NameCensus.

UK surname

Eve

A derivative of the biblical Eve, representing life and birth.

In the 1881 census there were 1,104 people recorded with the Eve surname, ranking it #3,600 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,290, ranked #4,643, down from #3,600 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Waltham, Great, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, South Kesteven and Camden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eve is 1,379 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.8%.

1881 census count

1,104

Ranked #3,600

Modern count

1,290

2016, ranked #4,643

Peak year

1999

1,379 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eve had 1,104 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,600 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,290 in 2016, ranked #4,643.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,333 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eve surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eve surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eve 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 724 #3,619
1881 historical 1,104 #3,600
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 1,333 #3,757
1997 modern 1,322 #4,338
1998 modern 1,365 #4,365
1999 modern 1,379 #4,357
2000 modern 1,362 #4,398
2001 modern 1,315 #4,445
2002 modern 1,324 #4,498
2003 modern 1,300 #4,484
2004 modern 1,298 #4,490
2005 modern 1,263 #4,548
2006 modern 1,257 #4,578
2007 modern 1,268 #4,578
2008 modern 1,275 #4,586
2009 modern 1,277 #4,688
2010 modern 1,291 #4,735
2011 modern 1,277 #4,720
2012 modern 1,256 #4,716
2013 modern 1,288 #4,696
2014 modern 1,315 #4,625
2015 modern 1,300 #4,631
2016 modern 1,290 #4,643

Geography

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Where Eves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Waltham, Great, London parishes, Lambeth, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy and Streatham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, South Kesteven, Camden and Thurrock. 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 Waltham, Great Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex
5 Streatham London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 005 Allerdale
2 South Kesteven 013 South Kesteven
3 Allerdale 004 Allerdale
4 Camden 015 Camden
5 Thurrock 006 Thurrock

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eve

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eve

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Eve is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eve 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

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

Meaning and origin of Eve

The surname Eve originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "efe," meaning a river or stream. The name likely referred to someone who lived near a particular river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Eve is found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273. The record mentions a John Ate Eve, suggesting that the name was already established in that region by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms, such as Atte Eve, Ate Eve, and Atteeve, reflecting the evolution of spelling and pronunciation over time. These variations often referred to a person living near a specific location, such as "at the eve" or "at the river."

The surname Eve is also linked to several place names in England, including Eve Hill in Somerset and Eve Brook in Derbyshire. These place names likely contributed to the adoption of the surname by families living in or near those areas.

Notable individuals with the surname Eve include:

1. Christopher Eve (1581-1617), an English clergyman and author known for his work "The Remainer, or Sermon Notes" published in 1618.

2. Thomas Eve (1614-1683), an English Quaker and early settler in Pennsylvania, who arrived in the colony in 1682.

3. Sir Edward Eve (1726-1781), a British naval officer who served during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

4. Jephtha Eve (1756-1837), an American farmer and soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a prominent landowner in Ohio.

5. Arthur Stewart Eve (1875-1948), a British civil engineer and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of the modern concrete mixer.

While the surname Eve has its roots in medieval England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement. The name's association with rivers and streams, as well as its connection to specific locations, reflects the rich historical and geographical tapestry woven into many surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eve families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eve 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. Essex leads with 357 Eves recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.39x.

