UK surname
The surname possibly derived from the Scandinavian personal name "Jón", itself derived from the Hebrew name "John".
In the 1881 census there were 12 people recorded with the Joner surname, ranking it #31,914 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #31,914 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wolstanton and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Joner is 282 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
12
Ranked #31,914
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1891
282 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Joner surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Joner 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 211 | #11,508 |
| 1881 | historical | 12 | #31,914 |
| 1891 | historical | 282 | #11,597 |
| 1901 | historical | 13 | #32,633 |
| 1911 | historical | 32 | #29,838 |
| 1997 | modern | 3 | #38,317 |
| 1998 | modern | 3 | #38,304 |
| 1999 | modern | 5 | #37,872 |
| 2000 | modern | 2 | #38,472 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 4 | #38,338 |
| 2012 | modern | 6 | #38,008 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 6 | #38,077 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Wolstanton, Toxteth Park, Manchester and St John Hackney. 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 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 2 | Wolstanton | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Joner 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 Joner, 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 Joner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Joner 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, Joner 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 Joner is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Joner, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Joner is believed to have originated in Norway during the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "jonr," which means "farmer" or "peasant." The name was initially used as a descriptive name for someone who worked as a farmer or lived in a rural area.
In its earliest recorded instances, the name appeared in various Norwegian parish records and historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. Some of the earliest known bearers of the name include Jon Joner, a farmer who lived in the village of Trondheim in 1275, and Eirik Joner, a landowner from the town of Bergen in 1321.
The name Joner has also been associated with several place names in Norway, such as Joner Farm, a small village in the municipality of Telemark, and Joner Creek, a stream located in the northern region of the country. These place names likely originated from early settlers or landowners with the surname Joner.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Joner surname. One of the most prominent was Ivar Joner (1597-1673), a Norwegian military officer and politician who served as the Governor of Akershus Fortress and played a crucial role in the defense of Norway during the Kalmar War against Denmark and Sweden.
Another notable figure was Ingrid Joner (1824-1904), a Norwegian author and women's rights activist who was one of the first female writers in Norway to publish novels and short stories. Her works often explored themes of gender equality and societal issues facing women in the 19th century.
In the field of science, Hans Joner (1866-1936) was a Norwegian botanist and explorer who conducted extensive research on the flora of Norway and Svalbard. He is credited with discovering several new plant species and made significant contributions to the field of Arctic botany.
The Joner surname also has a presence in the arts, with Liv Joner (1914-2012) being a renowned Norwegian actress and theater director. She had a prolific career spanning over seven decades and was widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Norwegian theater during the 20th century.
Lastly, Jørgen Joner (1920-2002) was a Norwegian architect and urban planner who played a significant role in shaping the modern architectural landscape of Oslo. He designed several notable buildings and urban developments, including the Oslo City Hall and the residential area of Holmenkollen.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Joner 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. Durham leads with 9 Joners recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.88x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 9 | 25.88x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.44x |
| Essex | 1 | 4.33x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Conside Knitsley in Durham leads with 9 Joners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Conside Knitsley | 9 | 3333.33x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 23.75x |
| Woodham Ferris | 1 | 3333.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Joner 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 Joner 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 Joner households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| G Laborer | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Ag Labourer | 1 |
| Warehouseman (Unemployed) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 12 people were recorded with the Joner surname. That placed it at #31,914 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Joner a modern rank of #38,419.
The surname possibly derived from the Scandinavian personal name "Jón", itself derived from the Hebrew name "John".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Joner 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.