NameCensus.

UK surname

Berney

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Normandy, France.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Berney surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 272, ranked #15,832, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Liverpool and Mansfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Breckland, Peterborough and Alloa South and East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Berney is 298 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 134.5%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

272

2016, ranked #15,832

Peak year

2010

298 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Berney had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016, ranked #15,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 177 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Berney surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Berney surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Berney 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 84 #19,067
1861 historical 107 #20,008
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 171 #16,733
1901 historical 177 #16,342
1911 historical 136 #18,962
1997 modern 276 #14,290
1998 modern 278 #14,620
1999 modern 276 #14,762
2000 modern 276 #14,724
2001 modern 276 #14,507
2002 modern 283 #14,559
2003 modern 279 #14,506
2004 modern 280 #14,530
2005 modern 263 #15,139
2006 modern 276 #14,700
2007 modern 277 #14,818
2008 modern 278 #14,901
2009 modern 280 #15,141
2010 modern 298 #14,812
2011 modern 283 #15,193
2012 modern 268 #15,745
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 272 #15,832

Geography

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Where Berneys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Liverpool, Mansfield, St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Breckland, Peterborough, Alloa South and East, Bath and North East Somerset and Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Liverpool Lancashire
3 Mansfield Nottinghamshire
4 St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet London (East Districts)
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Breckland 006 Breckland
2 Peterborough 023 Peterborough
3 Alloa South and East Clackmannanshire
4 Bath and North East Somerset 011 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Mull, Iona, Coll and Tiree Argyll and Bute

Forenames

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First names often paired with Berney

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Berney

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Berney, 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 Berney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Berney 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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Berney is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Berney is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Berney 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 Berney 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 Berney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Berney

The surname Berney is of Norman French origin, tracing its roots back to the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old French word "bernier," which referred to a person who tended sheep or was a shepherd.

The name is thought to have originated in the Normandy region of France, where many Norman families and their retainers settled after the conquest. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086.

In the early medieval period, the Berney family established themselves in the county of Norfolk, England, where they held lands and manors. One notable figure from this time was Sir Robert Berney, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 13th century.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Berneys continued to be influential in Norfolk, with several members serving as members of parliament and holding positions of authority. One such individual was Sir John Berney, who served as High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1435.

The 16th century saw the rise of another notable Berney, Sir Richard Berney, who was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1544. Sir Richard was a wealthy landowner and played a significant role in the local government of Norfolk.

In the 17th century, the Berney family gained further prominence with the birth of Sir Thomas Berney (1612-1690), a prominent Royalist during the English Civil War. Sir Thomas was a staunch supporter of King Charles I and fought alongside the Royalist forces.

Another notable figure from this period was Sir Richard Berney (1642-1710), who served as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk and was known for his involvement in local politics and affairs.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the Berney family continued to maintain a strong presence in Norfolk, with several members holding significant landholdings and positions of influence in the region.

Overall, the surname Berney has a rich and storied history, with its origins tracing back to the Norman conquest of England. The name has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries, particularly in the county of Norfolk, where the family established itself as a prominent and influential force.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Berney families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Berney 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. Lancashire leads with 40 Berneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.95x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 40 2.95x
Surrey 21 3.78x
Kent 15 3.85x
Middlesex 13 1.14x
Berwickshire 9 65.12x
Hampshire 8 3.42x
Norfolk 3 1.71x
Yorkshire 2 0.18x
Cheshire 1 0.40x
Cumberland 1 1.02x
Derbyshire 1 0.56x
Glamorgan 1 0.50x
Oxfordshire 1 1.42x
Royal Navy 1 7.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Croydon in Surrey leads with 18 Berneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.33x.

Place Total Index
Croydon 18 58.33x
Maidstone 11 94.83x
Channelkirk 9 3750.00x
Kirkdale 9 39.51x
Toxteth Park 9 19.63x
Dibden 8 4000.00x
Liverpool 8 9.73x
Salford 7 17.58x
Kensington London 5 7.88x
Lewisham 3 14.45x
Mile End Old Town London 3 12.35x
Newchurch 3 27.08x
West Derby 3 7.57x
Catton 2 689.66x
Godalming 2 57.14x
Paddington London 2 4.77x
Bermondsey 1 2.94x
Bracon Ash 1 909.09x
Brampton 1 74.07x
Cardiff St Mary 1 9.14x
Chorley In Macclesfield 1 129.87x
Everton 1 2.32x
Folkestone 1 13.25x
Hampstead London 1 5.63x
Heage 1 105.26x
Islington London 1 0.90x
Royal Navy 1 8.61x
Sharlston 1 135.14x
St Marylebone London 1 1.64x
Thornaby 1 23.64x
Witney 1 84.75x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 7
Thomas 4
George 3
Henry 3
James 3
Edward 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Algernon 1
Andrew 1
Atwood 1
Edwd. 1
Felix 1
Frederick 1
Fredk.Lee 1
Hartley 1
Michael 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Norman 1
Patrick 1
Richard 1
Robt.Bowman 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Berney surname: questions and answers

How common was the Berney surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Berney surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Berney surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016. That gives Berney a modern rank of #15,832.

What does the Berney surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name in Normandy, France.

What does the Berney map show?

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