NameCensus.

UK surname

Emmerson

Of English origin meaning "son of Emmerich," an Old Germanic name.

In the 1881 census there were 2,959 people recorded with the Emmerson surname, ranking it #1,510 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,025, ranked #1,687, down from #1,510 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk Coastal and King's Lynn and West Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Emmerson is 4,202 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.0%.

1881 census count

2,959

Ranked #1,510

Modern count

4,025

2016, ranked #1,687

Peak year

1999

4,202 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Emmerson had 2,959 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,510 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,025 in 2016, ranked #1,687.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,674 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Emmerson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Emmerson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Emmerson 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 1,645 #1,749
1861 historical 1,814 #1,599
1881 historical 2,959 #1,510
1891 historical 3,115 #1,512
1901 historical 3,478 #1,604
1911 historical 3,674 #1,423
1997 modern 4,035 #1,604
1998 modern 4,145 #1,628
1999 modern 4,202 #1,621
2000 modern 4,190 #1,613
2001 modern 4,094 #1,611
2002 modern 4,187 #1,603
2003 modern 4,080 #1,613
2004 modern 4,042 #1,627
2005 modern 3,943 #1,650
2006 modern 3,958 #1,643
2007 modern 3,934 #1,677
2008 modern 3,975 #1,669
2009 modern 4,018 #1,692
2010 modern 4,064 #1,705
2011 modern 4,092 #1,670
2012 modern 4,000 #1,681
2013 modern 4,085 #1,680
2014 modern 4,138 #1,665
2015 modern 4,086 #1,668
2016 modern 4,025 #1,687

Geography

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Where Emmersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) and Bishop Wearmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Suffolk Coastal, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, County Durham and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Tynemouth (Chirton, Preston, Murton, Whitley, Monkseaton), Earsdon (Earsdon) Northumberland
5 Bishop Wearmouth Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 002 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Suffolk Coastal 004 Suffolk Coastal
3 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 010 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
4 County Durham 008 County Durham
5 Sunderland 021 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Emmerson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Emmerson

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Emmerson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Emmerson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Emmerson 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

Emmerson 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

Emmerson falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Emmerson

The surname Emmerson originated in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is a patronymic name derived from the Old English personal name Emmerand, which means "universal counsellor" or "all-powerful advisor." The name is believed to have evolved from the combination of the Old English words "emme," meaning "universal," and "rand," meaning "counsel."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Emmerson appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, where it is spelled "Emmerand." This suggests that the name was already in use during the High Middle Ages. Over time, the spelling evolved to its modern form, Emmerson.

In the 13th century, the name Emmerson can be found in various historical records, including the Curia Regis Rolls of 1242, where it is recorded as "Emmereson." This indicates that the name had spread beyond Yorkshire and was found in other parts of England.

During the 14th century, the Emmerson surname appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, where it is listed as "Emerson." This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that period, as they were often recorded phonetically by scribes.

One notable figure with the surname Emmerson was William Emmerson (c. 1701-1782), an English mathematician and astronomer. He was born in Hurworth, County Durham, and is known for his work on calculating the orbits of comets.

Another prominent individual with this surname was Ralph Waldo Emmerson (1803-1882), an American essayist, poet, and philosopher. Although the spelling of his surname is slightly different, it is believed to have originated from the same Old English roots.

In the 19th century, the Emmerson surname gained recognition through individuals like Oliver Emmerson (1842-1925), an American politician who served as a United States Senator from West Virginia.

The name Emmerson has also been associated with notable places. For example, Emmerson Creek in North Dakota is named after an early settler with the surname Emmerson, who established a homestead in the area in the late 19th century.

Throughout its history, the surname Emmerson has maintained its roots in England and has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, politicians, and pioneers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Emmerson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Emmerson 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. Durham leads with 752 Emmersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.76x.

