NameCensus.

UK surname

Oven

A surname derived from the word for a heating chamber where bread is baked.

In the 1881 census there were 76 people recorded with the Oven surname, ranking it #22,745 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 128, ranked #26,401, down from #22,745 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Tideswell and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derbyshire Dales, Colchester and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oven is 239 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.4%.

1881 census count

76

Ranked #22,745

Modern count

128

2016, ranked #26,401

Peak year

1861

239 bearers

Map years

7

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Oven had 76 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,745 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016, ranked #26,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 239 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Oven surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oven surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oven 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 69 #21,148
1861 historical 239 #10,273
1881 historical 76 #22,745
1891 historical 190 #15,486
1901 historical 100 #22,863
1911 historical 122 #20,245
1997 modern 119 #24,302
1998 modern 114 #25,589
1999 modern 109 #26,439
2000 modern 107 #26,700
2001 modern 106 #26,468
2002 modern 110 #26,412
2003 modern 109 #26,361
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 119 #25,413
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 121 #25,785
2009 modern 127 #25,564
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 125 #26,220
2012 modern 125 #26,298
2013 modern 129 #26,211
2014 modern 129 #26,352
2015 modern 130 #26,093
2016 modern 128 #26,401

Geography

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Where Ovens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Tideswell, St Pancras, Manchester and Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derbyshire Dales, Colchester, Waveney, Salford and Ashford. 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 3
2 Tideswell Derbyshire
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Ware (Ware). Hertford St John, Hertford All Saints Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derbyshire Dales 001 Derbyshire Dales
2 Colchester 001 Colchester
3 Waveney 012 Waveney
4 Salford 017 Salford
5 Ashford 012 Ashford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oven

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oven

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Oven, 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 Oven surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Oven 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Oven is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oven is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oven falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oven 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 Oven, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Oven

The surname Oven is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "ofen," which means a furnace or oven. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked as a baker or operated an oven.

The earliest known record of the surname Oven dates back to the late 13th century in Essex, England. In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a person named Adam le Ovene, indicating the presence of the name during that time period.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Ovene, Offene, and Ovven. These variations reflect the regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable historical figure with the surname Oven was Sir Thomas Oven, a prominent English politician and landowner who lived in the 16th century (c. 1520-1582). He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hastings during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another individual of note was John Oven (c. 1580-1650), an English clergyman who served as the Bishop of Carlisle from 1638 until his death. He was known for his support of the Royalist cause during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, there was a William Oven (1720-1793), a renowned English silversmith and engraver who worked in London. His intricate pieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy and are now considered valuable works of art.

Moving into the 19th century, we find James Oven (1825-1895), a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow, including the iconic University of Glasgow Main Building.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was Margaret Oven (1892-1975), an American poet and novelist who gained recognition for her works exploring themes of nature and rural life. Her book "The Meadow Lark" was widely acclaimed and remains a notable contribution to American literature.

While the surname Oven is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history spanning several centuries and various influential individuals across different fields, reflecting its origins as an occupational name related to the oven and baking trade.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Oven families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Oven 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. Lancashire leads with 17 Ovens recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 17 1.96x
Middlesex 11 1.50x
Kent 9 3.61x
Hertfordshire 8 15.87x
Derbyshire 7 6.11x
Warwickshire 7 3.79x
Hampshire 6 4.00x
Surrey 5 1.40x
Fife 2 4.62x
Devon 1 0.66x
Durham 1 0.46x
Worcestershire 1 1.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beswick in Lancashire leads with 10 Ovens recorded in 1881 and an index of 450.45x.

Place Total Index
Beswick 10 450.45x
Ware 8 551.72x
Birmingham 7 11.39x
Clerkenwell London 6 34.74x
Deptford St Paul 6 31.17x
Easton 6 5000.00x
Witley 5 2000.00x
Tideswell 4 800.00x
Bradford 3 73.89x
East Malling 3 500.00x
Hulme 3 16.56x
Wormhill 3 1250.00x
Dunfermline 2 30.03x
St George Hanover 2 20.94x
Eastham 1 1250.00x
Feltham 1 136.99x
Manchester 1 2.56x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 8.53x
St George In East 1 20.08x
Westminster St John 1 11.22x
Wingate 1 67.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 4
Ellen 3
Ada 2
Eliza 2
Hannah 2
A. 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
E. 1
Emilar 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Florance 1
Geogina 1
Georgina 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
La... 1
M. 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
John 3
Arthur 2
Augustus 2
George 2
J. 2
Alfred 1
Aquila 1
Benjamin 1
Charles 1
E. 1
Ezekiel 1
F. 1
F.W. 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Jseph 1
Thomas 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Oven surname: questions and answers

How common was the Oven surname in 1881?

In 1881, 76 people were recorded with the Oven surname. That placed it at #22,745 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Oven surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 128 in 2016. That gives Oven a modern rank of #26,401.

What does the Oven surname mean?

A surname derived from the word for a heating chamber where bread is baked.

What does the Oven map show?

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