NameCensus.

UK surname

Emes

A surname representing an attribute of honesty or truth.

In the 1881 census there were 167 people recorded with the Emes surname, ranking it #14,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 230, ranked #17,812, down from #14,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Richmond and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Cheltenham and Basingstoke and Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emes is 251 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.7%.

1881 census count

167

Ranked #14,443

Modern count

230

2016, ranked #17,812

Peak year

2002

251 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Emes had 167 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016, ranked #17,812.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 233 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Emes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Emes 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 106 #20,147
1881 historical 167 #14,443
1891 historical 199 #14,977
1901 historical 163 #17,205
1911 historical 233 #13,560
1997 modern 240 #15,678
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 249 #15,844
2000 modern 242 #16,101
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 251 #15,770
2003 modern 245 #15,822
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 240 #16,092
2006 modern 242 #16,097
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 241 #16,481
2009 modern 239 #16,951
2010 modern 237 #17,368
2011 modern 239 #17,138
2012 modern 232 #17,401
2013 modern 237 #17,423
2014 modern 235 #17,619
2015 modern 229 #17,846
2016 modern 230 #17,812

Geography

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Where Emes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Richmond, London parishes, Sandford and Moreton-in-the-Marsh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill, Cheltenham, Basingstoke and Deane, Cardiff and Thanet. 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 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
2 Richmond Surrey
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sandford Devon
5 Moreton-in-the-Marsh Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Portsoy, Fordyce and Cornhill Aberdeenshire
2 Cheltenham 013 Cheltenham
3 Basingstoke and Deane 017 Basingstoke and Deane
4 Cardiff 015 Cardiff
5 Thanet 010 Thanet

Forenames

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First names often paired with Emes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Emes

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

Emes 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

Emes falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Emes

The surname EMES is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "emes" meaning "embers" or "hot ashes." It is believed to have emerged as a surname in the 12th century, likely referring to someone who worked with fire or lived near a place where fires were kept burning.

The earliest known recorded instance of the name EMES dates back to the Pipe Rolls of Shropshire in 1180, where a William Emes is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the region at that time. Over the centuries, the name has also appeared with various spellings, such as Emes, Emmes, and Eymes.

In the 13th century, the surname EMES is found in the Lancashire Assize Rolls of 1246, indicating its presence in that area. This record mentions a Robert de Emes, suggesting that the name may have had ties to a specific location or manor.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname EMES was Sir Thomas Emes (1529-1599), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Dorchester during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He played an active role in local affairs and served as a Justice of the Peace in Dorset.

Another individual of note was Reverend John Emes (1665-1724), an English clergyman and author who served as Rector of Somerby in Lincolnshire. He wrote several works on theological subjects and was known for his sermons.

In the 18th century, we find references to Edward Emes (1730-1803), a respected English architect who designed several notable buildings, including St. Mary's Church in Bathwick, Somerset.

Moving into the 19th century, there was Nathaniel Emes (1808-1887), a prominent English businessman and philanthropist from Birmingham. He made significant contributions to the development of the city and was instrumental in establishing several educational institutions and charitable organizations.

Lastly, one cannot overlook the legacy of Walter Emes (1856-1932), a pioneering English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. He was a prolific batsman and is remembered for his exceptional performances in the latter part of the 19th century.

While the surname EMES may not have been widespread throughout history, it has left its mark in various fields, from politics and religion to architecture, business, and sports, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Emes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emes 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 60 Emes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 60 3.71x
Gloucestershire 21 6.61x
Surrey 21 2.66x
Warwickshire 12 2.94x
Caernarfonshire 9 13.74x
Glamorgan 6 2.13x
Kent 5 0.91x
Lancashire 5 0.26x
Somerset 5 1.92x
Yorkshire 5 0.31x
Staffordshire 4 0.73x
Devon 3 0.89x
Monmouthshire 2 1.71x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.97x
Dorset 1 0.94x
Durham 1 0.21x
Hampshire 1 0.30x
Hertfordshire 1 0.90x
Leicestershire 1 0.56x
Norfolk 1 0.40x
Worcestershire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kensington London in Middlesex leads with 13 Emes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.44x.

Place Total Index
Kensington London 13 14.44x
Islington London 10 6.37x
Richmond 9 81.37x
Bangor 8 126.58x
Battersea 7 11.75x
Hornsey 7 34.18x
Edmonton 5 38.31x
Sambourn 5 1724.14x
St Pancras London 5 3.84x
Binton 4 2857.14x
Hendon 4 68.61x
Pebworth 4 1052.63x
Rowley Regis 4 26.26x
Stow On The Wold 4 563.38x
Stroud 4 64.72x
Swainswick 4 1142.86x
Aberdare 3 15.50x
Beckenham 3 41.55x
Cardiff St John 3 32.57x
Hammersmith London 3 7.52x
Hatton 3 555.56x
Northleach 3 638.30x
Paddington London 3 5.04x
Sandford 3 365.85x
Bishops Cleeve 2 246.91x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 13.11x
Camberwell 2 1.93x
Chelsea London 2 4.10x
Harrow 2 80.97x
Holy Trinity 2 5.18x
Lee 2 24.94x
Liverpool 2 1.71x
Llanfoist 2 246.91x
St George Hanover Square 2 7.01x
Cirencester 1 23.26x
Cutsdean 1 1111.11x
Donnington 1 1250.00x
Dorchester St Peter 1 129.87x
Drayton 1 434.78x
Finchley 1 16.10x
Garston 1 17.64x
Gate Fulford 1 26.67x
Great Yarmouth 1 4.85x
Hackney London 1 1.10x
Hampstead London 1 3.97x
Handsworth 1 23.58x
Llanrug 1 58.14x
Newington 1 1.67x
Putney 1 13.55x
Rickmansworth 1 32.57x
Sculcoates 1 3.93x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 3.07x
St Giles In Fields London 1 12.59x
St Lawrence 1 714.29x
Stapleton 1 16.61x
Swepstone 1 344.83x
Upwell 1 133.33x
Westbury On Trym 1 9.29x
Whitburn 1 89.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
John 9
George 5
James 5
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Frank 3
Henry 3
Oliver 3
Charles 2
David 2
Richard 2
Alfd.E. 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Edwin 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Geo.D. 1
Infant 1
Minnie 1
Nathaniel 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Will. 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Emes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 167 people were recorded with the Emes surname. That placed it at #14,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 230 in 2016. That gives Emes a modern rank of #17,812.

What does the Emes surname mean?

A surname representing an attribute of honesty or truth.

What does the Emes map show?

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