NameCensus.

UK surname

Aris

A Greek surname derived from the name Aris, meaning "the best" in ancient Greek.

In the 1881 census there were 409 people recorded with the Aris surname, ranking it #7,842 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 779, ranked #7,078, up from #7,842 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Richmond, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Aylesbury Vale, South Northamptonshire and West Pilton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Aris is 863 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.5%.

1881 census count

409

Ranked #7,842

Modern count

779

2016, ranked #7,078

Peak year

1998

863 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Aris had 409 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,842 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016, ranked #7,078.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 696 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Aris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Aris surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Aris 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 336 #6,970
1861 historical 324 #7,860
1881 historical 409 #7,842
1891 historical 487 #7,590
1901 historical 507 #7,969
1911 historical 696 #6,106
1997 modern 795 #6,567
1998 modern 863 #6,357
1999 modern 858 #6,438
2000 modern 842 #6,510
2001 modern 823 #6,505
2002 modern 824 #6,616
2003 modern 812 #6,575
2004 modern 815 #6,561
2005 modern 805 #6,587
2006 modern 797 #6,650
2007 modern 804 #6,655
2008 modern 808 #6,693
2009 modern 823 #6,721
2010 modern 851 #6,683
2011 modern 848 #6,627
2012 modern 789 #6,917
2013 modern 806 #6,909
2014 modern 782 #7,127
2015 modern 777 #7,103
2016 modern 779 #7,078

Geography

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Where Aris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Richmond, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Swalcliffe. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Aylesbury Vale, South Northamptonshire, West Pilton and Bournemouth. 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 Richmond Surrey
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Swalcliffe Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Aylesbury Vale 004 Aylesbury Vale
2 South Northamptonshire 006 South Northamptonshire
3 Aylesbury Vale 002 Aylesbury Vale
4 West Pilton City of Edinburgh
5 Bournemouth 010 Bournemouth

Forenames

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First names often paired with Aris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Aris

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Aris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Aris 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Aris 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

Aris is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Aris falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Aris

The surname ARIS originated in Greece, with its roots tracing back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "Arisaios," which means "excellent" or "virtuous." This name was often bestowed upon individuals who displayed exceptional qualities or achievements.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the ARIS name can be found in ancient Greek literature, such as the works of Homer. In the Iliad, the character Ariseides is described as a brave and noble warrior, potentially alluding to the honorable connotations associated with this name.

During the Byzantine era, the ARIS surname gained prominence among Greek nobility and scholars. Notables from this period include Aristarchus of Samothrace (c. 216 BC - c. 144 BC), a renowned grammarian and literary critic, and Aristides Quintilianus (c. 3rd century AD), an influential music theorist.

As the Greek diaspora spread across the Mediterranean region and beyond, the ARIS name traveled with them. In the 14th century, records show the presence of the ARIS family in the Venetian Republic, where they held influential positions in trade and commerce.

One of the earliest known bearers of the ARIS surname was Konstantinos Aris (1370-1432), a merchant and diplomat from the island of Crete, who played a pivotal role in negotiations between the Republic of Venice and the Byzantine Empire.

Another notable figure was Ioannis Aris (1532-1604), a Greek scholar and theologian who taught at the prestigious University of Padua in Italy. His contributions to the study of ancient Greek texts and philosophy were widely celebrated during the Renaissance period.

In more recent history, Michael Aris (1946-1999) gained international recognition as a Tibetan scholar and the husband of Burmese political prisoner and Nobel laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi. His work on Tibetan culture and history shed light on the region's rich heritage.

Despite its Greek origins, the ARIS surname has spread across various regions and cultures, with bearers of this name leaving their mark in diverse fields, from academia and literature to politics and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Aris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Aris 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. Surrey leads with 89 Aris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.59x.

County Total Index
Surrey 89 4.59x
Middlesex 64 1.61x
Buckinghamshire 55 22.86x
Warwickshire 39 3.89x
Northamptonshire 37 9.88x
Oxfordshire 36 14.65x
Yorkshire 19 0.48x
Kent 11 0.81x
Leicestershire 9 2.04x
Rutland 9 30.80x
Lancashire 7 0.15x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.12x
Worcestershire 5 0.96x
Hertfordshire 4 1.46x
Derbyshire 3 0.48x
Essex 2 0.25x
Hampshire 2 0.25x
Suffolk 2 0.41x
Sussex 2 0.30x
Dorset 1 0.38x
Glamorgan 1 0.14x
Gloucestershire 1 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.27x
Norfolk 1 0.16x
Royal Navy 1 2.11x
Somerset 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chesham in Buckinghamshire leads with 19 Aris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 214.21x.

