UK surname
A German surname derived from the given name Gennard.
In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Genard surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #31,301 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Chideock, Eccles and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Genard is 241 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 81.3%.
1881 census count
16
Ranked #31,301
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
241 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Genard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Genard surname density by area, 1891 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 241 | #10,192 |
| 1881 | historical | 16 | #31,301 |
| 1891 | historical | 121 | #21,169 |
| 1901 | historical | 30 | #30,724 |
| 1911 | historical | 29 | #30,190 |
| 1997 | modern | 4 | #38,094 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 3 | #38,152 |
| 2003 | modern | 3 | #38,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 6 | #37,724 |
| 2006 | modern | 6 | #37,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 7 | #37,904 |
| 2011 | modern | 8 | #37,737 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Chideock, Eccles, Manchester, Wigan and Preston. 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 | Chideock | Dorset |
| 2 | Eccles | Lancashire |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 5 | Preston | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Genard 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 Genard, 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 Genard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Genard 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, Genard 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 Genard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Genard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Genard originated in France, likely during the Middle Ages between the 5th and 15th centuries. It is derived from the Old French word "genest," meaning "broom plant." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone who lived near a patch of broom plants or worked with brooms.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Genard can be found in the Registres de la Noblesse de Normandie, a roll of the Norman nobility from the 14th century. This indicates that the name was present in the northern French region of Normandy during that time period.
In the 16th century, a Genard family was recorded as living in the village of Châtellerault, located in the Vienne department of western France. The name may have been associated with this specific location, or it could have been more widespread throughout the region.
The Genard surname can also be traced back to the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landholders in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that individuals with the name Genard likely migrated from France to England during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century.
Notable individuals with the surname Genard throughout history include:
1. Jean Genard (1532-1591), a French painter and engraver known for his religious works. 2. Marie Genard (1658-1732), a French writer and translator who published several works on philosophy and literature. 3. Pierre Genard (1762-1832), a French soldier who fought in the Napoleonic Wars and was awarded the Légion d'honneur. 4. Émile Genard (1823-1896), a Belgian historian and archivist who wrote extensively on the history of Antwerp. 5. Léon Genard (1880-1959), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris during the early 20th century.
While the Genard surname originated in France, it has since spread to other parts of Europe and beyond, with variations in spelling and pronunciation occurring over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Genard 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. Lancashire leads with 15 Genards recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.10x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 15 | 8.10x |
| Somerset | 1 | 3.98x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Widnes in Lancashire leads with 11 Genards recorded in 1881 and an index of 820.90x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Widnes | 11 | 820.90x |
| West Derby | 4 | 73.80x |
| Yeovil | 1 | 196.08x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Genard 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 Genard 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 Genard households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Alkali Laborer (Manuf) | 2 |
| Blacksmith | 1 |
| Bottler In Wine Store (Cellarman) | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Genard surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Genard a modern rank of #38,594.
A German surname derived from the given name Gennard.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Genard 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.