NameCensus.

UK surname

Glasby

An English surname derived from a habitation name referring to a glassy area.

In the 1881 census there were 341 people recorded with the Glasby surname, ranking it #8,918 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 569, ranked #9,045, down from #8,918 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Doncaster, Eckington and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolsover, Sheffield and Rotherham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glasby is 597 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.9%.

1881 census count

341

Ranked #8,918

Modern count

569

2016, ranked #9,045

Peak year

1998

597 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glasby had 341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,918 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 569 in 2016, ranked #9,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 522 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Glasby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glasby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glasby 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 214 #9,898
1861 historical 243 #10,116
1881 historical 341 #8,918
1891 historical 383 #9,178
1901 historical 493 #8,133
1911 historical 522 #7,577
1997 modern 587 #8,275
1998 modern 597 #8,422
1999 modern 593 #8,508
2000 modern 583 #8,571
2001 modern 573 #8,552
2002 modern 584 #8,598
2003 modern 579 #8,530
2004 modern 572 #8,618
2005 modern 537 #8,951
2006 modern 535 #9,007
2007 modern 521 #9,271
2008 modern 534 #9,168
2009 modern 545 #9,238
2010 modern 541 #9,481
2011 modern 548 #9,300
2012 modern 547 #9,203
2013 modern 562 #9,162
2014 modern 566 #9,174
2015 modern 564 #9,119
2016 modern 569 #9,045

Geography

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Where Glasbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Doncaster, Eckington, Battersea, Sutton-cum-Lound and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolsover, Sheffield, Rotherham and York. 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 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Eckington Derbyshire
3 Battersea London (South Districts)
4 Sutton-cum-Lound Nottinghamshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolsover 007 Bolsover
2 Sheffield 032 Sheffield
3 Rotherham 020 Rotherham
4 Rotherham 015 Rotherham
5 York 008 York

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glasby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glasby

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Glasby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Glasby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Glasby 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

Glasby is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Glasby falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Glasby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Glasby

The surname Glasby is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place near the town of Glastonbury in Somerset, England. The name is thought to be a combination of the Old English words "glæs" and "byrig," which together mean "glassy town" or "town of glass."

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are several entries that may be related to the name Glasby. These include references to places like "Glastingberie" and "Glastingburia," which could be early variations of the name Glastonbury and, by extension, the surname Glasby.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Glasby dates back to 1275, when a John de Glasebury was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. This historical document, which recorded land ownership and feudal obligations, provides evidence of the surname's existence in the 13th century.

Over the centuries, the name has undergone various spellings, including Glasbury, Glasebury, and Glasebye, before settling into its modern form of Glasby. Some of these variations may have been influenced by the local dialects and pronunciations of the areas where the name was prevalent.

Notable individuals with the surname Glasby include:

1. William Glasby (1605-1675), an English entrepreneur and merchant who was instrumental in the establishment of the East India Company's trade with India.

2. Elizabeth Glasby (1716-1789), a renowned English botanist and author of "The Flower Garden," a popular 18th-century work on horticulture.

3. Sir John Glasby (1822-1901), a British military officer who served in the Crimean War and later became the Governor of the Bahamas.

4. Alfred Glasby (1876-1942), an English artist and painter known for his landscapes and seascapes, many of which depicted the Cornish coastline.

5. Eleanor Glasby (1903-1987), a British actress and stage performer who appeared in numerous West End productions and was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

