NameCensus.

UK surname

Orris

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word 'orir,' meaning an orris-root preparer.

In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Orris surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 99, ranked #31,358, down from #16,358 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Westminster and Drinkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ipswich, Shepway and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Orris is 203 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.7%.

1881 census count

137

Ranked #16,358

Modern count

99

2016, ranked #31,358

Peak year

1891

203 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 1998

Key insights

  • Orris had 137 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,358 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016, ranked #31,358.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 203 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Orris surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Orris surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Orris 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 149 #12,967
1861 historical 110 #19,562
1881 historical 137 #16,358
1891 historical 203 #14,754
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1911 historical 173 #16,361
1997 modern 133 #22,705
1998 modern 121 #24,677
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 123 #24,585
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 104 #27,303
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 104 #27,338
2005 modern 103 #27,531
2006 modern 95 #29,113
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 91 #30,431
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 104 #29,424
2012 modern 94 #31,258
2013 modern 100 #30,773
2014 modern 103 #30,539
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 99 #31,358

Geography

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Where Orris' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Westminster, Drinkstone and Catton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ipswich, Shepway, Babergh and Bexley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 St James Westminster London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 Drinkstone Suffolk
5 Catton Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ipswich 002 Ipswich
2 Shepway 002 Shepway
3 Babergh 005 Babergh
4 Ipswich 011 Ipswich
5 Bexley 023 Bexley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Orris

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Orris

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Orris surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Orris household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Orris is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Orris is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Orris falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Orris is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Orris

The surname Orris is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "ora," which means "edge" or "border," potentially referring to someone who lived near a boundary or border region.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in various historical documents from the 13th and 14th centuries. One notable mention is in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1291, where a certain Richard Orrys is listed as a landowner.

Interestingly, the surname appears to have been more prevalent in the counties of Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, where it was often associated with specific place names. For example, the town of Orris or Orridge near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, may have contributed to the name's origin and early use.

Over the centuries, the surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Orris, Orrys, Orridge, and Orrige, reflecting the fluidity of surnames during those times.

One of the earliest known bearers of the Orris name was William Orris, a prominent landowner and nobleman who lived in Gloucestershire during the 14th century. His descendants continued to hold significant influence in the region for several generations.

Another notable figure was John Orris, a successful merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 16th century. He was actively involved in the wool trade and left a substantial fortune upon his death in 1578.

In the 17th century, Thomas Orris gained recognition as a skilled architect and builder, contributing to the construction of several notable structures in London, including parts of the Old Bailey and St. Paul's Cathedral.

During the English Civil War, Captain Richard Orris fought alongside the Parliamentarian forces and played a role in several key battles, including the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.

In the literary world, Mary Orris, a renowned poet and playwright, made her mark in the 18th century. Her works were widely acclaimed and influenced the cultural landscape of the time.

While these are just a few examples, the Orris surname has a rich and diverse history, spanning various regions of England and encompassing individuals from different walks of life, from nobles and merchants to soldiers and artists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Orris families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Orris 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. Suffolk leads with 44 Orris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.03x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 44 27.03x
Middlesex 37 2.77x
Norfolk 17 8.27x
Essex 15 5.69x
Derbyshire 7 3.35x
Lincolnshire 5 2.34x
Hampshire 4 1.46x
Surrey 3 0.46x
Lancashire 2 0.13x
Berkshire 1 1.00x
Northamptonshire 1 0.80x
Warwickshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Catton in Norfolk leads with 11 Orris' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3235.29x.

Place Total Index
Catton 11 3235.29x
Ipswich St Margaret 10 181.16x
Westminster St James 9 65.50x
Paddington London 6 12.21x
West Ham 6 10.30x
Althorpe 5 1020.41x
Kedington 5 1162.79x
St Marylebone London 5 7.01x
Barking 4 51.81x
Catfield 4 1379.31x
Clare 4 512.82x
Ipswich St Mathew 4 87.72x
Shelland 4 10000.00x
Whittington 4 138.41x
Alfreton 3 47.17x
Drinkstone 3 1428.57x
Great Thurlow 3 1666.67x
Mile End Old Town 3 14.22x
Westminster St John 3 18.44x
Bromley London 2 6.80x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 45.98x
Chelmsford 2 44.15x
Fawley 2 229.89x
Hackney London 2 2.67x
Haverhill 2 137.93x
Ipswich St Mary At Elms 2 384.62x
Kensington London 2 2.69x
Lambeth 2 1.72x
Lowestoft 2 26.01x
St Pancras London 2 1.86x
Ashley 1 714.29x
Barking 1 119.05x
Beaulieu 1 232.56x
Bowers Gifford 1 1111.11x
Croydon 1 2.77x
Danbury 1 222.22x
Heigham 1 9.07x
Hempnall 1 250.00x
Hundon 1 243.90x
Lillington 1 232.56x
Manchester 1 1.40x
Newport 1 217.39x
Oldham 1 1.95x
Southampton St Mary 1 5.81x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.61x
Tostock 1 625.00x
Tottenham 1 4.70x
Twickenham 1 17.45x
Warfield 1 109.89x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 3
Ann 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
(Mrs) 1
Ada 1
Allice 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jemima 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Priscilla 1
Rebecca 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Susannah 1
Sussanah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
Charles 6
John 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 3
James 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Clifford 2
George 2
Henry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Allen 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Joseph 1
Percival 1
Phillip 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Orris surname: questions and answers

How common was the Orris surname in 1881?

In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Orris surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Orris surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 99 in 2016. That gives Orris a modern rank of #31,358.

What does the Orris surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Middle English word 'orir,' meaning an orris-root preparer.

What does the Orris map show?

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