UK surname
A locational surname referring to someone living near a prominent location or landmark.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Nears surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 27, ranked #36,189, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wormingford, Barking and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Nears is 111 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 53.4%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
27
2016, ranked #36,189
Peak year
1911
111 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Nears surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Nears surname density by area, 1911 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 | 46 | #24,985 |
| 1861 | historical | 69 | #25,057 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 90 | #25,399 |
| 1901 | historical | 100 | #22,863 |
| 1911 | historical | 111 | #21,392 |
| 1997 | modern | 50 | #32,658 |
| 1998 | modern | 51 | #32,816 |
| 1999 | modern | 46 | #33,424 |
| 2000 | modern | 44 | #33,602 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 32 | #34,862 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 34 | #35,056 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 36 | #35,496 |
| 2010 | modern | 31 | #35,906 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 33 | #35,767 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 27 | #36,189 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wormingford, Barking, London parishes, Middleton and Ipswich St Mary Stoke. 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 | Wormingford | Essex |
| 2 | Barking | Essex |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Middleton | Suffolk |
| 5 | Ipswich St Mary Stoke | Suffolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Nears 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 Nears, 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 Nears surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Nears 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, Nears 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 Nears is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Nears, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname NEARS is of English origin, with roots dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "nearu", meaning "narrow", which was often used as a topographic surname to describe someone who lived near a narrow passage or path.
In the medieval period, the name was predominantly found in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Dorset, where the earliest recorded instances of NEARS appeared. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William le Nere, which is likely an early spelling variation of the name.
In the 14th century, the NEARS surname appears in various legal documents and tax records. The Register of the Freemen of the City of York, dated 1363, lists a Thomas Neres, suggesting the name had spread to other regions of England by that time.
One of the earliest notable individuals bearing the NEARS surname was Sir John Nears, a military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was knighted for his bravery in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.
In the 16th century, the NEARS family had established a presence in the county of Wiltshire, where the village of Nears Green likely took its name from the family. The parish records of St. Mary's Church in Devizes, Wiltshire, mention a William Nears who was baptized in 1587.
During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain Robert Nears fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was commended for his service at the Battle of Naseby in 1645.
In the literary world, the poet and dramatist John Nears (1640-1701) gained recognition for his works, including the popular play "The Rival Queens".
As the NEARS surname spread across England over the centuries, it encountered various spelling variations, such as Neers, Neares, and Neares, reflecting regional dialects and scribal errors.
Other notable individuals with the NEARS surname include Mary Nears (1782-1845), a prominent educator and advocate for women's education in Yorkshire, and Sir Richard Nears (1818-1892), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in the Crimean War.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Nears 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. Essex leads with 38 Nears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.03x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 38 | 34.03x |
| Suffolk | 8 | 11.61x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 1.64x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.73x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.35x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 3.41x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.57x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.52x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.36x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.05x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Henny in Essex leads with 14 Nears' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Great Henny | 14 | 23333.33x |
| Woodford | 7 | 555.56x |
| Rainham | 6 | 2500.00x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 5 | 213.68x |
| Ballingdon Cum Brundon | 3 | 2142.86x |
| Barking | 3 | 91.74x |
| Govan | 3 | 6.63x |
| Sudbury All Sts | 3 | 1428.57x |
| Upminster | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Southampton St Mary | 2 | 27.43x |
| Wormingford | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 49.75x |
| Canterbury St Augustine | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Flamstead | 1 | 277.78x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.18x |
| Newington | 1 | 4.79x |
| Ore | 1 | 140.85x |
| St George In East | 1 | 25.97x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Nears 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 Nears 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 Nears households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 3 |
| Living With Grandfather | 2 |
| Agri Labr | 1 |
| Baker (Journeyman) | 1 |
| Butler Dom Serv | 1 |
| Carpenter & C | 1 |
| Carpt | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Farm Laborer | 1 |
| Gentlemans Gardener | 1 |
| Groom | 1 |
| Hospital Serv Att On Lunatic | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Millers Carter | 1 |
| Millers Carter Wife | 1 |
| Police Constable | 1 |
| Scholar (Theological) | 1 |
| Straw Platter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Nears surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 27 in 2016. That gives Nears a modern rank of #36,189.
A locational surname referring to someone living near a prominent location or landmark.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Nears 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.