NameCensus.

UK surname

Soar

A surname stemming from the Old English word "soor," meaning a soaring bird or one who soars.

In the 1881 census there were 707 people recorded with the Soar surname, ranking it #5,139 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 986, ranked #5,869, down from #5,139 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lindsey, Newark and Sherwood and Nottingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Soar is 1,108 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 39.5%.

1881 census count

707

Ranked #5,139

Modern count

986

2016, ranked #5,869

Peak year

1999

1,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Soar had 707 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,139 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 986 in 2016, ranked #5,869.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,077 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Soar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Soar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Soar 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 381 #6,272
1861 historical 376 #6,792
1881 historical 707 #5,139
1891 historical 800 #5,027
1901 historical 944 #4,958
1911 historical 1,077 #4,307
1997 modern 1,039 #5,323
1998 modern 1,081 #5,332
1999 modern 1,108 #5,263
2000 modern 1,075 #5,361
2001 modern 1,022 #5,487
2002 modern 1,026 #5,585
2003 modern 1,035 #5,444
2004 modern 1,036 #5,449
2005 modern 1,017 #5,473
2006 modern 1,029 #5,432
2007 modern 1,025 #5,500
2008 modern 1,017 #5,575
2009 modern 1,032 #5,629
2010 modern 1,038 #5,700
2011 modern 1,010 #5,775
2012 modern 974 #5,862
2013 modern 1,000 #5,822
2014 modern 1,021 #5,761
2015 modern 987 #5,872
2016 modern 986 #5,869

Geography

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Where Soars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, St Werburgh and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lindsey, Newark and Sherwood, Nottingham and Amber Valley. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Werburgh Derbyshire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lindsey 001 West Lindsey
2 Newark and Sherwood 006 Newark and Sherwood
3 Nottingham 030 Nottingham
4 Amber Valley 013 Amber Valley
5 Amber Valley 012 Amber Valley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Soar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Soar

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Soar 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

Soar is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Soar 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 Soar 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 Soar, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Soar

The surname SOAR is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "soar," which means "to fly or soar." The name may have been given to someone who lived near a cliff or other high place where birds were known to soar.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SOAR can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a record of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Soare" in this document, likely referring to someone who lived in or near a place where birds were seen soaring.

In the 13th century, the name SOAR is found in various records from the county of Gloucestershire, particularly in the village of Sodbury. This area was known for its high cliffs and rocky outcrops, which may have contributed to the name's origin.

One notable person with the surname SOAR was John Soar, a prominent English merchant who lived in the 16th century. He was born in Bristol in 1520 and became a successful trader, dealing in goods such as wool and cloth.

Another individual worth mentioning is Thomas Soar, an English clergyman who lived in the 17th century. He was born in Nottinghamshire in 1642 and served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham from 1678 until his death in 1709.

In the 18th century, there was a family of SOAR living in the village of Swinbrook, Oxfordshire. One member of this family, William Soar (1719-1786), was a renowned clockmaker whose timepieces are still highly sought after by collectors today.

Moving into the 19th century, we find Samuel Soar, a British artist born in Nottinghamshire in 1809. He was known for his landscape paintings, particularly those depicting scenes from the English countryside.

