NameCensus.

UK surname

Evan

A Welsh patronymic surname meaning "son of Evan," derived from the given name Evan, a form of John.

In the 1881 census there were 346 people recorded with the Evan surname, ranking it #8,826 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 151, ranked #23,615, down from #8,826 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanguick and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Evan is 1,964 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 56.4%.

1881 census count

346

Ranked #8,826

Modern count

151

2016, ranked #23,615

Peak year

1851

1,964 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Evan had 346 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,826 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016, ranked #23,615.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,964 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Evan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Evan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Evan 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 1,964 #1,474
1861 historical 1,865 #1,554
1881 historical 346 #8,826
1891 historical 1,103 #3,839
1901 historical 262 #12,740
1911 historical 478 #8,099
1997 modern 217 #16,761
1998 modern 200 #18,114
1999 modern 201 #18,179
2000 modern 144 #22,357
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 89 #29,428
2003 modern 85 #29,877
2004 modern 86 #30,019
2005 modern 94 #28,973
2006 modern 111 #26,565
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 133 #24,350
2009 modern 147 #23,248
2010 modern 154 #23,082
2011 modern 155 #22,790
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 139 #24,912
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 143 #24,481
2016 modern 151 #23,615

Geography

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Where Evans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Llanguick, Merthyr Tydfil, Llangafelach and Llanfyrnach. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Swansea, Central Bedfordshire and Cambridge. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Llanguick Glamorganshire
3 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
4 Llangafelach Glamorganshire
5 Llanfyrnach Cardiganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 008 Carmarthenshire
2 Neath Port Talbot 004 Neath Port Talbot
3 Swansea 011 Swansea
4 Central Bedfordshire 012 Central Bedfordshire
5 Cambridge 007 Cambridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Evan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Evan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Evan, 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 Evan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Evan 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Evan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Evan is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Evan 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 Evan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Evan

The surname Evan is of Welsh origin, derived from the biblical name Evan, a variation of the Hebrew name Yochanan or John, meaning "God is gracious." It emerged as a patronymic surname in Wales during the Middle Ages, indicating a person's lineage or ancestral connection to an ancestor named Evan.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Evan can be traced back to the late 13th century in various Welsh records and manuscripts. One notable reference is found in the Anglesey Extent of 1294, which mentions individuals bearing the surname Evan or its variant spellings, such as Ap Evan or Vychan.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the surname Evan became more widespread throughout Wales, with numerous references appearing in legal documents, tax rolls, and parish records. One significant example is the appearance of the name Evan in the Merioneth Ministers' Accounts of 1399, which lists individuals with this surname residing in the county of Merionethshire.

As Welsh families began migrating to other parts of Britain and eventually to the Americas, the surname Evan was carried along, establishing roots in various regions. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Evan Bevan (1753-1829), a Welsh minister and writer, and Evan Roberts (1878-1951), a Welsh revivalist preacher who played a significant role in the Welsh Revival of 1904-1905.

Another notable figure was Evan Evans (1765-1849), a Welsh-American minister and educator who founded the Gwynedd Monthly Meeting of the Society of Friends in Pennsylvania. He was instrumental in establishing several schools and promoting education among the Welsh community in America.

In the literary realm, Evan Harrington (1860-1886) was the pen name of George Meredith, a renowned English novelist and poet. His novel "Evan Harrington" (1860) explored themes of social class and identity in Victorian England.

The surname Evan has also been associated with Welsh place names, such as Evan-y-Bont, which means "Evan of the Bridge" in Welsh, reflecting the connection between surnames and geographical locations in traditional Welsh naming practices.

While the surname Evan has maintained a strong presence in Wales and among Welsh communities worldwide, it has also been adopted and adapted by various cultures, reflecting the diverse history and migration patterns of families bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Evan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Evan 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. Glamorgan leads with 108 Evans recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.59x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 108 18.59x
Middlesex 43 1.29x
Surrey 19 1.17x
Lancashire 18 0.45x
Monmouthshire 18 7.46x
Pembrokeshire 17 16.03x
Warwickshire 14 1.66x
Hampshire 9 1.32x
Cheshire 7 0.95x
Montgomeryshire 7 9.16x
Brecknockshire 6 8.99x
Caernarfonshire 6 4.45x
Staffordshire 6 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 5 2.37x
Carmarthenshire 5 3.56x
Denbighshire 5 3.97x
Gloucestershire 5 0.76x
Lincolnshire 5 0.94x
Angus 4 1.29x
Yorkshire 4 0.12x
Durham 3 0.30x
Herefordshire 3 2.19x
Kent 3 0.26x
Shropshire 3 1.04x
Sussex 3 0.53x
Anglesey 2 3.38x
Midlothian 2 0.45x
Norfolk 2 0.39x
Northumberland 2 0.40x
Worcestershire 2 0.46x
Cardiganshire 1 1.23x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Derbyshire 1 0.19x
Devon 1 0.14x
Merionethshire 1 1.64x
Somerset 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ystradyfodwg in Glamorgan leads with 14 Evans recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.48x.

