NameCensus.

UK surname

Agar

An English occupational surname referring to a person who gathered or sold agaric, a type of fungus.

In the 1881 census there were 1,151 people recorded with the Agar surname, ranking it #3,478 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,657, ranked #3,763, down from #3,478 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Belgrave, Whitby and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Scarborough and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Agar is 1,762 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.0%.

1881 census count

1,151

Ranked #3,478

Modern count

1,657

2016, ranked #3,763

Peak year

1998

1,762 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Agar had 1,151 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,478 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,657 in 2016, ranked #3,763.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,591 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Agar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Agar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Agar 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 859 #3,169
1861 historical 745 #3,659
1881 historical 1,151 #3,478
1891 historical 1,193 #3,592
1901 historical 1,560 #3,303
1911 historical 1,591 #3,058
1997 modern 1,713 #3,478
1998 modern 1,762 #3,524
1999 modern 1,749 #3,571
2000 modern 1,754 #3,544
2001 modern 1,721 #3,534
2002 modern 1,738 #3,586
2003 modern 1,689 #3,599
2004 modern 1,686 #3,607
2005 modern 1,681 #3,575
2006 modern 1,679 #3,582
2007 modern 1,706 #3,564
2008 modern 1,696 #3,607
2009 modern 1,732 #3,609
2010 modern 1,752 #3,643
2011 modern 1,737 #3,632
2012 modern 1,680 #3,685
2013 modern 1,697 #3,714
2014 modern 1,680 #3,758
2015 modern 1,659 #3,771
2016 modern 1,657 #3,763

Geography

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Where Agars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Belgrave, Whitby, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars, Stranton and St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Scarborough and County Durham. 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 Belgrave Leicestershire
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
4 Stranton Durham
5 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 007 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Scarborough 004 Scarborough
3 County Durham 031 County Durham
4 Redcar and Cleveland 010 Redcar and Cleveland
5 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Agar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Agar

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Agar surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Agar household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Agar 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

Agar is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Agar falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Agar 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 Agar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Agar

The surname "AGAR" is believed to have originated in the region of modern-day Yorkshire, England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "āgār," which referred to a grassy field or meadow. The name was likely used to distinguish individuals who lived or worked in such areas.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conquer. The entry mentions an individual named "Aluric de Agar," suggesting the surname's use during the Norman conquest.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various medieval records, often with variations in spelling, such as "Ager," "Agher," and "Aiger." These variations reflect the fluid nature of surname spellings during that era.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir Thomas Agar (c. 1540-1615), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Yorkshire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent figure was James Agar (1622-1684), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Galloway in Scotland from 1679 until his death. He was known for his controversial sermons and writings on religious topics.

In the 18th century, the Agar family gained prominence in Ireland, with Welbore Ellis Agar (1735-1805) serving as the Chief Secretary for Ireland and later becoming the 2nd Viscount Clifden.

The name also has connections to the British Empire, with Charles Agar, Earl of Normanton (1809-1887), serving as the Governor-General of Jamaica from 1857 to 1862.

Lastly, the English writer and playwright George Agar Ellis (1797-1833) was a notable figure in literary circles, known for his contributions to the Edinburgh Review and his plays, including "The Pragmatic Boy" and "The First of April."

These examples illustrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals bearing the surname "AGAR" throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence in various regions and contexts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Agar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Agar 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. Yorkshire leads with 531 Agars recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.76x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 531 4.76x
Durham 125 3.74x
Leicestershire 91 7.30x
Middlesex 90 0.80x
Lancashire 56 0.42x
Essex 55 2.48x
Surrey 47 0.86x
Kent 20 0.52x
Staffordshire 17 0.45x
Lanarkshire 16 0.44x
Warwickshire 13 0.46x
Hampshire 12 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.59x
Berkshire 7 0.83x
Cheshire 7 0.28x
Devon 7 0.30x
Norfolk 7 0.40x
Hertfordshire 6 0.77x
Suffolk 6 0.44x
Wiltshire 5 0.50x
Gloucestershire 4 0.18x
Lincolnshire 4 0.22x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.44x
Derbyshire 3 0.17x
Northamptonshire 3 0.28x
Channel Islands 2 0.60x
Dorset 1 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.33x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.28x
Shropshire 1 0.10x
Somerset 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.40x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Belgrave in Leicestershire leads with 36 Agars recorded in 1881 and an index of 127.93x.

