NameCensus.

UK surname

Obern

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Obern surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 123, ranked #27,115, down from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Mendip and Shetland South.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Obern is 138 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 112.1%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

123

2016, ranked #27,115

Peak year

2011

138 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Obern had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016, ranked #27,115.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 74 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Obern surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Obern surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Obern 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 34 #27,194
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 74 #27,538
1901 historical 72 #26,162
1911 historical 50 #27,806
1997 modern 125 #23,567
1998 modern 131 #23,495
1999 modern 117 #25,362
2000 modern 114 #25,717
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 112 #26,165
2003 modern 116 #25,415
2004 modern 121 #24,939
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 126 #24,493
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 134 #24,711
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 122 #26,696
2013 modern 127 #26,452
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 123 #27,115

Geography

Back to top

Where Oberns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Mendip, Shetland South, Bath and North East Somerset and Dalbeattie. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
2 Mendip 002 Mendip
3 Shetland South Shetland Islands
4 Bath and North East Somerset 027 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Dalbeattie Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Obern

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Obern

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Obern surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Obern 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Obern is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Obern is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Obern falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Obern is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 20-25 mbit/s.

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

4
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Obern families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Obern 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. Somerset leads with 23 Oberns recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.08x.

County Total Index
Somerset 23 34.08x
Dorset 8 29.08x
Wiltshire 6 16.19x
Gloucestershire 2 2.43x
Berkshire 1 3.18x
Derbyshire 1 1.52x
Middlesex 1 0.24x
Shropshire 1 2.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holcombe in Somerset leads with 7 Oberns recorded in 1881 and an index of 8750.00x.

Place Total Index
Holcombe 7 8750.00x
Chippenham 6 769.23x
Bedminster 5 78.86x
Midsomer Norton 5 781.25x
Dorchester St Peter 3 1500.00x
Shepton Mallet 3 394.74x
Winterborne Stickland 3 4285.71x
Fordington 2 338.98x
Westbury On Trym 2 71.68x
Ashwick 1 909.09x
Duffield 1 192.31x
Hillingdon 1 74.63x
Kilmersdon 1 303.03x
Newbury 1 99.01x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 185.19x
Wollaston 1 2000.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Chas. 1
Chas.W. 1
Eli 1
Elijah 1
Fortunalus 1
Fred 1
Geoe. 1
Henry 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

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 Obern households.

FAQ

Obern surname: questions and answers

How common was the Obern surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Obern surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Obern surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 123 in 2016. That gives Obern a modern rank of #27,115.

What does the Obern map show?

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