Place Total Index
Ystradyfodwg 14 27.48x
Birmingham 11 3.92x
Llandeloy 11 4583.33x
Bedwellty 10 23.49x
Hammersmith London 10 12.17x
Penrice 10 3333.33x
Hackney London 9 4.81x
Lambeth 9 3.09x
Llanguick 8 76.85x
Llansamlet Higher 8 184.76x
Kenfig 7 2258.06x
Llantrisant 7 47.81x
Llanwonno 7 33.54x
Pyle 7 654.21x
St Brides Major 7 897.44x
Islington London 6 1.86x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 10.75x
Christchurch 5 67.02x
Oxwich 5 1923.08x
Steeple Morden 5 446.43x
Aldershot 4 17.46x
Birkenhead 4 6.81x
Croydon 4 4.43x
Dundee 4 3.47x
Eglwys Cymmin 4 1333.33x
Everton 4 3.17x
Harborne 4 11.08x
Llanfallteg 4 888.89x
St Pancras London 4 1.49x
West Derby 4 3.45x
Brighton 3 2.64x
Llandyfodwg 3 91.19x
Newcastle Higher 3 76.14x
St Luke London 3 5.61x
St Marylebone London 3 1.68x
Winforton 3 2142.86x
Accrington 2 5.56x
Aston 2 0.86x
Bradford 2 2.50x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 3.25x
Cardiff St John 2 10.54x
Carisbrooke 2 21.07x
Castlewright 2 1052.63x
Chelsea London 2 1.99x
Clase 2 9.26x
Crickhowell 2 129.87x
Farnborough 2 27.86x
Greenwich 2 3.77x
Heigham 2 7.26x
Llandwrog 2 42.28x
Llangattock 2 36.83x
Llanllyfni 2 31.40x
Llansamlet Lower 2 38.02x
Llantysilio Coedrwy 2 1111.11x
Margam 2 30.86x
Mawr 2 163.93x
Meifod 2 110.50x
Metheringham 2 93.90x
Paddington London 2 1.63x
St Davids 2 83.33x
Threckingham Swaton 2 606.06x
Worthen 2 65.36x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.17x
Briton Ferry 1 14.43x
Chester St John Baptist 1 7.55x
Dartford 1 8.59x
Frimley 1 21.60x
Llanddewi Aberarth 1 60.98x
Llanllwchaiarn 1 30.21x
Llanynys 1 125.00x
Maenan 1 204.08x
Monmouth 1 15.65x
Newington 1 0.81x
Pendleton In Salford 1 2.12x
Penlline 1 285.71x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.49x
Spitalfields London 1 3.99x
Tottington Lower End 1 5.32x
Westbury On Severn East 1 6.76x
Westgate 1 3.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 20
Ann 10
Margaret 8
Sarah 8
Catherine 7
Jane 5
Anne 4
Eliza 4
Ellen 4
Alice 3
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Martha 3
Cathrine 2
Frances 2
Joanna 2
Margret 2
Bella 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Charloote 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Ela 1
Elen 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza. 1
Eliza.S. 1
Elizth. 1
Esther 1
F. 1
Florence 1
Gwenllian 1
Janic 1
Jessey 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Lettita 1
Lizzie 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
M. 1
Maggie 1
Maria 1
Mariah 1
Matilda 1
Mildred 1
Nellie 1
Wilfred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 26
John 22
Thomas 13
David 10
Evan 9
Henry 6
James 6
Charles 5
Edward 5
Richard 5
George 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Anthony 3
Benjamin 3
Jenkin 3
Michael 3
Rees 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Evans 2
Geo. 2
Griffith 2
Isaac 2
Morgan 2
Samuel 2
Walter 2
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Gomer 1
Hugh 1
Infant 1
Jeffra 1
Jenkins 1
Kenneth 1
Levi 1
Llewellyn 1
Lot 1
Martha 1
Marthew 1
Moses 1
Richd. 1
Roberts 1
Robt. 1
Stephen 1
Susan 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Evan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Evan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 346 people were recorded with the Evan surname. That placed it at #8,826 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Evan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 151 in 2016. That gives Evan a modern rank of #23,615.

What does the Evan surname mean?

A Welsh patronymic surname meaning "son of Evan," derived from the given name Evan, a form of John.

What does the Evan map show?

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