NameCensus.

UK surname

Eves

A surname derived from the given name Eve, meaning "life-giver" or "mother of all living."

In the 1881 census there were 1,254 people recorded with the Eves surname, ranking it #3,242 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,692, ranked #3,694, down from #3,242 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and Brighton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Epping Forest, Breckland and Gravesham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eves is 1,921 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.9%.

1881 census count

1,254

Ranked #3,242

Modern count

1,692

2016, ranked #3,694

Peak year

1911

1,921 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eves had 1,254 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,242 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,692 in 2016, ranked #3,694.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,921 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Eves surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eves surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eves 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 794 #3,358
1861 historical 756 #3,617
1881 historical 1,254 #3,242
1891 historical 1,555 #2,847
1901 historical 1,761 #2,948
1911 historical 1,921 #2,582
1997 modern 1,805 #3,324
1998 modern 1,860 #3,362
1999 modern 1,875 #3,362
2000 modern 1,880 #3,333
2001 modern 1,814 #3,369
2002 modern 1,877 #3,337
2003 modern 1,788 #3,413
2004 modern 1,766 #3,459
2005 modern 1,725 #3,498
2006 modern 1,712 #3,521
2007 modern 1,721 #3,537
2008 modern 1,712 #3,578
2009 modern 1,755 #3,576
2010 modern 1,802 #3,562
2011 modern 1,752 #3,602
2012 modern 1,711 #3,624
2013 modern 1,741 #3,626
2014 modern 1,732 #3,664
2015 modern 1,702 #3,680
2016 modern 1,692 #3,694

Geography

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Where Eves' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, Brighton and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Epping Forest, Breckland, Gravesham, Neath Port Talbot and King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Epping Forest 010 Epping Forest
2 Breckland 007 Breckland
3 Gravesham 004 Gravesham
4 Neath Port Talbot 016 Neath Port Talbot
5 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eves

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eves

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Eves surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Eves household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Eves 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

Eves is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Eves

The surname Eves originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English word "efe," meaning a river. This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals who resided near a particular river or stream.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eves can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which documented landowners and tenants in England after the Norman Conquest. This indicates that the name had already established itself by the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Eves was prevalent in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Hampshire, where several place names incorporated the word "efe" or variations of it, like "Eversham" and "Evesham."

Notable individuals bearing the surname Eves throughout history include Sir John Eves (1480-1554), a prominent English lawyer and member of Parliament during the reign of King Henry VIII. Another figure was William Eves (1670-1732), an English clergyman and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects.

In the 18th century, Thomas Eves (1745-1805) was a respected English architect known for his work on several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford. A century later, Walter Eves (1865-1941), born in Somerset, gained recognition as a pioneering figure in the field of aviation, contributing to the development of early aircraft designs.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Eves was Arthur Eves (1897-1993), an American mathematician and historian of mathematics. His seminal work, "An Introduction to the History of Mathematics," became a widely acclaimed reference text in the field.

While the surname Eves has its roots in England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, reflecting the migration patterns of English settlers and descendants over the centuries. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "efe," reflecting the historical connection between the name and the geographical features of rivers and streams in medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eves families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eves 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. Kent leads with 277 Eves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.65x.

County Total Index
Kent 277 6.65x
Middlesex 191 1.56x
Lancashire 133 0.92x
Surrey 129 2.17x
Essex 101 4.19x
Norfolk 62 3.30x
Yorkshire 45 0.37x
Suffolk 40 2.69x
Sussex 39 1.89x
Somerset 25 1.27x
Warwickshire 24 0.78x
Gloucestershire 21 0.88x
Cheshire 20 0.74x
Lincolnshire 18 0.92x
Glamorgan 15 0.71x
Hampshire 14 0.56x
Northamptonshire 13 1.13x
Dorset 12 1.50x
Worcestershire 9 0.56x
Staffordshire 8 0.19x
Herefordshire 7 1.40x
Bedfordshire 6 0.95x
Durham 6 0.17x
Leicestershire 6 0.44x
Angus 5 0.44x
Royal Navy 4 2.75x
Berkshire 3 0.33x
Devon 3 0.12x
Hertfordshire 3 0.36x
Northumberland 3 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.27x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.26x
Derbyshire 2 0.10x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.20x
Isle of Man 1 0.44x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Merionethshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Toxteth Park in Lancashire leads with 45 Eves' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.17x.

