NameCensus.

UK surname

Ogg

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Ófeigr" or "Ófeig," meaning "fearsome" or "terror."

In the 1881 census there were 205 people recorded with the Ogg surname, ranking it #12,643 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,110, ranked #5,294, up from #12,643 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Lincolnshire, Turriff and North Speyside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Ogg is 1,200 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 441.5%.

1881 census count

205

Ranked #12,643

Modern count

1,110

2016, ranked #5,294

Peak year

1901

1,200 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Ogg had 205 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,643 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,110 in 2016, ranked #5,294.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,200 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Ogg surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Ogg surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Ogg 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 608 #4,238
1881 historical 205 #12,643
1891 historical 864 #4,747
1901 historical 1,200 #4,105
1997 modern 1,060 #5,235
1998 modern 1,120 #5,180
1999 modern 1,114 #5,242
2000 modern 1,104 #5,252
2001 modern 1,066 #5,302
2002 modern 1,106 #5,248
2003 modern 1,056 #5,359
2004 modern 1,037 #5,443
2005 modern 1,059 #5,297
2006 modern 1,051 #5,337
2007 modern 1,044 #5,422
2008 modern 1,053 #5,413
2009 modern 1,080 #5,405
2010 modern 1,098 #5,444
2011 modern 1,094 #5,401
2012 modern 1,069 #5,415
2013 modern 1,087 #5,429
2014 modern 1,094 #5,420
2015 modern 1,101 #5,345
2016 modern 1,110 #5,294

Geography

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Where Oggs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arbroath and St. Vigeans, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Barry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Lincolnshire, Turriff, North Speyside and Westhill North and South. 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 Arbroath and St. Vigeans Forfar
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Barry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Lincolnshire 003 North Lincolnshire
2 Turriff Aberdeenshire
3 North Lincolnshire 005 North Lincolnshire
4 North Speyside Moray
5 Westhill North and South Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Ogg

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Ogg

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Ogg, 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 Ogg surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Ogg 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Ogg is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Ogg is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Ogg falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Ogg is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Ogg

The surname Ogg has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old Norse word 'ogg', which means 'terror' or 'fear'. This suggests that the name may have been originally given as a nickname to someone who was considered particularly fearsome or intimidating.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a historical document that recorded the names of Scottish landowners and nobles who were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as 'Ogge', suggesting that this was an early spelling variation.

In the 15th century, the Ogg family was known to have settled in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the areas of Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. The name is also associated with the village of Ogg in Berwickshire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

One notable figure bearing the Ogg surname was Sir William Ogg, a Scottish military commander who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century. Another was John Ogg, a 16th-century Scottish clergyman and author who wrote several religious treatises.

In the 17th century, the Ogg family had a presence in the Orkney Islands, where a branch of the family resided for several generations. One of the most famous Oggs from this period was James Ogg (1642-1718), a Scottish politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Orkney and Shetland.

Moving into the 18th century, we find David Ogg (1718-1781), a Scottish minister and author who wrote extensively on theological subjects. He was born in Berwickshire and served as a minister in various parishes throughout Scotland.

In the 19th century, a notable Ogg was James Ogg (1790-1864), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh, including the Calton Hill Observatory and the Playfair Library at the University of Edinburgh.

