NameCensus.

UK surname

Geen

A variant spelling of the English surname Green.

In the 1881 census there were 325 people recorded with the Geen surname, ranking it #9,194 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 424, ranked #11,328, down from #9,194 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Devon, Cardiff and Copeland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Geen is 490 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.5%.

1881 census count

325

Ranked #9,194

Modern count

424

2016, ranked #11,328

Peak year

1911

490 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Geen had 325 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,194 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 424 in 2016, ranked #11,328.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 490 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Geen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Geen surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Geen 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 242 #10,154
1881 historical 325 #9,194
1891 historical 377 #9,302
1901 historical 456 #8,624
1911 historical 490 #7,943
1997 modern 461 #9,886
1998 modern 454 #10,338
1999 modern 450 #10,451
2000 modern 458 #10,281
2001 modern 433 #10,561
2002 modern 427 #10,900
2003 modern 410 #11,061
2004 modern 414 #11,005
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 418 #10,861
2007 modern 421 #10,920
2008 modern 416 #11,121
2009 modern 411 #11,480
2010 modern 418 #11,582
2011 modern 420 #11,402
2012 modern 415 #11,403
2013 modern 426 #11,350
2014 modern 423 #11,488
2015 modern 423 #11,392
2016 modern 424 #11,328

Geography

Back to top

Where Geens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Swimbridge and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Devon, Cardiff, Copeland and South Hams. 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 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 London parishes London 3
4 Swimbridge Devon
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Devon 013 North Devon
2 Cardiff 026 Cardiff
3 Copeland 004 Copeland
4 South Hams 007 South Hams
5 Cardiff 006 Cardiff

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Geen

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Geen

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

London Fringe

Within London, Geen is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Geen is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Geen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Geen

The surname "Geen" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands or Belgium in the late medieval period. It is likely derived from the Dutch word "geen" or the Flemish word "gheen," both meaning "none" or "not any." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname or to indicate someone who was lacking or deficient in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "Geen" can be found in the archives of the city of Antwerp, Belgium, dating back to the 15th century. In a document from 1472, a certain Jan Gheen is mentioned as a merchant and citizen of the city.

In the Netherlands, the name "Geen" appears to have been particularly prevalent in the provinces of North Holland and South Holland. A notable bearer of this surname was Pieter Geen (1615-1690), a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his portraits and genre scenes.

The "Geen" name also found its way to England, likely through Dutch or Flemish immigrants or traders. One of the earliest recorded instances in England is that of a William Geen, who was born in London in 1589 and later became a prominent merchant and alderman.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Geen (1767-1846), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and was knighted for his services. He was born in Devon, England, but his family roots can be traced back to the Netherlands.

In the United States, the "Geen" surname became more common in the 19th and 20th centuries, as Dutch and Belgian immigrants settled in various parts of the country. One notable American bearer of this name was John Geen (1857-1927), a successful businessman and philanthropist from New York City.

Other noteworthy individuals with the surname "Geen" include the Dutch writer and poet Hendrik Willem Geen (1808-1870), the Belgian painter and etcher Henri Geen (1853-1918), and the English cricketer and footballer William Geen (1872-1946).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Geen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Geen 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. Devon leads with 122 Geens recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.55x.

County Total Index
Devon 122 18.55x
Glamorgan 65 11.81x
Cornwall 38 10.62x
Surrey 27 1.75x
Somerset 19 3.73x
Middlesex 12 0.38x
Staffordshire 8 0.75x
Suffolk 8 2.08x
Yorkshire 8 0.26x
Oxfordshire 6 3.07x
Monmouthshire 4 1.75x
Berkshire 2 0.84x
Gloucestershire 2 0.32x
Kent 1 0.09x
Lancashire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barnstaple in Devon leads with 41 Geens recorded in 1881 and an index of 396.90x.

Place Total Index
Barnstaple 41 396.90x
St Ives 36 514.29x
Swansea Town 25 55.41x
Cardiff St John 20 111.30x
Chertsey 11 110.55x
Lambeth 9 3.27x
Marwood 9 1034.48x
North Molton 9 703.13x
Georgeham 8 963.86x
Ipswich St Clement 8 81.80x
Stoke Upon Trent 8 7.07x
Battersea 7 6.02x
Bideford 7 99.29x
Braunton 7 313.90x
Leeds 7 3.96x
Caversham 6 153.85x
Dunster 6 491.80x
Merthyr Tydfil 6 11.34x
Okehampton 6 241.94x
St Giles In Fields London 6 38.71x
Cardiff St Mary 5 16.50x
Countisbury 5 2777.78x
Roath 5 20.01x
Swimbridge 5 375.94x
Bridgewater 4 28.96x
Exford 4 816.33x
Islington London 4 1.31x
Swansea St Thomas 4 72.33x
Buckland Brewer 3 375.00x
Christchurch 3 42.43x
Heanton Punchardon 3 625.00x
Pilton 3 138.25x
Bishops Tawton 2 97.56x
Bodmin 2 33.78x
Clifton 2 6.38x
Ilfracombe 2 29.54x
Northam 2 41.75x
Stokenham 2 108.11x
Barrow On Humber 1 34.13x
Bedminster 1 2.09x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 1 119.05x
Eastdown 1 256.41x
Lynton 1 76.34x
Oare 1 1428.57x
Pangbourn 1 125.00x
Reading St Mary 1 5.26x
Sheffield 1 1.00x
South Molton 1 27.70x
St Decumans Watchet 1 77.52x
St George Hanover Square 1 1.80x
St Mellons 1 153.85x
St Pancras London 1 0.39x
Taunton St Mary 1 10.71x
Tavistock 1 13.35x
Tonbridge 1 2.57x
Tormoham 1 3.59x
Twitchen 1 454.55x
West Derby 1 0.91x
West Down 1 172.41x
Westonsuper Mare 1 96.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Elizabeth 20
Annie 7
Sarah 7
Eliza 5
Grace 5
Martha 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Elizebeth 3
Emily 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Ann 2
Caroline 2
Cath. 2
Clara 2
Eileen 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Francess 2
Jane 2
Lizzie 2
Lydia 2
Selina 2
Beatrice 1
Betsy 1
C.A. 1
Carrie 1
Carry 1
Catherine 1
E.R. 1
Elinor 1
Eliz. 1
Elizibeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Erinda 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helene 1
Honor 1
Isabel 1
Janie 1
Kate 1
Kitty 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 21
George 17
James 11
Thomas 11
Henry 9
Edward 6
Charles 5
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Richard 4
Samuel 4
Benjamin 3
Philip 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Arthur 2
Harry 2
Humphrey 2
Phillip 2
Robert 2
Alezander 1
Anthony 1
Charley 1
Cyril 1
Edwin 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Gerald 1
H. 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Hump. 1
Humphry 1
Joseph 1
Josh.Edwin 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Saml. 1
Sidney 1
Steadman 1
Thomason 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Geen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Geen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 325 people were recorded with the Geen surname. That placed it at #9,194 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Geen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 424 in 2016. That gives Geen a modern rank of #11,328.

What does the Geen surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname Green.

What does the Geen map show?

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