NameCensus.

UK surname

Magnus

A Latin surname meaning "great" or "large," likely referring to a person of great stature or importance.

In the 1881 census there were 212 people recorded with the Magnus surname, ranking it #12,373 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 324, ranked #13,966, down from #12,373 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields and St Mary Whitechapel. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Broadland, North Norfolk and Barnet.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Magnus is 333 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 52.8%.

1881 census count

212

Ranked #12,373

Modern count

324

2016, ranked #13,966

Peak year

2010

333 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Magnus had 212 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,373 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 324 in 2016, ranked #13,966.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 313 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Magnus surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Magnus surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Magnus 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 212 #12,373
1891 historical 232 #13,429
1901 historical 284 #12,093
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 323 #12,888
1998 modern 320 #13,299
1999 modern 328 #13,183
2000 modern 327 #13,164
2001 modern 319 #13,168
2002 modern 326 #13,241
2003 modern 323 #13,161
2004 modern 320 #13,311
2005 modern 304 #13,724
2006 modern 305 #13,766
2007 modern 305 #13,891
2008 modern 303 #14,038
2009 modern 313 #14,015
2010 modern 333 #13,717
2011 modern 327 #13,754
2012 modern 325 #13,720
2013 modern 328 #13,842
2014 modern 330 #13,889
2015 modern 323 #13,991
2016 modern 324 #13,966

Geography

Back to top

Where Magnus' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Christ Church Spitalfields, St Mary Whitechapel, London parishes and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Broadland, North Norfolk, Barnet, Kensington and Chelsea and Redbridge. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Christ Church Spitalfields London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Broadland 004 Broadland
2 North Norfolk 013 North Norfolk
3 Barnet 025 Barnet
4 Kensington and Chelsea 018 Kensington and Chelsea
5 Redbridge 002 Redbridge

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Magnus

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Magnus

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Magnus, 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 Magnus surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Magnus 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Magnus is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Magnus 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

Magnus falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Magnus is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Magnus

The surname Magnus originated in Scandinavia and is derived from the Old Norse word "magn" which means "strength" or "power". The name was initially used as a byname or nickname for someone who was considered physically strong or powerful.

Magnus can be traced back to the 11th century and was popularized during the Viking Age when Scandinavian settlers and warriors spread across Europe. The earliest recorded mention of the name Magnus is found in the Icelandic sagas, which are a collection of medieval literary works that describe the lives and adventures of Nordic settlers.

One of the most notable historical figures with the surname Magnus was King Magnus I of Norway, also known as Magnus the Good, who ruled from 1035 to 1047. He was the son of King Olaf II and is celebrated for his efforts to strengthen Christianity in Norway and promote peace among the Scandinavian kingdoms.

Another prominent figure was Saint Magnus Erlendsson, Earl of Orkney, who lived in the 12th century. He was known for his piety and was eventually canonized by the Catholic Church after his death in 1116. The town of St. Magnus on the Orkney Islands is named after him.

In England, the name Magnus is first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Magnus in Lincolnshire.

During the Middle Ages, the name Magnus was also found in various forms and spellings, such as Mangnus, Mangnes, and Mangnuson, reflecting the regional dialects and linguistic variations of the time.

One notable figure from this period was Magnus Eriksson, King of Sweden from 1319 to 1364. He played a significant role in the consolidation of Swedish power and the formation of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian kingdoms under a single monarch.

In the Renaissance era, a famous bearer of the surname Magnus was Johannes Magnus, a Swedish historian and theologian who lived from 1488 to 1544. He is best known for his work "Historia de Omnibus Gothorum Sueonumque Regibus" (History of All the Gothic and Swedish Kings), which chronicled the history of the Scandinavian rulers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Magnus families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Magnus 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. Middlesex leads with 144 Magnus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.06x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 144 7.06x
Lancashire 12 0.50x
Yorkshire 12 0.59x
Huntingdonshire 7 17.29x
Monmouthshire 6 4.07x
Suffolk 5 2.01x
Durham 4 0.66x
Essex 4 0.99x
Hampshire 4 0.96x
Surrey 4 0.40x
Kent 2 0.29x
Sussex 2 0.58x
Lincolnshire 1 0.31x
Norfolk 1 0.32x
Warwickshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 39 Magnus' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.74x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 39 19.74x
Bethnal Green London 18 20.33x
Hampstead London 13 40.94x
Whitechapel London 13 64.71x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 12 415.22x
St Marylebone London 10 9.19x
Spitalfields London 9 58.71x
Shoreditch London 7 7.92x
Woodstone 7 1093.75x
Rusholme 6 93.02x
Leeds 5 4.38x
St George In East 5 36.05x
Westerfield 5 2083.33x
Everton 4 5.19x
Lambeth 4 2.25x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 33.78x
Bedwellty 3 11.53x
Brightside Bierlow 3 7.57x
Llanover 3 59.64x
St Botolph Aldgate 3 107.91x
St Helens 3 98.68x
Witham 3 144.93x
Bow London 2 7.71x
Chatham 2 10.45x
Chelsea London 2 3.26x
Holy Trinity 2 4.12x
Mile End Old Town 2 6.22x
Paddington London 2 2.67x
St Giles In Fields 2 28.45x
Aston 1 0.71x
Brighton 1 1.44x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.60x
Kensington London 1 0.88x
Liverpool 1 0.68x
Marske In Guisbrough 1 27.86x
Normanton 1 16.47x
Portsmouth 1 10.40x
Skirbeck 1 54.64x
South Bersted 1 34.25x
South Lynn 1 28.25x
St James Dukes Place 1 227.27x
St Pancras London 1 0.61x
Twickenham 1 11.44x
West Ham 1 1.13x
Willesden 1 5.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Julia 7
Caroline 5
Esther 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Marian 4
Mary 4
Rose 4
Annie 3
Emma 3
Rosetta 3
Angelina 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Betsey 1
Celcia 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Dinah 1
E.H. 1
Elizth.A. 1
Eugenia 1
Flora 1
Henrietta 1
Ida 1
Jane 1
Janey 1
Josephine 1
Judy 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Miriam 1
Naomi 1
Phoebe 1
Rebecca 1
Rosanna 1
Ruth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 8
James 5
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Joseph 4
Barnett 3
Benjamin 3
Edward 3
Emanuel 3
John 3
Philip 3
Simon 3
William 3
Albert 2
Christopher 2
David 2
Harry 2
Isaac 2
Nathan 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Adolphi 1
D.H. 1
Daniel 1
Ellis 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Hermann 1
Jacob 1
Laurie 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Manuel 1
Maximillianson 1
Michael 1
Montifore 1
Morris 1
Moses 1
Nathaniel 1
Oscar 1
Phineas 1
Raphael 1
Rudolph 1
Saul 1
Seth 1
Sim 1
Woolf 1

FAQ

Magnus surname: questions and answers

How common was the Magnus surname in 1881?

In 1881, 212 people were recorded with the Magnus surname. That placed it at #12,373 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Magnus surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 324 in 2016. That gives Magnus a modern rank of #13,966.

What does the Magnus surname mean?

A Latin surname meaning "great" or "large," likely referring to a person of great stature or importance.

What does the Magnus map show?

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