County Total Index
Essex 357 16.39x
Middlesex 245 2.22x
Surrey 172 3.20x
Kent 104 2.76x
Lancashire 38 0.29x
Lincolnshire 24 1.36x
Nottinghamshire 24 1.61x
Northamptonshire 22 2.12x
Yorkshire 20 0.18x
Channel Islands 17 5.20x
Cumberland 15 1.58x
Bedfordshire 11 1.93x
Gloucestershire 10 0.46x
Hampshire 10 0.44x
Sussex 10 0.54x
Oxfordshire 9 1.32x
Somerset 9 0.51x
Hertfordshire 6 0.79x
Cambridgeshire 4 0.57x
Lanarkshire 4 0.11x
Royal Navy 4 3.04x
Warwickshire 4 0.14x
Devon 3 0.13x
Leicestershire 2 0.16x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.08x
Norfolk 1 0.06x
Perthshire 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.07x
Wiltshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 35 Eves recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.64x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 35 3.64x
Camberwell 32 4.54x
Chelmsford 31 82.98x
Hackney London 31 5.01x
Great Waltham 29 326.94x
Croydon 28 9.38x
Bermondsey 23 7.00x
Islington London 22 2.06x
St George Hanover Square 21 10.80x
West Ham 20 4.16x
Barking 18 28.25x
Shoreditch London 18 3.76x
Liverpool 16 2.01x
Whitechapel London 16 14.71x
Chiswick 15 24.88x
Newborough 15 566.04x
Prittlewell 15 49.70x
St Helier 15 14.09x
St Pancras London 15 1.69x
North Ockendon 14 1111.11x
Rainham 14 295.36x
Bocking 13 99.24x
Bromley London 13 5.36x
Great Coggeshall 13 114.74x
Boughton Under Blean 12 190.48x
Maldon St Peter 12 108.11x
Kensington London 11 1.79x
Maidstone 11 9.81x
Maldon St Marys 11 210.73x
Minster In Sheppey 10 16.04x
Pleshey 10 877.19x
Stoke Newington London 10 11.64x
Eastwood 9 473.68x
Aveley 8 217.98x
Clapham 8 5.80x
Deptford St Paul 8 2.76x
Faversham 8 22.28x
Lewisham 8 3.99x
Mile End Old Town London 8 3.41x
Nottingham St Mary 8 2.08x
Shadwell London 8 25.92x
St Botolph Aldgate London 8 35.21x
Wanstead 8 20.98x
Workington 8 14.71x
Worsley 8 9.91x
Braintree 7 35.81x
Brighton 7 1.87x
Egham 7 21.21x
Romford 7 20.33x
Saddleworth 7 8.30x
Silsoe 7 272.37x
Snenton 7 11.98x
Streatham 7 8.55x
Bedminster 6 3.60x
Flimby 6 74.72x
Frimley 6 39.19x
Goldhanger 6 319.15x
Graveney 6 631.58x
Holywell 6 188.09x
Ingatestone 6 171.43x
Isleworth 6 12.23x
Loose 6 108.50x
Louth 6 14.84x
Manchester 6 1.02x
Rettendon 6 220.59x
Stanford Le Hope 6 192.31x
Tottenham 6 3.41x
Westbury On Severn East 6 12.26x
Woodford 6 24.34x
Barling 5 362.32x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.04x
Duston 5 53.08x
Gillingham 5 6.44x
Great Totham 5 176.68x
Milton In Gravesend 5 8.86x
Sausthorpe 5 943.40x
Southampton St Mary 5 3.52x
Sutton 5 925.93x
Sutton 5 12.86x
Terling 5 153.37x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 57
William 55
George 43
Charles 42
James 32
Henry 29
Frederick 26
Thomas 24
Walter 16
Arthur 15
Joseph 14
Alfred 13
Edward 13
Richard 12
Albert 8
Frank 7
Robert 7
Benjamin 6
David 6
Herbert 6
Stephen 6
Adam 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Fredrick 4
Josiah 4
Samuel 4
Ebenezer 3
Edwin 3
Geo. 3
Isaac 3
Sidney 3
Wm. 3
Bertram 2
Chas. 2
Edmund 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Jas. 2
Peter 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Archibald 1
Benjn. 1
Edw. 1
Enock 1
Isac 1
Israel 1
J. 1
Wm.Frdk. 1

FAQ

Eve surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eve surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,104 people were recorded with the Eve surname. That placed it at #3,600 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eve surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,290 in 2016. That gives Eve a modern rank of #4,643.

What does the Eve surname mean?

A derivative of the biblical Eve, representing life and birth.

What does the Eve map show?

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