NameCensus.

UK surname

Eyers

An occupational surname for someone who worked with birds of prey or falcons.

In the 1881 census there were 575 people recorded with the Eyers surname, ranking it #6,056 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 663, ranked #8,048, down from #6,056 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Wiltshire and South Hams.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Eyers is 775 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.3%.

1881 census count

575

Ranked #6,056

Modern count

663

2016, ranked #8,048

Peak year

1999

775 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Eyers had 575 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,056 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 663 in 2016, ranked #8,048.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 748 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Eyers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Eyers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Eyers 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 428 #5,717
1861 historical 469 #5,536
1881 historical 575 #6,056
1891 historical 585 #6,531
1901 historical 684 #6,394
1911 historical 748 #5,751
1997 modern 748 #6,898
1998 modern 757 #7,041
1999 modern 775 #6,959
2000 modern 736 #7,213
2001 modern 721 #7,194
2002 modern 749 #7,118
2003 modern 719 #7,230
2004 modern 704 #7,357
2005 modern 680 #7,516
2006 modern 674 #7,591
2007 modern 670 #7,695
2008 modern 673 #7,701
2009 modern 688 #7,744
2010 modern 722 #7,599
2011 modern 693 #7,743
2012 modern 648 #8,096
2013 modern 678 #7,941
2014 modern 672 #8,037
2015 modern 664 #8,056
2016 modern 663 #8,048

Geography

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Where Eyers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Southampton St Mary and Bradley, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Wiltshire, South Hams and Mendip. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Bradley, North Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 008 Blaenau Gwent
2 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
3 South Hams 004 South Hams
4 Mendip 002 Mendip
5 Blaenau Gwent 009 Blaenau Gwent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Eyers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Eyers

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Eyers is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Eyers is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Eyers

The surname EYERS originated in England in the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word 'ey' meaning 'island' or 'river island', and was initially an occupational name for someone who lived on an island or worked on or near a river island.

EYERS is a variant spelling of the more common Eyre surname. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Eyr'. This suggests the name has Anglo-Saxon roots and was present in England before the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, Roger Eyr is mentioned in records from Huntingdonshire. The surname is also found in various Yorkshire records from this era, such as the Yorkshire Feet of Fines for 1246 which lists a Ralph le Eyr. This indicates the name was particularly prominent in northern England during the Middle Ages.

One notable bearer of the EYERS name was John Eyers (c.1495-1556), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Queen Mary I for refusing to renounce his faith. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1886.

Thomas Eyers (1670-1720) was an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of logarithms and the calculation of eclipses. His work was widely published and respected in his lifetime.

In the 18th century, Sir James Eyers (1734-1799) was a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol. He donated generously to various charitable causes and helped establish several schools and hospitals in the city.

The EYERS surname has also been associated with places like Eyre Court in Herefordshire and Eyre Brook in Derbyshire, further highlighting its geographical origins.

Overall, the name EYERS has a rich history dating back to Anglo-Saxon England, with evidence of bearers appearing in records across multiple centuries and regions. While not as prevalent as some other English surnames, it has been carried by notable figures over the years.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Eyers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Eyers 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. Wiltshire leads with 132 Eyers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.43x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 132 26.43x
Middlesex 90 1.59x
Dorset 85 22.93x
Hampshire 61 5.27x
Kent 33 1.71x
Gloucestershire 31 2.80x
Lancashire 23 0.34x
Somerset 18 1.98x
Cheshire 16 1.28x
Surrey 14 0.51x
Hertfordshire 11 2.83x
Northamptonshire 10 1.88x
Westmorland 9 7.25x
Yorkshire 7 0.13x
Devon 5 0.43x
Staffordshire 5 0.26x
Warwickshire 5 0.35x
Bedfordshire 4 1.37x
Cornwall 4 0.63x
Durham 4 0.24x
Monmouthshire 3 0.73x
Channel Islands 2 1.20x
Derbyshire 2 0.23x
Royal Navy 2 2.97x
Shropshire 2 0.41x
Leicestershire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury in Wiltshire leads with 52 Eyers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 445.97x.

