UK surname
A surname derived from the biblical name Esther, meaning "star" in Persian.
In the 1881 census there were 40 people recorded with the Esther surname, ranking it #28,011 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #28,011 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Gateshead and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Esther is 215 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.0%.
1881 census count
40
Ranked #28,011
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1861
215 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Esther surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Esther surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 124 | #14,792 |
| 1861 | historical | 215 | #11,316 |
| 1881 | historical | 40 | #28,011 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 66 | #26,794 |
| 1911 | historical | 84 | #24,442 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 65 | #31,605 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 56 | #32,379 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 52 | #33,160 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 56 | #33,264 |
| 2006 | modern | 61 | #33,142 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 63 | #33,751 |
| 2010 | modern | 79 | #32,759 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 70 | #33,638 |
| 2013 | modern | 73 | #33,557 |
| 2014 | modern | 75 | #33,473 |
| 2015 | modern | 72 | #33,595 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Gateshead, Newcastle All Saints, Manchester and Ormskirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St George in the East | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Ormskirk | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Esther surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Esther, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Esther surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Esther household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Esther is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Esther is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Esther, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Esther is believed to have originated from the Hebrew name Ester, which means "star" or "morning star". It is a name with biblical roots, derived from the Old Persian word "star".
The earliest known usage of the name Esther can be traced back to the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible, where it was the name of a Jewish queen in the Persian empire during the 5th century BCE. The biblical Book of Esther recounts the story of Queen Esther, who saved the Jewish people from a plot to annihilate them.
In medieval Europe, the surname Esther was primarily associated with Jewish communities, as it was a common practice for Jews to adopt surnames derived from biblical names or occupations. However, over time, the surname spread beyond the Jewish community and was adopted by non-Jewish families as well.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Esther can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Estre" and "Estere".
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the surname Esther. One such person was Abraham Esther (1599-1655), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his portraits and genre scenes. Another was Mordecai Esther (1690-1773), a renowned Jewish writer and philosopher from Poland.
In the 19th century, Esther Tuttle Esther (1819-1904) was a prominent American educator and reformer who founded the Rhode Island Normal School, one of the first teacher training institutions in the United States. Another notable figure was Eliza Esther (1836-1897), a British activist and writer who campaigned for women's rights and social reform.
Towards the latter part of the 19th century, the surname Esther gained popularity in France, where it was associated with various place names such as Estherwood and Estherfield. This suggests that the name may have evolved from a locational surname, referring to people who lived in or near these places.
While the surname Esther has its roots in ancient Hebrew and biblical traditions, it has since become a widespread name found in various cultures and communities around the world, reflecting the diverse and fascinating history of surnames and their evolution over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Esther surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 8 Esthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 8 | 1.73x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.55x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.28x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 12.72x |
| Durham | 3 | 2.59x |
| Perthshire | 3 | 17.14x |
| Sussex | 3 | 4.56x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 3.42x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 3.72x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.75x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 3.55x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 1.72x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.76x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.53x |
| West Lothian | 1 | 17.04x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wakefield in Yorkshire leads with 6 Esthers recorded in 1881 and an index of 202.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wakefield | 6 | 202.02x |
| Ormskirk | 5 | 561.80x |
| Comrie | 3 | 1200.00x |
| Gateshead | 3 | 34.52x |
| Radnage | 3 | 5000.00x |
| Aughton | 2 | 434.78x |
| Brighton | 2 | 15.07x |
| Whitechapel London | 2 | 52.08x |
| Bedwas | 1 | 500.00x |
| Elswick | 1 | 21.60x |
| Hastings Holy Trinity | 1 | 208.33x |
| Hindley | 1 | 50.76x |
| Kirkliston | 1 | 294.12x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 2.94x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 14.08x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 12.05x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 6.97x |
| Reading St Mary | 1 | 42.74x |
| Southampton St Mary | 1 | 19.88x |
| St Albans St Stephen | 1 | 434.78x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 3.19x |
| Wolverhampton | 1 | 9.88x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Esther surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Esther surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Esther households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Commercial Traveller Wife | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Engineman (Driver) | 1 |
| Examr Inland Reven | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Formerly Butcher | 1 |
| Gen Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Serv Domestic | 1 |
| Hotel Asst (Dom) | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid Dom Serv | 1 |
| Laborer In Iron Wks | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lacemaker | 1 |
| Needleworker | 1 |
| Provision Dealer | 1 |
| Waiter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 40 people were recorded with the Esther surname. That placed it at #28,011 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Esther a modern rank of #33,171.
A surname derived from the biblical name Esther, meaning "star" in Persian.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Esther bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.