County Total Index
Durham 752 8.76x
Yorkshire 577 2.02x
Middlesex 264 0.92x
Northumberland 185 4.31x
Norfolk 164 3.70x
Lancashire 129 0.38x
Lincolnshire 127 2.75x
Suffolk 116 3.30x
Cumberland 102 4.11x
Kent 89 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 80 2.06x
Surrey 63 0.45x
Cambridgeshire 34 1.86x
Essex 34 0.60x
Cheshire 33 0.52x
Derbyshire 24 0.53x
Sussex 21 0.43x
Lanarkshire 18 0.19x
Bedfordshire 14 0.94x
Glamorgan 14 0.28x
Leicestershire 14 0.44x
Warwickshire 11 0.15x
Gloucestershire 9 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 8 0.46x
Northamptonshire 8 0.29x
Midlothian 7 0.18x
Montgomeryshire 7 1.06x
Morayshire 7 1.56x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.65x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.43x
Shropshire 4 0.16x
Ayrshire 3 0.14x
Dorset 3 0.16x
Hampshire 3 0.05x
Renfrewshire 3 0.13x
Worcestershire 3 0.08x
Devon 2 0.03x
Herefordshire 2 0.17x
Royal Navy 2 0.58x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Westmorland 2 0.32x
Wigtownshire 2 0.52x
Fife 1 0.06x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.17x
Isle of Man 1 0.19x
Ross-shire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 77 Emmersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.45x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 77 10.45x
Pelton 58 142.05x
Leeds 52 3.22x
Hetton Le Hole 35 32.18x
Darlington 34 10.26x
Islington London 32 1.14x
Elswick 31 9.05x
Kimberworth 29 18.28x
Stockton On Tees 29 7.01x
Nottingham St Mary 28 2.78x
Crook Billy Row 27 24.57x
Lamesley 27 58.45x
Tynemouth 25 10.88x
Brandon Byshottles 24 22.32x
Holy Trinity 24 3.49x
Willington 24 48.40x
Sunderland 23 15.18x
Bromley London 22 3.47x
Flamborough 22 158.96x
Fylingdales 21 147.37x
Medomsley 21 52.46x
Middlesbrough 21 5.64x
Stanhope 21 23.70x
Knodishall 20 452.49x
Stainton Dale 20 851.06x
Great Yarmouth 19 5.17x
Scarborough 19 7.32x
Ford 18 70.01x
Hunslet 17 3.81x
St Pancras London 17 0.73x
Chopwell 16 100.31x
Great Grimsby 16 5.47x
Liverpool 16 0.77x
Mendham 16 214.77x
Ramsgate 16 9.96x
Basford 15 8.37x
Bermondsey 15 1.75x
Caldewgate 15 11.02x
Cottenham 15 61.78x
Heckmondwike 15 16.32x
Heworth 15 8.87x
Louth 15 14.19x
Monkwearmouth Shore 15 8.95x
Wales 15 66.43x
Brightside Bierlow 14 2.50x
Chirton 14 14.41x
Hammersmith London 14 1.97x
Hexham 14 21.08x
Auckland St Helen 13 144.12x
Forest Frith 13 173.56x
Mile End Old Town London 13 2.12x
Newton Cap 13 97.60x
Willoughby On Wolds 13 274.26x
Winlaton 13 15.79x
Wolsingham 13 16.62x
Chelsea London 12 1.38x
Ealing 12 4.66x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 12 3.23x
Kensington London 12 0.75x
Monkwearmouth 12 14.61x
Westgate 12 4.52x
Wetheral 12 36.49x
Yarborough 12 446.10x
Ystradyfodwg 12 2.72x
Armley 11 8.73x
Bethnal Green London 11 0.88x
Brighton 11 1.12x
Camberwell 11 0.60x
Cowpen 11 11.13x
Ebchester 11 82.77x
Fairfield 11 36.42x
Hartlepool 11 9.02x
Isleworth 11 8.58x
Sculcoates 11 2.43x
Skelton In Guisbrough 11 14.23x
Westminster St John 11 3.13x
Habergham Eaves 10 3.20x
Huddersfield 10 2.40x
Manchester 10 0.65x
Wakefield 10 4.56x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 232
Elizabeth 118
Sarah 75
Jane 67
Ann 65
Margaret 60
Annie 48
Isabella 39
Eliza 38
Hannah 38
Ellen 37
Alice 32
Emma 32
Emily 26
Martha 19
Louisa 18
Frances 17
Edith 16
Catherine 15
Ada 14
Maria 14
Florence 13
Susan 13
Harriet 12
Agnes 11
Charlotte 11
Kate 11
Caroline 10
Esther 10
Minnie 10
Amelia 9
Dorothy 9
Gertrude 9
Grace 9
Sophia 9
Elizth. 8
Betsy 7
Rebecca 7
Anne 6
Eliz. 6
Harriett 6
Matilda 6
Clara 5
Eleanor 5
Fanny 5
Laura 5
Louise 5
Margret 5
Phoebe 5
Georgina 4

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 234
William 165
George 127
Thomas 102
James 84
Joseph 66
Robert 63
Henry 47
Charles 41
Edward 24
Alfred 22
Arthur 19
Frederick 19
Samuel 18
Richard 16
Harry 14
Herbert 14
Ernest 12
Matthew 12
Francis 11
Frank 11
Ralph 11
Stephen 11
Walter 11
Albert 10
Fred 10
Geo. 10
Wm. 10
Isaac 9
Anthony 8
Robt. 8
Thos. 8
David 6
Benjamin 5
Daniel 4
Edwin 4
Fredk. 4
Willie 4
Andrew 3
Fenwick 3
Fredrick 3
Horace 3
Hugh 3
Joshua 3
Peter 3
Phillip 3
Tom 3
Wilfred 3
Adam 2
Cuthbert 2

FAQ

Emmerson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Emmerson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,959 people were recorded with the Emmerson surname. That placed it at #1,510 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Emmerson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,025 in 2016. That gives Emmerson a modern rank of #1,687.

What does the Emmerson surname mean?

Of English origin meaning "son of Emmerich," an Old Germanic name.

What does the Emmerson map show?

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