NameCensus.

UK surname

Vara

A Galician and Portuguese topographic surname referring to someone living by a wooden stake, rod, or staff.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Newham and Hounslow.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vara is 817 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

793

2016, ranked #6,970

Peak year

2014

817 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 793 in 2016, ranked #6,970.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Vara surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vara surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vara 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 1 #33,412
1861 historical 5 #33,418
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 1 #34,548
1911 historical 4 #33,595
1997 modern 552 #8,634
1998 modern 573 #8,643
1999 modern 591 #8,530
2000 modern 627 #8,163
2001 modern 635 #7,916
2002 modern 648 #7,971
2003 modern 677 #7,596
2004 modern 680 #7,575
2005 modern 705 #7,297
2006 modern 713 #7,254
2007 modern 745 #7,091
2008 modern 756 #7,065
2009 modern 755 #7,213
2010 modern 808 #6,966
2011 modern 807 #6,884
2012 modern 768 #7,103
2013 modern 801 #6,945
2014 modern 817 #6,861
2015 modern 807 #6,881
2016 modern 793 #6,970

Geography

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Where Varas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Newham, Hounslow and Hillingdon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 027 Bolton
2 Newham 007 Newham
3 Hounslow 019 Hounslow
4 Bolton 015 Bolton
5 Hillingdon 027 Hillingdon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vara

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vara

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Vara surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Vara household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Vara is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vara 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

Vara falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Vara 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Vara

The surname Vara originated in Spain and has its roots in the medieval era. It is derived from the Spanish word "vara," which means "rod" or "staff." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with rods or staffs, perhaps a maker or seller of walking sticks or measuring rods.

In the 12th century, the name Vara was mentioned in the Codex Calixtinus, a medieval manuscript that served as a guidebook for pilgrims traveling the Camino de Santiago. This early reference indicates that the name was already in use during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Vara was Pedro de Vara, a Spanish soldier who fought in the Reconquista against the Moors in the 13th century. Another notable figure was Juan de Vara, a 15th-century Spanish navigator who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his second voyage to the Americas in 1493.

The Vara surname can also be linked to several place names in Spain, such as Vara de Rey in the province of Cuenca, and Vara del Rey in the province of Navarra. These place names likely derived from the same root word and may have influenced the surname's development.

In the 16th century, Francisco de Vara was a Spanish conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés in the conquest of Mexico. He was appointed as the first mayor of Veracruz, a city named after the Spanish word "Vera Cruz" (True Cross).

Another prominent individual with the Vara surname was Diego de Vara y Calderón, a 17th-century Spanish military engineer who designed fortifications in various Spanish colonies, including the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida.

As the surname spread across Spain and its colonies, it also took on variations such as Varas and Varela. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained rooted in the Spanish word "vara" and its association with rods or staffs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Vara surname: questions and answers

How common is the Vara surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 793 in 2016. That gives Vara a modern rank of #6,970.

What does the Vara surname mean?

A Galician and Portuguese topographic surname referring to someone living by a wooden stake, rod, or staff.

What does the Vara map show?

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