NameCensus.

UK surname

Nankervis

An English surname of Cornish origin meaning dweller by the valley stream.

In the 1881 census there were 216 people recorded with the Nankervis surname, ranking it #12,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 159, ranked #22,798, down from #12,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Dalton-in-Furness, Zennor and St Just. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nankervis is 219 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.4%.

1881 census count

216

Ranked #12,222

Modern count

159

2016, ranked #22,798

Peak year

1891

219 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Nankervis had 216 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016, ranked #22,798.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 219 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Nankervis surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Nankervis surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Nankervis 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 217 #9,784
1861 historical 154 #14,963
1881 historical 216 #12,222
1891 historical 219 #13,974
1901 historical 212 #14,611
1911 historical 191 #15,392
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 141 #22,517
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 148 #21,971
2001 modern 154 #21,122
2002 modern 134 #23,492
2003 modern 137 #22,939
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 154 #21,804
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 167 #21,383
2010 modern 164 #22,109
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 160 #22,260
2013 modern 176 #21,237
2014 modern 169 #22,006
2015 modern 164 #22,325
2016 modern 159 #22,798

Geography

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Where Nankervis' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Dalton-in-Furness, Zennor, St Just, Crowan and Madron. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire
2 Zennor Cornwall
3 St Just Cornwall
4 Crowan Cornwall
5 Madron Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 065 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 054 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 036 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 057 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Nankervis

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Nankervis

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Nankervis surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Nankervis household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Nankervis 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

Nankervis is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Nankervis falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Nankervis 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 Nankervis, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Nankervis

The surname Nankervis originates from Cornwall in the southwest of England. It is believed to derive from the Cornish language words "nans" meaning valley and "kervis" meaning ridge, suggesting the name was initially used to describe someone who lived near a valley ridge.

During the medieval period, Cornish surnames were relatively uncommon, with most people identified only by a single name or patronymic. The Nankervis surname likely emerged sometime between the 13th and 16th centuries as hereditary surnames became more widespread.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Nankervis name appears in the Cornish parish records from the late 16th century. In 1593, a John Nankervis was listed as residing in the parish of Sithney.

The Nankervis surname has also been connected to various place names in Cornwall, such as Nankervis Hill near Redruth and the hamlet of Nancervis. These locations likely took their names from early bearers of the Nankervis surname.

Notable individuals with the Nankervis surname throughout history include:

1. Richard Nankervis (c. 1680 - 1761), a Cornish merchant and politician who served as Mayor of Truro in the early 18th century.

2. Jonathan Nankervis (1728 - 1796), a Cornish mining engineer and inventor who developed improvements to the steam engine.

3. Elizabeth Nankervis (1833 - 1922), a Cornish composer and musician known for her involvement in the Celtic Revivalist movement.

4. Samuel Nankervis (1855 - 1937), a Cornish politician who served as a member of parliament for Camborne from 1906 to 1918.

5. John Nankervis (1892 - 1982), a Cornish artist and painter renowned for his landscapes depicting the rugged Cornish coastline.

While the Nankervis surname is undoubtedly of Cornish origin, it has since spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and beyond, carried by descendants of early Cornish migrants and emigrants.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Nankervis families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nankervis 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 182 Nankervis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 76.30x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 182 76.30x
Lancashire 15 0.60x
Cumberland 10 5.51x
Yorkshire 6 0.29x
Devon 1 0.23x
Essex 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Just In Penwith in Cornwall leads with 90 Nankervis' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1943.84x.

Place Total Index
St Just In Penwith 90 1943.84x
St Ives 36 770.88x
Madron Penzance 19 219.15x
Dalton In Furness 15 155.44x
Zennor 11 2500.00x
Millom 10 179.86x
Crowan 6 317.46x
Whitwood 5 168.35x
Madron 4 207.25x
Ruan Minor 4 1904.76x
St Hilary Marazion 3 461.54x
Uny Lelant 3 232.56x
Phillack 2 64.94x
St Buryan 2 202.02x
Alveston 1 169.49x
Exeter St David 1 26.67x
Helston 1 40.32x
Paul 1 23.09x
Skinningrove 1 78.13x
Wanstead 1 13.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 21
Mary 20
Jane 7
Catherine 5
Maria 5
Nanny 5
Margaret 4
Grace 3
Honor 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Louisa 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Patience 2
Alice 1
Anne 1
Bessey 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cecilia 1
Christianna 1
Elisa 1
Elizab.J. 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Honner 1
Jannie 1
Jenifer 1
Katie 1
Lezzia 1
Mabel 1
Margaretta 1
Margerat 1
Mennie 1
Pee 1
Rebecca 1
Richard 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Nankervis surname: questions and answers

How common was the Nankervis surname in 1881?

In 1881, 216 people were recorded with the Nankervis surname. That placed it at #12,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Nankervis surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 159 in 2016. That gives Nankervis a modern rank of #22,798.

What does the Nankervis surname mean?

An English surname of Cornish origin meaning dweller by the valley stream.

What does the Nankervis map show?

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