Place Total Index
Belgrave 36 127.93x
Whitby 36 95.85x
Egton 32 654.40x
Lofthouse 23 138.22x
Wetwang 20 833.33x
Leicester St Margaret 19 6.25x
Stranton 17 15.09x
Scarborough 16 15.80x
York St Mary 16 34.66x
Marske In Guisbrough 15 75.80x
Newfield 15 337.84x
Cottingham 14 58.28x
West Ham 14 2.86x
Birstall 13 691.49x
Islington London 13 1.19x
Leeds 13 2.07x
Bishopwearmouth 12 4.18x
Great Totham 12 416.67x
Guisbrough 12 49.26x
Paddington London 12 2.90x
Pontefract 12 49.98x
Syston 12 102.83x
Washington 12 85.53x
Deptford St Paul 11 3.72x
Eskdaleside 11 200.73x
Seamer In Scarborough 11 305.56x
Terrington With 11 509.26x
Barony 10 1.09x
Danby 9 200.00x
Lambeth 9 0.92x
Moss Side 9 12.82x
Penshaw 9 89.55x
St Pancras London 9 0.99x
Wanstead 9 23.15x
Esh 8 32.85x
Langton 8 800.00x
Shadwell London 8 25.42x
Sunderland 8 13.54x
Tanfield 8 20.11x
Urpeth 8 122.70x
Wimbledon 8 13.00x
Wolverhampton 8 2.74x
Burnley 7 6.23x
Bury 7 4.59x
Cheam 7 119.45x
Danby Commondale 7 573.77x
Falsgrave 7 42.63x
Harewood 7 253.62x
Hetton Le Hole 7 16.51x
Kilton 7 419.16x
Kirk Ella 7 514.71x
Kirkleatham 7 46.51x
Oulston 7 1029.41x
Warthill Copyhold 7 945.95x
Witham 7 61.24x
Baldock 6 82.30x
Burton Upon Trent 6 6.76x
Chester Le Street 6 23.36x
East Ham 6 14.56x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 2.65x
Enfield 6 8.13x
Everton 6 1.41x
Gate Fulford 6 23.05x
Glasgow 6 0.93x
Hackney London 6 0.95x
Leicester St Mary 6 5.96x
North Frodingham 6 228.14x
Ormesby 6 20.03x
Redcar 6 67.87x
Sheffield 6 1.69x
Southcoates 6 9.70x
Wakefield 6 7.01x
York St Maurice 6 28.59x
Carleton Rode 5 167.22x
Holme On Spalding Moor 5 68.49x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 13.02x
Mansfield 5 9.53x
Newbottle 5 27.37x
Ruswarp 5 40.32x
Walton In Wakefield 5 209.21x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 84
William 66
George 56
Thomas 42
Robert 33
Charles 24
Henry 23
Joseph 22
James 21
Richard 14
Alfred 11
Arthur 11
Edward 11
Frederick 9
Francis 8
Samuel 8
Matthew 6
Walter 6
Edwin 5
Herbert 5
Ralph 5
Wm. 5
Albert 4
Frank 4
Jonathan 4
Tom 4
Amos 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Edgar 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Fredrick 2
Marmaduke 2
Percival 2
Alwin 1
Banks 1
Bielby 1
Blanch 1
Cecil 1
Ezekiel 1
Frederic 1
Ishmael 1
J. 1
Jno.G. 1
Johnathan 1
Yeoman 1

FAQ

Agar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Agar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,151 people were recorded with the Agar surname. That placed it at #3,478 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Agar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,657 in 2016. That gives Agar a modern rank of #3,763.

What does the Agar surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who gathered or sold agaric, a type of fungus.

What does the Agar map show?

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