NameCensus.

UK surname

Unger

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational surname referring to a Hungarian person or someone from Hungary.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Unger surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 247, ranked #16,955, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Gateshead and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Unger is 248 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 414.6%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

247

2016, ranked #16,955

Peak year

2014

248 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Unger had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016, ranked #16,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 115 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Unger surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Unger surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Unger 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 20 #29,743
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 61 #29,103
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 199 #17,668
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 204 #17,987
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 219 #17,288
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 203 #17,961
2006 modern 209 #17,784
2007 modern 197 #18,669
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 219 #18,319
2011 modern 219 #18,145
2012 modern 229 #17,537
2013 modern 238 #17,354
2014 modern 248 #16,991
2015 modern 244 #17,090
2016 modern 247 #16,955

Geography

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Where Ungers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, St Mary Whitechapel, Govan Combination, London parishes and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Gateshead, Milton Keynes and Croydon. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 St Mary Whitechapel London (East Districts)
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 010 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Gateshead 025 Gateshead
3 Milton Keynes 018 Milton Keynes
4 Croydon 007 Croydon
5 Milton Keynes 032 Milton Keynes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Unger

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Unger

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Unger, 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 Unger surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Unger 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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Unger is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Unger 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

Unger 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 Unger is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Unger

The surname Unger has its origins in Germany and dates back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the German word "Unger," which means "Hungarian" or "from Hungary." This suggests that the name was likely given to people who either originated from Hungary or had some connection to the country.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Unger can be found in the town of Bruck an der Mur, located in the Austrian state of Styria. In the 14th century, a man named Ulrich Unger was mentioned in a document from 1348, indicating the presence of this surname in the region during that time period.

Another early record of the Unger name is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Brandenburgensis, a collection of historical documents from the Margraviate of Brandenburg, dating back to the 13th century. Here, a certain Johannes Unger is mentioned in a document from the year 1364.

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the surname Unger. One prominent figure was Johann Friedrich Unger (1714-1781), a German jurist and professor of law at the University of Halle. Another was Johann Georg Unger (1715-1788), a German physician and botanist known for his work on plant taxonomy.

In the realm of literature, Theodor Unger (1806-1835) was a German poet and writer who is remembered for his contributions to the Biedermeier literary movement. Additionally, Carl Richard Unger (1836-1885) was a German historian and author who specialized in the study of ancient civilizations.

The Unger surname has also been associated with various places and geographical locations. For instance, the town of Unger in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt likely derived its name from the presence of individuals bearing this surname in the area.

Throughout history, the surname Unger has undergone various spelling variations, including Ungar, Ungher, and Unghern, reflecting the influence of different regional dialects and linguistic influences over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Unger families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Unger 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. Middlesex leads with 25 Ungers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.34x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 25 5.34x
Lanarkshire 6 3.96x
Surrey 5 2.19x
Lancashire 4 0.72x
Yorkshire 4 0.86x
Hertfordshire 3 9.30x
Renfrewshire 1 2.76x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 11 Ungers recorded in 1881 and an index of 345.91x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 11 345.91x
Govan 5 13.36x
Mile End Old Town 5 67.66x
Camberwell 4 13.38x
Hunslet 4 55.33x
Hornsey 3 50.68x
Spitalfields London 3 85.23x
West Derby 3 18.46x
Chelsea London 2 14.18x
East Barnet 2 312.50x
Barony 1 2.61x
Bengeo 1 270.27x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 11.34x
Port Glasgow 1 57.14x
Shoreditch London 1 4.93x
Southwark Christchurch 1 45.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Fanny 2
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Annie 1
Augusta 1
Eliza 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Jane 1
Julia 1
Margaret 1
Mary 1
Norah 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1
S. 1
Sarah 1
Zezia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Charles 3
Isaac 2
Marcus 2
Albert 1
Alfred 1
David 1
Ernist 1
Frederick 1
Gustave 1
Harris 1
Josh. 1
Morris 1
Otto 1
Phillip 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Solomon 1
Wm. 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 Unger households.

FAQ

Unger surname: questions and answers

How common was the Unger surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Unger surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Unger surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016. That gives Unger a modern rank of #16,955.

What does the Unger surname mean?

A German and Jewish (Ashkenazic) occupational surname referring to a Hungarian person or someone from Hungary.

What does the Unger map show?

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