NameCensus.

UK surname

Emery

Derived from a Germanic personal name meaning "ruler" or "powerful."

In the 1881 census there were 6,540 people recorded with the Emery surname, ranking it #650 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,040, ranked #723, down from #650 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford and Winchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emery is 9,462 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.2%.

1881 census count

6,540

Ranked #650

Modern count

9,040

2016, ranked #723

Peak year

1999

9,462 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Emery had 6,540 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #650 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,040 in 2016, ranked #723.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,960 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Emery surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emery surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Emery 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 3,974 #716
1861 historical 3,807 #738
1881 historical 6,540 #650
1891 historical 6,818 #665
1901 historical 8,310 #642
1911 historical 8,960 #551
1997 modern 8,786 #718
1998 modern 9,387 #695
1999 modern 9,462 #698
2000 modern 9,387 #698
2001 modern 9,146 #702
2002 modern 9,402 #698
2003 modern 9,184 #697
2004 modern 9,296 #687
2005 modern 9,081 #696
2006 modern 9,003 #702
2007 modern 9,031 #706
2008 modern 9,120 #703
2009 modern 9,321 #703
2010 modern 9,454 #709
2011 modern 9,350 #707
2012 modern 9,078 #715
2013 modern 9,165 #723
2014 modern 9,203 #723
2015 modern 9,133 #724
2016 modern 9,040 #723

Geography

Back to top

Where Emerys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Stafford, Winchester and Eastleigh. 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 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Stafford 013 Stafford
4 Winchester 012 Winchester
5 Eastleigh 008 Eastleigh

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Emery

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Emery

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

Emery is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Emery

The surname Emery has its origins in France, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "aimeree," which means "beloved" or "affectionate." This name was initially used as a nickname or a descriptive term for someone with an amiable or loving personality.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emery can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of land ownership and taxation in England compiled in 1086 by order of King William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions an individual named Emericus, which is a Latin variation of the name Emery.

During the 12th century, the name Emery appeared in various historical records and documents across Europe. In England, the name was sometimes spelled as "Emery" or "Emmery," while in France, it was commonly written as "Émery" or "Aimery."

Notable individuals with the surname Emery include:

1. Jacques-André Émery (1732-1811), a French Catholic theologian and scholar who served as the Superior General of the Sulpician Fathers. 2. John Emery (1777-1838), an English actor and playwright known for his roles in Shakespearean plays. 3. Sarah Emery (1789-1867), an American missionary and educator who established schools for Native American children in the United States. 4. Ralph Emery (1933-2022), an American television host and personality best known for his work on the long-running country music television program "Nashville Now." 5. Dick Emery (1915-1983), an English comedian and actor who gained popularity for his television comedy series "The Dick Emery Show" in the 1970s.

The surname Emery has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history. For example, the village of Emery in Somerset, England, is believed to have been named after a prominent family with the Emery surname who resided there in the past.

