UK surname
Likely derived from a place name, possibly related to French "grange" meaning farm or granary.
In the 1881 census there were 102 people recorded with the Garney surname, ranking it #19,518 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #19,518 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Garney is 358 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 83.3%.
1881 census count
102
Ranked #19,518
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1861
358 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Garney surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Garney 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 | 132 | #14,174 |
| 1861 | historical | 358 | #7,132 |
| 1881 | historical | 102 | #19,518 |
| 1891 | historical | 186 | #15,740 |
| 1901 | historical | 142 | #18,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 105 | #22,064 |
| 1997 | modern | 37 | #33,964 |
| 1998 | modern | 34 | #34,433 |
| 1999 | modern | 37 | #34,248 |
| 2000 | modern | 31 | #34,798 |
| 2001 | modern | 31 | #34,648 |
| 2002 | modern | 32 | #34,790 |
| 2003 | modern | 31 | #34,957 |
| 2004 | modern | 29 | #35,270 |
| 2005 | modern | 31 | #35,260 |
| 2006 | modern | 29 | #35,605 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 30 | #35,871 |
| 2010 | modern | 33 | #35,794 |
| 2011 | modern | 27 | #36,136 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 24 | #36,358 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, St Pancras, Southampton St Mary and St Marylebone. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Southampton St Mary | Hampshire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Garney 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 Garney, 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 Garney surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Garney 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, Garney 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 Garney is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Garney, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GARNEY has its roots in the English county of Yorkshire, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "gar," meaning a triangular piece of land, and the Old Norse word "ey," meaning an island or land surrounded by water. This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived on or near a triangular-shaped island or peninsula.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where it appears as "Garneye." This document lists individuals who paid taxes to the Crown, indicating that the name was already established in the region at that time.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Garnay," "Garney," and "Gernay," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that era. One notable figure from this period was William de Garney, a landowner in Yorkshire who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a survey of landholdings in England.
The GARNEY surname is also associated with several place names in Yorkshire, such as Garney Moor and Garney Hall, further solidifying its connection to the region. Additionally, the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the GARNEY surname. One such figure was John Garney (c. 1330-1395), a prominent wool merchant and landowner in Yorkshire who served as the Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1384. Another was Sir Thomas Garney (c. 1500-1571), a member of the English gentry who held various positions in the court of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, Robert Garney (1608-1681) was a notable English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Lincoln from 1663 until his death. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, William Garney (1728-1804) was a renowned British architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.
During the 19th century, Edward Garney (1825-1899) was a prominent British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Arundel and later became the Lord Mayor of London in 1891.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Garney 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. Middlesex leads with 35 Garneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 35 | 3.52x |
| Lancashire | 18 | 1.52x |
| Hampshire | 13 | 6.38x |
| Surrey | 9 | 1.86x |
| Warwickshire | 6 | 2.39x |
| Durham | 4 | 1.35x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 3.30x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.73x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.89x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 1.03x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.20x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.46x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.60x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.77x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 13 Garneys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.48x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 13 | 13.48x |
| Millbrook | 9 | 175.10x |
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 16.23x |
| Aston | 6 | 8.69x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 5 | 26.67x |
| Salford | 5 | 14.40x |
| Southwark St George Martyr | 4 | 19.98x |
| St Giles In Fields London | 4 | 81.97x |
| Clerkenwell London | 3 | 12.78x |
| Handsworth | 3 | 36.23x |
| Itchen Stoke | 3 | 3000.00x |
| Kenton | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 3.46x |
| Liverpool | 3 | 4.18x |
| Llansamlet Lower | 3 | 191.08x |
| Manchester | 3 | 5.65x |
| Throston | 3 | 526.32x |
| Newington | 2 | 5.44x |
| St Anne Soho London | 2 | 35.21x |
| St Pancras London | 2 | 2.50x |
| Bromsgrove | 1 | 22.88x |
| Gorton | 1 | 9.01x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 4.08x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 18.69x |
| Horsley | 1 | 116.28x |
| Leeds | 1 | 1.80x |
| Lodsworth | 1 | 434.78x |
| Mile End Old Town London | 1 | 4.72x |
| Oldham | 1 | 2.62x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 2.73x |
| Sale | 1 | 37.17x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 3.19x |
| Stroud | 1 | 26.32x |
| Thelnetham | 1 | 769.23x |
| Willesden | 1 | 10.66x |
| Wolsingham | 1 | 37.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Garney surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Garney 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 Garney households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 19 |
| Copper Furnaceman | 2 |
| General Servant | 2 |
| Paper Sorter | 2 |
| (D S) | 1 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Bricklayers Labourer | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Carter | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Colliery Laborer | 1 |
| Cotton Warehouse Worker (M F) | 1 |
| Decorator | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Factory Hand (Pickler) | 1 |
| Farm Lab | 1 |
| Farmer Out Of Business | 1 |
| Fireman (Eng Drw) | 1 |
| Foreman Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Furnace Man (Iron Works) | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| Gardiner (Florist) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Gen Serv | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Hairdresser | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Joiners Lab | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Maid | 1 |
| Nurse | 1 |
| Oilmans Assistant | 1 |
| Omnibus Conductor | 1 |
| Porter | 1 |
| Pressman (Printer) | 1 |
| Printers (Comp) | 1 |
| Rag Machine Minder (Woollen) | 1 |
| Railway Labourer | 1 |
| Salesman Upholsterers | 1 |
| Stoker | 1 |
| Sugar Boiler | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Upholsterer | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 102 people were recorded with the Garney surname. That placed it at #19,518 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Garney a modern rank of #36,904.
Likely derived from a place name, possibly related to French "grange" meaning farm or granary.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Garney 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.