NameCensus.

UK surname

Exon

A territorial surname originating from a place name derived from the Old English "exen", meaning Ash Tree place.

In the 1881 census there were 160 people recorded with the Exon surname, ranking it #14,860 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 300, ranked #14,738, up from #14,860 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Bedminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Bristol and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Exon is 323 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 87.5%.

1881 census count

160

Ranked #14,860

Modern count

300

2016, ranked #14,738

Peak year

2004

323 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Exon had 160 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,860 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016, ranked #14,738.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 286 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Exon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Exon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Exon 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 145 #13,223
1861 historical 139 #16,263
1881 historical 160 #14,860
1891 historical 195 #15,211
1901 historical 277 #12,281
1911 historical 286 #11,810
1997 modern 304 #13,409
1998 modern 302 #13,839
1999 modern 304 #13,843
2000 modern 317 #13,439
2001 modern 313 #13,361
2002 modern 319 #13,448
2003 modern 309 #13,559
2004 modern 323 #13,230
2005 modern 310 #13,518
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 307 #13,822
2008 modern 308 #13,882
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 299 #14,769
2011 modern 304 #14,475
2012 modern 280 #15,248
2013 modern 297 #14,844
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 301 #14,727
2016 modern 300 #14,738

Geography

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Where Exons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Hull Holy Trinity and St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Bristol, Leicester, Oadby and Wigston and Bath and North East Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Bedminster Somerset
4 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
5 St Decuman, Nettlecombe, Old Cleeve, Kilton, Lilstock, Dodington, Stringston, Holford Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 021 Powys
2 Bristol 046 Bristol, City of
3 Leicester 036 Leicester
4 Oadby and Wigston 009 Oadby and Wigston
5 Bath and North East Somerset 002 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Exon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Exon

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Exon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Exon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Exon is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Exon is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Exon falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Exon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Exon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Exon

The surname "Exon" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Devon, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "ex," which means "water" or "stream," and "tun," meaning "town" or "village." This suggests that the name likely referred to a settlement located near a body of water or stream.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name "Exon" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This historical document references several individuals bearing variations of the name, such as "Exeton" and "Exeton-on-the-Exe."

Over the centuries, the name underwent various spelling changes, including "Exon," "Exton," and "Exeter." These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the preferences of individual scribes or record-keepers.

Notable individuals who bore the surname "Exon" throughout history include:

1. Sir John Exon (c. 1300-1368), an English knight and landowner in Devon during the reign of Edward III. 2. Thomas Exon (c. 1420-1489), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. 3. Elizabeth Exon (c. 1560-1624), a renowned herbalist and apothecary in the Elizabethan era. 4. Robert Exon (c. 1680-1745), a celebrated architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Devon and Cornwall. 5. William Exon (1795-1872), a British explorer and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the South Pacific.

The surname "Exon" is also closely associated with the city of Exeter in Devon, which derives its name from the Latin "Exonia" and the Old English "Exanceaster." This connection suggests that individuals bearing the surname may have originated from or resided in the vicinity of this historic city.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Exon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Exon 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. Somerset leads with 52 Exons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.70x.

County Total Index
Somerset 52 20.70x
Gloucestershire 33 10.78x
Yorkshire 14 0.91x
Leicestershire 11 6.36x
Cheshire 10 2.90x
Middlesex 7 0.45x
Derbyshire 6 2.46x
Warwickshire 6 1.52x
Worcestershire 6 2.94x
Lancashire 4 0.22x
Devon 2 0.62x
Lincolnshire 2 0.80x
Staffordshire 2 0.38x
Essex 1 0.32x
Hampshire 1 0.31x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.48x
Pembrokeshire 1 2.02x
Suffolk 1 0.53x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bristol St Philip Jacob in Gloucestershire leads with 30 Exons recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.09x.

Place Total Index
Bristol St Philip Jacob 30 104.09x
Holy Trinity 8 21.51x
Bedminster 7 29.65x
Hathern 7 1000.00x
Shapwick 7 2916.67x
Birkenhead 6 21.85x
Bowling 6 39.16x
Birmingham 5 3.81x
Bridgewater 5 73.31x
Churchill 5 1250.00x
Compton Bishop 5 1724.14x
Stogursey 5 746.27x
Castle Northwich 4 350.88x
Claines 4 71.56x
Farnworth 4 36.04x
Keynsham 4 222.22x
St Luke London 4 15.98x
Weston Super Mare 4 63.09x
Alfreton 3 40.43x
Loughborough 3 38.22x
Burton Upon Trent 2 16.23x
Derby St Alkmund 2 27.32x
Ilfracombe 2 59.88x
Over Stowey 2 714.29x
Worcester St Peter 2 51.81x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 24.94x
Aston 1 0.92x
Banwell 1 108.70x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 9.79x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 1 35.84x
Chapel En Le Frith 1 44.84x
Chilton Trinity 1 1111.11x
Clee With Weelsby 1 18.32x
Clifton 1 6.46x
Ealing 1 7.17x
East Quantoxhead 1 769.23x
Great Grimsby 1 6.31x
Hampstead London 1 4.11x
Hutton 1 555.56x
Ipswich St Mary At Tower 1 238.10x
Kensington London 1 1.15x
Lilstock 1 2000.00x
Pembroke St Mary 1 15.65x
Portsmouth 1 13.57x
Snenton 1 12.11x
Spaxton 1 204.08x
Stanford Rivers 1 192.31x
Walcot 1 7.47x
Wembdon 1 135.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 10
Mary 10
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Clara 3
Kate 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
L. 2
Rose 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Eliza 1
Eva 1
Faith 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Henrietta 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Mahala 1
Maria 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Nancy 1
Nellie 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 9
John 8
George 6
James 6
Frederick 4
Henry 4
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Edward 2
H. 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Benjn.Gilbert 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Chas.Herbert 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Fredk.Chas. 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Mary 1
Matthew 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
R. 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Walter 1
Will. 1

FAQ

Exon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Exon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 160 people were recorded with the Exon surname. That placed it at #14,860 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Exon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 300 in 2016. That gives Exon a modern rank of #14,738.

What does the Exon surname mean?

A territorial surname originating from a place name derived from the Old English "exen", meaning Ash Tree place.

What does the Exon map show?

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