NameCensus.

UK surname

Oz

A surname derived from the Hebrew word 'oz', meaning strength or might.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Haringey, Enfield and Hackney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Oz is 176 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

176

2016, ranked #21,298

Peak year

2016

176 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016, ranked #21,298.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Oz surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Oz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Oz 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
1997 modern 30 #34,701
1998 modern 32 #34,633
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 45 #33,526
2001 modern 38 #34,004
2002 modern 52 #33,110
2003 modern 62 #32,258
2004 modern 71 #31,578
2005 modern 76 #31,267
2006 modern 79 #31,263
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 132 #25,519
2011 modern 135 #24,922
2012 modern 136 #24,830
2013 modern 152 #23,438
2014 modern 159 #22,930
2015 modern 162 #22,509
2016 modern 176 #21,298

Geography

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Where Oz' 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 Haringey, Enfield and Hackney. 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 Haringey 013 Haringey
2 Enfield 007 Enfield
3 Enfield 003 Enfield
4 Hackney 028 Hackney
5 Hackney 010 Hackney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Oz

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Oz

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Oz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Oz 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Oz is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Oz is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Oz falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Oz is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Oz

The surname "Oz" is believed to have originated from the Old French word "oz", which means "bear". This name is thought to have first appeared in France during the Middle Ages, likely as a nickname for someone who was considered strong or brave like a bear.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Osz" in the county of Lincolnshire, England. This suggests that the name may have been brought to England by Norman settlers after the conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various spellings such as "Otz", "Oze", and "Ozze" in various records throughout France and England. It is believed that these variations were influenced by regional dialects and the way the name was pronounced.

One notable bearer of the name was Sir John Oz, a French knight who fought alongside William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Another early bearer was Robert Oz, a landowner in Essex, England, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1166.

During the 14th century, the name "Oz" began to appear in Scotland, possibly brought by French or Norman settlers. One example is William Oz, a merchant from Aberdeen who was mentioned in records from the year 1379.

In the 15th century, the name was found in various parts of Germany, where it was often spelled as "Otz" or "Otze". One notable bearer from this period was Hans Otz, a German Reformer and theologian who lived from 1484 to 1548.

By the 16th century, the name had spread to other parts of Europe, including the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In the Netherlands, the name was sometimes spelled as "Oos" or "Oose", while in Sweden it appeared as "Ås" or "Åse".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Oz surname: questions and answers

How common is the Oz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 176 in 2016. That gives Oz a modern rank of #21,298.

What does the Oz surname mean?

A surname derived from the Hebrew word 'oz', meaning strength or might.

What does the Oz map show?

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