NameCensus.

UK surname

Vanes

A surname derived from the Old French "vaner" meaning to winnow or fan grain.

In the 1881 census there were 134 people recorded with the Vanes surname, ranking it #16,602 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 368, ranked #12,649, up from #16,602 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tipton otherwise Tibington, Burton-on-Trent and Dudley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Dudley and Sandwell.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vanes is 385 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 174.6%.

1881 census count

134

Ranked #16,602

Modern count

368

2016, ranked #12,649

Peak year

1998

385 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vanes had 134 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,602 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 368 in 2016, ranked #12,649.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 249 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Vanes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vanes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vanes 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 98 #17,383
1861 historical 115 #18,880
1881 historical 134 #16,602
1891 historical 164 #17,205
1901 historical 228 #13,929
1911 historical 249 #12,951
1997 modern 365 #11,804
1998 modern 385 #11,698
1999 modern 385 #11,771
2000 modern 371 #12,052
2001 modern 369 #11,928
2002 modern 370 #12,121
2003 modern 361 #12,140
2004 modern 351 #12,422
2005 modern 356 #12,219
2006 modern 358 #12,234
2007 modern 362 #12,271
2008 modern 366 #12,285
2009 modern 360 #12,688
2010 modern 359 #12,975
2011 modern 369 #12,600
2012 modern 368 #12,468
2013 modern 368 #12,676
2014 modern 370 #12,712
2015 modern 366 #12,717
2016 modern 368 #12,649

Geography

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Where Vanes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tipton otherwise Tibington, Burton-on-Trent, Dudley, Tamworth and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Dudley and Sandwell. 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 Tipton otherwise Tibington Staffordshire
2 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
3 Dudley Staffordshire
4 Tamworth Staffordshire
5 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Dudley 004 Dudley
2 Dudley 017 Dudley
3 Dudley 001 Dudley
4 Dudley 005 Dudley
5 Sandwell 014 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vanes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vanes

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Vanes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Vanes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Vanes is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Vanes is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vanes falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vanes 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Vanes

The surname Vanes originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "fenn," which means a marsh or a fen. The name is believed to have been a topographic name, referring to someone who lived near a marshy area or a fen.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Vanes can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Vennes." This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Venne," "Venne," and "Vane." One notable bearer of the name during this period was William de la Vene, who was mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1221.

In the 14th century, the name was associated with several place names, including Vennington in Gloucestershire and Venn Farm in Devon. This further reinforces the connection between the name Vanes and its topographic origins.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the modern spelling "Vanes" can be found in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York from 1528, where a certain John Vanes is listed.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Vanes. John Vanes (c. 1560-1622) was an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Worcester. Another notable bearer of the name was Sir Henry Vanes (1589-1655), an English politician and colonial governor of Massachusetts.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence with Sir Henry Vane the Younger (1613-1662), a leading figure in the English Civil War and a prominent political theorist. He was executed for his role in the regicide of King Charles I.

Another notable individual was Frances Vanes (1738-1823), who was the editor of the "Memoirs of the Life of Mrs. Frances Vanes, Wife of the late Rev. William Vanes." This work provided valuable insights into the lives of English gentry during the late 18th century.

In the 19th century, Sir John Vanes (1823-1892) was a British lawyer and judge who served as the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements (modern-day Singapore, Malaysia, and Brunei).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vanes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vanes 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. Worcestershire leads with 45 Vanes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.60x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 45 27.60x
Staffordshire 34 8.07x
Yorkshire 15 1.21x
Warwickshire 10 3.18x
Lancashire 8 0.54x
Middlesex 5 0.40x
Kent 3 0.70x
Surrey 3 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.19x
Derbyshire 1 0.51x
Herefordshire 1 1.95x
Somerset 1 0.50x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dudley in Worcestershire leads with 45 Vanes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 227.04x.

Place Total Index
Dudley 45 227.04x
Tipton 14 108.44x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 9 78.06x
Atherton 8 148.42x
Birmingham 7 6.67x
Tamworth 6 266.67x
Burton Upon Trent 5 50.71x
Handsworth 5 48.12x
Ealing 4 35.84x
Aston 3 3.46x
St Lawrence 3 102.39x
Brightside Bierlow 2 8.24x
Harborne 2 14.80x
Langwith 2 1250.00x
Rawmarsh 2 45.77x
Sheffield 2 5.08x
Bodenham 1 263.16x
Castle Church 1 39.53x
Charlcombe 1 370.37x
Claylane 1 36.76x
Croydon 1 2.96x
Lambeth 1 0.92x
Oxted 1 136.99x
Paddington London 1 2.18x
Sedgley 1 6.39x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Joseph 8
John 6
Thomas 6
Henry 4
Benjamin 3
Cephas 3
James 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Harry 2
Peter 2
Robert 2
Alexander 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
David 1
Dennis 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Isiah 1
Jno 1
Josiah 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Septimus 1
Sidney 1
Walker 1

FAQ

Vanes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vanes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 134 people were recorded with the Vanes surname. That placed it at #16,602 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vanes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 368 in 2016. That gives Vanes a modern rank of #12,649.

What does the Vanes surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old French "vaner" meaning to winnow or fan grain.

What does the Vanes map show?

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