NameCensus.

UK surname

Anness

An English surname thought to derive from the Hebrew "chen" meaning grace or favor.

In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Anness surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, down from #19,518 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hepworth, Paddington and Thwaite. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, St Edmundsbury and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Anness is 181 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.9%.

1881 census count

102

Ranked #19,518

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

1911

181 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Anness had 102 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,518 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 181 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Anness surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Anness surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Anness 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 102 #19,518
1891 historical 146 #18,664
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 181 #15,911
1997 modern 176 #19,091
1998 modern 177 #19,523
1999 modern 174 #19,870
2000 modern 181 #19,360
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 153 #21,609
2003 modern 155 #21,217
2004 modern 150 #21,830
2005 modern 144 #22,367
2006 modern 148 #22,111
2007 modern 149 #22,318
2008 modern 152 #22,225
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 160 #22,487
2011 modern 151 #23,204
2012 modern 154 #22,870
2013 modern 162 #22,433
2014 modern 163 #22,547
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

Back to top

Where Anness' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hepworth, Paddington, Thwaite, Batley and Diss. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, St Edmundsbury, Bradford and Ryedale. 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 Hepworth Norfolk
2 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 Thwaite Suffolk
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Diss Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 014 Breckland
2 St Edmundsbury 001 St Edmundsbury
3 Bradford 009 Bradford
4 Ryedale 004 Ryedale
5 Bradford 057 Bradford

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Anness

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Anness

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Anness surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Anness household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Anness is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Anness is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Anness falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Anness

The surname Anness originated in the Isle of Man, a small island located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse personal name Anundr, which means "ancestor's descendant" or "forefather." This name was brought to the island by Viking settlers during the 9th and 10th centuries.

The earliest recorded instances of the Anness surname can be traced back to the 13th century in the Manx Dialect, where it was spelled "Anneys" or "Anneyce." It is thought to have originated from the Manx place name "Annas," which was likely derived from the Old Norse word "ana," meaning "to breathe" or "to live."

In the 14th century, the Anness family was prominent in the parish of Malew, located in the southern part of the Isle of Man. Records from this time period mention individuals such as William Anness, who was a landowner in the area, and John Anness, a farmer and fisherman.

During the 16th century, the Anness surname began to spread beyond the Isle of Man, with some members of the family migrating to other parts of the British Isles. One notable figure from this era was Thomas Anness (1540-1612), a merchant and ship owner who was based in Liverpool, England.

In the 17th century, the Anness family continued to grow in prominence, with several members holding important positions in the Isle of Man's government and society. One such individual was Charles Anness (1625-1698), who served as the High Bailiff of Castletown, the former capital of the island.

The 18th century saw the Anness surname gain recognition in the literary world, with the poet and playwright John Anness (1720-1786) being one of the most notable figures from this period. His works, which were written in the Manx language, are considered important contributions to the island's cultural heritage.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Anness family continued to be well-represented in various fields, including academia, politics, and business. Some notable individuals from this time period include William Anness (1810-1892), a professor of mathematics at King William's College in the Isle of Man, and James Anness (1865-1937), a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist who founded the Anness Charitable Trust.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Anness families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Anness 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. Suffolk leads with 31 Anness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.59x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 31 25.59x
Norfolk 19 12.42x
Yorkshire 15 1.52x
Surrey 10 2.06x
Northamptonshire 7 7.48x
Middlesex 6 0.60x
Lancashire 4 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 3 4.76x
Essex 3 1.53x
Devon 2 0.97x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.75x
Shropshire 1 1.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Diss in Norfolk leads with 11 Anness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 839.69x.

Place Total Index
Diss 11 839.69x
Thwaite 10 20000.00x
Bermondsey 8 27.02x
Ipswich St Nicholas 8 1194.03x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 176.47x
Paddington London 6 16.40x
Soothill 6 168.54x
Altofts 4 366.97x
Colne 4 113.64x
Polebrook 4 2666.67x
Dovercourt 3 434.78x
Drighlington 3 208.33x
Oundle 3 285.71x
Roydon In Guiltcross 3 1428.57x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 61.73x
Clapham 2 16.08x
Elm 2 322.58x
Fakenham 2 266.67x
Leeds 2 3.59x
Shelfanger 2 1666.67x
Weybread 2 869.57x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 1 44.05x
Devonport 1 42.02x
Hacheston 1 666.67x
Ilketshall St Margaret 1 1000.00x
March 1 47.39x
Old Buckenham 1 256.41x
Snenton 1 18.98x
South Brent 1 227.27x
Whittington 1 138.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Ellen 5
Emma 4
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Sarah 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Catherine 1
Charles 1
Edith 1
Elizebeth 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Jane 1
Jessie 1
Jestever 1
Kate 1
Lilian 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Nora 1
Rebecca 1
Sara 1
Selena 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Anness surname: questions and answers

How common was the Anness surname in 1881?

In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Anness surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Anness surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Anness a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Anness surname mean?

An English surname thought to derive from the Hebrew "chen" meaning grace or favor.

What does the Anness map show?

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