NameCensus.

UK surname

Garness

A habitational surname derived from the Scandinavian place name "Garnes" or "Garnes".

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Garness surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Tipton otherwise Tibington and Llangarran. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Teignbridge and Worcester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garness is 117 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.4%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

1891

117 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Garness had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Garness surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Garness surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Garness 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 102 #22,596
1911 historical 98 #22,959
1997 modern 91 #28,215
1998 modern 97 #28,054
1999 modern 98 #28,050
2000 modern 100 #27,695
2001 modern 100 #27,402
2002 modern 98 #28,243
2003 modern 103 #27,234
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 105 #27,203
2006 modern 105 #27,479
2007 modern 103 #28,187
2008 modern 100 #29,001
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 105 #29,453
2011 modern 101 #29,938
2012 modern 96 #30,949
2013 modern 96 #31,381
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 99 #31,168
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Garness' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Tipton otherwise Tibington, Llangarran, Churchdown and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Teignbridge, Worcester, North Devon and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
3 Llangarran Herefordshire
4 Churchdown Gloucestershire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of
2 Teignbridge 014 Teignbridge
3 Worcester 012 Worcester
4 North Devon 004 North Devon
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 022 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Garness

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Garness

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Garness surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Garness household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Challenged Inner London Communities

Within London, Garness is most associated with areas classed as Challenged Inner London Communities, 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

Resident in some of Inner London’s most over-crowded communities, many families have children and marriage/civil partnership rates are above the Supergroup average. Other adults such as students live in communal establishments. Few residents have Level 4 educational qualifications, levels of unemployment are above the Supergroup average, and employment is concentrated in service occupations such as distribution, hotels and restaurants. Relative to the Supergroup average, fewer residents identify as being of mixed/multiple ethnicities, Black or Other Asian.

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

Garness is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Garness falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Garness

The surname GARNESS is believed to have originated in the Scandinavian countries, specifically Norway or Sweden, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old Norse word "garn," which means "yarn" or "thread," likely referring to an occupation associated with the textile industry.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Diplomatarium Norvegicum, a collection of Norwegian historical documents dating back to the 13th century. In this collection, there is a reference to a person named "Garnar," which is believed to be an early spelling variation of the surname GARNESS.

During the Viking Age (793-1066 AD), many Scandinavian settlers migrated to various parts of Europe, including the British Isles, and it is possible that the name was introduced to these regions during this time period. Some historical records suggest that the name may have been associated with certain place names or localities, such as the village of Garness on the island of Mainland in the Shetland Isles, Scotland.

One notable individual bearing the surname GARNESS was Sigurd Garness (1867-1942), a Norwegian-American author and educator who worked tirelessly to promote Norwegian language and culture in the United States. He was born in Kviteseid, Norway, and immigrated to the United States in 1887, where he later became a professor of Scandinavian languages at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Another significant figure was Greta Garness (1918-1997), a Norwegian actress and singer who rose to prominence in the 1940s and 1950s. She appeared in numerous films and stage productions, and her renditions of traditional Norwegian folk songs were widely acclaimed.

In the field of sports, Jorgen Garness (born 1954) was a Norwegian cross-country skier who competed in the 1976 and 1980 Winter Olympics, winning a gold medal in the 4x10 km relay event at the 1980 Lake Placid Games.

Historically, the surname GARNESS has also been associated with individuals in the military. One such individual was Captain Nils Garness (1898-1977), a Norwegian naval officer who played a crucial role in the Norwegian resistance movement during World War II, helping to transport hundreds of refugees and Allied personnel to safety.

Another notable figure was Hans Garness (1923-2012), a Norwegian-American artist and sculptor known for his intricate wood carvings and sculptures depicting scenes from Norwegian folklore and daily life. His works are featured in numerous museums and galleries across the United States and Norway.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Garness families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garness 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. Staffordshire leads with 16 Garness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.24x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 16 8.24x
Herefordshire 11 46.61x
Lincolnshire 10 10.87x
Yorkshire 9 1.58x
Nottinghamshire 4 5.16x
Monmouthshire 2 4.81x
Berkshire 1 2.31x
Glamorgan 1 1.00x
Gloucestershire 1 0.89x
Kent 1 0.51x
Royal Navy 1 14.58x
Warwickshire 1 0.69x
Worcestershire 1 1.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Tipton in Staffordshire leads with 12 Garness' recorded in 1881 and an index of 201.68x.

Place Total Index
Tipton 12 201.68x
Great Grimsby 8 136.99x
Leconfield Arram 4 6666.67x
Llangarren 4 1904.76x
Nottingham St Mary 4 19.94x
Cottingham 3 243.90x
Nortonwith 3 2500.00x
Bryngwyn 2 3333.33x
Cleethorpes 2 370.37x
Linton In Bromyard 2 2000.00x
Whitbourne 2 1333.33x
Berrow 1 1428.57x
Burton Upon Trent 1 22.03x
Chieveley 1 434.78x
Edgbaston 1 22.22x
Handsworth 1 20.88x
Harborne 1 16.05x
Llanwonno 1 27.78x
Margate St John Baptist 1 27.78x
Molescroft 1 2500.00x
North Elmshall 1 1666.67x
Royal Navy 1 17.06x
Stroud 1 45.45x
Wolverhampton 1 6.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Catherine 2
Emma 2
Mary 2
Alic 1
Alice 1
Benjamin 1
Caroline 1
Catharine 1
Edith 1
Elizh.A. 1
Ellen 1
Flora 1
Hariett 1
Harriett 1
Lillie 1
Lyzie 1
Margaret 1
Ruth 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
George 4
Thomas 4
Samuel 3
John 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
Henry 1
James 1
Littleton 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Garness surname: questions and answers

How common was the Garness surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Garness surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Garness surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Garness a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Garness surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from the Scandinavian place name "Garnes" or "Garnes".

What does the Garness map show?

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