Find out how popular the last name Elbey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Elbey.

Elbey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Elbey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elbey in America

Elbey is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elbey surname appeared 102 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Elbey.

The history of the last name Elbey

The surname Elbey has its roots in the picturesque countryside of England, where it first emerged during the Middle Ages. Its origins can be traced back to the Old English words "elf" and "bæc," which together translate to "elf stream" or "elf brook." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive one, referring to a location near a stream or brook frequented by elves or fairies in the folklore of the time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a certain Roger Elbey was mentioned in the Feet of Fines for the county of Essex in 1285. This ancient legal document served as a record of land transactions and property disputes, indicating that the Elbey family may have been landowners or involved in agricultural pursuits during that era.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire, where a John Elbey was listed as a taxpayer in 1327. These tax records provide valuable insights into the distribution of surnames across different regions of England during the medieval period.

The Elbey surname also found its way into the annals of English literature. In the 16th century, a poet named William Elbey gained recognition for his contributions to the poetic tradition of the Renaissance era. Born in 1535 in Oxfordshire, he is known for his work titled "A Garland of Pastoral Delights," a collection of pastoral poems that celebrated the beauty of the English countryside.

Another notable figure bearing the Elbey name was Sir Robert Elbey, a prominent military commander who served during the English Civil War in the 17th century. Born in 1612 in Gloucestershire, he fought alongside the Parliamentarian forces and played a crucial role in several battles, including the Siege of Gloucester in 1643.

In the realm of academia, Dr. Elizabeth Elbey, born in 1768 in Yorkshire, made her mark as a pioneering scholar and one of the first women to receive a doctoral degree from the University of Oxford. Her groundbreaking research in the field of natural philosophy paved the way for future generations of female scholars.

While the Elbey surname may have evolved and adapted over the centuries, its roots remain firmly planted in the fertile soil of English history, carrying with it echoes of ancient folklore, literary traditions, and the resilience of those who bore this name throughout the ages.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elbey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Elbey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Elbey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Elbey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Elbey, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!