NameCensus.

UK surname

Angus

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Aonghas," meaning "one choice" or "one strength."

In the 1881 census there were 4,299 people recorded with the Angus surname, ranking it #1,038 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,182, ranked #1,302, down from #1,038 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Gateshead and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Dyce and Huntly.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Angus is 5,387 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 20.5%.

1881 census count

4,299

Ranked #1,038

Modern count

5,182

2016, ranked #1,302

Peak year

2010

5,387 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Angus had 4,299 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,038 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,182 in 2016, ranked #1,302.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,186 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Angus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Angus surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Angus 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 3,000 #964
1861 historical 3,002 #961
1881 historical 4,299 #1,038
1891 historical 4,485 #1,052
1901 historical 5,186 #1,084
1911 historical 2,188 #2,305
1997 modern 5,096 #1,283
1998 modern 5,284 #1,288
1999 modern 5,372 #1,277
2000 modern 5,303 #1,282
2001 modern 5,158 #1,285
2002 modern 5,310 #1,281
2003 modern 5,196 #1,271
2004 modern 5,194 #1,270
2005 modern 5,137 #1,270
2006 modern 5,194 #1,258
2007 modern 5,206 #1,268
2008 modern 5,283 #1,256
2009 modern 5,355 #1,273
2010 modern 5,387 #1,297
2011 modern 5,307 #1,293
2012 modern 5,170 #1,299
2013 modern 5,245 #1,303
2014 modern 5,272 #1,303
2015 modern 5,210 #1,304
2016 modern 5,182 #1,302

Geography

Back to top

Where Angus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, Gateshead, London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Dyce, Huntly and Central and South Inch. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Gateshead Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
2 Northumberland 006 Northumberland
3 Dyce Aberdeen City
4 Huntly Aberdeenshire
5 Central and South Inch Perth and Kinross

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Angus

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Angus

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Angus is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Angus is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Angus falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Angus

The surname Angus originated in Scotland during the medieval period. It is derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "Aonghus," which means "one strength" or "one choice." The name is believed to have roots in the ancient Celtic culture and was likely a personal name before becoming a hereditary surname.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Angus can be found in various Scottish historical records, such as the Ragman Rolls of 1296. In these rolls, individuals were required to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England. Several people with the surname Angus or similar spellings, such as Anguish and Angoushe, are listed.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Angus Og of Islay, a powerful Scottish chief who lived in the 13th century. He was a member of the Clan Donald and played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England.

Another notable individual with the surname Angus was Sir Patrick Angus of Brechin, who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent Scottish nobleman and served as a diplomat and ambassador for King Robert III of Scotland.

In the 16th century, the name Angus was associated with several prominent figures, including Archibald Angus, a Scottish Protestant reformer and minister who lived from 1510 to 1573. He was a notable figure in the Scottish Reformation and played a role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Angus was Reverend Angus McIntosh, a Scottish minister and scholar who lived from 1689 to 1757. He was known for his work in preserving and promoting the Gaelic language and culture, and he published several works on Gaelic grammar and literature.

In the 19th century, the surname Angus was borne by individuals such as Sir William Angus, a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1815 to 1891. He was a successful merchant and banker, and he made significant contributions to educational institutions and charitable organizations in Scotland.