Place Total Index
Toxteth Park 45 9.17x
Gravesend 29 82.20x
St Pancras London 25 2.54x
Plumstead 23 16.56x
Hackney London 22 3.21x
Scarborough 22 20.01x
Brighton 20 4.81x
Hammersmith London 20 6.65x
Maidstone 19 15.31x
Deptford St Paul 18 5.60x
Islington London 18 1.52x
Lambeth 18 1.69x
Kingston On Thames 17 11.89x
Milton In Gravesend 17 27.20x
St Marylebone London 17 2.61x
Marham 16 509.55x
Bexley 15 40.72x
Birmingham 15 1.46x
Camberwell 15 1.92x
Wandsworth 15 12.76x
Bermondsey 14 3.85x
St George Hanover Square 14 6.51x
Long Ditton 13 133.74x
Putney 13 23.36x
Woolwich 12 7.79x
Great Grimsby 11 8.88x
Portsea 11 2.24x
Speldhurst 11 51.84x
Swaffham 11 71.99x
Crayford 10 54.95x
Eltham 10 40.95x
Great Tey 10 342.47x
Hulme 10 3.31x
Llandaff 10 14.13x
Rougham 10 613.50x
Sunbury 10 68.17x
Thornton In Fylde 10 31.54x
Burgh St Peter 9 592.11x
Colne Engaine 9 412.84x
Everton 9 1.95x
Harpurhey 9 44.75x
Hyde 9 11.31x
Lewisham 9 4.05x
Liverpool 9 1.02x
Macclesfield 9 7.51x
White Colne 9 576.92x
Allington 8 111.89x
Bromley 8 12.60x
Dymock 8 140.11x
Lyncombe Widcombe 8 15.54x
Mile End Old Town London 8 3.08x
Westminster St James 8 6.37x
Barrow In Furness 7 3.55x
Chatham 7 6.11x
Haverhill 7 52.99x
Kensington London 7 1.03x
Little Tey 7 2500.00x
Maldon St Marys 7 121.11x
Maldon St Peter 7 57.00x
Newent 7 57.52x
Prittlewell 7 20.95x
Romford 7 18.37x
Ruswarp 7 52.01x
Staplehurst 7 102.34x
Aston 6 0.71x
Barnes 6 23.84x
Brenchley 6 40.24x
Erith 6 14.62x
Great Bolton 6 3.13x
Keymer 6 41.27x
Luton 6 5.48x
Pendleton In Salford 6 3.48x
Sculcoates 6 3.13x
Sibton 6 292.68x
Staines 6 31.02x
Sudbury St Peter 6 73.62x
Sutton Stoneferry 6 17.33x
West Ham 6 1.13x
Westminster St John 6 4.03x
Westminster St Margaret 6 10.19x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 69
George 54
John 48
Henry 37
Charles 36
Thomas 36
James 31
Edward 26
Robert 23
Arthur 22
Alfred 20
Walter 14
Richard 13
Frederick 12
Albert 10
Ernest 9
Joseph 8
Herbert 7
Wm. 7
Benjamin 6
David 5
Edwin 5
Francis 5
Geo. 5
Peter 5
Samuel 5
Harry 4
Stephen 4
Adam 3
Frank 3
Jesse 3
Ambrose 2
Job 2
Jonathan 2
Richd. 2
Charley 1
Chas. 1
Clement 1
Enoch 1
Enock 1
Eric 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.V. 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1

FAQ

Eves surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eves surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,254 people were recorded with the Eves surname. That placed it at #3,242 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eves surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,692 in 2016. That gives Eves a modern rank of #3,694.

What does the Eves surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name Eve, meaning "life-giver" or "mother of all living."

What does the Eves map show?

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