The Ayres surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 11,139 people carried this name — #3,241 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 26,500 people counted. That is up 1% from 10,989 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Ayres surname

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a nickname: ‘the son of the heir’.

An early record he cites: John fil. Aer, Shropshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls. Fil. is Latin for “son of”.

His entry covers Ayres, Ayers and Ayrs.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 70 · public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 210 people named Ayres live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Where they live today

Buenos Aires Province 106
Misiones 67
City of Buenos Aires 21
Mendoza 16

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 40 people named Ayres.

20 of them were born outside France. Those born in France came from 9 départements, most often Gironde.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 20
Gironde 9
Paris 3
Corrèze 2
Seine-Saint-Denis 1
Savoie 1
Saône-et-Loire 1
Rhône 1
Indre 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Ayres was found among the farmers of Berkshire: 30 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Berkshire 30

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In print

Ayres in American newspapers,
1875–1901.

Newspaper page from Knoxville Whig And Chronicle carrying the name Ayres
Knoxville Whig And Chronicle 1875-09-01
Newspaper page from Knoxville Whig And Chronicle carrying the name Ayres
Knoxville Whig And Chronicle 1875-09-01
Newspaper page from The News & Observer carrying the name Ayres
The News & Observer 1901-11-27

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 327,243 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Ayres in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

17,199 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Ayres. The most, 3,607, date from the 1930s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 6,635
Victoria 3,188
South Australia 2,303
Queensland 1,952
Western Australia 1,850
Tasmania 1,089
ACT (Canberra) 138
Northern Territory 7

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Ayres.

Who carried it

People named Ayres,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Thomas Ayres d. 1715 · physician
  • Benjamin Ayres d. 1757 · instrument maker
  • Florence Ayres d. 1961
  • Philip Ayres 1638–1712 · poet
  • John Ayres 1680–1700 · calligrapher
  • Jacob Ayres 1760–1836

Wikidata (CC0) · 9 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Ayres,
in the records of 6 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,260 records

1,260 records of the Ayres name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 466
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 327
  • Other U.S. records 467
  1. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record James Henry Ayres

    Born 1937; from Pampa, Texas. U.S. Air Force, pilot; killed in action 1971 in Laos. Buried at Dallas - Fort Worth National Cemetery, Texas.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Walter H. Ayres

    Born 1919 in New York. Enlisted 1942 at Newark, New Jersey; sales clerk from Hudson County, New Jersey. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1965, buried at Woodlawn National Cemetery, New York.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Ayres

    Arrived at New York in 1834 aboard the Philadelphia from London, aged 27; servant. From England.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,260 records for Ayres in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia797 records

797 records of the Ayres name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 297
  • Tasmanian Names Index 231
  • Other Australian records 269
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Ayres

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Duncan, sailing from Sheerness in 1840. Native of Spitalfields, Middlesex. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1851. Married 1851 in New Norfolk, Tasmania, aged 28.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Margaret Ayres

    Died 1930 in Blackmans Bay, Kingston, Tasmania. Will registered in Tasmania in 1930.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Sarah Jane Ayres

    Born 1871 in Longford, Tasmania. Married 1886 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 15.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 797 records for Ayres in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

United Kingdom57 records

57 records of the Ayres name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 43
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 10
  • Other British records 4
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary McKellar Ayres

    Buried in 1953 at Holy Rude Churchyard Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 32.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Patrick Ayres

    Will proved in 1911; of Bangor, Caernarvon.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. J. Ayres

    Gunner, Royal Fusiliers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 57 records for Ayres in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Canada37 records

37 records of the Ayres name in Canada
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 11
  • City of Winnipeg cemetery records 7
  • Other Canadian records 19
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Alfred Ayres

    Came to Ontario in 1872 aboard the Hibernian, landing at Quebec, bound for Fort William, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Marjorie E. Ayres

    Buried in 1907 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 49.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Elsie Ayres

    Died 1979, aged 85; buried at St. Vital Cemetery, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg.

Showing 3 of 37 records for Ayres in Canada.

Counts: Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

France14 records

14 records of the Ayres name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Maryse Bernadette Ayres

    Born 1949 in Libourne (Gironde); died 1999 in Clamart (Hauts-de-Seine).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Andre Ayres

    Born 1911 in Pellegrue; died 1992 in Soussac (Gironde).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Etienne Andre Ayres

    Born 1905 in Saint-Oyen; died 1975 in Saint-Oyen (Savoie).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 14 records for Ayres in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

New Zealand8 records

8 records of the Ayres name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 7
  • Waimakariri District cemetery records, Canterbury 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Herbert Ernest Ayres

    Died 1950, aged 73; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Joseph Charles Frederick Ayres

    Born 1930, died 2000; ashes interred at Kaiapoi Public Cemetery, Canterbury.

    Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record John Ayres

    Died 1953, aged 68; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 8 records for Ayres in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Waimakariri District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Ayres.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Ayres is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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