NameCensus.

UK surname

Essen

A German surname derived from the city of Essen.

In the 1881 census there were 71 people recorded with the Essen surname, ranking it #23,517 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #23,517 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sawley, Upton with Chalvey and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Berkshire, Mayfield and Tandridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Essen is 126 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.8%.

1881 census count

71

Ranked #23,517

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

1901

126 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2006

Key insights

  • Essen had 71 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,517 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 126 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Essen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Essen surname density by area, 2006 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Essen 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 65 #21,747
1861 historical 76 #24,114
1881 historical 71 #23,517
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 126 #19,970
1911 historical 123 #20,128
1997 modern 105 #26,188
1998 modern 116 #25,332
1999 modern 116 #25,487
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 108 #26,184
2002 modern 108 #26,698
2003 modern 100 #27,722
2004 modern 105 #27,181
2005 modern 96 #28,671
2006 modern 103 #27,785
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 97 #29,527
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 99 #30,397
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 92 #31,528
2013 modern 98 #31,078
2014 modern 93 #32,025
2015 modern 92 #32,075
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

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Where Essens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sawley, Upton with Chalvey, London parishes, Rickmansworth and Whilton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Berkshire, Mayfield, Tandridge, Barnet and Scarborough. 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 Sawley Derbyshire
2 Upton with Chalvey Buckinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Rickmansworth Hertfordshire
5 Whilton Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Berkshire 002 West Berkshire
2 Mayfield Midlothian
3 Tandridge 011 Tandridge
4 Barnet 002 Barnet
5 Scarborough 014 Scarborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Essen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Essen

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Essen 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

Essen 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

Essen 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 Essen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Essen

The surname "ESSEN" is of German origin and can be traced back to the 9th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old High German word "ezzan," which means "to eat." This suggests that the name may have been associated with someone who worked as a baker, cook, or someone involved in the food industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "ESSEN" can be found in the Codex Aureus of Lorsch, a 9th-century manuscript from the Lorsch Abbey in present-day Germany. The name appears in the form of "Ezzino," which is likely a variant of the same surname.

In the 11th century, the name "ESSEN" is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have migrated from Germany to England during the Norman conquest.

The city of Essen, located in the Ruhr region of Germany, is believed to have derived its name from the same Old High German word "ezzan." While it is not certain whether the surname originated from the city or vice versa, this connection further reinforces the name's association with the concept of eating or nourishment.

Notable individuals with the surname "ESSEN" include:

1. Johann Georg Essen (1675-1727), a German mathematician and astronomer known for his work on celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits. 2. Hans von Essen (1498-1567), a Swedish military commander and statesman who served as the Riksmarsk (Lord Marshal) of Sweden during the reign of King Gustav I. 3. Gert van Essen (1880-1965), a Dutch painter and etcher known for his landscapes and city scenes. 4. Leonie van Essen (1880-1967), a Dutch actress and singer who performed in various plays and operettas in the early 20th century. 5. Wilhelm Essen (1872-1949), a German architect and urban planner who designed several notable buildings in Berlin and other cities.

While the surname "ESSEN" has its roots in the German language and culture, it has since spread to various parts of the world through migration and intermarriage, carrying with it the rich history and associations with its origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Essen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Essen 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. Middlesex leads with 17 Essens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.42x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 17 2.42x
Surrey 12 3.51x
Warwickshire 8 4.52x
Northamptonshire 7 10.60x
Staffordshire 5 2.11x
Buckinghamshire 4 9.42x
Durham 4 1.91x
Kent 4 1.67x
Leicestershire 4 5.14x
Aberdeenshire 2 3.08x
Lanarkshire 2 0.88x
Nottinghamshire 2 2.11x
Sussex 1 0.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover Square in Middlesex leads with 9 Essens recorded in 1881 and an index of 72.76x.

Place Total Index
St George Hanover Square 9 72.76x
Aston 7 14.35x
Camberwell 5 11.15x
Deptford St Paul 4 21.65x
Gateshead 4 25.58x
Harborne 4 52.63x
Langley Marish 4 769.23x
Medbourne 4 3076.92x
Northampton St Sepulchre 4 119.05x
Westminster St John 3 35.09x
Barony 2 3.48x
Battersea 2 7.74x
Clerkenwell London 2 12.06x
Greasley 2 93.46x
Kensington London 2 5.12x
Kilsby 2 1428.57x
Newington 2 7.71x
Wandsworth 2 29.59x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 1 8.22x
Coull 1 526.32x
Dallington 1 256.41x
Rotherfield 1 96.15x
Rugby 1 41.67x
St Pancras London 1 1.77x
Streatham 1 19.19x
West Bromwich 1 7.37x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 4
Ann 3
Annie 2
Elizabeth 2
Louisa 2
Mary 2
A. 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Ellen 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Jane 1
Margaret 1
Pettishe 1
Rika 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Essen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Essen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 71 people were recorded with the Essen surname. That placed it at #23,517 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Essen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Essen a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Essen surname mean?

A German surname derived from the city of Essen.

What does the Essen map show?

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