NameCensus.

UK surname

Ensor

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made handles, from the Old English "hanse" meaning "handle."

In the 1881 census there were 668 people recorded with the Ensor surname, ranking it #5,398 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,010, ranked #5,761, down from #5,398 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Llanbeblig, Measham and Nuneaton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North West Leicestershire, South Derbyshire and Nuneaton and Bedworth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ensor is 1,121 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.2%.

1881 census count

668

Ranked #5,398

Modern count

1,010

2016, ranked #5,761

Peak year

1999

1,121 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ensor had 668 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,398 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,010 in 2016, ranked #5,761.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 951 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ensor surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ensor surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ensor 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 444 #5,543
1861 historical 382 #6,698
1881 historical 668 #5,398
1891 historical 739 #5,385
1901 historical 855 #5,336
1911 historical 951 #4,738
1997 modern 1,095 #5,092
1998 modern 1,101 #5,262
1999 modern 1,121 #5,216
2000 modern 1,119 #5,196
2001 modern 1,100 #5,174
2002 modern 1,103 #5,261
2003 modern 1,062 #5,331
2004 modern 1,042 #5,425
2005 modern 1,006 #5,521
2006 modern 991 #5,598
2007 modern 991 #5,647
2008 modern 967 #5,798
2009 modern 1,001 #5,762
2010 modern 1,006 #5,852
2011 modern 1,006 #5,793
2012 modern 991 #5,777
2013 modern 1,020 #5,736
2014 modern 1,027 #5,727
2015 modern 1,022 #5,709
2016 modern 1,010 #5,761

Geography

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Where Ensors are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Llanbeblig, Measham, Nuneaton, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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, South Derbyshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth and Rotherham. 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 Llanbeblig Carnarvonshire
2 Measham Leicestershire
3 Nuneaton Warwickshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North West Leicestershire 003 North West Leicestershire
2 South Derbyshire 006 South Derbyshire
3 North West Leicestershire 012 North West Leicestershire
4 Nuneaton and Bedworth 005 Nuneaton and Bedworth
5 Rotherham 005 Rotherham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ensor

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ensor

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

Ensor 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

Ensor 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 Ensor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Ensor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Ensor

The surname ENSOR originates from England, where it first emerged in the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ænne" and "soor," meaning "at the" and "sandy area," respectively. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who resided in a sandy or arid region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname ENSOR can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire from 1196, which mention a certain Robert Ensor. Additionally, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include an entry for a Richard Ensor in Oxfordshire.

The ENSOR surname has undergone various spelling variations throughout history, including Enser, Ensore, Ensoure, and Enzer. Some of these alternative spellings can be traced back to the 13th and 14th centuries in various county records.

In the 16th century, the ENSOR surname appeared in the parish records of St. Giles in Northampton, where a John Ensor was recorded as having been baptized in 1590. Around the same time, in 1592, a William Ensor was mentioned in the records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick.

One notable figure bearing the ENSOR surname was James Ensor (1860-1949), a renowned Belgian painter and printmaker. He was a prominent figure in the artistic avant-garde movement and is widely regarded as a significant influence on the development of Expressionism and Surrealism.

Another historical figure with the ENSOR surname was George Ensor (1769-1843), an English engraver and writer on the arts. He published several works, including "The Independent Man" and "A Description of the Marbles in the British Museum."

In the 18th century, a certain John Ensor (1734-1808) became known for his involvement in the establishment of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, one of the earliest life insurance companies in Britain.

The ENSOR surname also has connections to the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being that of Thomas Ensor, who settled in Virginia in 1663. Another early American bearer of the name was James Ensor, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1813.

