NameCensus.

UK surname

Janssen

A patronymic surname of Dutch origin meaning "son of Jan" or "son of John."

In the 1881 census there were 6 people recorded with the Janssen surname, ranking it #32,926 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 297, ranked #14,839, up from #32,926 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Surrey Heath and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Janssen is 317 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 4850.0%.

1881 census count

6

Ranked #32,926

Modern count

297

2016, ranked #14,839

Peak year

2014

317 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Janssen had 6 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,926 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016, ranked #14,839.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Janssen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Janssen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Janssen 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
1881 historical 6 #32,926
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 20 #31,803
1911 historical 46 #28,224
1997 modern 218 #16,704
1998 modern 226 #16,800
1999 modern 227 #16,834
2000 modern 234 #16,470
2001 modern 235 #16,147
2002 modern 245 #16,041
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 249 #15,739
2005 modern 246 #15,802
2006 modern 258 #15,402
2007 modern 244 #16,186
2008 modern 254 #15,903
2009 modern 266 #15,711
2010 modern 292 #15,018
2011 modern 288 #15,009
2012 modern 286 #15,012
2013 modern 308 #14,482
2014 modern 317 #14,269
2015 modern 304 #14,617
2016 modern 297 #14,839

Geography

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Where Janssens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Surrey Heath, Westminster, Winchester and Newport. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 006 North Lincolnshire
2 Surrey Heath 005 Surrey Heath
3 Westminster 018 Westminster
4 Winchester 002 Winchester
5 Newport 015 Newport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Janssen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Janssen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Janssen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Janssen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Janssen is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. 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

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Janssen is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Janssen falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Janssen 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Janssen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Janssen

The surname Janssen originated in the Low Countries, which included parts of modern-day Netherlands, Belgium, and northern France. It first appeared in the late 14th century and is believed to be derived from the personal name Johannes, the Dutch variant of John.

The name Janssen is a patronymic surname, meaning it was initially formed by adding the suffix "-sen" or "-szen" to the father's given name, in this case Johannes. This practice was common in the Low Countries and other parts of northern Europe during the Middle Ages as a way to identify individuals beyond just their first names.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Janssen can be found in the Calendars of the Duchy of Brabant, a historical record from the 15th century. The name appears in various spellings, such as Janssens, Janszen, and Jansen, reflecting the fluid nature of surname spellings during that time.

The Janssen surname has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Jan Janssen (c. 1415-1480), a Dutch painter and illuminator known for his work on religious manuscripts and altarpieces. Another early bearer of the name was Cornelis Janssen (c. 1592-1664), a Flemish painter renowned for his portraiture and religious works.

In the 17th century, the Janssen name gained prominence with the Dutch scientist Zacharias Janssen (1585-1638), who is credited with contributing to the invention of the compound microscope. His work paved the way for significant advancements in the field of microscopy and the study of microorganisms.

Other notable individuals with the surname Janssen include the Dutch artist Christiaan Janssen (1817-1892), known for his landscapes and genre paintings, and the Belgian astronomer Pierre Janssen (1824-1907), who discovered the chemical element helium during a solar eclipse in 1868.

The Janssen surname has also been found in various place names throughout the Low Countries, such as Janssens Hof in Belgium and Janssens Straat in the Netherlands, further highlighting its historical presence in the region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Janssen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Janssen 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. Sussex leads with 2 Janssens recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.45x.

County Total Index
Sussex 2 24.45x
Devon 1 9.91x
Fife 1 34.84x
Renfrewshire 1 26.60x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eastbourne in Sussex leads with 2 Janssens recorded in 1881 and an index of 526.32x.

Place Total Index
Eastbourne 2 526.32x
Plymouth Charles The 1 227.27x
Port Glasgow 1 555.56x
Wemyss 1 833.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Bella 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
Dirk 1

Top occupations

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 Janssen households.

FAQ

Janssen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Janssen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6 people were recorded with the Janssen surname. That placed it at #32,926 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Janssen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 297 in 2016. That gives Janssen a modern rank of #14,839.

What does the Janssen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Dutch origin meaning "son of Jan" or "son of John."

What does the Janssen map show?

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