Finally, in the 20th century, there was Arthur Soar, a British engineer and inventor who lived from 1894 to 1976. He is best known for developing the Soar Induction Heater, a device used for heating and melting metals.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Soar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Soar 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 209 Soars recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.51x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 209 22.51x
Derbyshire 140 12.98x
Middlesex 86 1.25x
Suffolk 73 8.70x
Surrey 44 1.31x
Yorkshire 35 0.51x
Lancashire 25 0.31x
Essex 24 1.77x
Leicestershire 17 2.23x
Kent 12 0.51x
Norfolk 10 0.94x
Staffordshire 9 0.39x
Warwickshire 5 0.29x
Hampshire 4 0.28x
Hertfordshire 4 0.84x
Lincolnshire 3 0.27x
Durham 2 0.10x
Northamptonshire 2 0.31x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Monmouthshire 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 61 Soars recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.41x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 61 25.41x
Greasley 37 176.70x
Basford 33 77.14x
Hackney London 24 6.22x
Snenton 19 52.10x
Heanor 18 111.66x
Wales 15 278.29x
Alfreton 14 42.74x
Battersea 13 5.13x
Derby St Peter 13 37.86x
Ipswich St Mathew 12 51.04x
Ipswich St Peter 12 106.29x
Shoreditch London 12 4.02x
Ipswich St Nicholas 11 238.10x
Dronfield 10 72.36x
Eckington 10 38.18x
Nottingham St Nicholas 10 79.11x
South Lopham 10 781.25x
Wandsworth 10 15.09x
Ilkeston 9 29.77x
Lambeth 9 1.50x
West Ham 9 3.00x
Ipswich St Clement 8 37.52x
Broughton In Salford 7 9.37x
Chellaston 7 598.29x
Eastwood 7 84.34x
Gosbeck 7 933.33x
Holy Trinity 7 4.26x
Killamarsh 7 104.32x
Leicester All Sts 7 46.67x
Radford 7 14.84x
Sutton In Ashfield 7 34.76x
Ticknall 7 316.74x
Burton Upon Trent 6 11.03x
Ipswich St Margaret 6 21.08x
Leicester St Margaret 6 3.22x
Selston 6 57.86x
Shardlow 6 292.68x
Sheffield 6 2.76x
St Pancras London 6 1.08x
Swadlincote 6 504.20x
Aston 5 1.05x
Bermondsey 5 2.44x
Bethnal Green London 5 1.67x
Chelsea London 5 2.41x
Colchester St Mary 5 400.00x
Derby St Michael 5 221.24x
Kensington London 5 1.31x
Paddington London 5 1.97x
Walton Le Soken 5 154.80x
Willesden 5 7.70x
Annesley 4 114.61x
Bramford 4 126.98x
Bromley London 4 2.64x
Clipstone 4 571.43x
Leyton Low 4 14.48x
Liverpool 4 0.81x
Newbold Dunston 4 39.02x
Pentrich 4 65.90x
St Marylebone London 4 1.09x
Warsop 4 162.60x
Bushey 3 26.55x
Crayford 3 29.24x
Fishtoft 3 138.89x
Foulridge 3 144.23x
Greenwich 3 2.74x
Hornsey 3 3.44x
Ipswich St Helen 3 30.18x
Kirkdale 3 2.18x
Leicester St Mary 3 4.86x
Newstead 3 131.58x
Newton Solney 3 270.27x
Nuthall 3 86.21x
Reigate Borough 3 38.76x
Sandiacre 3 77.92x
Smalley 3 156.25x
St George Hanover 3 3.34x
Staveley 3 15.67x
Turnditch 3 422.54x
Rochester St Margaret 2 8.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 23
Annie 18
Ann 15
Ellen 15
Eliza 14
Emma 14
Hannah 12
Jane 12
Alice 11
Edith 9
Harriet 8
Catherine 6
Clara 6
Emily 6
Gertrude 6
Ada 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Millicent 4
Rebecca 4
Rose 4
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Florence 3
Harriett 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Susannah 3
Anne 2
Betsy 2
Charlotte 2
Dora 2
Elizth. 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Lilian 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
Madeline 2
Maria 2
Patience 2
Ruth 2
Elizbth.M. 1
Elizth.Power 1
Elsie 1
Horais 1
Isabel 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 41
John 33
Henry 25
Thomas 24
Charles 21
George 19
Joseph 18
Samuel 13
Arthur 12
James 11
Robert 9
Frank 7
Albert 6
Alfred 6
Frederick 6
Harry 5
Walter 5
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Wm. 4
Edgar 3
Edward 3
Geo. 3
Hezekiah 3
Moses 3
Benjamin 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Isaac 2
Levi 2
Ralph 2
Brewin 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Ezekiel 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Geoffery 1
Granville 1
Henery 1
Isiah 1
Jabez 1
Jno.Harry 1
Joel 1
Johnathan 1
Joshua 1
Laurence 1
Louis 1
Mark 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Soar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Soar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 707 people were recorded with the Soar surname. That placed it at #5,139 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Soar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 986 in 2016. That gives Soar a modern rank of #5,869.

What does the Soar surname mean?

A surname stemming from the Old English word "soor," meaning a soaring bird or one who soars.

What does the Soar map show?

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