NameCensus.

UK surname

Ewbank

Originating from the Old English words "ēa" (river) and "bank," likely denoting someone living near a riverside.

In the 1881 census there were 368 people recorded with the Ewbank surname, ranking it #8,454 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 327, ranked #13,868, down from #8,454 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Appleby St Lawrence, Witton, West and Bongate or Appleby St Michael. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Eden, Richmondshire and North Norfolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ewbank is 565 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.1%.

1881 census count

368

Ranked #8,454

Modern count

327

2016, ranked #13,868

Peak year

1911

565 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ewbank had 368 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,454 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016, ranked #13,868.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 565 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ewbank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ewbank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ewbank 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 310 #7,434
1861 historical 306 #8,296
1881 historical 368 #8,454
1891 historical 448 #8,099
1901 historical 513 #7,901
1911 historical 565 #7,146
1997 modern 367 #11,751
1998 modern 383 #11,748
1999 modern 398 #11,486
2000 modern 409 #11,221
2001 modern 386 #11,509
2002 modern 392 #11,607
2003 modern 387 #11,523
2004 modern 363 #12,131
2005 modern 347 #12,436
2006 modern 349 #12,473
2007 modern 339 #12,896
2008 modern 343 #12,899
2009 modern 350 #12,972
2010 modern 370 #12,701
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 338 #13,304
2013 modern 339 #13,477
2014 modern 333 #13,770
2015 modern 326 #13,898
2016 modern 327 #13,868

Geography

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Where Ewbanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Appleby St Lawrence, Witton, West, Bongate or Appleby St Michael, London parishes and Hampsthwaite. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Eden, Richmondshire, North Norfolk and Skye North West. 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 Appleby St Lawrence Westmorland
2 Witton, West Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Bongate or Appleby St Michael Westmorland
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hampsthwaite Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Eden 006 Eden
2 Richmondshire 005 Richmondshire
3 North Norfolk 003 North Norfolk
4 Skye North West Highland
5 Richmondshire 006 Richmondshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ewbank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ewbank

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

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Inner London Working Professionals

Within London, Ewbank is most associated with areas classed as Inner London Working Professionals, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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 primarily Inner London neighbourhoods are more densely populated than the Supergroup average. Residents have a younger over-all age profile than the Supergroup as a whole, and are less likely to be owner occupiers. Full time employment is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup and multiple car ownership is uncommon. Chinese and non-EU-born European migrants are less in evidence than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ewbank is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ewbank falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Ewbank

The surname Ewbank has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "ew" meaning "yew" and "bank" referring to a hillside or slope. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a yew tree-covered bank or hill.

One of the earliest known references to the surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, which mentions a Roger de Youbank. Additionally, the Hundred Rolls of 1275 record an Adam de Ewebanck in Cambridgeshire.

During the 14th century, variations in spelling start to emerge, such as Ewbancke, Ewebancke, and Ewebanke. These are likely due to regional dialects and inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various parish records across England, including in Lincolnshire, where a John Ewbank was born in 1578, and in Yorkshire, where a William Ewbank was baptized in 1592.

One notable individual bearing the Ewbank surname was Sir Joseph Ewbank (1799-1847), an English civil engineer and writer. He wrote extensively on practical mechanics and was knighted for his contributions to the field.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Ewbank (1792-1870), an American writer and inventor, best known for his work on hydraulic engineering and for publishing several books on practical mechanics and inventions.

In the 18th century, the Ewbank surname appeared in various records, such as the baptism of John Ewbank in 1719 in Wiltshire, and the marriage of Elizabeth Ewbank to John Blackburn in 1763 in Yorkshire.

Other noteworthy individuals with the surname include William Ewbank (1789-1869), an English mathematician and writer on education, and John Ewbank (1799-1847), an English engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to locomotive engines.

Overall, the Ewbank surname has a rich history in England, with roots stretching back to the 13th century and a connection to geographic features and locations. It has been borne by notable figures in fields such as engineering, writing, and education throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ewbank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ewbank 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. Yorkshire leads with 119 Ewbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.29x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 119 3.29x
Lancashire 69 1.59x
Durham 55 5.07x
Surrey 29 1.63x
Westmorland 27 33.67x
Middlesex 13 0.36x
Northumberland 10 1.84x
Cumberland 8 2.55x
Bedfordshire 7 3.71x
Hampshire 7 0.94x
Sussex 7 1.14x
Isle of Man 6 8.86x
Lincolnshire 5 0.86x
Cheshire 2 0.25x
Warwickshire 2 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.43x
Devon 1 0.13x
Essex 1 0.14x
Glamorgan 1 0.16x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Kent 1 0.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brompton In in Yorkshire leads with 18 Ewbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.

