UK surname
Derived from the Old English given name Ēfan, likely meaning "equal" or "peer," or from a place name.
In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Even surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 44, ranked #35,224, down from #31,170 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras and St Giles-in-the-Fields. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Even is 128 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 158.8%.
1881 census count
17
Ranked #31,170
Modern count
44
2016, ranked #35,224
Peak year
1861
128 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Even surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Even surname density by area, 1861 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 | 61 | #22,412 |
| 1861 | historical | 128 | #17,375 |
| 1881 | historical | 17 | #31,170 |
| 1891 | historical | 81 | #26,632 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 10 | #37,060 |
| 1998 | modern | 14 | #36,565 |
| 1999 | modern | 15 | #36,476 |
| 2000 | modern | 12 | #36,749 |
| 2001 | modern | 13 | #36,483 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 13 | #36,620 |
| 2004 | modern | 14 | #36,648 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 26 | #36,012 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 25 | #36,252 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 40 | #35,454 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 44 | #35,224 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, St Pancras, St Giles-in-the-Fields, Crimplesham and Luton. 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 Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 3 | St Giles-in-the-Fields | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | Crimplesham | Norfolk |
| 5 | Luton | Bedfordshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Even 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 Even, 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 Even surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Even 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, Even 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 Even is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Even, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname EVEN originated in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "efene," meaning "level" or "flat." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone who lived on flat land or in a level area.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname EVEN can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1195, where a person named Adam Even is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, referring to a Ralph Even.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the surname EVEN was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Oxfordshire, and Gloucestershire. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name, such as Evenhall or Evenley, although the exact connection is uncertain.
In the 15th century, the surname EVEN started to become more widespread across England. Notable individuals with this surname during this period include John Even, a merchant from Bristol who was involved in the wool trade in the mid-1400s, and William Even, a landowner in Gloucestershire mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524.
The 16th and 17th centuries saw the continued use of the surname EVEN, with some variations in spelling, such as Evene and Evens. One notable figure was Sir Robert Even, a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the early 1600s.
In the 18th century, several distinguished individuals bore the surname EVEN, including John Even (1681-1762), a renowned clockmaker from London, and Thomas Even (1711-1789), a scholar and clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Nottingham.
As the surname EVEN spread across England, it also made its way to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the colonies in North America and other parts of the world. Some notable individuals with this surname in more recent history include William Even (1762-1829), a British army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, and George Even (1812-1886), a Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist in New York City.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Even 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. Middlesex leads with 5 Evens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.85x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 5 | 2.85x |
| Kent | 4 | 6.68x |
| Channel Islands | 2 | 38.46x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 3.37x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 1.15x |
| Essex | 1 | 2.89x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.48x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 3.56x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 2 Evens recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.75x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 2 | 11.75x |
| Shareshill Hilton | 2 | 10000.00x |
| St Helier | 2 | 118.34x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 14.15x |
| Tonbridge | 2 | 92.59x |
| Barnsley | 1 | 55.87x |
| Boston | 1 | 117.65x |
| Castle Hedingham | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Cowden | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Drypool | 1 | 370.37x |
| Friern Barnet | 1 | 256.41x |
| Strood | 1 | 294.12x |
| Walmersley Cum | 1 | 303.03x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Even 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 Even 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 Even households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Fundholder | 2 |
| Stone Mason | 2 |
| (Corn) Miller | 1 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag W | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Printer | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Even surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 44 in 2016. That gives Even a modern rank of #35,224.
Derived from the Old English given name Ēfan, likely meaning "equal" or "peer," or from a place name.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Even 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.