NameCensus.

UK surname

Evershed

A surname derived from a habitational name referring to a location near the river Evershed.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Evershed surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 264, ranked #16,172, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Billinghurst, East and West, East Grinstead and Wandsworth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnet, Middlesbrough and Ceredigion.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Evershed is 425 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.7%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

264

2016, ranked #16,172

Peak year

1911

425 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Evershed had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016, ranked #16,172.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Evershed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Evershed surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Evershed 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 257 #8,596
1861 historical 230 #10,611
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 367 #9,486
1901 historical 399 #9,495
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 302 #13,459
1998 modern 311 #13,550
1999 modern 310 #13,672
2000 modern 323 #13,268
2001 modern 317 #13,228
2002 modern 309 #13,733
2003 modern 275 #14,652
2004 modern 278 #14,609
2005 modern 257 #15,365
2006 modern 259 #15,370
2007 modern 266 #15,261
2008 modern 256 #15,817
2009 modern 263 #15,843
2010 modern 277 #15,595
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 278 #15,333
2013 modern 268 #16,005
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 269 #15,955
2016 modern 264 #16,172

Geography

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Where Eversheds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Billinghurst, East and West, East Grinstead, Wandsworth, London parishes and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnet, Middlesbrough, Ceredigion and St Albans. 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 Billinghurst, East and West Sussex
2 East Grinstead Sussex
3 Wandsworth London (South Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnet 008 Barnet
2 Middlesbrough 020 Middlesbrough
3 Ceredigion 001 Ceredigion
4 St Albans 010 St Albans
5 St Albans 016 St Albans

Forenames

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First names often paired with Evershed

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Evershed

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Evershed, 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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Evershed surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Evershed household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Evershed 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

Evershed is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Evershed falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Evershed

The surname Evershed originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "efere," meaning a boar, and "sceaga," meaning a thicket or small wood, suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a wooded area known for its boar population.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Eurisced." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in parts of England by the late 11th century.

Over time, the name evolved through various spellings, including Everisched, Everyshed, and eventually settling into its modern form, Evershed. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, where many early bearers of the name were located.

Among the notable individuals bearing the surname Evershed throughout history are:

1. John Evershed (1863-1949), a renowned British astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of sunspots and the solar atmosphere.

2. Mary Evershed (1867-1949), a British suffragist and activist who campaigned for women's rights and was instrumental in the establishment of the Women's Tax Resistance League.

3. William Evershed (1834-1919), a British farmer and landowner who played a crucial role in the development of modern agricultural practices in Warwickshire.

4. Thomas Evershed (1796-1876), a British artist and engraver known for his detailed landscape paintings and etchings depicting rural scenes in England.

5. Robert Evershed (1790-1864), a British architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in Birmingham, including the Midland Institute and the Birmingham Town Hall.

The name Evershed has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Evershed Green in Staffordshire and Evershed Farm in Warwickshire, further reinforcing its historical ties to these regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Evershed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Evershed 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. Sussex leads with 185 Eversheds recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.51x.

County Total Index
Sussex 185 32.51x
Surrey 69 4.20x
Middlesex 45 1.33x
Kent 15 1.30x
Derbyshire 9 1.70x
Hampshire 6 0.87x
Yorkshire 5 0.15x
Oxfordshire 4 1.92x
Devon 3 0.43x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Dorset 1 0.45x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Midlothian 1 0.22x
Suffolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Billingshurst in Sussex leads with 56 Eversheds recorded in 1881 and an index of 3010.75x.

Place Total Index
Billingshurst 56 3010.75x
Brighton 33 28.75x
East Grinstead 20 248.45x
Horsham 15 135.75x
Lambeth 15 5.10x
Hove 12 48.06x
Wandsworth 10 30.78x
Littlehampton 9 198.24x
Arundel 7 219.44x
Heston 7 62.44x
Islington London 7 2.14x
Shalford 7 384.62x
Chobham 6 206.90x
Godalming 6 57.97x
Hampstead London 6 11.42x
Lancing 6 384.62x
Newington 6 4.81x
Stapenhill 6 76.24x
Fulham London 5 10.21x
Lewisham 5 8.14x
St Marylebone London 5 2.77x
Amberley 4 476.19x
Eastbourne 4 15.28x
Portsea 4 2.95x
Washington 4 408.16x
Wisborough Green 4 209.42x
Ashford 3 26.76x
Capel 3 193.55x
Derby St Alkmund 3 18.94x
Ealing 3 9.95x
Guildford St Nicholas 3 103.09x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 5.54x
Angmering 2 175.44x
Caversham 2 47.96x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.51x
East Bedfont 2 119.05x
Hartfield 2 111.11x
Hastings St Leonards 2 23.92x
Headingley Cum Burley 2 9.29x
Keymer 2 49.75x
Leeds 2 1.06x
Paddington London 2 1.61x
Sevenoaks 2 21.41x
Shipley 2 155.04x
Southleigh 2 476.19x
Stoke 2 25.77x
Albury 1 66.67x
Alverstoke 1 3.99x
Andover 1 15.29x
Battersea 1 0.81x
Camberwell 1 0.46x
Canterbury St Mary 1 12.94x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 8.33x
Cheetham 1 3.35x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 11.24x
Epsom 1 12.48x
Erith 1 8.81x
Ewhurst 1 97.09x
Hackney London 1 0.53x
Horsell 1 96.15x
Kensington London 1 0.53x
Mile End Old Town London 1 1.39x
Nuthurst 1 106.38x
Putney 1 6.50x
Sheffield 1 0.94x
Shere 1 50.25x
Spetisbury 1 163.93x
St Pancras London 1 0.37x
Streatham 1 3.99x
Sutton 1 8.40x
Tattingstone 1 156.25x
Tonbridge 1 2.41x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 12.30x
Westminster St John 1 2.43x
Westminster St Margaret 1 6.14x
Windlesham 1 32.36x
Woolwich 1 2.35x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Evershed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Evershed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Evershed surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Evershed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 264 in 2016. That gives Evershed a modern rank of #16,172.

What does the Evershed surname mean?

A surname derived from a habitational name referring to a location near the river Evershed.

What does the Evershed map show?

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