UK surname
A surname derived from the French word "valence," referring to someone from the town of Valence.
In the 1881 census there were 119 people recorded with the Valance surname, ranking it #17,841 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #17,841 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Paignton, Edinburgh and Radipole. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Valance is 157 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 75.6%.
1881 census count
119
Ranked #17,841
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1851
157 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1881
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Valance surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Valance surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 157 | #12,504 |
| 1861 | historical | 99 | #21,294 |
| 1881 | historical | 119 | #17,841 |
| 1891 | historical | 96 | #24,559 |
| 1901 | historical | 72 | #26,162 |
| 1911 | historical | 25 | #30,654 |
| 1997 | modern | 39 | #33,759 |
| 1998 | modern | 35 | #34,344 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 24 | #35,498 |
| 2001 | modern | 25 | #35,248 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 23 | #36,054 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 26 | #36,193 |
| 2012 | modern | 30 | #35,929 |
| 2013 | modern | 31 | #35,927 |
| 2014 | modern | 32 | #35,896 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Paignton, Edinburgh, Radipole, St Marylebone and Muirkirk. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paignton | Devon |
| 2 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| 3 | Radipole | Dorset |
| 4 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Muirkirk | Ayr |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Valance surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Valance, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Valance surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Valance household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Valance is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Valance is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Valance, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Valance originates from France and dates back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "valance," which referred to a type of decorative hanging or curtain often found in castles and manors of the time. The name likely originated as a occupational surname for those who made or sold these valances.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Valance can be found in the 13th century in the region of Normandy, France. It appears in various records and manuscripts from that era, often spelled as "Valence" or "Valaunce." One notable early bearer of the name was Jean Valance, a merchant from Rouen who was mentioned in a trade document dated 1276.
In the 14th century, the name Valance began to spread beyond Normandy to other parts of France, as well as to England and Scotland, likely due to the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The surname is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, England from 1273, which lists a Willelmus de Valance.
In the 15th century, the Valance family had established itself in the Scottish Lowlands, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. One notable member of this Scottish branch was Sir John Valance, a knight who fought in the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Valance continued to be found throughout England, Scotland, and France. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Thomas Valance (1576-1647), an English clergyman and author, and Jacques Valance (1605-1678), a French mathematician and astronomer.
In the 18th century, the Valance family had established branches in Ireland and the American colonies. One notable American bearer of the name was John Valance (1738-1812), a soldier and landowner in Virginia who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Other notable individuals with the surname Valance throughout history include Wilbur Valance (1868-1940), an American politician and lawyer, and Armand Valance (1887-1966), a French painter and sculptor associated with the Cubist movement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Valance surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Dorset leads with 18 Valances recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.63x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | 18 | 23.63x |
| Yorkshire | 14 | 1.22x |
| Devon | 12 | 4.97x |
| Nottinghamshire | 10 | 6.39x |
| Surrey | 8 | 1.41x |
| Cheshire | 7 | 2.73x |
| Leicestershire | 5 | 3.89x |
| Northumberland | 5 | 2.90x |
| Ayrshire | 4 | 4.61x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.01x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 0.34x |
| Somerset | 4 | 2.14x |
| Hampshire | 3 | 1.26x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.80x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 0.77x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.02x |
| Gloucestershire | 2 | 0.88x |
| Midlothian | 2 | 1.29x |
| Berwickshire | 1 | 7.11x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Fife | 1 | 1.46x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Kinross-shire | 1 | 34.13x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.07x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.92x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.66x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Radipole in Dorset leads with 12 Valances recorded in 1881 and an index of 2264.15x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Valance surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Valance surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Valance households.
FAQ
In 1881, 119 people were recorded with the Valance surname. That placed it at #17,841 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Valance a modern rank of #36,059.
A surname derived from the French word "valence," referring to someone from the town of Valence.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Valance bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.