NameCensus.

UK surname

Vardon

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "high hill" or "big hill".

In the 1881 census there were 57 people recorded with the Vardon surname, ranking it #25,575 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 170, ranked #21,801, up from #25,575 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Edmonton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rhondda Cynon Taf and Babergh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Vardon is 185 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 198.2%.

1881 census count

57

Ranked #25,575

Modern count

170

2016, ranked #21,801

Peak year

2011

185 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Vardon had 57 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,575 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016, ranked #21,801.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Mature Families.

Vardon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Vardon surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Vardon 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 45 #28,296
1881 historical 57 #25,575
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 96 #23,342
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 172 #19,371
1998 modern 182 #19,162
1999 modern 178 #19,592
2000 modern 179 #19,494
2001 modern 177 #19,357
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 179 #19,416
2004 modern 174 #19,871
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 160 #21,066
2007 modern 160 #21,296
2008 modern 168 #20,828
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 178 #20,965
2011 modern 185 #20,288
2012 modern 170 #21,379
2013 modern 170 #21,726
2014 modern 174 #21,561
2015 modern 175 #21,372
2016 modern 170 #21,801

Geography

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Where Vardons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Edmonton, 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 Rhondda Cynon Taf and Babergh. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rhondda Cynon Taf 001 Rhondda Cynon Taf
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 012 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Rhondda Cynon Taf 002 Rhondda Cynon Taf
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Babergh 004 Babergh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Vardon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Vardon

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Established Mature Families

Nationally, the Vardon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Mature Families, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Vardon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples predominate, many with older dependent children. Detached housing is common. Homeownership rates are the highest within this Supergroup. The presence of some students suggests that households are towards the end of a child rearing phase. Many residents have degree level qualifications, and the occupational profile is heavily skewed towards managerial and professional occupations. Residential developments commonly occur on the periphery of major urban cities or conurbations.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Vardon is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Vardon is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Vardon 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 Vardon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Vardon

The surname Vardon has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the place name Verden, a town in Lower Saxony, Germany. The name may have been brought to England by Norman settlers after the conquest in 1066.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Vardon can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1195, where a Roger de Verdun is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established in England by the late 12th century.

Another notable early reference is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which record a John de Verdun in Oxfordshire. This document provides evidence of the various spellings the name took in its early days, such as Verdun, Verdon, and Varden.

The name has also been linked to the French place name Verdun, a city in northeastern France. This connection may have been established during the Anglo-Norman period when there was significant cultural exchange between England and France.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Vardon was Sir John de Verdun (c. 1240-1297), a prominent English landowner and military commander during the reign of Edward I. He played a significant role in the Welsh Wars of the late 13th century.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert Vardon (c. 1345-1398), an English knight who fought in the Hundred Years' War and served as a member of the retinue of Edward, the Black Prince.

In the 16th century, a notable bearer of the name was Sir Walter Vardon (c. 1520-1592), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Moving forward to the 18th century, John Vardon (1718-1778) was an English clergyman and educator who served as the headmaster of King's School in Canterbury.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Vardon was Harry Vardon (1870-1937), a professional golfer from the Isle of Jersey. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time, winning six Open Championships and pioneering the modern golf swing.

Throughout its history, the surname Vardon has maintained its connection to its English roots, with many bearers tracing their ancestry back to various regions of the country. While the name has undergone slight variations in spelling over the centuries, its essential form has remained largely intact.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Vardon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Vardon 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. Channel Islands leads with 92 Vardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 213.61x.

County Total Index
Channel Islands 92 213.61x
Middlesex 11 0.76x
Surrey 9 1.27x
Devon 8 2.64x
Kent 8 1.61x
Lanarkshire 6 1.28x
Somerset 6 2.56x
Lancashire 2 0.12x
Norfolk 2 0.90x
Yorkshire 2 0.14x
Essex 1 0.35x
Hampshire 1 0.34x
Leicestershire 1 0.62x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Martin in Channel Islands leads with 38 Vardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1439.39x.

Place Total Index
St Martin 38 1439.39x
St Helier 33 235.38x
Grouville 8 666.67x
Hamilton 6 45.77x
St Peter Port 6 75.28x
Trinity 6 600.00x
Beckenham 5 77.16x
Chertsey 5 109.17x
Plymouth Charles The 5 37.51x
St Clement Danes London 5 166.11x
Walcot 5 40.13x
Mitcham 4 89.29x
North Cray 3 937.50x
Alby 2 1538.46x
East Stonehouse 2 33.56x
Paddington London 2 3.74x
Bethnal Green London 1 1.58x
Beverley St Mary 1 47.62x
Birstall 1 416.67x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 3.65x
Frome 1 17.86x
Hackney London 1 1.23x
Hatfield Peverel 1 161.29x
Horton In Bradford 1 4.45x
Liverpool 1 0.95x
Southampton St Mary 1 5.34x
St George Hanover Square 1 3.90x
St Saviour 1 42.02x
Tormoham 1 7.81x
Westminster St Margaret 1 14.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Jane 6
Elizabeth 5
Mary 5
Eliza 4
Mabel 4
Amelia 3
Selina 3
Agnes 2
Alice 2
Annie 2
Edith 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Isabel 2
Lilian 2
Marie 2
Rachel 2
Susan 2
Ann 1
Carteret 1
Christina 1
Clara 1
Clarissa 1
Elizh.M. 1
Elsie 1
Elvina 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Eveline 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Helda 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Lucille 1
Maria 1
Nelly 1
Rhoda 1
S.M.E. 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1
Wilhamena 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Philip 7
George 6
Charles 4
Henry 4
Elias 3
Sidney 3
Alfred 2
Frederick 2
Thomas 2
Acquila 1
Albert 1
Clement 1
Edward 1
Egbert 1
Evelyn 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Phillipe 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Walter 1
William 1
Winter 1

FAQ

Vardon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Vardon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 57 people were recorded with the Vardon surname. That placed it at #25,575 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Vardon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 170 in 2016. That gives Vardon a modern rank of #21,801.

What does the Vardon surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "high hill" or "big hill".

What does the Vardon map show?

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