While the Ogg surname is most prevalent in Scotland and the United Kingdom, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration and migration. However, its roots can be traced back to the ancient Scottish Borders region and the Old Norse word that gave rise to this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Ogg families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Ogg 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 325 Oggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.63x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 325 37.63x
Angus 115 13.31x
Banffshire 80 41.36x
Lanarkshire 46 1.53x
Lincolnshire 40 2.68x
Midlothian 38 3.04x
Morayshire 34 23.46x
Middlesex 30 0.32x
Northumberland 30 2.16x
Lancashire 27 0.24x
Renfrewshire 26 3.60x
Fife 23 4.17x
Kincardineshire 22 19.37x
Surrey 15 0.33x
Hampshire 14 0.73x
Yorkshire 13 0.14x
Nairnshire 9 31.62x
Ayrshire 8 1.15x
Stirlingshire 8 2.33x
Durham 7 0.25x
Argyllshire 6 2.31x
Wiltshire 6 0.73x
Devon 5 0.26x
Essex 4 0.22x
Inverness-shire 4 1.44x
Kent 3 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.24x
Caithness 2 1.57x
Derbyshire 2 0.14x
East Lothian 2 1.62x
Shropshire 2 0.25x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.74x
Orkney 1 0.97x
Perthshire 1 0.24x
Roxburghshire 1 0.59x
Royal Navy 1 0.90x
Sussex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 60 Oggs recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.27x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 60 33.27x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 58 35.89x
Dundee 34 10.54x
Barony 21 2.75x
Forgue 20 257.73x
Barry 19 183.22x
Kincardine O Neil 19 307.94x
Edinburgh St Georges 18 69.42x
Cairney 17 337.97x
Drumoak 15 505.05x
Govan 14 1.88x
Elgin 13 46.12x
Grange 13 229.68x
Keith 13 63.05x
Marnoch 13 125.12x
Brechin 12 35.35x
Inverkeithing 11 132.21x
Kirkden 11 203.70x
Abroath St Vigeans 10 281.69x
Kirkby Cum Osgodby 10 840.34x
Newhills 10 56.56x
Banchory Devenick 9 84.83x
Forfar 9 19.24x
Inverurie 9 92.12x
Market Rasen 9 108.04x
Aboyne 8 175.44x
Bellie 8 122.14x
Fintray 8 242.42x
Glasgow 8 1.49x
Glenbucket 8 493.83x
Inveravon 8 96.97x
Nairn 8 46.32x
Polmont 8 62.99x
Tough 8 366.97x
Wandsworth 8 8.91x
Bradford 7 3.13x
East Greenock 7 10.26x
Fetteresso 7 39.33x
Gamrie 7 32.41x
Monymusk 7 189.19x
North Owersby 7 642.20x
Rothiemay 7 159.45x
Sopley 7 266.16x
Towie 7 289.26x
Ayr 6 18.21x
Birse 6 171.43x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 3.41x
Eastwood 6 13.48x
Edinburgh Greenside 6 36.34x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.19x
Fordyce 6 43.10x
Fyvie 6 42.58x
Gateshead 6 2.89x
Hackney London 6 1.15x
Liff Benvie 6 4.57x
Paisley Middle Church 6 14.26x
St Vigeans 6 12.87x
Winterbourne Monkton 6 857.14x
Ardnamurchan 5 37.97x
Chapel Of Garioch 5 81.43x
Coldcoats 5 4166.67x
Duffus 5 39.15x
Dunfermline 5 5.89x
Hampstead London 5 3.44x
Lochwinnoch 5 46.43x
Monkseaton 5 320.51x
New Machar 5 103.09x
Peterculter 5 82.10x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.34x
Rathven 5 13.76x
St Martin In Fields 5 8.96x
Withington 5 14.03x
Woolsington 5 2173.91x
Hound 4 30.84x
Huntly 4 28.47x
Louth 4 11.71x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 4.83x
Throckley 4 104.71x
Turriff 4 28.69x
Udny 4 76.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Ellen 7
Annie 5
Margaret 5
Eliza 4
Elizabeth 4
Jane 4
Sarah 4
Alice 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Clara 2
Emma 2
Sophia 2
Aggy 1
Bertha 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Cornelia 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz. 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Hellen 1
Hemsey 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Margt 1
Maria 1
Olive 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Ruth 1
Wilimina 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Ogg surname: questions and answers

How common was the Ogg surname in 1881?

In 1881, 205 people were recorded with the Ogg surname. That placed it at #12,643 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Ogg surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,110 in 2016. That gives Ogg a modern rank of #5,294.

What does the Ogg surname mean?

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Ófeigr" or "Ófeig," meaning "fearsome" or "terror."

What does the Ogg map show?

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