NameCensus.

UK surname

Esler

A Scottish locational surname referring to an individual from the region of East Lothian.

In the 1881 census there were 42 people recorded with the Esler surname, ranking it #27,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #27,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Horsham, Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH and Partick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Esler is 172 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 288.1%.

1881 census count

42

Ranked #27,721

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2013

172 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Esler had 42 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 58 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Esler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Esler surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Esler 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 10 #31,497
1861 historical 13 #32,208
1881 historical 42 #27,721
1891 historical 51 #30,158
1901 historical 58 #27,724
1911 historical 35 #29,478
1997 modern 147 #21,393
1998 modern 159 #20,916
1999 modern 156 #21,290
2000 modern 164 #20,584
2001 modern 163 #20,372
2002 modern 163 #20,767
2003 modern 167 #20,245
2004 modern 168 #20,300
2005 modern 161 #20,799
2006 modern 157 #21,322
2007 modern 157 #21,546
2008 modern 160 #21,521
2009 modern 169 #21,190
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 159 #22,361
2013 modern 172 #21,575
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 160 #22,701
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

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Where Eslers 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 Horsham, Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH, Partick, Ibrox East and Cessnock and Waltham Forest. 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 Horsham 014 Horsham
2 Gourock Central, Upper East and IRH Inverclyde
3 Partick Glasgow City
4 Ibrox East and Cessnock Glasgow City
5 Waltham Forest 024 Waltham Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Esler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Esler

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Esler surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Esler household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Esler is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Esler is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Esler

The surname Esler has its origins in the Germanic regions of Europe, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "asal," meaning "blackbird" or "thrush," which may have been used as a nickname for someone with a dark complexion or dark hair.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Esler can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany and Switzerland. In some historical records, the name appeared with different spellings, such as Asler, Aesler, or Esler, reflecting the variation in dialects and scribal practices of the time.

One notable reference to the name Esler is found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval German charters and records from the 13th to the 15th centuries. The name is mentioned in connection with land transactions and legal documents, indicating that individuals bearing this surname had achieved a certain level of prominence and social status.

In the 16th century, the Esler family had established itself in the city of Augsburg, a prominent center of trade and commerce in the Holy Roman Empire. Johannes Esler (1556-1624), a successful merchant and alderman, was a well-known figure in the city's commercial circles.

As the Esler name spread across Europe, it gained recognition in various fields. Hans Esler (1677-1748), a German painter and engraver, was celebrated for his landscape paintings and etchings, which captured the natural beauty of the German countryside.

In the 19th century, the Esler family made its mark in the field of academia. Johann Esler (1822-1897), a German philologist and linguist, contributed significantly to the study of ancient languages and their influence on modern German dialects.

Moving into the 20th century, the name Esler gained prominence in the realm of literature. Joachim Esler (1901-1976), a German novelist and playwright, received critical acclaim for his works exploring the complexities of human relationships and societal norms.

While the surname Esler has its roots in Germany and the surrounding regions, it has since spread across the globe, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Esler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Esler 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. Lanarkshire leads with 20 Eslers recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.10x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 20 15.10x
Northumberland 10 16.41x
Perthshire 6 32.64x
Essex 3 3.71x
Middlesex 2 0.49x
Hampshire 1 1.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 20 Eslers recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.05x.

Place Total Index
Govan 20 61.05x
Wallsend 10 518.13x
Logierait 6 1875.00x
West Ham 3 16.81x
Ealing 1 27.32x
Portsea 1 6.08x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 185.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Agnes 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Elizh. 1
Mary 1
Sarah 1
Teressa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 2
John 2
Thomas 2
Ernest 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Esler households.

FAQ

Esler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Esler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 42 people were recorded with the Esler surname. That placed it at #27,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Esler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Esler a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Esler surname mean?

A Scottish locational surname referring to an individual from the region of East Lothian.

What does the Esler map show?

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