UK surname
A surname derived from the Germanic personal name Gunno or Gunnr.
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Genn surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Falmouth Town. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Genn is 154 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.6%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
85
2016, ranked #32,637
Peak year
1891
154 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Genn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Genn surname density by area, 1911 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 | 101 | #17,036 |
| 1861 | historical | 113 | #19,151 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 154 | #18,004 |
| 1901 | historical | 123 | #20,248 |
| 1911 | historical | 124 | #20,023 |
| 1997 | modern | 82 | #29,325 |
| 1998 | modern | 90 | #28,920 |
| 1999 | modern | 89 | #29,168 |
| 2000 | modern | 86 | #29,484 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 85 | #29,867 |
| 2003 | modern | 84 | #29,978 |
| 2004 | modern | 81 | #30,569 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 74 | #31,850 |
| 2007 | modern | 78 | #31,748 |
| 2008 | modern | 78 | #32,081 |
| 2009 | modern | 77 | #32,553 |
| 2010 | modern | 81 | #32,582 |
| 2011 | modern | 87 | #31,905 |
| 2012 | modern | 87 | #32,180 |
| 2013 | modern | 88 | #32,349 |
| 2014 | modern | 92 | #32,132 |
| 2015 | modern | 87 | #32,514 |
| 2016 | modern | 85 | #32,637 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Falmouth Town, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Sheffield. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Peterborough St John the Baptist | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Falmouth Town | Cornwall |
| 4 | Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict | Cambridgeshire |
| 5 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Genn 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 Genn, 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 Genn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Genn 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, Genn 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 Genn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Genn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname GENN is believed to have originated in northern Italy, likely in the region of Lombardy or Veneto during the medieval period. It may have derived from the Italian word "genna," which means "thicket" or "undergrowth," suggesting a possible occupational origin related to forestry or woodcutting.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname GENN can be found in the 13th century Estimo, a tax record from the city of Venice. In this document, a certain Stefano Genn is mentioned as a resident of the San Marco district.
In the late 14th century, a merchant named Giovanni Genn is recorded in the archives of the Republic of Genoa, indicating the presence of the surname in that region as well. It's possible that the name spread from northern Italy to other parts of the peninsula through trade and migration.
During the Renaissance, a notable figure bearing the GENN surname was the Venetian painter and architect Andrea Genn (c. 1480-1556). He is best known for his contributions to the design and decoration of several churches in Venice, including the Church of San Zaccaria.
Another historical figure with the GENN surname was the Italian mathematician and astronomer Francesco Genn (1615-1692), who made significant contributions to the study of comets and the calculation of their orbits.
In the 19th century, a prominent member of the GENN family was the Italian politician and diplomat Giuseppe Genn (1824-1891), who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Italy from 1887 to 1891.
While the GENN surname has its origins in northern Italy, it has since spread to other parts of the world through immigration. For example, in the late 19th century, a family with the surname GENN settled in the United States, where they established a successful winemaking business in California.
Another notable figure bearing the GENN surname was the British artist and illustrator Ernest Genn (1888-1965), who was renowned for his depictions of wildlife and countryside scenes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Genn 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. Yorkshire leads with 30 Genns recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 30 | 3.34x |
| Cambridgeshire | 15 | 26.11x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.93x |
| Cornwall | 8 | 7.79x |
| Kent | 5 | 1.62x |
| Lincolnshire | 5 | 3.45x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 0.55x |
| Surrey | 4 | 0.91x |
| Northamptonshire | 3 | 3.52x |
| Dorset | 2 | 3.36x |
| Nottinghamshire | 2 | 1.64x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 2.13x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.70x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.53x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.60x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ely Holy Trinity St Mary in Cambridgeshire leads with 13 Genns recorded in 1881 and an index of 517.93x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 13 | 517.93x |
| Tinsley | 8 | 2580.65x |
| Falmouth | 7 | 192.31x |
| Kimberworth | 6 | 120.24x |
| Bury | 5 | 40.65x |
| Deptford St Paul | 4 | 16.76x |
| Ecclesall Bierlow | 4 | 21.88x |
| Ecclesfield | 4 | 60.70x |
| Sheffield | 4 | 13.98x |
| Peterborough | 3 | 48.54x |
| Tickhill | 3 | 526.32x |
| Toxteth Park | 3 | 8.23x |
| Battersea | 2 | 5.99x |
| Bermondsey | 2 | 7.41x |
| Bulwell | 2 | 75.19x |
| Clerkenwell London | 2 | 9.34x |
| Everton | 2 | 5.83x |
| Gosberton | 2 | 312.50x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 2 | 30.49x |
| Wimborne Minster | 2 | 208.33x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 31.06x |
| Boughton Monchelsea | 1 | 294.12x |
| Derby St Peter | 1 | 22.12x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.14x |
| Pinchbeck | 1 | 107.53x |
| Ratcliffe London | 1 | 19.96x |
| Royston | 1 | 188.68x |
| St Gluvias | 1 | 172.41x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.37x |
| Surfleet | 1 | 333.33x |
| Swineshead | 1 | 208.33x |
| Tormoham | 1 | 12.52x |
| Upper Hallam | 1 | 128.21x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Genn 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 Genn 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 Genn households.
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Genn surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Genn a modern rank of #32,637.
A surname derived from the Germanic personal name Gunno or Gunnr.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Genn 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.