NameCensus.

UK surname

Ivory

A surname referring to a person with a fair or pale complexion or someone who worked with ivory.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Ivory surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,017, ranked #5,729, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Kimpton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swale, Inverurie South and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ivory is 1,068 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.2%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

1,017

2016, ranked #5,729

Peak year

2013

1,068 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ivory had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,017 in 2016, ranked #5,729.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 833 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Ivory surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ivory surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ivory 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 442 #5,570
1861 historical 413 #6,216
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 698 #5,614
1901 historical 833 #5,445
1911 historical 783 #5,559
1997 modern 1,010 #5,455
1998 modern 1,045 #5,464
1999 modern 1,033 #5,565
2000 modern 1,035 #5,525
2001 modern 1,010 #5,536
2002 modern 1,031 #5,560
2003 modern 1,007 #5,562
2004 modern 1,015 #5,529
2005 modern 995 #5,575
2006 modern 1,001 #5,563
2007 modern 1,012 #5,548
2008 modern 1,014 #5,588
2009 modern 1,060 #5,504
2010 modern 1,066 #5,578
2011 modern 1,042 #5,628
2012 modern 1,017 #5,665
2013 modern 1,068 #5,518
2014 modern 1,045 #5,654
2015 modern 1,019 #5,721
2016 modern 1,017 #5,729

Geography

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Where Ivorys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Kimpton, Gaddesden, Great and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swale, Inverurie South, Leeds and Dacorum. 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 3
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Kimpton Hertfordshire
4 Gaddesden, Great Hertfordshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swale 015 Swale
2 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
3 Swale 014 Swale
4 Leeds 052 Leeds
5 Dacorum 001 Dacorum

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ivory

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ivory

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Ivory is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ivory is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Ivory

The surname Ivory is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "ifer," meaning ivory or elephant tusk, indicating a connection to the trade or craft involving these materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Iverius" and "Ivert." This suggests that variations of the name were present in England during the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled as "Ivori." This spelling closely resembles the modern form of the surname.

The name Ivory was also associated with certain place names in England, such as Ivry in Buckinghamshire and Ivry in Normandy, France. These locations may have influenced the surname's development and spread.

Notable individuals with the surname Ivory throughout history include:

1. James Ivory (born 1928), an American film director and producer known for his work in the Merchant Ivory Productions, including films like "A Room with a View" and "Howards End."

2. Thomas Ivory (1765-1834), an English mathematician and writer on the subject of elliptic integrals and the theory of attractions.

3. William Ivory (1819-1889), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Taunton from 1868 to 1880.

4. John Ivory (1779-1859), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on biblical subjects and theology.

5. Andrew Ivory (born 1932), a Scottish professional golfer who won the British Masters in 1966 and played on the European Tour.

The surname Ivory has a rich history dating back to the medieval era, with connections to the trade and craft of ivory materials, as well as associations with various place names in England and Normandy. Its presence in historical records and the lives of notable individuals demonstrate its enduring legacy over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ivory families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ivory 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 133 Ivorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.16x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 133 2.16x
Hertfordshire 122 28.80x
Kent 52 2.48x
Surrey 48 1.60x
Fife 37 10.17x
Midlothian 19 2.31x
Monmouthshire 19 4.28x
Lancashire 18 0.25x
Durham 17 0.93x
Bedfordshire 16 5.03x
Essex 16 1.32x
Buckinghamshire 14 3.77x
Gloucestershire 11 0.91x
Stirlingshire 11 4.85x
Cardiganshire 10 6.67x
Hampshire 10 0.79x
Lanarkshire 10 0.50x
Norfolk 7 0.74x
Northumberland 7 0.77x
Shropshire 7 1.32x
Warwickshire 7 0.45x
Angus 6 1.05x
Cheshire 6 0.44x
Dorset 5 1.24x
Cornwall 4 0.57x
Yorkshire 4 0.07x
Glamorgan 3 0.28x
Renfrewshire 3 0.63x
Somerset 3 0.30x
Berkshire 2 0.43x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Leicestershire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 22 Ivorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.69x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 22 3.69x
St Albans St Peter 22 153.95x
Newington 21 9.25x
Great Gaddesden 20 1010.10x
Clerkenwell London 19 13.10x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 17 5.13x
Faversham 17 85.04x
Trevethin 17 40.52x
Luton 16 29.05x
Stevenage 16 243.53x
Auchterderran 14 153.01x
West Ham 14 5.23x
Bermondsey 11 6.01x
Bow London 10 12.78x
Dunfermline 10 17.88x
St George Hanover Square 10 9.24x
Trefeirig 10 429.18x
Wheathampstead 10 204.08x
Falkirk 9 16.96x
Barony 8 1.59x
Bishopwearmouth 8 5.10x
Southhampton St Mary Extra 8 583.94x
St Pancras London 8 1.62x
Upchurch 8 338.98x
West Derby 8 3.75x
Ayott St Lawrence 7 2916.67x
Hackney London 7 2.03x
Hampstead London 7 7.31x
Harpenden 7 108.36x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 7 8.84x
Kimpton 7 351.76x
Lambeth 7 1.31x
Markinch 7 56.68x
Preston Next Faversham 7 141.99x
Shoreditch London 7 2.63x
St George In East London 7 12.11x
Stretford 7 17.45x
Watford 7 21.32x
Aston 6 1.41x
Brechin 6 26.82x
Frampton Cotterell 6 141.84x
Longbenton 6 15.49x
Wem 6 75.95x
Brickendon 5 255.10x
Great Stanmore 5 181.16x
Hemel Hempstead 5 26.19x
Lewisham 5 4.47x
Little Amwell 5 337.84x
Stoke Abbott 5 431.03x
Teynham 5 132.28x
Birkenhead 4 3.70x
Chesham 4 29.22x
Cupar 4 25.28x
Great Horwood 4 266.67x
St Ives 4 29.39x
Upton Cum Chalvey 4 27.01x
Whitechapel London 4 6.60x
Willesden 4 6.90x
Aylmerton 3 468.75x
Bridgewater 3 11.17x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.86x
Hammersmith London 3 1.98x
Paddington London 3 1.33x
Uxbridge 3 42.74x
York St George 3 62.50x
Abergavenny 2 12.02x
Camberwell 2 0.51x
Clewer 2 10.58x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 30.26x
Fulham London 2 2.24x
Glasgow 2 0.57x
Little Gaddesden 2 256.41x
Neilston 2 8.36x
Newington In Milton 2 91.32x
Norwich St Edmund 2 130.72x
Penge 2 5.09x
St Andrew Holborn London 2 7.52x
St George Bloomsbury 2 5.67x
Totteridge 2 150.38x
Wycombe 2 7.22x

FAQ

Ivory surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ivory surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Ivory surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ivory surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,017 in 2016. That gives Ivory a modern rank of #5,729.

What does the Ivory surname mean?

A surname referring to a person with a fair or pale complexion or someone who worked with ivory.

What does the Ivory map show?

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