NameCensus.

UK surname

Evely

From the old French word "evel", meaning "hairy".

In the 1881 census there were 92 people recorded with the Evely surname, ranking it #20,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #20,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Northlew and St Mewan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Mid Devon and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Evely is 170 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.2%.

1881 census count

92

Ranked #20,709

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

2010

170 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Evely had 92 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 135 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Evely surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Evely surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Evely 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 92 #20,709
1891 historical 83 #26,376
1901 historical 125 #20,061
1911 historical 135 #19,058
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 163 #20,582
1999 modern 157 #21,201
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 138 #22,647
2002 modern 148 #22,087
2003 modern 141 #22,549
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 146 #22,146
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 158 #21,464
2008 modern 159 #21,598
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 170 #21,560
2011 modern 165 #21,829
2012 modern 147 #23,567
2013 modern 146 #24,107
2014 modern 143 #24,621
2015 modern 134 #25,607
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

Back to top

Where Evelys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Northlew, St Mewan, Stoke Climsland and Tawton, South. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Mid Devon, North Devon and Torridge. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Northlew Devon
3 St Mewan Cornwall
4 Stoke Climsland Cornwall
5 Tawton, South Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
2 Mid Devon 009 Mid Devon
3 North Devon 010 North Devon
4 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
5 Torridge 007 Torridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Evely

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Evely

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Evely is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Evely is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Evely falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Evely 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 Evely, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Evely

The surname Evely is of English origin, derived from the Old English personal name "Ęfela" or "Ęfelwine", which means "prosperous friend". The name can be traced back to the 11th century in England.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Evely appear in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Ęfelwine" and "Ęfeling" in various counties, including Berkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Lincolnshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Evely evolved into various spellings, such as Evelye, Eveleigh, and Eveleye. These variations reflect the regional dialects and local pronunciations of the time. Some of these spellings were also derived from place names, such as Eveleigh in Devon, which may have contributed to the surname's development.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Evely was Robert Evely, who lived in Gloucestershire, England, in the 13th century. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir John Evely, a member of the English gentry born in 1540 in Wiltshire.

In the 17th century, John Evelyn (1620-1706), an English writer, gardener, and diarist, became a prominent figure associated with the surname. His diaries provide valuable insights into the social, cultural, and political life of 17th-century England.

Other notable individuals with the surname Evely include:

1. Thomas Evely (born circa 1550), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Cambridge in the late 16th century.

2. William Evely (1670-1729), an English painter and engraver known for his portraits and religious works.

3. Mary Evely (1749-1833), an English writer and poet who published several works, including "Poems on Several Occasions" in 1792.

4. John Evely (1817-1900), a British explorer and adventurer who traveled extensively in Africa and the Middle East, and wrote several books about his travels.

5. Edmund Evely (1856-1932), an English architect who designed numerous buildings in London and other parts of England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the surname Evely has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, due to migration and the expansion of the British Empire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Evely families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Evely 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. Devon leads with 69 Evelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.54x.

County Total Index
Devon 69 36.54x
Cornwall 14 13.63x
Somerset 3 2.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.70x
Glamorgan 1 0.63x
Kent 1 0.32x
Lancashire 1 0.09x
Middlesex 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 9.25x
Surrey 1 0.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northlew in Devon leads with 23 Evelys recorded in 1881 and an index of 9583.33x.

Place Total Index
Northlew 23 9583.33x
Tavistock 11 511.63x
Inwardleigh 9 5625.00x
Bradstone 7 17500.00x
Liskeard 6 348.84x
Creed Grampound 5 4166.67x
Plymouth Charles The 5 60.10x
Northam 4 289.86x
St Austell 3 85.47x
Lifton 2 444.44x
Brixton 1 476.19x
Broadwoodwidger 1 476.19x
Church Gresley 1 44.25x
Clist St George 1 1250.00x
Glastonbury 1 84.03x
Highampton 1 1111.11x
Lewisham 1 6.06x
Liverpool 1 1.53x
Lympston 1 294.12x
Meare 1 227.27x
Okehampton 1 140.85x
Pennycross 1 625.00x
Roath 1 13.95x
Royal Navy 1 10.82x
Shapwick 1 714.29x
St Mary Islington London 1 10000.00x
St Peter Tavy 1 1000.00x
Wandsworth 1 11.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Ann 5
Ellen 4
Elizabeth 3
Jane 3
Grace 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Susan 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Cecilia 1
E.J. 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Hariet 1
Harriet 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
James 7
William 6
Robert 5
George 4
Henry 4
Lewis 2
Richard 2
Albert 1
Jeremiah 1
Richd. 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Evely surname: questions and answers

How common was the Evely surname in 1881?

In 1881, 92 people were recorded with the Evely surname. That placed it at #20,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Evely surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Evely a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Evely surname mean?

From the old French word "evel", meaning "hairy".

What does the Evely map show?

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