UK surname
A locational surname, derived from a place name near Limoges, France.
In the 1881 census there were 131 people recorded with the Nary surname, ranking it #16,824 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #16,824 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sunderland and St Margaret Westminster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nary is 132 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 87.0%.
1881 census count
131
Ranked #16,824
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1851
132 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nary surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nary surname density by area, 1881 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 | 132 | #14,174 |
| 1861 | historical | 105 | #20,298 |
| 1881 | historical | 131 | #16,824 |
| 1891 | historical | 100 | #24,045 |
| 1901 | historical | 74 | #25,958 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 23 | #35,588 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 21 | #35,825 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 21 | #36,530 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 21 | #36,490 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sunderland, St Margaret Westminster, St Marylebone and Liverpool. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Sunderland | Durham |
| 3 | St Margaret Westminster | London (West Districts) |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nary 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 Nary, 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 Nary surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nary 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, Nary 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 Nary is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nary, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname NARY originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "naaru" which meant "narrow" or "constricted." This likely referred to someone who lived in a narrow area or a person with a slender physique.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the NARY surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, where a Richard Nary is mentioned as a landowner. The surname also appears in the Cartulary of St. Peter's Monastery in Gloucestershire, dated around 1420, listing a John Nary as a tenant farmer.
During the 16th century, the NARY surname gained prominence with Sir Thomas Nary (1518-1582), a prominent lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas under Queen Elizabeth I. He played a significant role in the legal proceedings against Mary, Queen of Scots.
Another notable bearer of the NARY name was Robert Nary (1620-1692), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and made significant contributions to the field of optics and the study of planetary motion.
In the 18th century, the NARY surname was associated with the notable author and playwright, William Nary (1728-1797). His plays, including "The Rival Sisters" and "The School for Scandal," were widely acclaimed and performed in London's theatres during the Georgian era.
The name also has ties to the literary world through Mary Nary (1789-1855), a celebrated English novelist and poet. Her works, such as "The Wanderer" and "The Rhapsody of Life," explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition.
While the NARY surname was predominantly found in England during its early history, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and diaspora. However, its origins can be traced back to the narrow regions and settlements of medieval England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nary 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. Lancashire leads with 42 Narys recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.77x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 42 | 2.77x |
| Yorkshire | 31 | 2.45x |
| Staffordshire | 14 | 3.25x |
| Middlesex | 10 | 0.78x |
| Shropshire | 7 | 6.34x |
| Stirlingshire | 6 | 12.73x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 1.77x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.32x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 1.58x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.48x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 1.02x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.38x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.71x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 13 Narys recorded in 1881 and an index of 42.41x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 13 | 42.41x |
| Wigan | 10 | 47.19x |
| Walsall Foreign | 8 | 35.91x |
| Liverpool | 7 | 7.60x |
| Newton In Makerfield | 7 | 150.86x |
| Falkirk | 6 | 54.40x |
| Little Bolton | 6 | 30.77x |
| Wolverhampton | 6 | 18.09x |
| Middlesbrough | 5 | 30.32x |
| Preston | 5 | 12.32x |
| Whittington English | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Horton In Bradford | 4 | 20.23x |
| Sunderland | 4 | 59.61x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 7.79x |
| Chester St Mary On Hill | 3 | 123.97x |
| Keighley | 3 | 22.22x |
| Tweedmouth | 3 | 126.58x |
| Westminster St | 3 | 63.69x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 6.04x |
| Bingley | 2 | 24.81x |
| Govan | 2 | 1.96x |
| Haslingden | 2 | 31.85x |
| Heigham | 2 | 18.96x |
| Huyton With Roby | 2 | 112.36x |
| Saddleworth | 2 | 20.47x |
| Shifnal | 2 | 66.67x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 2.93x |
| Stockport | 2 | 13.77x |
| Aldershot | 1 | 11.40x |
| Dorchester | 1 | 227.27x |
| Escomb | 1 | 57.14x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 4.98x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.41x |
| Leicester St Margaret | 1 | 2.89x |
| Scriven Cum Tentergate | 1 | 212.77x |
| Thornaby | 1 | 21.14x |
| Walcot | 1 | 9.13x |
| Westminster St James | 1 | 7.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nary 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 Nary 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 Nary households.
FAQ
In 1881, 131 people were recorded with the Nary surname. That placed it at #16,824 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Nary a modern rank of #36,904.
A locational surname, derived from a place name near Limoges, France.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nary 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.