NameCensus.

UK surname

Oldacre

A surname derived from a Middle English term referring to an old cultivated field or land.

In the 1881 census there were 184 people recorded with the Oldacre surname, ranking it #13,551 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 162, ranked #22,512, down from #13,551 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rowley Regis, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oldacre is 280 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.0%.

1881 census count

184

Ranked #13,551

Modern count

162

2016, ranked #22,512

Peak year

1901

280 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oldacre had 184 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,551 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 280 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Oldacre surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oldacre surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oldacre 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 73 #20,581
1861 historical 108 #19,856
1881 historical 184 #13,551
1891 historical 222 #13,854
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 244 #13,127
1997 modern 153 #20,868
1998 modern 195 #18,397
1999 modern 195 #18,517
2000 modern 194 #18,554
2001 modern 184 #18,907
2002 modern 181 #19,463
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 181 #19,363
2005 modern 177 #19,598
2006 modern 167 #20,447
2007 modern 176 #20,028
2008 modern 174 #20,385
2009 modern 171 #21,024
2010 modern 180 #20,812
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 173 #21,135
2013 modern 165 #22,163
2014 modern 167 #22,180
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 162 #22,512

Geography

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Where Oldacres are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rowley Regis, Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Longdon and Rugeley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, North Somerset, Dudley and South Gloucestershire. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
2 Stafford St Mary and St Chad, Tillington Staffordshire
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Longdon Staffordshire
5 Rugeley Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 019 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Swindon 020 Swindon
3 North Somerset 014 North Somerset
4 Dudley 019 Dudley
5 South Gloucestershire 017 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oldacre

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oldacre

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Oldacre surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Oldacre household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Oldacre 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

Oldacre 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

Oldacre falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oldacre is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Oldacre

The surname OLDACRE has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period around the 11th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "eald" meaning old and "æcer" meaning field or cultivated land. It is believed to have been a locational surname, indicating that the original bearer lived near or owned an old field or plot of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Willelmus de Oldacre, suggesting the surname's existence during the Norman conquest of England.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records with slightly different spellings, such as Oldacre, Oldaker, and Oldeacre, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings in those times. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and the individual preferences of scribes and record-keepers.

Notable individuals bearing the OLDACRE surname include Sir John Oldacre (c. 1380-1452), a prominent English landowner and member of the gentry in Yorkshire. Another significant figure was Richard Oldacre (1490-1556), a English Catholic priest and theologian who served as a canon of the Diocese of York.

In the 17th century, a member of the OLDACRE family, Thomas Oldacre (1615-1678), gained recognition as a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He contributed significantly to the development of logarithmic tables and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1667.

Moving into the 18th century, the name appears in various parish records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire, where families with the OLDACRE surname were well-established.

One notable individual from this period was Captain James Oldacre (1725-1798), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War. He gained fame for his daring exploits and was commended for his bravery in several naval engagements.

As the centuries progressed, the OLDACRE surname continued to be associated with various professions and vocations, from academics and clergymen to military personnel and landowners, contributing to the rich tapestry of England's history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oldacre families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oldacre 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 75 Oldacres recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.38x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 75 12.38x
Worcestershire 19 8.11x
Leicestershire 17 8.54x
Warwickshire 16 3.53x
Middlesex 10 0.56x
Cheshire 9 2.27x
Oxfordshire 8 7.22x
Northamptonshire 6 3.55x
Herefordshire 5 6.79x
Kent 5 0.82x
Shropshire 5 3.22x
Gloucestershire 4 1.14x
Lancashire 2 0.09x
Hertfordshire 1 0.81x
Lincolnshire 1 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 31 Oldacres recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.25x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 31 48.25x
Birmingham 11 7.29x
Rugeley 11 252.87x
Stafford St Mary 11 128.21x
Leicester St Margaret 9 18.55x
Bethnal Green London 6 7.70x
Combe 6 1818.18x
Handsworth 6 40.19x
Oldbury 6 52.04x
Ombersley 6 458.02x
Queniborough 6 1764.71x
Clipston 5 1162.79x
Crayford 5 187.27x
Marple 5 183.82x
Tupsley 5 806.45x
Wednesbury 5 33.03x
Alsager 4 404.04x
Bishops Cleeve 4 449.44x
Limehouse London 4 20.30x
Overbury 4 975.61x
Rowley Regis 4 23.70x
Wellington 4 45.87x
Wolverhampton 3 6.44x
Claines 2 31.10x
Monks Kirby 2 200.00x
Walton On Hill 2 17.33x
Aston 1 0.80x
Bulwick 1 500.00x
Cannock 1 9.46x
Castle Church 1 27.47x
Gunthorpe 1 500.00x
Hatfield 1 39.84x
Hodnet 1 82.64x
Kimcote Knaptoft 1 370.37x
Leasingham 1 434.78x
Nuneaton 1 19.08x
Ragdale 1 1666.67x
Spelsbury 1 303.03x
Stonesfield 1 277.78x
Stratford On Avon 1 39.84x
Streethay 1 769.23x
Tibberton 1 476.19x
Tipton 1 5.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Sarah 12
Elizabeth 7
Annie 5
Eliza 5
Ann 4
Emily 4
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Emma 3
Lucy 3
Maria 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Ellen 2
Harriet 2
Martha 2
Ada 1
Angelina 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Francis 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Leah 1
Letitia 1
Lois 1
Lucilla 1
Nora 1
Polly 1
Ruth 1
S. 1
Susan 1
Zippirah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Oldacre surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oldacre surname in 1881?

In 1881, 184 people were recorded with the Oldacre surname. That placed it at #13,551 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oldacre surname today?

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

What does the Oldacre surname mean?

A surname derived from a Middle English term referring to an old cultivated field or land.

What does the Oldacre map show?

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