NameCensus.

UK surname

Claus

A surname of German origin, derived from the given name Niklaus or Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

In the 1881 census there were 24 people recorded with the Claus surname, ranking it #30,215 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 134, ranked #25,636, up from #30,215 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sefton, Epsom and Ewell and Colchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Claus is 134 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 458.3%.

1881 census count

24

Ranked #30,215

Modern count

134

2016, ranked #25,636

Peak year

2016

134 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Claus had 24 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,215 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016, ranked #25,636.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 69 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Claus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Claus surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Claus 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 8 #31,867
1861 historical 56 #26,864
1881 historical 24 #30,215
1891 historical 30 #31,889
1901 historical 64 #27,010
1911 historical 69 #25,965
1997 modern 96 #27,490
1998 modern 104 #26,981
1999 modern 103 #27,305
2000 modern 99 #27,845
2001 modern 97 #27,823
2002 modern 101 #27,766
2003 modern 93 #28,829
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 99 #28,177
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 107 #27,557
2008 modern 109 #27,533
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 128 #26,036
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 116 #27,550
2013 modern 120 #27,406
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 134 #25,636

Geography

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Where Claus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sefton, Epsom and Ewell, Colchester and Woking. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sefton 023 Sefton
2 Epsom and Ewell 007 Epsom and Ewell
3 Sefton 027 Sefton
4 Colchester 001 Colchester
5 Woking 011 Woking

Forenames

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First names often paired with Claus

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Claus

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Claus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Claus 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Claus 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

Claus is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Claus 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 Claus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Claus, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Claus

The surname CLAUS is of German origin, derived from the given name Claus, a shortened form of Niklaus or Nikolaus, the German version of the name Nicholas. The name traces its roots back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname CLAUS can be found in the Ratzeburger Zübel, a medieval record book from the town of Ratzeburg, dating back to the year 1262. An entry mentions a certain "Claus de Molen."

In the 14th century, the surname CLAUS appeared in various German regions, including Bavaria, Saxony, and Silesia. One notable early bearer of the name was Claus von Wernigerode (c. 1330-1407), a German monk and chronicler from the town of Wernigerode.

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the CLAUS surname gained prominence in regions such as Hesse, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. In the 1500s, a certain Claus von Bora (c. 1490-1548), a German nobleman from Saxony, became known for being the husband of the former nun Katharina von Bora, who was married to Martin Luther.

In the 17th century, the surname CLAUS spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Scandinavia. One notable bearer of the name was Claus Christoffersen Lonborg (1628-1699), a Danish physician and botanist.

The 18th century saw the CLAUS surname appear in various records across Germany and other parts of Europe. One notable individual was Claus Daniel Eckhardtsen (1719-1789), a German-Danish naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to Greenland.

As the name CLAUS continued to spread throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, it gained recognition in various fields. One example is Claus Pavels Sluter (1835-1912), a Norwegian architect who designed several prominent buildings in Oslo.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Claus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Claus 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. Middlesex leads with 11 Claus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.70x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 11 4.70x
Kent 4 5.01x
Lancashire 4 1.44x
Essex 3 6.49x
Suffolk 1 3.51x
Surrey 1 0.88x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 2 Claus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 32.47x.

Place Total Index
Deptford St Paul 2 32.47x
Everton 2 22.60x
Folkestone 2 129.03x
Islington London 2 8.82x
Little Bolton 2 56.02x
Mile End Old Town London 2 40.16x
Paddington London 2 23.26x
West Ham 2 19.61x
Whitechapel London 2 86.58x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 131.58x
Clapham 1 34.13x
Old Tower Without London 1 10000.00x
Orsett 1 833.33x
St Giles In Fields London 1 86.96x
St Marylebone London 1 8.01x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Catherine 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Otels 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 3
Adam 1
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Heinrich 1
Herbert 1
John 1
Karl 1
Mary 1
Moritz 1
Richard 1

Top occupations

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 Claus households.

FAQ

Claus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Claus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 24 people were recorded with the Claus surname. That placed it at #30,215 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Claus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 134 in 2016. That gives Claus a modern rank of #25,636.

What does the Claus surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from the given name Niklaus or Nicholas, meaning "victory of the people."

What does the Claus map show?

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