Place Total Index
Chesham 19 214.21x
Croydon 17 15.79x
Middleton Cheney 17 1042.94x
Tingewick 17 1574.07x
Lambeth 16 4.61x
St Pancras London 16 4.99x
Islington London 14 3.63x
Richmond 14 51.53x
Aston 13 4.70x
Shipley 12 58.62x
Tanworth 12 452.83x
St Marylebone London 11 5.18x
Swalcliffe Sibford Gower 10 1694.92x
Twyford 10 1315.79x
Battersea 9 6.15x
Uppingham 9 258.62x
Marston 8 1142.86x
Cottisford 7 2121.21x
Mile End Old Town London 7 8.26x
Putney 7 38.59x
Minster In Sheppey 6 26.67x
Newington 6 4.08x
Normanby In 6 56.93x
Tottenham 6 9.47x
Weedon Loys 6 983.61x
Whitwick 6 106.95x
Bermondsey 5 4.22x
Birmingham 5 1.49x
Chesham Bois 5 1041.67x
Handborough 5 378.79x
Kings Norton 5 10.73x
Beddington 4 53.33x
Broughton In Salford 4 9.26x
Nottingham St Mary 4 2.88x
Wimbledon 4 18.37x
Badby 3 405.41x
Camberwell 3 1.18x
Derby St Peter 3 15.11x
Epwell 3 857.14x
Great Gaddesden 3 234.38x
Hambleden 3 145.63x
Hammersmith London 3 3.06x
Hinckley 3 28.65x
Kenilworth 3 53.00x
Warkworth 3 89.02x
Wellingborough 3 15.94x
Adstone 2 952.38x
Greenwich 2 3.16x
Harrow On The Hill 2 25.16x
Leamington Priors 2 8.10x
Little Ilford 2 147.06x
Newbold Upon Avon 2 210.53x
Plumpton 2 5000.00x
West Derby 2 1.45x
Worksop 2 12.57x
Ashurst 1 333.33x
Bicester Market End 1 22.17x
Bridewell Precinct London 1 263.16x
Canterbury St Paul 1 40.98x
Carshalton 1 13.48x
Cawood 1 66.23x
Deptford St Paul 1 0.95x
Eastbourne 1 3.24x
Edgware 1 90.09x
Godalming 1 8.19x
Great Yarmouth 1 1.97x
Hemel Hempstead 1 8.09x
Kingston On Thames 1 2.15x
Portsea 1 0.63x
Preston 1 8.53x
Royal Navy 1 2.47x
Solihull 1 13.87x
Southampton St Mary 1 1.95x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.20x
Stoke D Abernon 1 178.57x
Teddington London 1 11.09x
Towcester 1 25.91x
Wavertree 1 6.61x
Wellington 1 11.51x
Westminster St Margaret 1 5.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 19
Sarah 15
Jane 9
Ann 8
Emily 8
Emma 8
Charlotte 6
Eliza 6
Harriet 6
Alice 5
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Maria 4
Minnie 4
Ellen 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Louisa 3
Margaret 3
Martha 3
Agness 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Florence 2
Francis 2
Hannah 2
Helen 2
Jessie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Naomi 2
Phoebe 2
Rose 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Carline 1
Cecilia 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza. 1
Ellinor 1
Ethelwyn 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Julia 1
Kitty 1
Lilian 1
Wm. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 20
George 18
Thomas 17
Charles 9
Henry 9
James 8
Alfred 7
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Albert 4
Benjamin 4
Frederick 4
Arthur 3
Daniel 3
Geo. 3
Mark 3
Philip 3
Robert 3
Robt. 3
Wm. 3
Harry 2
Josiah 2
Percy 2
Samuel 2
Uriah 2
Alexander 1
Benjn. 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Evelyn 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Fredric 1
G.E.H. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Jno. 1
Joshua 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1
Wm.A. 1

FAQ

Aris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Aris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 409 people were recorded with the Aris surname. That placed it at #7,842 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Aris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 779 in 2016. That gives Aris a modern rank of #7,078.

What does the Aris surname mean?

A Greek surname derived from the name Aris, meaning "the best" in ancient Greek.

What does the Aris map show?

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