UK surname
An English surname derived from the Old French word "averd" meaning watchful or on guard.
In the 1881 census there were 145 people recorded with the Avard surname, ranking it #15,838 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 70, ranked #33,700, down from #15,838 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, Brenchley and Warbleton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Avard is 186 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.7%.
1881 census count
145
Ranked #15,838
Modern count
70
2016, ranked #33,700
Peak year
1901
186 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Avard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Avard surname density by area, 1881 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 | 81 | #19,457 |
| 1861 | historical | 118 | #18,512 |
| 1881 | historical | 145 | #15,838 |
| 1891 | historical | 176 | #16,404 |
| 1901 | historical | 186 | #15,839 |
| 1911 | historical | 163 | #16,939 |
| 1997 | modern | 94 | #27,781 |
| 1998 | modern | 93 | #28,563 |
| 1999 | modern | 92 | #28,833 |
| 2000 | modern | 91 | #28,952 |
| 2001 | modern | 90 | #28,793 |
| 2002 | modern | 88 | #29,534 |
| 2003 | modern | 78 | #30,654 |
| 2004 | modern | 84 | #30,244 |
| 2005 | modern | 70 | #31,912 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 67 | #32,871 |
| 2008 | modern | 68 | #33,047 |
| 2009 | modern | 75 | #32,733 |
| 2010 | modern | 71 | #33,401 |
| 2011 | modern | 67 | #33,704 |
| 2012 | modern | 71 | #33,573 |
| 2013 | modern | 70 | #33,753 |
| 2014 | modern | 69 | #33,833 |
| 2015 | modern | 70 | #33,717 |
| 2016 | modern | 70 | #33,700 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, Brenchley, Warbleton, Maidstone, Linton, Loddington and London parishes. 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 | Tunbridge, Bidborough | Kent |
| 2 | Brenchley | Kent |
| 3 | Warbleton | Sussex |
| 4 | Maidstone, Linton, Loddington | Kent |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Avard 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 Avard, 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 Avard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Avard 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, Avard 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 Avard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Avard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Avard is of French origin, deriving from the Old French and Norman French word "aveir," which means "property" or "possession." The name can be traced back to the 11th century in Normandy, France, where it was first used to distinguish individuals who owned land or property.
During the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, many Norman families, including those bearing the name Avard, accompanied William the Conqueror and settled in various parts of the country. The name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, one of the earliest comprehensive records of landowners in England, indicating the presence of individuals with this surname shortly after the conquest.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Avard was Ralph Avard, who lived in Oxfordshire, England, in the 13th century. In the 14th century, there are records of Walter Avard from Wiltshire and John Avard from Gloucestershire.
The name Avard has been associated with various place names throughout history. For example, the village of Avard in Normandy, France, likely derived its name from the surname. Additionally, there are references to the manor of Avard in Somerset, England, dating back to the 12th century.
Notable individuals with the surname Avard include:
1. Sir John Avard (c. 1420-1485), an English knight and landowner from Wiltshire. 2. Thomas Avard (c. 1530-1597), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire. 3. Robert Avard (c. 1650-1720), a French Huguenot settler who emigrated to America and established a community in New York. 4. Elizabeth Avard (c. 1785-1860), a British writer and poet known for her works on religious and moral themes. 5. Charles Avard (1818-1891), a French-born American artist and sculptor, known for his work on the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
The surname Avard has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Avarde, Avarde, Avart, and Avart, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic influences it encountered throughout its history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Avard 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. Kent leads with 60 Avards recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 60 | 12.43x |
| Sussex | 39 | 16.36x |
| Surrey | 14 | 2.03x |
| Middlesex | 13 | 0.92x |
| Devon | 5 | 1.70x |
| Essex | 4 | 1.43x |
| Somerset | 4 | 1.76x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.63x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.14x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 15 Avards recorded in 1881 and an index of 104.38x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Maidstone | 15 | 104.38x |
| East Farleigh | 13 | 1604.94x |
| Brenchley | 11 | 635.84x |
| Eastbourne | 10 | 91.16x |
| Tonbridge | 9 | 51.72x |
| St George Hanover Square | 8 | 32.10x |
| Lamberhurst | 7 | 1166.67x |
| Penshurst | 6 | 740.74x |
| Battersea | 5 | 9.61x |
| Croydon | 5 | 13.07x |
| Exeter Allhallows On The | 5 | 1041.67x |
| Frant | 5 | 295.86x |
| Warbleton | 5 | 704.23x |
| Bridgewater | 4 | 64.72x |
| Gillingham | 3 | 30.15x |
| Tipton | 3 | 20.52x |
| Wadhurst | 3 | 191.08x |
| West Ham | 3 | 4.87x |
| Enfield | 2 | 21.55x |
| Heathfield | 2 | 206.19x |
| Hellingly | 2 | 250.00x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.62x |
| Throxenby | 2 | 3333.33x |
| Beckenham | 1 | 15.85x |
| Birkdale | 1 | 23.53x |
| Brighton | 1 | 2.08x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 4.54x |
| Hastings St Leonards | 1 | 28.57x |
| Hove | 1 | 9.56x |
| Islington London | 1 | 0.73x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 6.04x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 3.89x |
| Leyton | 1 | 20.79x |
| Salehurst | 1 | 97.09x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 1.32x |
| Streatham | 1 | 9.53x |
| Tenterden | 1 | 58.82x |
| Wartling | 1 | 344.83x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Avard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 11 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Ellen | 7 |
| Emily | 6 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Emma | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Kate | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Ruth | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agness | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Avis | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eliza | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Katherine | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Sabina | 1 |
| Sophia | 1 |
| Susan | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Avard 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 Avard households.
FAQ
In 1881, 145 people were recorded with the Avard surname. That placed it at #15,838 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 70 in 2016. That gives Avard a modern rank of #33,700.
An English surname derived from the Old French word "averd" meaning watchful or on guard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Avard 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.