Place Total Index
Brompton In 18 1111.11x
Newington 18 13.36x
Shildon 15 172.02x
West Derby 14 11.05x
Barrow In Furness 12 20.38x
Birstwith 12 1967.21x
Barnard Castle 10 186.57x
Lambeth 10 3.14x
Preston 9 7.77x
Sledmere Cum Croom 9 1428.57x
Kirkdale 8 10.99x
Sculcoates 8 13.96x
Asby 7 1129.03x
High Abbotside 7 1129.03x
Horsforth 7 88.27x
Langford 7 451.61x
Stockton On Tees 7 13.38x
Lower Booths 6 77.32x
Onchan 6 30.75x
Warcop 6 666.67x
Cawton 5 6250.00x
Cleator 5 38.26x
Clint 5 1020.41x
Great Grimsby 5 13.51x
Haslingden 5 27.89x
Newcastle On Tyne St 5 17.77x
Prestwich 5 46.30x
St Helens 5 91.91x
West Witton 5 806.45x
Appleby St Lawrence 4 218.58x
Appleby St Michael 4 222.22x
Hartlepool 4 25.92x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 12.34x
Southcoates 4 19.93x
St George Martyr London 4 54.13x
Stanhope 4 35.68x
Wolsingham 4 40.44x
Wombleton 4 1081.08x
York St Mary 4 26.72x
Askrigg 3 384.62x
Dalby Cum Skewsby 3 1764.71x
Dalton In Furness 3 17.95x
Everton 3 2.17x
Islington London 3 0.85x
Much Woolton 3 51.11x
Preston 3 27.93x
St Pancras London 3 1.02x
West Auckland 3 75.57x
Egglescliffe 2 243.90x
Elvet 2 25.54x
Hastings St Mary 2 13.06x
Kirkby Stephen 2 96.15x
Little Musgrave 2 2222.22x
Luttons Ambo 2 266.67x
Penrith 2 17.24x
Sheffield 2 1.74x
Thornaby 2 14.80x
Tranmere 2 6.76x
Witton Gilbert 2 46.73x
Bermondsey 1 0.92x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 8.09x
Bilton In Wetherby 1 333.33x
Brough 1 128.21x
Cadoxton 1 263.16x
Carperby Cum Thoresby 1 263.16x
Devonport 1 11.45x
Gillingham 1 3.90x
Glasgow 1 0.48x
Hackney London 1 0.49x
Hastings St Leonards 1 11.06x
Hastings St Mary In The 1 7.62x
Hawes 1 42.37x
Hesket In Forest 1 40.82x
Kirkby In Ashfield 1 19.01x
Kirkby Thore 1 153.85x
Leyburn 1 81.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 1 14.01x
Scarborough 1 3.04x
Shipley 1 5.33x
Whenby 1 714.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Jane 17
Ann 11
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 10
Annie 7
Margaret 7
Ellen 6
Emma 6
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Charlotte 3
Margret 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Edwina 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Eva 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Christiana 1
Clara 1
Clare 1
E.B. 1
Edith 1
Emily 1
Ethel 1
Florrie 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Helena 1
J.E. 1
Jessie 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.E. 1
Margaretta 1
Marian 1
Maud 1
May 1
Olive 1
Pollie 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 31
John 24
Thomas 24
George 12
Henry 12
Robert 10
Richard 7
James 5
Joseph 5
Charles 3
Harry 3
Jackson 3
Lorenzo 3
Andrew 2
Arthur 2
Christopher 2
Cornelius 2
Edmund 2
Ernest 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Alan 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Edward 1
F.D. 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Greenbow 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Johnathan 1
Leonard 1
Lucas 1
Marshal 1
Tom 1
W.Y. 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Ewbank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ewbank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 368 people were recorded with the Ewbank surname. That placed it at #8,454 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ewbank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 327 in 2016. That gives Ewbank a modern rank of #13,868.

What does the Ewbank surname mean?

Originating from the Old English words "ēa" (river) and "bank," likely denoting someone living near a riverside.

What does the Ewbank map show?

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