NameCensus.

UK surname

Janus

Derived from the Roman god of beginnings and endings, often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Janus surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 184, ranked #20,731, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Preston, Cheshire East and Warwick.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Janus is 184 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 9100.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

184

2016, ranked #20,731

Peak year

2016

184 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Janus had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016, ranked #20,731.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 18 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Janus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Janus surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Janus 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 16 #31,832
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 12 #33,181
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 11 #32,463
1997 modern 39 #33,759
1998 modern 45 #33,374
1999 modern 45 #33,511
2000 modern 42 #33,791
2001 modern 42 #33,658
2002 modern 43 #33,871
2003 modern 40 #34,215
2004 modern 42 #34,222
2005 modern 43 #34,328
2006 modern 71 #32,147
2007 modern 82 #31,295
2008 modern 94 #29,950
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 131 #25,656
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 156 #22,645
2013 modern 175 #21,320
2014 modern 172 #21,731
2015 modern 182 #20,856
2016 modern 184 #20,731

Geography

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Where Janus' 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 Preston, Cheshire East, Warwick, Peterborough and East Staffordshire. 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 Preston 001 Preston
2 Cheshire East 007 Cheshire East
3 Warwick 013 Warwick
4 Peterborough 017 Peterborough
5 East Staffordshire 004 East Staffordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Janus

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Janus

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Janus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Janus 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Janus is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Janus is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Janus falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Janus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Janus

The surname Janus is of Latin origin, derived from the name of the Roman god Janus, who was the god of beginnings, transitions, and endings. This name was likely adopted as a surname during the medieval period, particularly in regions with strong Roman influences, such as Italy and parts of France.

In ancient Roman mythology, Janus was often depicted as a two-faced god, with one face looking towards the past and the other towards the future. This symbolic representation may have contributed to the adoption of the name as a surname, perhaps indicating a family's connection to transitional periods or their ability to look both ways.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Janus can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Iohannes Ianus, suggesting the name's presence in England during the Norman period.

During the Middle Ages, the name Janus appeared in various forms, such as Ianus, Ianne, and Iané, reflecting the linguistic variations and dialects of the time. Some scholars have also suggested connections between the name Janus and the Latin word "ianua," meaning door or gateway, further emphasizing its symbolic associations with transitions and beginnings.

Notable historical figures with the surname Janus include:

1. Janus Lascaris (c. 1445-1535), a renowned Greek scholar and diplomat who played a significant role in the revival of classical Greek learning in the Renaissance era. 2. Janus Gruterus (1560-1627), a Dutch scholar and writer, best known for his extensive work on ancient Roman inscriptions and manuscripts. 3. Janus Dousa (1545-1604), a Dutch poet, historian, and politician who served as the Lord of Noordwijk and was a prominent figure in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule. 4. Janus Vitalis (c. 1492-1561), an Italian humanist and philosopher who was a key figure in the intellectual circles of the Renaissance period. 5. Janus Pannonius (1434-1472), a renowned Hungarian Renaissance humanist poet and Bishop of Pécs, considered one of the most important representatives of Hungarian Humanism.

The surname Janus has also been associated with various place names and locations throughout history, such as the town of Janus in Normandy, France, and the village of Janus in the Lubuskie region of western Poland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Janus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Janus 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. Cheshire leads with 2 Janus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.95x.

County Total Index
Cheshire 2 46.95x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 2 Janus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 588.24x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 2 588.24x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 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 Janus households.

Occupation Count
Coachman (Dom) 1
Dressmaker 1

FAQ

Janus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Janus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Janus surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Janus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 184 in 2016. That gives Janus a modern rank of #20,731.

What does the Janus surname mean?

Derived from the Roman god of beginnings and endings, often depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions.

What does the Janus map show?

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