NameCensus.

UK surname

Sorensen

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Søren," derived from the Latin name Severinus, meaning "stern" or "severe."

In the 1881 census there were 36 people recorded with the Sorensen surname, ranking it #28,559 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 597, ranked #8,748, up from #28,559 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hull Holy Trinity, Gateshead and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wychavon, Croydon and North East Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sorensen is 603 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1558.3%.

1881 census count

36

Ranked #28,559

Modern count

597

2016, ranked #8,748

Peak year

2013

603 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sorensen had 36 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,559 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 597 in 2016, ranked #8,748.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 184 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sorensen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sorensen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sorensen 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
1861 historical 4 #33,628
1881 historical 36 #28,559
1891 historical 66 #28,541
1901 historical 184 #15,942
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 450 #10,075
1998 modern 499 #9,600
1999 modern 528 #9,260
2000 modern 533 #9,169
2001 modern 527 #9,097
2002 modern 563 #8,821
2003 modern 555 #8,783
2004 modern 583 #8,521
2005 modern 566 #8,621
2006 modern 556 #8,744
2007 modern 571 #8,665
2008 modern 574 #8,690
2009 modern 578 #8,825
2010 modern 589 #8,912
2011 modern 601 #8,682
2012 modern 594 #8,679
2013 modern 603 #8,713
2014 modern 599 #8,816
2015 modern 586 #8,884
2016 modern 597 #8,748

Geography

Back to top

Where Sorensens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hull Holy Trinity, Gateshead, Edinburgh, Merthyr Dovan, Highlight and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wychavon, Croydon, North East Lincolnshire, Wyre and Westminster. 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 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Merthyr Dovan, Highlight Glamorganshire
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wychavon 019 Wychavon
2 Croydon 039 Croydon
3 North East Lincolnshire 012 North East Lincolnshire
4 Wyre 001 Wyre
5 Westminster 017 Westminster

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sorensen

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sorensen

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Sorensen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sorensen 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sorensen is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sorensen 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

Sorensen falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sorensen 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sorensen

The surname Sorensen originated in Denmark and is a patronymic name, meaning "son of Soren." The name Soren is derived from the Old Norse name Sörr, which is believed to be a shortened form of the name Sveinbiorn, meaning "bear cub." The name Sorensen first appeared in Danish records in the late 15th century.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Sorensen can be found in Danish parish records and census documents from the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time, the spelling variations included Sörensen, Sørensen, and Sørenssøn. The name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Jutland and Zealand.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Sorensen was Hans Sorensen, a merchant who lived in Copenhagen in the late 16th century. Another notable figure was Jens Sorensen, a Danish explorer who accompanied Vitus Bering on his expedition to Alaska in 1741.

In the 19th century, the surname Sorensen became more widely dispersed as many Danes emigrated to other parts of the world, particularly the United States and Canada. One famous bearer of the name was Theodor Sorensen (1928-2010), an American lawyer and speechwriter for President John F. Kennedy.

Other notable individuals with the surname Sorensen include Maren Sofie Sorensen (1873-1950), a Norwegian author and feminist; Viggo Sorensen (1889-1986), a Danish sculptor; and Bjarne Stroustrup (born 1950), a Danish computer scientist known for creating the C++ programming language. His original surname was Sorensen, but he later changed it to Stroustrup.

The surname Sorensen has remained a common name in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, as well as in areas with significant Danish populations, such as parts of the United States and Canada. It continues to be a recognizable Danish name with a long and rich history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sorensen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sorensen 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. Midlothian leads with 11 Sorensens recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.38x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 11 23.38x
Lancashire 6 1.44x
Cheshire 2 2.58x
Devon 2 2.74x
Middlesex 2 0.57x
Northumberland 2 3.83x
Surrey 2 1.17x
Argyllshire 1 10.22x
Durham 1 0.96x
Essex 1 1.44x
Glamorgan 1 1.64x
Lanarkshire 1 0.88x
Lincolnshire 1 1.78x
Renfrewshire 1 3.68x
Sussex 1 1.69x
Yorkshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Leith in Midlothian leads with 6 Sorensens recorded in 1881 and an index of 275.23x.

Place Total Index
North Leith 6 275.23x
Leith North 4 4444.44x
Liverpool 3 11.85x
Toxteth Park 3 21.26x
North Shields 2 192.31x
Birkenhead 1 16.18x
Campbeltown 1 84.75x
Cardiff St Mary 1 29.67x
Cramond 1 277.78x
Croydon 1 10.53x
Goole 1 172.41x
Govan 1 3.56x
Great Grimsby 1 28.09x
Greenock Oldor West 1 1428.57x
Islington London 1 2.94x
Maldon St Peter 1 285.71x
New Shoreham 1 285.71x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 17.76x
Poplar London 1 15.08x
Rotherhithe 1 23.04x
Stranton 1 28.41x
Wallasey 1 384.62x
West Teignmouth 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ada 1
Adelaide 1
Annie 1
Fanny 1
Petrea 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jens 2
N. 2
Amsund 1
Carl 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
G. 1
Johannes 1
Jorgen 1
Laurence 1
Maas 1
Mark 1
Ola 1
Ole 1
W. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sorensen households.

FAQ

Sorensen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sorensen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 36 people were recorded with the Sorensen surname. That placed it at #28,559 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sorensen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 597 in 2016. That gives Sorensen a modern rank of #8,748.

What does the Sorensen surname mean?

A patronymic surname of Danish origin meaning "son of Søren," derived from the Latin name Severinus, meaning "stern" or "severe."

What does the Sorensen map show?

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