Overall, the surname Emery has a rich history dating back to medieval times, with its roots firmly planted in France. It has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, actors, missionaries, and entertainers, reflecting the widespread distribution and adoption of this name across different cultures and regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Emery families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emery 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. Staffordshire leads with 1,071 Emerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.97x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 1,071 4.97x
Middlesex 733 1.15x
Somerset 537 5.23x
Hampshire 397 3.04x
Surrey 397 1.28x
Lancashire 384 0.51x
Kent 273 1.25x
Essex 253 2.01x
Yorkshire 214 0.34x
Northamptonshire 164 2.73x
Gloucestershire 155 1.24x
Northumberland 152 1.60x
Sussex 151 1.40x
Durham 136 0.72x
Cambridgeshire 124 3.07x
Warwickshire 122 0.76x
Bedfordshire 109 3.30x
Suffolk 100 1.29x
Cheshire 98 0.70x
Norfolk 96 0.98x
Leicestershire 84 1.19x
Worcestershire 78 0.94x
Hertfordshire 73 1.66x
Wiltshire 67 1.19x
Devon 61 0.46x
Monmouthshire 59 1.28x
Glamorgan 56 0.50x
Huntingdonshire 53 4.18x
Nottinghamshire 39 0.45x
Buckinghamshire 38 0.99x
Shropshire 38 0.69x
Lanarkshire 31 0.15x
Derbyshire 29 0.29x
Berkshire 28 0.58x
Lincolnshire 28 0.27x
Oxfordshire 21 0.53x
Denbighshire 16 0.66x
Herefordshire 11 0.42x
Ayrshire 9 0.19x
Brecknockshire 7 0.55x
Cumberland 7 0.13x
Dorset 5 0.12x
Royal Navy 5 0.66x
Rutland 5 1.07x
Anglesey 4 0.35x
Montgomeryshire 4 0.27x
Angus 3 0.05x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.11x
Cornwall 3 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 2 0.03x
Midlothian 2 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.04x
Isle of Man 1 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.11x
Renfrewshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 165 Emerys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.23x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 165 7.23x
Portsea 124 4.84x
Walsall Foreign 88 7.91x
Islington London 76 1.23x
Lambeth 71 1.28x
Newcastle Under Lyme 69 18.11x
Leigh 66 150.75x
Mile End Old Town London 65 4.79x
Battersea 59 2.51x
Stafford St Mary 58 19.03x
Brighton 55 2.53x
Bedminster 54 5.60x
Hackney London 54 1.51x
Newington 54 2.29x
March 53 39.18x
St Marylebone London 51 1.50x
West Ham 50 1.80x
Aston 46 1.04x
Burslem 46 7.46x
St Pancras London 44 0.86x
Droxford 43 86.19x
Stone 43 15.61x
Clifton 39 6.17x
Birmingham 37 0.69x
Midsomer Norton 37 38.25x
Wolverhampton 37 2.23x
Chilcompton 34 241.82x
Hornsey 34 4.22x
Pendleton In Salford 34 3.77x
Eccleshall 33 40.42x
Kensington London 33 0.93x
Bethnal Green London 31 1.12x
Botley 31 131.69x
Cannock 31 8.25x
Doddington 30 101.18x
Wednesfield 30 9.47x
Walcot 29 5.30x
West Derby 29 1.31x
Burton Upon Trent 28 5.56x
Hyde 28 6.74x
West Bromwich 28 2.27x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 27 2.29x
Chelsea London 26 1.35x
Kilsby 26 198.78x
Leicester St Margaret 26 1.51x
Wedmore 26 38.92x
Hammersmith London 25 1.59x
Risca 25 28.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 25 1.95x
Binegar 24 411.66x
Camberwell 24 0.59x
Stratford St Mary 24 216.02x
Clapham 23 2.88x
Shepton Mallet 23 19.97x
Burnham 22 28.10x
Croydon 21 1.22x
Dover St James 21 22.02x
Otford 21 69.15x
Southampton St Mary 21 2.55x
Titchfield 21 21.31x
Daventry 20 23.57x
Kingston On Thames 20 2.68x
Liverpool 20 0.44x
Nottingham St Mary 20 0.90x
Tipton 20 3.03x
Cheadle 19 18.37x
Kingswinford 19 2.43x
Mexborough 19 15.14x
Moulton 19 56.95x
Pelsall 19 29.68x
Potton 19 43.34x
Rowley Regis 19 3.17x
Salford 19 0.85x
Wednesbury 19 3.53x
Dudley 18 1.78x
Kirkdale 18 1.41x
Millbrook 18 5.47x
Othery 18 142.63x
Ramsgate 18 5.07x
St Mary Cray 18 43.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 411
Elizabeth 283
Sarah 276
Ann 138
Eliza 126
Jane 121
Alice 96
Ellen 96
Annie 95
Emma 84
Emily 69
Harriet 63
Fanny 57
Hannah 55
Louisa 51
Martha 50
Charlotte 48
Caroline 46
Florence 45
Maria 41
Margaret 37
Kate 35
Clara 31
Rose 29
Ada 27
Edith 27
Susan 27
Agnes 26
Lucy 25
Catherine 23
Amelia 21
Harriett 21
Rebecca 19
Esther 18
Julia 18
Eleanor 17
Frances 17
Anne 16
Isabella 15
Susannah 15
Selina 14
Gertrude 13
Rosa 13
Ruth 13
Beatrice 12
Laura 12
Maud 12
Jessie 11
Lydia 11
Sophia 11

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 409
John 322
George 241
Thomas 232
James 207
Charles 178
Joseph 114
Alfred 97
Edward 97
Henry 95
Frederick 79
Arthur 77
Robert 75
Samuel 56
Walter 51
Albert 44
Frank 44
Harry 44
Richard 44
David 32
Ernest 31
Herbert 26
Edwin 20
Benjamin 17
Francis 17
Isaac 14
Stephen 14
Wm. 14
Daniel 13
Fredrick 13
Frederic 12
Thos. 11
Tom 11
Fred 10
Geo. 10
Peter 10
Edgar 9
Sidney 9
Joshua 8
Abraham 7
Fredk. 7
Matthew 7
Philip 7
Chas. 6
Horace 6
Jesse 6
Alexander 5
Henery 5
Jabez 5
Leonard 5

Top occupations

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 Emery households.

FAQ

Emery surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emery surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,540 people were recorded with the Emery surname. That placed it at #650 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emery surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,040 in 2016. That gives Emery a modern rank of #723.

What does the Emery surname mean?

Derived from a Germanic personal name meaning "ruler" or "powerful."

What does the Emery map show?

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