Throughout history, several places have derived their names from the ENSOR surname, such as Ensor's Green in Worcestershire, England, and Ensor's Mill in Maryland, United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ensor families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ensor 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. Warwickshire leads with 231 Ensors recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.06x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 231 14.06x
Derbyshire 81 7.94x
Staffordshire 62 2.82x
Yorkshire 36 0.56x
Middlesex 30 0.46x
Caernarfonshire 29 11.01x
Gloucestershire 24 1.88x
Somerset 22 2.10x
Dorset 17 3.98x
Nottinghamshire 15 1.71x
Lancashire 14 0.18x
Suffolk 14 1.76x
Leicestershire 13 1.80x
Essex 11 0.86x
Sussex 11 1.00x
Glamorgan 8 0.71x
Surrey 8 0.25x
Kent 7 0.31x
Cumberland 6 1.07x
Devon 6 0.44x
Cheshire 5 0.35x
Shropshire 4 0.71x
Lincolnshire 3 0.29x
Norfolk 3 0.30x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.48x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.39x
Berkshire 1 0.20x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.25x
Hampshire 1 0.07x
Worcestershire 1 0.12x

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 71 Ensors recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.96x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 71 12.96x
Aston 35 7.73x
Llanbeblig 29 108.45x
Melbourne 29 416.07x
Nuneaton 29 152.31x
Coventry St Michael 27 51.15x
Milborne Port 22 523.81x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 17 28.26x
Coventry Holy Trinity 15 30.57x
Nether Whitacre 14 1068.70x
Shenstone 13 232.56x
Measham 12 320.00x
Derby St Peter 11 33.86x
Rawmarsh 10 43.84x
Rugby 10 44.98x
Sutton Coldfield 10 57.90x
Nottingham St Mary 9 3.96x
Rendham 9 1097.56x
Tamworth 9 76.53x
West Bromwich 9 7.15x
Foleshill 8 46.27x
Fulham London 8 8.47x
Hove 8 16.59x
Stanton Newhall 8 244.65x
Westbury On Trym 8 18.48x
Llanishen 7 673.08x
Rugeley 7 44.36x
Droylsden 6 23.79x
Hackney London 6 1.64x
Hornchurch 6 95.09x
Kegworth 6 125.00x
Melcombe Regis 6 33.86x
St Bees 6 231.66x
Walsall Foreign 6 5.28x
Wednesbury 6 10.92x
Colchester All Sts 5 500.00x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.92x
Handsworth 5 9.22x
Newbold Dunston 5 51.55x
Tranmere 5 9.46x
Westbury On Severn East 5 17.31x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 9.39x
Church Gresley 4 24.65x
Corfe Mullen 4 258.06x
Lydney 4 60.61x
Newport 4 58.91x
Sherborne 4 31.75x
Stapenhill 4 26.33x
Thurlstone 4 62.79x
Brighton 3 1.35x
Hammersmith London 3 1.87x
Hickling 3 272.73x
Islington London 3 0.48x
Layton With Warbreck 3 10.57x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.70x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 2.29x
St Pancras London 3 0.57x
Swinton In Rotherham 3 17.57x
Withycombe Rawleigh 3 42.43x
Wolverhampton 3 1.77x
Wool 3 263.16x
Annan 2 16.18x
Arley 2 434.78x
Ballidon 2 833.33x
Brundish 2 243.90x
Burlingham St Peter 2 1428.57x
Burton Upon Trent 2 3.89x
Chilvers Coton 2 29.59x
Exhall 2 80.32x
Finchley 2 8.01x
Grantham 2 14.73x
Hulme 2 1.24x
Manchester 2 0.58x
Meriden 2 106.95x
Rearsby 2 188.68x
Semer 2 270.27x
Southwark Christchurch 2 6.55x
Standard Hill 2 95.69x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 18.80x
Towerof London London 1 48.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 37
William 30
George 26
Thomas 21
Frederick 15
Henry 14
Arthur 11
Joseph 11
Charles 10
Edward 9
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Harry 6
James 6
Francis 5
Walter 5
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Aaron 2
Abert 2
Andrew 2
Eli 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Isaac 2
Lewis 2
Oliver 2
Percy 2
Silas 2
Wm. 2
Alfrid 1
Captn. 1
Cecil 1
Chas. 1
Egbert 1
Emmanuel 1
Ezra 1
F.D.L. 1
F.S. 1
Frances 1
Howard 1
Infant 1
Wrighton 1

FAQ

Ensor surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ensor surname in 1881?

In 1881, 668 people were recorded with the Ensor surname. That placed it at #5,398 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ensor surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,010 in 2016. That gives Ensor a modern rank of #5,761.

What does the Ensor surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made handles, from the Old English "hanse" meaning "handle."

What does the Ensor map show?

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