Place Total Index
Westbury 52 445.97x
Enford 21 1235.29x
Southampton St Mary 21 28.85x
St Pancras London 21 4.62x
Blandford Forum 14 191.52x
Poole St James 12 86.15x
Portsea 11 4.85x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 9 89.20x
Chiswick 9 29.16x
Fulham London 9 10.99x
North Bradley 9 246.58x
Bristol St George 8 15.62x
Dorchester All Sts 8 451.98x
Holwell 8 987.65x
Maiden Newton 8 516.13x
Rowde 8 347.83x
Swanscombe 8 92.38x
Trowbridge 8 36.23x
Acton 7 21.14x
Ardwick 7 11.58x
Bradford On Avon 7 43.78x
Dorchester St Peter 7 260.22x
Gravesend 7 42.89x
Preston Richard 7 614.04x
Bristol St Augustine 6 33.56x
Corfe Castle 6 174.42x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 6 200.00x
Kensington London 6 1.91x
Newton In Ashton Under 6 48.78x
Battersea 5 2.41x
Chipping Barnet 5 73.42x
Croydon 5 3.27x
Holdenhurst 5 16.47x
Leamington 5 52.97x
Norton St Philip 5 505.05x
Rickmansworth 5 46.64x
Rusholme 5 27.96x
St George Bloomsbury 5 15.43x
St Martin In Fields 5 14.79x
Tonbridge 5 7.19x
Wolstanton 5 8.64x
Ashley 4 540.54x
Bampton 4 111.11x
Basingstoke 4 30.05x
Bishopwearmouth 4 2.77x
Falmouth 4 17.68x
Hampstead London 4 4.55x
Hillingdon 4 22.21x
Liverpool 4 0.98x
Luton 4 7.90x
Northampton St Giles 4 19.76x
Painswick 4 51.09x
Sherston Magna 4 132.89x
Titchfield 4 45.87x
Twickenham 4 16.52x
Upton Scudamore 4 666.67x
Warley 4 24.72x
Alverstoke 3 7.16x
Bedwellty 3 4.16x
Bradford Peverell 3 468.75x
Manchester 3 1.00x
Northampton All Sts 3 16.64x
Northampton St Sepulchre 3 11.10x
Paddington London 3 1.44x
Ringwood 3 40.49x
Stapleford 3 666.67x
Walcot 3 6.20x
Wardour 3 205.48x
Westminster St John 3 4.36x
Winterbourne Stoke 3 517.24x
Barton Stacey 2 186.92x
Blean 2 150.38x
Botley 2 96.15x
Frome 2 9.20x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 8.40x
Lytchett Matravers 2 149.25x
Macclesfield 2 3.61x
South Stoneham 2 7.97x
Whitechapel London 2 3.59x
Willesden 2 3.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 49
Sarah 26
Alice 18
Jane 14
Elizabeth 11
Emily 11
Eliza 10
Ann 8
Annie 8
Emma 8
Susan 8
Ada 6
Amelia 6
Caroline 6
Clara 6
Louisa 6
Ellen 5
Fanny 5
Bessie 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Helen 2
Jemima 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Laura 2
Lilly 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Betsey 1
Christian 1
Ethell 1
Eva 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Henrietta 1
Hester 1
Kathy 1
Levenia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 28
Henry 21
James 19
George 18
Alfred 16
Thomas 16
Charles 13
Frank 7
Robert 7
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Walter 4
Chas. 3
Edwin 3
Henery 3
Sidney 3
Tom 3
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Matthew 2
Richard 2
Silvester 2
Thos. 2
Worthy 2
Agnes 1
Alford 1
Bertran 1
Christopher 1
Chs. 1
Cyril 1
Elias 1
Enoch 1
Enos 1
Harrold 1
Jaseh 1
Jeremiah 1
Jesse 1
Jonah 1
Louise 1
Luther 1
Oliver 1
Oswald 1

FAQ

Eyers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Eyers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 575 people were recorded with the Eyers surname. That placed it at #6,056 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Eyers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 663 in 2016. That gives Eyers a modern rank of #8,048.

What does the Eyers surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who worked with birds of prey or falcons.

What does the Eyers map show?

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