NameCensus.

UK surname

Agard

Derived from a French place name meaning "Agard's estate" or from the Germanic name "Aghard" meaning "edge-hardy."

In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Agard surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 137, ranked #25,254, up from #30,339 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham and Cardiff.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Agard is 138 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 495.7%.

1881 census count

23

Ranked #30,339

Modern count

137

2016, ranked #25,254

Peak year

2010

138 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Agard had 23 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,339 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016, ranked #25,254.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 56 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Agard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Agard surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Agard 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 22 #29,378
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 23 #30,339
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 23 #31,466
1911 historical 24 #30,800
1997 modern 130 #23,021
1998 modern 126 #24,094
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 124 #24,469
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 128 #24,150
2003 modern 123 #24,497
2004 modern 118 #25,317
2005 modern 110 #26,430
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 118 #26,212
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 138 #24,801
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 135 #25,395
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 129 #26,226
2016 modern 137 #25,254

Geography

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Where Agards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Hammersmith and Fulham, Cardiff, Hackney and Oldham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 010 Southwark
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 005 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Cardiff 026 Cardiff
4 Hackney 025 Hackney
5 Oldham 012 Oldham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Agard

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Agard

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Agard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Agard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Agard is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Agard is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Agard 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 Agard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Agard

The surname Agard originated in France during the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "aguard," which means "watchful" or "vigilant." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational surname for a watchman or a sentry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Agard can be found in the ancient records of the French city of Chartres, dating back to the 12th century. This document mentions a certain "Petrus Agard," suggesting that the name had already been established in the region by that time.

During the 13th century, the name Agard appeared in various medieval charters and records across northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. It is possible that the name may have originated from a place name, such as the village of Agard in the department of Aisne, or the hamlet of Agard in the department of Somme.

The Agard family produced several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Jean Agard, a wealthy merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Rouen in the late 15th century. Another prominent figure was Pierre Agard, a renowned philosopher and theologian who taught at the University of Paris in the early 16th century.

In the 17th century, the name Agard gained recognition in England, where it was likely introduced by French Huguenot refugees fleeing religious persecution. One of the earliest recorded English bearers of the name was Robert Agard, a merchant who settled in London around 1640.

In the 18th century, the Agard family had a significant presence in the British colonies of North America. One notable individual was Samuel Agard, a wealthy plantation owner and landowner in Virginia, who lived from 1720 to 1795.

Another notable bearer of the Agard surname was Sir Arthur Agard, a British military officer and diplomat who served as the Governor of Jamaica from 1835 to 1842. He played a crucial role in suppressing the Baptist War, a major slave rebellion on the island.

Throughout its long history, the surname Agard has been associated with various aristocratic and influential families across Europe and the Americas. Despite its relatively uncommon nature, the name has left an indelible mark on the annals of history, reflecting its origins as a watchful and vigilant lineage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Agard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Agard 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. Lancashire leads with 5 Agards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 5 1.97x
Middlesex 5 2.33x
Derbyshire 4 11.92x
Nottinghamshire 3 10.38x
Berkshire 2 12.42x
Caernarfonshire 1 11.53x
Staffordshire 1 1.38x
Warwickshire 1 1.85x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Derby St Werburgh in Derbyshire leads with 4 Agards recorded in 1881 and an index of 206.19x.

Place Total Index
Derby St Werburgh 4 206.19x
Prestwich 4 634.92x
Nottingham St Mary 3 40.11x
Abingdon St Helen 2 425.53x
Islington London 2 9.62x
St Pancras London 2 11.59x
Cheetham 1 52.63x
Edgbaston 1 59.52x
Llandudno 1 322.58x
Paddington London 1 12.69x
Wolstanton 1 45.45x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Mary 2
Ada 1
Clara 1
Dora 1
Ellen 1
Frances 1
Louisa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Arthur 2
Charles 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
John 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Agard households.

FAQ

Agard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Agard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Agard surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Agard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 137 in 2016. That gives Agard a modern rank of #25,254.

What does the Agard surname mean?

Derived from a French place name meaning "Agard's estate" or from the Germanic name "Aghard" meaning "edge-hardy."

What does the Agard map show?

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