NameCensus.

UK surname

Glaser

An occupational surname referring to a glazier or glass blower.

In the 1881 census there were 29 people recorded with the Glaser surname, ranking it #29,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, up from #29,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Camden, Cornwall and Kensington and Chelsea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glaser is 201 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 458.6%.

1881 census count

29

Ranked #29,484

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

2000

201 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glaser had 29 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016, ranked #22,512.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 94 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Glaser surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glaser surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glaser 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 29 #29,484
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 74 #25,958
1911 historical 94 #23,391
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 192 #18,561
1999 modern 191 #18,744
2000 modern 201 #18,152
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 188 #19,012
2003 modern 177 #19,549
2004 modern 172 #20,008
2005 modern 171 #19,985
2006 modern 150 #21,915
2007 modern 155 #21,726
2008 modern 153 #22,132
2009 modern 160 #21,978
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 164 #21,900
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 163 #22,342
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 169 #21,888
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

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Where Glasers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Camden, Cornwall, Kensington and Chelsea and Cheshire East. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Camden 015 Camden
2 Camden 024 Camden
3 Cornwall 011 Cornwall
4 Kensington and Chelsea 012 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Cheshire East 018 Cheshire East

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glaser

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glaser

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Glaser surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Glaser 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Glaser is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Glaser 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

Glaser 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 Glaser is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Glaser

The surname Glaser is of German origin and can be traced back to the occupation of a glass-maker or glazier. The name is derived from the German word "glas," meaning glass, and likely emerged in the late medieval period when the glass-making industry began to flourish in Central Europe.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Glaser can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a famous illustrated world history published in 1493. This historical text mentions a glassmaker named Hans Glaser who lived in the 15th century and was renowned for his intricate stained glass works.

The Glaser name is also found in various German town records from the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in regions known for their glassmaking traditions, such as Bavaria and Saxony. Notable examples include Johann Glaser (1551-1624), a renowned glassmaker from Nuremberg, and Andreas Glaser (1609-1675), a prominent glass engraver and etcher from Torgau.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Glaser surname spread across Europe as families migrated in search of new opportunities. One prominent figure was Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Adolf Glaser (1829-1902), a German-born philologist and linguist who specialized in the study of Slavic languages.

In the United States, the Glaser name can be traced back to the 19th century, with many immigrants arriving from German-speaking regions of Europe. One notable American with this surname was Milton Glaser (1929-2020), a renowned graphic designer best known for creating the famous "I ♥ NY" logo.

Other notable individuals with the Glaser surname include:

1. Donald Glaser (1926-2013), an American physicist and Nobel laureate who invented the bubble chamber for detecting ionizing radiation.

2. Georg Glaser (1910-1995), a German-born American mathematician and physicist known for his contributions to the field of combinatorics.

3. Judith Glaser (born 1945), an American author and organizational anthropologist who pioneered the concept of Conversational Intelligence.

4. Philipp Glaser (1936-2019), a Swiss-born German actor and voice actor who provided the German voice for characters like Winnie the Pooh and Shrek.

5. Yaakov Glaser (1920-2012), an Israeli writer and journalist who served as the editor-in-chief of the Hebrew newspaper Davar for over two decades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glaser families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glaser 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. Essex leads with 11 Glasers recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.71x.

County Total Index
Essex 11 19.71x
Middlesex 11 3.89x
Lancashire 3 0.89x
Norfolk 2 4.60x
Surrey 1 0.73x
Sussex 1 2.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 5 Glasers recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.58x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 5 40.58x
Leyton 4 416.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 56.29x
Clerkenwell London 3 44.91x
Paddington London 3 28.85x
St Pancras London 3 13.18x
Chingford 2 1538.46x
Northwold 2 1666.67x
Brighton 1 10.40x
Newington 1 9.57x
St Marylebone London 1 6.62x
Westminster St John 1 29.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Marie 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Carlina 1
Catherine 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellin 1
Frances 1
Hermene 1
Jeannette 1
Louise 1
Maria 1
Marian 1
Martha 1
Nellie 1
Olea 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Glaser households.

FAQ

Glaser surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glaser surname in 1881?

In 1881, 29 people were recorded with the Glaser surname. That placed it at #29,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glaser surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 162 in 2016. That gives Glaser a modern rank of #22,512.

What does the Glaser surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a glazier or glass blower.

What does the Glaser map show?

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