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

Elsey, 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 Elsey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Elsey in America

Elsey is the 16761st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Elsey surname appeared 1,705 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Elsey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Elsey to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Elsey

The surname ELSEY originated in England, with the earliest known recorded instances dating back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "else," meaning "an eel," potentially indicating a place where eels were caught or sold. The name may also be linked to the village of Elsie in Shropshire, which was recorded as "Elsefeld" in the Domesday Book of 1086, suggesting a connection to someone hailing from that location.

One of the earliest documented examples of the ELSEY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1195, where a person named Radulfus Elsei is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. In the 13th century, the ELSEY name appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which listed a Robert de Elseye.

During the 14th century, the surname gained prominence with notable individuals bearing the name. One example is John Elsey, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London, who served as the Mayor of London in 1349. Another historical figure was Thomas Elsey, a renowned scholar and professor of theology at the University of Oxford, who lived between 1390 and 1457.

As the centuries progressed, the ELSEY surname continued to be documented in various records and manuscripts. In the 16th century, a notable figure was Sir John Elsey, a wealthy landowner and member of the gentry in Lincolnshire, who lived from 1510 to 1572. During the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Shrewsbury, where a William Elsey was baptized in 1632.

The 18th century saw the rise of another prominent ELSEY, Sir Isaac Elsey, a successful merchant and philanthropist from Bristol, who lived from 1720 to 1798. He made significant contributions to the city's development and was known for his charitable works. In the 19th century, Edward Elsey, born in 1823, was a renowned explorer and naturalist who accompanied several expeditions to the Arctic regions, contributing valuable scientific observations.

Throughout its history, the ELSEY surname has been associated with various locations, including Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire, and Bristol, reflecting the name's widespread presence across different regions of England. While the name may have originated from humble beginnings, it has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including merchants, scholars, explorers, and philanthropists, leaving an indelible mark on English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Elsey

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

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 Elsey 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Elsey has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Elsey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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