NameCensus.

UK surname

Enser

A person who deals in, or sells, linen or flax.

In the 1881 census there were 112 people recorded with the Enser surname, ranking it #18,501 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 105, ranked #30,114, down from #18,501 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxford City: St Thomas, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, Derby and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Enser is 145 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.3%.

1881 census count

112

Ranked #18,501

Modern count

105

2016, ranked #30,114

Peak year

1911

145 bearers

Map years

5

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Enser had 112 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,501 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016, ranked #30,114.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 145 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Enser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Enser surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Enser 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 73 #24,492
1881 historical 112 #18,501
1891 historical 121 #21,169
1901 historical 97 #23,227
1911 historical 145 #18,255
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 104 #27,164
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 105 #27,123
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 99 #28,136
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 98 #28,621
2007 modern 102 #28,351
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 110 #28,666
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 106 #29,740
2014 modern 110 #29,294
2015 modern 109 #29,327
2016 modern 105 #30,114

Geography

Back to top

Where Ensers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxford City: St Thomas, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North West Leicestershire, Derby, Milton Keynes and High Peak. 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 Oxford City: St Thomas Oxfordshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 004 North West Leicestershire
2 Derby 009 Derby
3 Milton Keynes 021 Milton Keynes
4 High Peak 003 High Peak
5 Milton Keynes 009 Milton Keynes

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Enser

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Enser

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Enser is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Enser is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Enser

The surname Enser has its origins in Germany, with the earliest recorded instances of the name dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Ensel," which means a small island or a peninsula. This suggests that the name was likely initially given to people who lived on or near small islands or peninsulas.

One of the earliest documented mentions of the Enser name can be found in the church records of the town of Hanau, located in the German state of Hesse. In these records, a man named Hans Enser is listed as a resident of the town in the year 1587.

As the name spread throughout Germany, it took on various spellings, such as Ensser, Enzer, and Enzner. These spelling variations were often reflective of the local dialects and naming traditions in different regions.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure named Johann Enser (1631-1704) rose to prominence as a respected theologian and author in the city of Nuremberg. His works on religious philosophy and biblical interpretation were widely read and influential during his time.

Another notable Enser was Karl Friedrich Enser (1772-1843), a German jurist and legal scholar. He served as a judge in the city of Frankfurt and authored several influential treatises on civil law and legal principles.

In the 19th century, the Enser name found its way to other parts of Europe, including England and France. One such individual was William Enser (1816-1891), an English painter and engraver who was known for his landscapes and portraits. His works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and can be found in several prestigious art collections.

Another notable figure was Auguste Enser (1855-1912), a French composer and music educator. He taught at the Paris Conservatory and composed several operas and orchestral works that were performed in France and beyond.

While the Enser surname may not be as common as some others, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and is deeply rooted in the cultural and linguistic traditions of Germany. The name's connection to islands and peninsulas adds an intriguing geographical element to its origins, further enriching its historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Enser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Enser 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. Oxfordshire leads with 45 Ensers recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.72x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 45 66.72x
Nottinghamshire 17 11.55x
Warwickshire 16 5.81x
Lancashire 11 0.85x
Derbyshire 7 4.09x
Essex 5 2.32x
Kent 3 0.81x
Surrey 3 0.56x
Devon 2 0.88x
Middlesex 2 0.18x
Sussex 1 0.54x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kirtlington in Oxfordshire leads with 19 Ensers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7037.04x.

Place Total Index
Kirtlington 19 7037.04x
Oxford St Thomas 13 412.70x
Nottingham St Mary 12 31.51x
Derby St Alkmund 7 136.45x
Nuneaton 7 219.44x
Aston 6 7.91x
Elton 6 133.93x
Chalgrove 5 2631.58x
Lenton 5 144.09x
Openshaw 5 82.37x
Bletchington 4 1739.13x
Bermondsey 3 9.23x
West Ham 3 6.30x
Birmingham 2 2.18x
Eastchurch 2 540.54x
Lustleigh 2 1428.57x
Wanstead 2 52.91x
Bicester Market End 1 80.65x
Brighton 1 2.69x
Bucknell 1 1000.00x
Coventry St Michael 1 11.30x
Deptford St Paul 1 3.48x
Ealing 1 10.25x
Oxford St Giles 1 31.06x
Oxford St Mary Magdalen 1 125.00x
St Marylebone London 1 1.71x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Enser 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
Julia 4
Annie 3
Lucy 3
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Jane 2
Maria 2
Sarah 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Ellen 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Lettice 1
Lily 1
Liza 1
Matilda 1
Mitilda 1
Rebecca 1
Rosatta 1
Selina 1
Violetta 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Enser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Enser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 112 people were recorded with the Enser surname. That placed it at #18,501 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Enser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 105 in 2016. That gives Enser a modern rank of #30,114.

What does the Enser surname mean?

A person who deals in, or sells, linen or flax.

What does the Enser map show?

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