UK surname
A feminine given name derived from the Greek word "hagnos," meaning "pure" or "chaste."
In the 1881 census there were 41 people recorded with the Agnes surname, ranking it #27,870 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #27,870 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch and Eccles. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Agnes is 606 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 61.0%.
1881 census count
41
Ranked #27,870
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1861
606 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Agnes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Agnes surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 153 | #12,721 |
| 1861 | historical | 606 | #4,376 |
| 1881 | historical | 41 | #27,870 |
| 1891 | historical | 288 | #11,450 |
| 1901 | historical | 125 | #20,061 |
| 1911 | historical | 222 | #13,992 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 83 | #29,823 |
| 2000 | modern | 99 | #27,845 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 44 | #33,875 |
| 2004 | modern | 47 | #33,819 |
| 2005 | modern | 49 | #33,859 |
| 2006 | modern | 64 | #32,839 |
| 2007 | modern | 63 | #33,243 |
| 2008 | modern | 59 | #33,827 |
| 2009 | modern | 59 | #34,072 |
| 2010 | modern | 60 | #34,205 |
| 2011 | modern | 55 | #34,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 62 | #34,155 |
| 2013 | modern | 71 | #33,693 |
| 2014 | modern | 66 | #34,025 |
| 2015 | modern | 67 | #33,911 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, St Leonard Shoreditch, Eccles, St George the Martyr and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Agnes surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Agnes, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Agnes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Agnes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Agnes is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Agnes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Agnes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Agnes is of French origin, derived from the Latin name "Agnes" which means "chaste" or "pure." The name first appeared in France during the Middle Ages, where it was initially used as a given name.
The earliest recorded use of Agnes as a surname dates back to the 12th century in the region of Normandy, France. It is believed that the name was adopted as a surname by families who were associated with or lived near a church dedicated to Saint Agnes, a virgin martyr of the 4th century.
In the Domesday Book, a record of landowners in England compiled in 1086, there is no mention of the surname Agnes. However, the name is found in various medieval records and documents from France and other parts of Europe.
One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Agnes was Jean Agnes, a Norman knight who lived in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Jeanne Agnes, a French noblewoman and landowner who lived in the 14th century.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Agnes spread to other parts of Europe, including England and Scotland. In England, the name was sometimes anglicized to the spelling "Annas" or "Anness."
Among the notable individuals with the surname Agnes throughout history are:
1. Pierre Agnes (1640-1716), a French theologian and author. 2. Michael Agnes (1730-1806), a Scottish mathematician and astronomer. 3. Jacques-René Agnes (1757-1826), a French painter and engraver. 4. John Agnes (1773-1857), a Scottish poet and writer. 5. Charlotte Agnes (1808-1891), a French novelist and playwright.
The surname Agnes is also found in various place names, such as Agnesville in Pennsylvania, United States, and the village of Agnes in Queensland, Australia.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Agnes surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Channel Islands leads with 18 Agnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 103.81x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Islands | 18 | 103.81x |
| Yorkshire | 11 | 1.90x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 1.37x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 1.01x |
| Midlothian | 4 | 5.10x |
| Essex | 3 | 2.60x |
| Northamptonshire | 2 | 3.63x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.70x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.57x |
| Norfolk | 1 | 1.11x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 14.35x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.06x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.01x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holy Trinity in Yorkshire leads with 10 Agnes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.68x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Trinity | 10 | 71.68x |
| St Peter | 7 | 1400.00x |
| St Mary | 6 | 3000.00x |
| West Derby | 6 | 29.54x |
| St George Hanover Square | 4 | 38.80x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 13.94x |
| Dallington | 2 | 625.00x |
| Edinburgh St Cuthberts | 2 | 6.34x |
| Edinburgh St Georges | 2 | 122.70x |
| Great Burstead | 2 | 476.19x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 3.92x |
| St Maryde Castro | 2 | 465.12x |
| St Peter Port | 2 | 62.31x |
| Colchester St Botolph | 1 | 102.04x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 6.94x |
| High Littleton | 1 | 625.00x |
| Newtimber | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Norwich St Lawrence | 1 | 833.33x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 16.78x |
| Sewerby Cum Marton | 1 | 909.09x |
| St Clement | 1 | 384.62x |
| Sutton | 1 | 42.92x |
| Westoe | 1 | 10.13x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Agnes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Agnes surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Agnes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Fisherman | 3 |
| Daughter | 2 |
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Visitor | 2 |
| (Stoker) In Brewery | 1 |
| Apprentice To Joiner | 1 |
| Conductor (Bus) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Corn Miller | 1 |
| Eating House Keeper | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Of 7 Acres Of Land Employing Girl & Boy | 1 |
| Farmers Son | 1 |
| Farriers Shop Boy | 1 |
| Genl Serv (Domestic) | 1 |
| Granite Quarryman | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Land Owner | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Plasterer | 1 |
| Stableman | 1 |
| Stableman Wife | 1 |
| Tinsmith | 1 |
| Tobacco Worker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 41 people were recorded with the Agnes surname. That placed it at #27,870 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Agnes a modern rank of #33,948.
A feminine given name derived from the Greek word "hagnos," meaning "pure" or "chaste."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Agnes bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.