While the surname Glasby is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval times and the region around Glastonbury, a town steeped in legend and known for its association with ancient glassmaking traditions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glasby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glasby 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 126 Glasbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.82x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 126 3.82x
Nottinghamshire 67 14.94x
Middlesex 31 0.93x
Warwickshire 28 3.34x
Surrey 20 1.23x
Derbyshire 18 3.46x
Devon 12 1.73x
Hampshire 12 1.76x
Gloucestershire 8 1.23x
Brecknockshire 5 7.52x
Kent 4 0.35x
Wiltshire 4 1.36x
Cornwall 1 0.27x
Glamorgan 1 0.17x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.19x
Northumberland 1 0.20x
Shropshire 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 21 Glasbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.51x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 21 7.51x
Battersea 18 14.71x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 16 52.10x
Finningley 13 3023.26x
Lound 13 3250.00x
Swinton In Rotherham 11 126.15x
Eckington 10 79.05x
Tickhill 10 476.19x
Sculcoates 9 17.22x
Ordsall 8 233.24x
Warley 8 83.95x
Aston 7 3.03x
Mattersey 7 1794.87x
Portsea 7 5.24x
Scrooby 7 3181.82x
Brantingham 6 1935.48x
Limehouse London 6 16.43x
Ranskill 6 1395.35x
Rossington 6 1500.00x
Tormoham 6 20.48x
Welton Melton 6 625.00x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 44.37x
Holbeck 5 22.89x
Penderyn 5 274.73x
Repton 5 253.81x
St Pancras London 5 1.87x
Westminster St Margaret 5 31.15x
Conisbrough 4 129.45x
Corsham 4 93.24x
Plymouth Charles The 4 13.11x
Sutton Under Whitstone 4 1176.47x
Worksop 4 30.08x
Clarborough 3 89.55x
Gloucester St Nicholas 3 99.34x
Hempstead 3 375.00x
Islington London 3 0.93x
Langtoft 3 428.57x
Shadwell London 3 32.22x
St Luke London 3 5.62x
Ventnor 3 46.30x
Woolwich 3 7.15x
Armthorpe 2 444.44x
Barnsley 2 5.88x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 2.98x
Holy Trinity St Mary 2 39.84x
Hunslet 2 3.89x
North Ferriby 2 370.37x
Northowram 2 8.65x
Norton In Doncaster 2 298.51x
Paddington London 2 1.64x
Pocklington 2 64.31x
Snenton 2 11.35x
St Giles In Fields London 2 12.25x
Stoke Damerel 2 4.13x
Andover 1 15.53x
Baildon 1 16.10x
Bridgnorth St Mary 1 35.71x
Burnaston 1 500.00x
Camberwell 1 0.47x
Denaby 1 53.76x
Doncaster 1 4.15x
East Retford 1 25.71x
Eling 1 14.47x
Foremark 1 1428.57x
Gainsborough 1 7.97x
Gloucester St Aldate 1 123.46x
Horton In Bradford 1 1.94x
Hunshelf 1 61.73x
Lambeth 1 0.34x
Leeds 1 0.54x
Maidstone 1 2.96x
North Hamlet 1 172.41x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.86x
Rawmarsh 1 8.59x
Sheffield 1 0.95x
St Marylebone London 1 0.56x
Sturton 1 166.67x
Swansea Town 1 2.11x
Thorne 1 24.45x
Woodmansey Cum Beverley 1 161.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Sarah 16
Elizabeth 13
Harriet 9
Ann 8
Emma 7
Ellen 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Annie 4
Clara 4
Eliza 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Lilly 2
Rebecca 2
Albenia 1
Betsy 1
Dorethea 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Esther 1
Fanney 1
Flora 1
Kezia 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Mabel 1
Margaret 1
Marion 1
May 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Nora 1
Rosa 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1
Selina 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 21
John 20
Henry 16
Thomas 12
James 9
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Walter 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Herbert 3
Samuel 3
Frank 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Patrick 2
Wallace 2
Bateson 1
Daniel 1
Danl. 1
Edgar 1
Fred. 1
Fredrick 1
Haddon 1
Henery 1
Jonathan 1
Lewis 1
Lionel 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Mort 1
Oswell 1
Samard 1
Sidney 1
Squire 1
Tom 1
Willie 1
Wm.Robert 1

FAQ

Glasby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glasby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 341 people were recorded with the Glasby surname. That placed it at #8,918 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glasby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 569 in 2016. That gives Glasby a modern rank of #9,045.

What does the Glasby surname mean?

An English surname derived from a habitation name referring to a glassy area.

What does the Glasby map show?

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