NameCensus.

UK surname

Esprit

French surname meaning "spirit" or "wit".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ealing and Brent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Esprit is 150 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

150

2016, ranked #23,724

Peak year

2016

150 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016, ranked #23,724.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Esprit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Esprit surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Esprit 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
1861 historical 6 #33,230
1997 modern 87 #28,749
1998 modern 98 #27,923
1999 modern 101 #27,617
2000 modern 94 #28,573
2001 modern 92 #28,528
2002 modern 92 #29,040
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 97 #28,455
2005 modern 100 #28,025
2006 modern 110 #26,717
2007 modern 111 #26,954
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 131 #25,430
2012 modern 130 #25,559
2013 modern 143 #24,434
2014 modern 149 #23,969
2015 modern 146 #24,148
2016 modern 150 #23,724

Geography

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Where Esprits 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 Ealing and Brent. 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 Ealing 008 Ealing
2 Brent 032 Brent
3 Ealing 006 Ealing
4 Ealing 026 Ealing
5 Brent 009 Brent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Esprit

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Esprit

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Esprit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Esprit 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Esprit 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

Esprit 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Esprit falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Esprit 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Esprit

The surname ESPRIT originated from France, specifically in the region of Picardy. It dates back to the 12th century and is derived from the Old French word "esprit," meaning "spirit" or "mind." This name was likely given as a nickname to someone who was perceived as having a lively or spirited personality.

The earliest recorded instance of the name ESPRIT can be found in the medieval records of Picardy from around the year 1200. In these documents, the name appears in various spellings, including "Esprit," "Espriz," and "Esperit." It's believed that these variations were due to the phonetic transcription of the name during that time.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname ESPRIT was Jean Esprit, a merchant from the town of Amiens who lived in the late 13th century. Records indicate that he was involved in the textile trade and played a significant role in the local economy.

In the 14th century, the name ESPRIT appeared in the Hundred Years' War records, where a soldier named Pierre Esprit was mentioned as serving in the French army under King Charles V. This suggests that the name was not only present in the mercantile class but also among the nobility and military.

During the Renaissance period, the ESPRIT surname gained prominence with the birth of the philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650), whose full name was René Descartes du Perron Seigneur d'Esprit. While not directly bearing the surname ESPRIT, his association with the name added to its recognition and prestige.

Another notable figure was François Esprit (1686-1755), a French Jesuit priest and philosopher who wrote extensively on theology and metaphysics. His works, such as "Traité des Esprits" (Treatise on Spirits), were widely influential in the 18th century.

In the realm of literature, Antoine-François Esprit (1733-1805) was a French playwright and librettist who wrote several successful operas and plays during the Enlightenment era.

The ESPRIT surname also made its way to other parts of Europe, as evidenced by the Dutch painter Jacob van der Esprit (1621-1662), who was renowned for his still-life paintings and landscapes.

Throughout its history, the surname ESPRIT has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, soldiers, philosophers, writers, and artists, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bore this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Esprit surname: questions and answers

How common is the Esprit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 150 in 2016. That gives Esprit a modern rank of #23,724.

What does the Esprit surname mean?

French surname meaning "spirit" or "wit".

What does the Esprit map show?

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