NameCensus.

UK surname

Vanner

A surname derived from the Middle English word "vanner" meaning a winnower or sifter of grain.

In the 1881 census there were 258 people recorded with the Vanner surname, ranking it #10,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 390, ranked #12,089, down from #10,836 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Chelmsford, Isle of Wight and Adur.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vanner is 455 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 51.2%.

1881 census count

258

Ranked #10,836

Modern count

390

2016, ranked #12,089

Peak year

1911

455 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vanner had 258 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,836 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016, ranked #12,089.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 455 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Vanner surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vanner surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vanner 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 160 #12,347
1861 historical 144 #15,817
1881 historical 258 #10,836
1891 historical 292 #11,351
1901 historical 427 #9,054
1911 historical 455 #8,428
1997 modern 409 #10,818
1998 modern 453 #10,358
1999 modern 454 #10,380
2000 modern 429 #10,834
2001 modern 420 #10,811
2002 modern 419 #11,059
2003 modern 405 #11,168
2004 modern 400 #11,281
2005 modern 398 #11,231
2006 modern 403 #11,187
2007 modern 386 #11,676
2008 modern 375 #12,059
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 393 #12,157
2011 modern 389 #12,106
2012 modern 389 #11,963
2013 modern 389 #12,177
2014 modern 397 #12,076
2015 modern 392 #12,092
2016 modern 390 #12,089

Geography

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Where Vanners are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, London parishes, Gateshead, Blandford Town, Pimperne and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Chelmsford, Isle of Wight, Adur, Uttlesford and South Bucks. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Blandford Town, Pimperne Dorset
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
2 Isle of Wight 006 Isle of Wight
3 Adur 008 Adur
4 Uttlesford 007 Uttlesford
5 South Bucks 002 South Bucks

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vanner

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vanner

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Vanner surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Vanner household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

London Fringe

Within London, Vanner is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Vanner is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vanner falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vanner 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Vanner

The surname Vanner originated in England during the late medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "fana," meaning "fan-maker" or "winnower." The name likely referred to someone who made or used fans for agricultural purposes, such as winnowing grain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Vanner can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a Richard le Vanner was listed. This suggests that the name was already established in the region by the 14th century.

During the 16th century, the name Vanner appeared in various records across England, including parish registers and tax rolls. In 1524, a Richard Vanner was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk. In 1587, a William Vanner was listed in the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire.

The Vanner family is believed to have had roots in the counties of Worcestershire, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire, among other areas. The name is also associated with the village of Fanner in Lincolnshire, which may have been named after an early bearer of the surname.

One notable individual with the surname Vanner was John Vanner (1543-1615), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Archdeacon of Ipswich and the Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge.

Another prominent figure was Henry Vanner (1778-1860), an English landscape painter known for his rural scenes and depictions of farm life. His works are held in various collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

In the 17th century, the name Vanner was recorded in the New England colonies of America. Thomas Vanner (1609-1684) was an early settler who arrived in Massachusetts in 1635 and became a prominent citizen of Boston.

Other notable individuals with the surname Vanner include William Vanner (1790-1868), an English architect responsible for designing several churches and public buildings in London, and Charles Vanner (1867-1935), a British physicist and inventor who contributed to the development of early radio technology.

Throughout its history, the surname Vanner has maintained its connection to its occupational roots, reflecting the importance of fan-making and winnowing in agricultural communities of medieval and early modern England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vanner families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vanner 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 100 Vanners recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.97x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 100 3.97x
Hampshire 51 9.89x
Surrey 36 2.94x
Dorset 20 12.11x
Kent 17 1.98x
Essex 13 2.62x
Berkshire 11 5.82x
Warwickshire 7 1.10x
Cheshire 1 0.18x
Durham 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 49 Vanners recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.82x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 49 44.82x
Ryde 27 243.68x
Blandford Forum 19 582.82x
Deptford St Paul 16 24.16x
Farnham 14 146.75x
Newington 12 12.91x
West Ham 12 10.94x
Sunninghill 11 419.85x
Binsted 9 456.85x
Foleshill 7 104.79x
Poplar London 7 14.74x
Islington London 6 2.46x
Reigate Foreign 6 45.18x
Bow London 5 15.61x
Hampton London 5 120.77x
Freshwater 4 169.49x
Mile End Old Town 4 10.07x
Southampton St Mary 4 12.33x
Acton 3 20.34x
Chelsea London 3 3.96x
Guildford St Nicholas 3 138.25x
Hackney London 3 2.13x
Ventnor 3 61.10x
Carisbrooke 2 27.93x
Hornsey 2 6.28x
Isleworth 2 17.87x
Shoreditch London 2 1.83x
St George Hanover 2 6.09x
St Marylebone London 2 1.49x
Altrincham 1 10.30x
Arreton 1 60.61x
Ealing 1 4.45x
East Ham 1 10.85x
Epsom 1 16.72x
Fulham London 1 2.74x
Gateshead 1 1.78x
Kinson 1 30.96x
Lewisham 1 2.18x
Portsea 1 0.99x
St George In East 1 5.84x
West Grimstead 1 476.19x
Westminster St 1 10.78x
Westminster St James 1 3.87x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 17
John 16
Charles 13
George 13
Henry 13
Thomas 7
James 6
Frederick 5
Albert 4
Alfred 3
Edmund 3
Joseph 2
Maurice 2
Walter 2
Abraham 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
G.P. 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Isaac 1
Jacob 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Reginald 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Silvester 1
Thos. 1
W.T. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Vanner surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vanner surname in 1881?

In 1881, 258 people were recorded with the Vanner surname. That placed it at #10,836 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vanner surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 390 in 2016. That gives Vanner a modern rank of #12,089.

What does the Vanner surname mean?

A surname derived from the Middle English word "vanner" meaning a winnower or sifter of grain.

What does the Vanner map show?

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