NameCensus.

UK surname

Glasse

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "glaes", meaning a glassmaker or glazier.

In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Glasse surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 82, ranked #32,895, down from #18,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Halifax and Wolstanton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Oadby and Wigston, Isle of Wight and Mid Suffolk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glasse is 144 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 23.4%.

1881 census count

107

Ranked #18,982

Modern count

82

2016, ranked #32,895

Peak year

1891

144 bearers

Map years

4

1881 to 1911

Key insights

  • Glasse had 107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016, ranked #32,895.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 144 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Glasse surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glasse surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glasse 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 51 #24,096
1861 historical 49 #27,768
1881 historical 107 #18,982
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 126 #19,970
1911 historical 112 #21,274
1997 modern 95 #27,638
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 102 #27,468
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 101 #27,252
2002 modern 97 #28,383
2003 modern 94 #28,686
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 86 #30,094
2006 modern 83 #30,808
2007 modern 84 #31,067
2008 modern 84 #31,370
2009 modern 79 #32,372
2010 modern 78 #32,848
2011 modern 77 #32,909
2012 modern 77 #33,124
2013 modern 80 #33,058
2014 modern 81 #33,061
2015 modern 81 #32,975
2016 modern 82 #32,895

Geography

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Where Glasses are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Halifax, Wolstanton, Paddington and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Oadby and Wigston, Isle of Wight, Mid Suffolk, West Somerset and Horsham. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Wolstanton Staffordshire
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Oadby and Wigston 006 Oadby and Wigston
2 Isle of Wight 003 Isle of Wight
3 Mid Suffolk 003 Mid Suffolk
4 West Somerset 001 West Somerset
5 Horsham 015 Horsham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glasse

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glasse

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Glasse surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Glasse household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Glasse is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Glasse is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Glasse

The surname Glasse originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English word "glaes" or the Anglo-Norman French word "glas," both of which meant "glass." This occupational surname was initially given to individuals involved in the production or trade of glass products, such as glassmakers, glassblowers, or glaziers.

One of the earliest recorded references to the surname Glasse can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, dating back to 1195, where a person named William le Glas was mentioned. This early spelling variation, "le Glas," highlights the French influence on the English language during the Norman Conquest.

The surname Glasse was also documented in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, where a certain Robert Glas was named. This record provides evidence of the surname's presence in different regions of England during the 13th century.

In the late 13th century, the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire mentioned a landowner named Thomas le Glas, demonstrating that individuals bearing this surname had attained a certain social status by that time.

One notable individual with the surname Glasse was Sir Edward Glasse, a distinguished English soldier who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. Born around 1430, he was knighted for his bravery and service to the House of York.

Another prominent figure was Thomas Glasse, a renowned English clergyman and academic who lived from 1553 to 1619. He served as the Master of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and was highly regarded for his scholarly contributions.

In the 17th century, John Glasse, an English author and horticulturist, gained recognition for his work "The Compleat Planter and Cyderist," published in 1677. This influential book provided comprehensive guidance on cultivating various plants and making cider.

The surname Glasse was also associated with places like Glasshouse in Yorkshire, which derived its name from the presence of a glassworks in the area, further emphasizing the connection between the surname and the glass industry.

Hannah Glasse, born in 1708, was a notable English writer best known for her influential cookbook, "The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy," published in 1747. Her work played a significant role in shaping English cuisine and kitchen practices during the 18th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glasse families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glasse 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. Middlesex leads with 24 Glasses recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 24 2.24x
Staffordshire 14 3.87x
Midlothian 12 8.35x
Hampshire 11 5.00x
Lancashire 11 0.86x
Lanarkshire 9 2.59x
Essex 8 3.78x
Devon 7 3.13x
Fife 5 7.87x
Channel Islands 3 9.43x
Surrey 3 0.57x
Northamptonshire 1 0.99x
Shropshire 1 1.08x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Todmorden Walsden in Lancashire leads with 10 Glasses recorded in 1881 and an index of 293.26x.

Place Total Index
Todmorden Walsden 10 293.26x
Colchester St James 8 930.23x
Colwich 7 813.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 7 12.10x
Paddington London 7 17.74x
St Giles In Fields London 7 133.08x
Glasgow 6 9.74x
Auchtermuchty 5 588.24x
Handsworth 5 55.99x
Portsea 5 11.60x
South Leith 5 30.90x
Islington London 4 3.85x
Plymstock 4 341.88x
Exeter St Sidwell 3 58.59x
Old Monkland 3 21.79x
St Peter Port 3 51.02x
Camberwell 2 2.92x
Holdenhurst 2 34.66x
Portchester 2 714.29x
Rugeley 2 76.92x
Southampton St Mary 2 14.46x
St Marylebone London 2 3.49x
Bethnal Green London 1 2.15x
Bow London 1 7.32x
Bradford 1 3.89x
Castor 1 232.56x
Chiswick 1 17.06x
Edgware 1 333.33x
Lambeth 1 1.07x
Manchester 1 1.75x
Shrewsbury St Chad 1 30.77x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 5
Charles 4
William 4
Frederick 3
Edward 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Alexr. 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Bernard 1
Ernest 1
George 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Squire 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Glasse surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glasse surname in 1881?

In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Glasse surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glasse surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 82 in 2016. That gives Glasse a modern rank of #32,895.

What does the Glasse surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English word "glaes", meaning a glassmaker or glazier.

What does the Glasse map show?

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