UK surname

Er

An occupational surname derived from the German word for "eagle".

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Er surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 160, ranked #22,694, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Waltham Forest, Hackney and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Er is 160 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7900.0%.

1881 census count

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

160

2016, ranked #22,694

Peak year

2016

160 bearers

Map years

2016 to 2016

Key insights

• Er had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016, ranked #22,694.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2 in 1881.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Map

Er surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Er surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Er 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
1881	historical	2	#33,721
1997	modern	32	#34,472
1998	modern	37	#34,149
1999	modern	44	#33,601
2000	modern	32	#34,705
2001	modern	30	#34,753
2002	modern	38	#34,307
2003	modern	43	#33,951
2004	modern	61	#32,581
2005	modern	66	#32,303
2006	modern	87	#30,292
2007	modern	96	#29,339
2008	modern	98	#29,355
2009	modern	103	#29,127
2010	modern	114	#28,017
2011	modern	111	#28,294
2012	modern	124	#26,432
2013	modern	132	#25,789
2014	modern	141	#24,855
2015	modern	155	#23,194
2016	modern	160	#22,694

Geography

Where Ers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Waltham Forest, Hackney, Camden and Enfield. 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	No data	No data

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Waltham Forest 019	Waltham Forest
2	Hackney 003	Hackney
3	Hackney 016	Hackney
4	Camden 025	Camden
5	Enfield 027	Enfield

Forenames

First names often paired with Er

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Recent female names

Selma Felicia Fatma Sibel Hatice Colette Justine Rebecca Sally Bee

Recent male names

Mustafa Mehmet Halil Selim Hasan Ahmet Huseyin Ercan Celal Umut

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Er

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Er surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Er 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Er is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Er is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Er falls in decile 2 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Er 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - Other

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Er

The surname "Er" has its origins in Denmark, where it first emerged in the 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "erri," which means "angry" or "fierce." It is likely that the name was initially a nickname given to someone with a particularly fiery temperament.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to 1379, when a man named Jens Er was mentioned in the Falster County records. In the following centuries, the name spread to other parts of Scandinavia, particularly Sweden and Norway.

One notable early bearer of the name was Hans Er, a Danish merchant who lived in the late 15th century. He was involved in the lucrative trade between Denmark and the Hanseatic League, a powerful commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds and their market towns.

In the 16th century, the name made its way to Germany, where it was sometimes spelled as "Ehr" or "Ehre." One of the earliest recorded German bearers of the name was Johann Ehr, a Lutheran theologian who lived from 1537 to 1592.

As the name spread across Europe, it underwent various spelling variations, including "Erre," "Erres," and "Errs." In England, the name was sometimes anglicized to "Err" or "Erre," although these spellings were relatively uncommon.

One notable English bearer of the name was Sir John Erre, a 15th-century knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses. He was a prominent supporter of the House of Lancaster and was knighted for his service in the Battle of Wakefield in 1460.

Another notable figure with the surname "Er" was the Dutch philosopher and theologian Dirck Volkertszoon Er, who lived from 1572 to 1642. He was a prominent figure in the Remonstrant movement, a liberal branch of Protestantism that emerged in the Netherlands during the Dutch Reformation.

Throughout its history, the surname "Er" has been borne by several notable individuals across various fields, including scholars, merchants, soldiers, and theologians. While not an extremely common name, it has left a lasting mark on the historical records of several European countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Er surname: questions and answers

How common was the Er surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Er surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Er surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 160 in 2016. That gives Er a modern rank of #22,694.

What does the Er surname mean?