark on the architectural landscape of London. Born in 1784 in Worcestershire, Embury designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Paddington and the Church of St. Mary the Virgin in Twickenham.

The name EMBURY can also be found in literary circles, with Elizabeth Embury, an American poet and author, born in 1823 in New York. She was known for her collections of poetry, including "Pictures of Early Life" and "Constance Latimer, or, The Blind Girl and Other Tales."

Another notable bearer of the name was Samuel Embury, a prominent figure in the early days of the Methodist Church in the United States. Born in 1743 in County Armagh, Ireland, Embury played a crucial role in establishing the first Methodist society in New York City in 1766, laying the foundations for the growth of Methodism in the country.

While the surname EMBURY is not as common as some other English surnames, it has left a lasting impact on various aspects of history, from religion and architecture to literature and military service. Its origins can be traced back to the heart of medieval England, where it emerged as a distinctive name associated with isolated homesteads and small settlements.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Embury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Embury 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. Middlesex leads with 32 Emburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.13x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 32 2.13x
Staffordshire 27 5.32x
Warwickshire 22 5.81x
Gloucestershire 17 5.77x
Wiltshire 10 7.53x
Huntingdonshire 9 30.17x
Cheshire 8 2.41x
Berkshire 6 5.32x
Lancashire 5 0.28x
Surrey 5 0.68x
Hampshire 4 1.30x
Devon 3 0.96x
Oxfordshire 3 3.23x
Kent 1 0.20x
Lincolnshire 1 0.42x
Worcestershire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 15 Emburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.88x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 15 11.88x
Burslem 15 103.23x
Huntingdon St John 9 1046.51x
Birkenhead 8 30.27x
St Bartholomew Great 8 583.94x
St George Hanover Square 7 26.45x
Aston 6 5.75x
Bibury 6 1666.67x
Cirencester 6 150.38x
Stafford St Mary 6 83.57x
Eastington 5 510.20x
Hulme 5 13.44x
Purton 5 423.73x
St Giles In Fields London 5 67.84x
Swindon 5 48.54x
Aldershot 4 38.80x
Camberwell 4 4.17x
Islington London 4 2.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 7.44x
Harlington 3 379.75x
Reading St Giles 3 27.12x
Highweek 2 180.18x
Oxford St Giles 2 45.15x
Pinner 2 151.52x
Winkfield 2 106.95x
Banbury 1 53.76x
Barnes 1 32.26x
Ealing 1 7.45x
Exeter Heavitree 1 42.92x
Hanley Castle 1 85.47x
Hanwell 1 37.59x
Hayes 1 65.36x
Leamington Priors 1 10.73x
Lee 1 13.44x
Letcombe Bassett 1 909.09x
Stamford St George 1 92.59x
Trentham 1 23.20x
Wolstanton 1 6.49x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Embury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Embury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 154 people were recorded with the Embury surname. That placed it at #15,259 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Embury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Embury a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Embury surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Embury in Somerset, England.

What does the Embury map show?

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