NameCensus.

UK surname

Nance

Derived from an Old English byname meaning "bold" or "brave," or a place name meaning "the valley."

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Nance surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 194, ranked #19,976, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Padstow, St Agnes and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nance is 270 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.1%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

194

2016, ranked #19,976

Peak year

1901

270 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nance had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016, ranked #19,976.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 270 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Nance surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nance surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nance 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 212 #9,965
1861 historical 163 #14,242
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 253 #12,645
1901 historical 270 #12,492
1911 historical 268 #12,332
1997 modern 182 #18,693
1998 modern 175 #19,658
1999 modern 179 #19,539
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 178 #19,288
2002 modern 187 #19,083
2003 modern 174 #19,760
2004 modern 170 #20,146
2005 modern 162 #20,716
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 166 #20,811
2008 modern 170 #20,672
2009 modern 175 #20,707
2010 modern 183 #20,586
2011 modern 182 #20,495
2012 modern 191 #19,802
2013 modern 199 #19,584
2014 modern 197 #19,903
2015 modern 195 #19,909
2016 modern 194 #19,976

Geography

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Where Nances are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Padstow, St Agnes, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Bury. 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 Padstow Cornwall
2 St Agnes Cornwall
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 022 Cornwall
2 Bury 023 Bury
3 Cornwall 021 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 024 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 072 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nance

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nance

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Nance surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Nance household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Nance is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Nance is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nance 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 Nance is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Nance

The surname Nance originated in France and is derived from the Old French word "nance," meaning "to dance or leap." It is believed to have originated as a nickname given to someone who was particularly skilled or enthusiastic about dancing.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Nance can be found in medieval French records from the 13th century. One notable example is found in the Livre des Métiers, a registry of tradespeople in Paris, which mentions a "Robert le Nance" in 1268.

In England, the name Nance can be traced back to the 14th century, likely brought over by French immigrants or through trade and cultural exchange. The Hundred Rolls of 1273, a census-like record of landowners in England, includes an entry for a "William le Nance" in Oxfordshire.

During the Middle Ages, the surname Nance was often spelled in various ways, such as Naunce, Naunces, and Nauntz, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic variations of the time.

One notable historical figure with the surname Nance was Robert Nance (c. 1550-1615), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Middlesex and was known for his writings on religious topics.

Another prominent individual was John Nance (1633-1675), a English-born Quaker who immigrated to the American colonies and became a influential figure in the Quaker community in Pennsylvania.

In the 18th century, Samuel Nance (1744-1805) was a prominent American frontiersman and explorer who played a significant role in the westward expansion of the United States. He is known for his explorations of the Cumberland Gap and his involvement in the settlement of Tennessee.

During the American Civil War, John Milton Nance (1825-1894) was a Union Army officer who served with distinction and received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his bravery in combat.

In the 20th century, Dorothy Nance (1904-1989) was an American actress and singer who appeared in numerous Broadway productions and films, including the classic musical "Oklahoma!" in 1955.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nance families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nance 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. Cornwall leads with 85 Nances recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.04x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 85 31.04x
Yorkshire 25 1.04x
Glamorgan 24 5.70x
Hampshire 19 3.83x
Lancashire 16 0.56x
Middlesex 16 0.66x
Durham 14 1.95x
Devon 12 2.38x
Essex 7 1.47x
Lanarkshire 6 0.77x
Wiltshire 6 2.80x
Lincolnshire 4 1.03x
Staffordshire 4 0.49x
Kent 3 0.36x
Leicestershire 2 0.75x
Surrey 2 0.17x
Cheshire 1 0.19x
Shropshire 1 0.48x
Worcestershire 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Scilly Islands St Mary in Cornwall leads with 25 Nances recorded in 1881 and an index of 2336.45x.

Place Total Index
Scilly Islands St Mary 25 2336.45x
Scilly Islands St Martin 23 16428.57x
Portsea 18 18.52x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 11 49.26x
Roath 11 57.50x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 25.67x
St Dennis 8 784.31x
Kenwyn 7 97.77x
Prestwich 7 97.77x
Snaith Cowick 7 489.51x
West Ham 7 6.64x
Camborne 6 53.14x
Cardiff St John 6 43.60x
Warminster 6 127.93x
Barony 5 2.53x
Buckfastleigh 5 215.52x
Stonehouse East 5 196.08x
Bromley London 4 7.52x
Clase 4 25.54x
Clerkenwell London 4 7.01x
Great Grimsby 4 16.29x
Stoke Upon Trent 4 4.62x
Aberdare 3 10.37x
Ecclesall Bierlow 3 6.15x
Fulham London 3 8.55x
Hartlepool 3 29.33x
Milton In Gravesend 3 24.23x
St Agnes 3 78.13x
St Columb Major 3 132.16x
St Just In Penwith 3 56.50x
Toxteth Park 3 3.09x
Whitworth 3 56.93x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 8.77x
Hammersmith London 2 3.36x
Leicester St Mary 2 9.23x
Newton 2 9.04x
North Meols 2 7.12x
Padstow 2 109.89x
Sculcoates 2 5.26x
Sheffield 2 2.62x
St Ive 2 113.64x
Battersea 1 1.12x
Cadder 1 17.30x
Chelsea London 1 1.37x
Dawley 1 13.14x
Lambeth 1 0.47x
Madron Penzance 1 10.04x
Mathon 1 107.53x
Paddington London 1 1.12x
Plymouth Charles The 1 4.51x
Scilly Islands 1 204.08x
St George Hanover 1 3.17x
St Mary Kalendar 1 97.09x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.84x
Tintwistle 1 35.09x
Whitstone 1 294.12x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 16
Mary 13
Annie 5
Emma 4
Edith 3
Eva 3
Grace 3
Jane 3
Sarah 3
Agnes 2
Amanda 2
Ann 2
Bessie 2
Caroline 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Euphence 2
Florence 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Rosa 2
Alma 1
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Fredrica 1
Hilda 1
Ida 1
Jemima 1
Johanna 1
John 1
Laura 1
Lauretta 1
Lenora 1
Lillian 1
Lillie 1
Lilly 1
Thomasina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 16
Thomas 8
Henry 6
James 6
Francis 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Andrew 2
Frederick 2
George 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Wm. 2
A. 1
Alonso 1
Benjamin 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Geo.P. 1
Gregory 1
H.C. 1
Hela 1
Horace 1
Horatio 1
Joel 1
Kioh 1
Leonard 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Silas 1
Walter 1
Wilfred 1

FAQ

Nance surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nance surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Nance surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nance surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 194 in 2016. That gives Nance a modern rank of #19,976.

What does the Nance surname mean?

Derived from an Old English byname meaning "bold" or "brave," or a place name meaning "the valley."

What does the Nance map show?

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