NameCensus.

UK surname

Glaze

An occupational surname referring to a glazier or window fitter.

In the 1881 census there were 359 people recorded with the Glaze surname, ranking it #8,614 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 597, ranked #8,748, down from #8,614 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Dudley and Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire and Leicester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Glaze is 632 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.3%.

1881 census count

359

Ranked #8,614

Modern count

597

2016, ranked #8,748

Peak year

2000

632 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Glaze had 359 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,614 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 597 in 2016, ranked #8,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 477 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Glaze surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Glaze surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Glaze 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 186 #11,024
1861 historical 169 #13,823
1881 historical 359 #8,614
1891 historical 368 #9,464
1901 historical 396 #9,539
1911 historical 477 #8,114
1997 modern 595 #8,199
1998 modern 627 #8,132
1999 modern 630 #8,160
2000 modern 632 #8,111
2001 modern 602 #8,280
2002 modern 626 #8,196
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 588 #8,471
2005 modern 583 #8,442
2006 modern 579 #8,509
2007 modern 567 #8,703
2008 modern 564 #8,792
2009 modern 589 #8,713
2010 modern 598 #8,802
2011 modern 614 #8,526
2012 modern 615 #8,441
2013 modern 616 #8,567
2014 modern 621 #8,566
2015 modern 604 #8,692
2016 modern 597 #8,748

Geography

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Where Glazes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Dudley, Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire), Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Birmingham Town: Aston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire and Leicester. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Halesowen (all except Hunnington, Romsley; partly in Halesowen, Worcestershire) Staffordshire
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Aston Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 038 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 034 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 029 Shropshire
4 Shropshire 025 Shropshire
5 Leicester 028 Leicester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Glaze

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Glaze

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Glaze 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

Glaze is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Glaze falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Glaze 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 Glaze, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Glaze

The surname Glaze is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word "glæs" meaning "glass." It was initially given as a nickname to someone who worked with glass, such as a glazier or a glass maker.

The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, where it appeared as "le Glasiere" in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273. This early spelling reflects the Middle English pronunciation and spelling variations of the time.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Glasyer" and "Glasiere," which were recorded in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire in 1379. These records provide insight into the distribution and prevalence of the name during that period.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Glaser, a glazier who lived in London during the late 14th century. His name was recorded in the City of London Plea and Memoranda Rolls in 1386.

Another notable individual with the surname Glaze was William Glaze, a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Glaziers in London. He was mentioned in the company's records in the 16th century.

During the 17th century, the surname appeared in various parish records across England, including the baptism of John Glaze in Gloucester in 1634 and the marriage of Elizabeth Glaze in Northamptonshire in 1686.

In the 18th century, the Glaze family had established roots in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in places like Oxfordshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.

One notable bearer of the surname was Samuel Glaze, a renowned clockmaker from London, who lived from 1727 to 1804. His clocks were highly sought after and can be found in museums and private collections.

Another prominent figure was Sir Andrew Glaze (1785-1862), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an influential Member of Parliament for Sunderland.

As the name spread throughout the British Isles, it also found its way to other parts of the world through emigration and colonization. Today, the surname Glaze can be found in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Glaze families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Glaze 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. Staffordshire leads with 110 Glazes recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.46x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 110 9.46x
Worcestershire 62 13.79x
Warwickshire 54 6.22x
Shropshire 44 14.79x
Lancashire 29 0.71x
Middlesex 12 0.35x
Yorkshire 9 0.26x
Essex 8 1.18x
Surrey 7 0.42x
Leicestershire 5 1.31x
Gloucestershire 4 0.59x
Herefordshire 3 2.12x
Channel Islands 1 0.98x
Cheshire 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.22x
Oxfordshire 1 0.47x
Somerset 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kingswinford in Staffordshire leads with 53 Glazes recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.59x.

Place Total Index
Kingswinford 53 125.59x
Birmingham 28 9.67x
Halesowen 23 582.28x
Aston 21 8.78x
Dudley 21 38.41x
Wolverhampton 14 15.67x
Barrow In Furness 8 14.40x
Sedgley 8 18.53x
West Ham 8 5.33x
Bobbington 7 1458.33x
Claverley 7 348.26x
Ashton In Makerfield 6 51.59x
Broseley 6 113.42x
Culmington 6 909.09x
Kensington London 6 3.13x
Rugeley 6 71.94x
Walsall Foreign 6 9.99x
Worcester St John 6 111.73x
Camberwell 5 2.27x
Garston 5 41.46x
Leicester St Margaret 5 5.37x
York St George 5 185.87x
Islington London 4 1.20x
Ludlow St Lawrence 4 67.57x
Methley 4 83.33x
Prestwich 4 39.25x
Ridgacre 4 454.55x
Wednesbury 4 13.77x
Bushbury 3 143.54x
Cakemore 3 405.41x
Churchdown 3 223.88x
Cleobury North 3 1363.64x
Kington 3 85.71x
Ludford 3 555.56x
Preston 3 2.74x
Tipton 3 8.43x
Wrockwardine 3 45.87x
Abdon 2 1111.11x
Alveley 2 169.49x
Chetton 2 338.98x
Coventry St Michael 2 7.17x
Croydon 2 2.15x
Ford 2 454.55x
Harborne 2 5.37x
St Marylebone London 2 1.09x
Toxteth Park 2 1.45x
Trentham 2 20.22x
Banbury 1 23.47x
Beeston 1 18.76x
Belbroughton 1 42.92x
Brinklow 1 108.70x
Burslem 1 3.00x
Coleshill 1 35.97x
Dawley 1 9.23x
Droitwich St Nicholas 1 59.88x
Eardington 1 322.58x
Eaton In Macclesfield 1 208.33x
Edgbaston 1 3.71x
Enville 1 109.89x
Gloucester Barton St Mary 1 8.09x
Hunstanton 1 55.87x
Kings Norton 1 2.48x
Neenton 1 588.24x
North Meols 1 2.50x
Oldbury 1 4.52x
Quatford 1 434.78x
Severn Stoke 1 121.95x
St Peter 1 34.01x
Walcot 1 3.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 16
Ann 11
Eliza 10
Elizabeth 9
Emma 9
Annie 8
Ellen 8
Hannah 7
Harriet 6
Jane 6
Florence 5
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Emily 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Tamer 2
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Clara 1
Dianah 1
Elisabeth 1
Ella 1
Emmah 1
Florance 1
Florry 1
Hemmy 1
Henour 1
Jennie 1
Jenny 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Letitia 1
Lilly 1
Mabel 1
Margarate 1
Margitte 1
Margret 1
May 1
Mercy 1
Milly 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 24
William 22
George 17
James 14
Thomas 13
Joseph 10
Charles 7
Henry 6
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Edward 4
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Robert 3
Arthur 2
Chas. 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Arther 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Harry 1
Iven 1
Lawrence 1
Malcomb 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Glaze surname: questions and answers

How common was the Glaze surname in 1881?

In 1881, 359 people were recorded with the Glaze surname. That placed it at #8,614 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Glaze surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 597 in 2016. That gives Glaze a modern rank of #8,748.

What does the Glaze surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a glazier or window fitter.

What does the Glaze map show?

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