The surname Angus is also associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Angus County (now known as Angus), which is a historic county in eastern Scotland. The county was likely named after the ancient Celtic tribe known as the Angus or Aonghas, who inhabited the region in ancient times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Angus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Angus 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 608 Angus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.71x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 608 15.71x
Lanarkshire 484 3.58x
Northumberland 362 5.82x
Durham 360 2.89x
Angus 249 6.43x
Middlesex 205 0.49x
Midlothian 202 3.61x
Caithness 169 29.53x
Perthshire 160 8.53x
Lancashire 156 0.31x
Yorkshire 132 0.32x
Fife 117 4.73x
Surrey 99 0.49x
Banffshire 93 10.73x
Renfrewshire 69 2.13x
Orkney 64 13.92x
Ayrshire 61 1.95x
Berwickshire 60 11.85x
Cumberland 56 1.56x
Kincardineshire 50 9.82x
Dunbartonshire 46 4.10x
Kent 46 0.32x
East Lothian 41 7.41x
Stirlingshire 39 2.53x
Cheshire 32 0.35x
Shetland 28 6.56x
Ross-shire 24 2.09x
Argyllshire 17 1.46x
Clackmannanshire 17 4.92x
Inverness-shire 17 1.36x
Roxburghshire 17 2.25x
Buteshire 14 5.53x
Morayshire 14 2.16x
Suffolk 12 0.24x
Sussex 12 0.17x
Wigtownshire 12 2.16x
Essex 10 0.12x
Hampshire 10 0.12x
Oxfordshire 10 0.39x
Selkirkshire 10 2.64x
Sutherland 8 2.49x
Dumfriesshire 7 0.76x
Kirkcudbrightshire 7 1.16x
West Lothian 7 1.11x
Westmorland 7 0.76x
Bedfordshire 6 0.28x
Peeblesshire 6 3.05x
Brecknockshire 5 0.60x
Pembrokeshire 5 0.38x
Royal Navy 5 1.00x
Staffordshire 5 0.04x
Warwickshire 5 0.05x
Derbyshire 4 0.06x
Glamorgan 3 0.04x
Leicestershire 3 0.06x
Berkshire 2 0.06x
Cardiganshire 2 0.20x
Dorset 2 0.07x
Flintshire 2 0.18x
Gloucestershire 2 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.04x
Hertfordshire 1 0.03x
Kinross-shire 1 0.95x
Lincolnshire 1 0.02x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.10x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Somerset 1 0.01x
Wiltshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 144 Angus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.82x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 144 17.82x
Barony 139 4.06x
Govan 128 3.83x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 99 4.39x
Dundee 86 5.95x
Glasgow 67 2.79x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 64 8.84x
Elswick 53 10.68x
Olrig 51 178.38x
Eyemouth 50 118.37x
Thurso 50 56.01x
Lancaster 45 15.25x
Gateshead 44 4.73x
Turriff 40 64.02x
Bermondsey 38 3.05x
Toxteth Park 34 2.02x
Tulliallan 34 106.95x
Byker 33 10.73x
Cadder 32 32.05x
St Pancras London 31 0.92x
Liff Benvie 28 4.76x
Montrose 28 11.93x
Gamrie 27 27.89x
Peterhead 27 13.19x
Carluke 26 21.18x
Alston 25 37.70x
Bromley London 25 2.72x
Amble 24 84.81x
Darlington 24 5.00x
Fyvie 23 36.41x
Perth East Church 23 13.00x
Wolsingham 23 20.29x
Banff 22 29.22x
Halkirk 22 56.82x
Monifieth 22 16.08x
St Marylebone London 22 0.99x
Alnwick 21 19.64x
Leuchars 21 67.11x
Lerwick Gulberwick 20 30.27x
Middlesbrough 20 3.71x
Monkwearmouth 20 16.80x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 20 5.38x
Newcastle On Tyne St 20 6.20x
Longbenton 19 7.21x
Wick 19 10.28x
Innerwick 18 161.73x
Kintore 18 53.51x
Peterculter 18 65.91x
Stronsay Eday 18 59.84x
Bonhill 17 9.43x
Chirton 17 12.08x
Fetteresso 17 21.31x
Kilmarnock 17 4.57x
Lady 17 124.82x
Westoe 17 2.41x
Edmondbyers 16 317.46x
New Monkland 16 4.00x
North Leith 16 6.17x
Old Deer 16 21.81x
Plumstead 16 3.37x
Wallsend 16 8.11x
West Greenock 16 2.75x
Benfieldside 15 18.34x
Bishopwearmouth 15 1.41x
Islington London 15 0.37x
Newhills 15 18.92x
Perth West Church 15 16.85x
West Derby 15 1.03x
Arbroath 14 10.91x
Auchterless 14 45.56x
Cambusnethan 14 4.66x
Culsalmond 14 117.65x
Insch 14 63.58x
Leslie 14 22.34x
Monquhitter 14 34.93x
Paddington London 14 0.91x
Rothesay 14 11.41x
Shotts 14 8.65x
St Vigeans 14 6.70x
Abernethy 13 53.04x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 119
Elizabeth 60
Jane 59
Margaret 47
Sarah 35
Annie 34
Isabella 29
Ann 26
Ellen 24
Alice 18
Emma 17
Hannah 15
Catherine 10
Emily 10
Maria 10
Eliza 9
Kate 9
Edith 8
Eleanor 8
Jessie 7
Louisa 7
Susannah 7
Agnes 6
Dorothy 6
Ethel 6
Frances 6
Janet 6
Martha 6
Susan 6
Barbara 5
Elizth. 5
Helen 5
Amelia 4
Amy 4
Anne 4
Caroline 4
Eliz. 4
Esther 4
Harriet 4
Henrietta 4
Lizzie 4
Fanny 3
Isabel 3
Julia 3
Lucy 3
Margt. 3
Marian 3
Phillis 3
Eveline 2
Mabel 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 135
William 95
George 67
James 63
Thomas 54
Robert 38
Joseph 35
Henry 25
Alexander 15
Charles 15
Alfred 13
Frederick 9
Arthur 8
Edward 8
Jonathan 8
David 7
Duncan 7
Wm. 7
Job 6
Peter 6
Andrew 5
Edwin 5
Samuel 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Harry 4
Michael 4
Nicholas 4
Richard 4
Douglas 3
Edmund 3
Foster 3
Fredrick 3
Jonathon 3
Thos. 3
Albert 2
Donald 2
Earnest 2
Forster 2
Fred 2
Gordon 2
Herbert 2
Josiah 2
Matthew 2
Phillip 2
Robt. 2
Silas 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Edw. 1

FAQ

Angus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Angus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,299 people were recorded with the Angus surname. That placed it at #1,038 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Angus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,182 in 2016. That gives Angus a modern rank of #1,302.

What does the Angus surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Gaelic "Aonghas," meaning "one choice" or "one strength."

What does the Angus map show?

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